Category: Authoritarian

Trump’s Space Force Uniforms Criticized for Fascist Inspiration

Donald Trump unveiled a mockup of proposed uniforms for the U.S. Space Force that he admitted were inspired by uniforms worn by fictional fascists. The design, shared on his social media platform, reflects the aesthetic used in the 1997 film “Starship Troopers,” which satirizes fascism. Symbolism from this film has stirred controversy due to its Nazi-like iconography.



Notable backlash arose as prominent figures criticized the uniforms’ fascist inspirations. Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, expressed concern about whether those responsible for the design grasp the original film’s message. Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger also voiced disapproval, labeling the uniforms “just awful.”

Derek Guy, a writer who focuses on menswear, described the uniforms as evocative of those designed to indicate “bad guys” in films. Another social media user likened the designs to what might have been discouraged for their resemblance to Nazi attire in the context of the “Star Wars” franchise.

The Space Force had debuted its current dress uniform last year, emphasizing modern design and service unity. However, the mockup created by Trump has quickly become embroiled in a debate over its stark historical parallels. Despite the controversy, the White House and U.S. Space Force have yet to issue any statements.

Trump has repeatedly used imagery that overlaps with the visual language historically associated with fascist political movements: the exceptional strong leader, contempt for weakness, militarism, heroic mythology, spectacle, and the leader presented as an embodiment of national power. The clearest recent example is the proposed Space Force uniform concept Trump posted in September 2026, which explicitly says it was inspired by Starship Troopers. That connection is unusually direct because director Paul Verhoeven has explained that Starship Troopers was deliberately designed as a satire of fascism: he borrowed imagery from Leni Riefenstahl’s Nazi propaganda, modeled elements on Triumph of the Will, and deliberately put one character in an SS-like uniform. (The Times) Another recurring example is Trump’s use of the lion-versus-sheep motif, presenting the leader as powerful and exceptional while everyone else becomes a passive herd; Trump also famously circulated Mussolini’s “lion” quotation in 2016. That aesthetic fits what Umberto Eco identified as fascism’s combination of elitism, hierarchy, contempt for weakness and the cult of the hero. (The New York Review of Books) The same visual grammar appears in official and Trump-promoted images portraying him as Superman, Green Lantern or another superhuman figure: instead of representing the president simply as an elected administrator, the imagery mythologizes him as a singular protector possessing extraordinary power. That does not make superhero imagery inherently fascist, but leader-centered heroic mythology was an important component of historical fascist propaganda.

The pattern also appears through military spectacle, revenge imagery and monumental architecture. Trump’s long-desired Washington military parade, ultimately held for the Army’s 250th anniversary in June 2025 with thousands of troops, armored vehicles and military demonstrations, used the kind of mass military choreography historically favored by authoritarian and fascist movements to communicate discipline, national strength and martial power—although military parades themselves obviously exist in democracies as well. (AP News) His recurring “hunted becomes the hunter” presentation similarly turns politics into a heroic struggle in which a persecuted leader triumphs over enemies, fitting the fascist aesthetic of politics as permanent conflict and the leader as warrior. Eco specifically describes this conception of life as continual struggle alongside militaristic hierarchy and heroism. (The New York Review of Books) Finally, Trump’s effort to reshape Washington through grand classical architecture and monumental personal legacy projects, most dramatically the proposed 250-foot triumphal arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington, evokes another aesthetic extensively employed by twentieth-century authoritarian regimes: enormous, symmetrical, classical structures intended to convey permanence, grandeur, national rebirth and state power. The arch itself is not “fascist architecture”—triumphal arches and neoclassicism predate fascism by centuries—but when considered alongside heroic leader imagery, military spectacle, strength-versus-weakness symbolism and now a military uniform explicitly derived from a movie intentionally modeled on Nazi aesthetics, these examples form a recognizable fascist aesthetic vocabulary: the heroic leader, the disciplined mass, the glorification of strength and struggle, militarization, monumentalism, and political power transformed into spectacle. (Reuters)



(Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-brags-about-space-force-uniforms-fascist-inspiration/)

Trump Celebrates Supreme Court Ballroom Win as Construction Resumes

President Donald Trump declared victory Wednesday after the Supreme Court cleared his administration to resume construction on a $400 million White House ballroom complex, which he announced via Truth Social as “a gift to America.” Trump celebrated “hundreds of happy construction workers” beginning work on the project, claiming it represents “the finest Ballroom/Military complex anywhere in the World” and that victory came only after a “long, hard fight in the Court System.”

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday to block lower court decisions halting construction, allowing work to proceed while the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s lawsuit continues. The group contends Trump lacks authority to undertake the sweeping construction without congressional approval. The Court’s majority did not address the project’s ultimate legality, instead finding the preservation group “lacks standing” to challenge it and that lower courts had “likely exceeded” their authority in ordering construction stopped.

Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, joined the Court’s three liberal justices in dissent, stating the “decision is no victory for the separation of powers.” Roberts argued that “construction is likely unlawful” because Congress has not approved the project, directly contradicting the majority’s position and signaling deep institutional concerns about executive overreach.

Trump demolished the historic East Wing of the White House last fall to make way for the ballroom, an action that preceded any judicial approval of the undertaking. This construction pattern aligns with Trump’s documented focus on construction projects, which consumed over a quarter of his public speaking time during early 2026, dominating his messaging across dozens of events.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-takes-court-victory-lap-as-construction-resumes-on-ballroom/)ss dozens of events.

Trump Mint Coins Violate Federal Law Banning Living Presidents

The U.S. Mint announced Wednesday that $1 coins bearing President Donald Trump’s image have entered circulation and are available for purchase on its website. This action violates federal law prohibiting living presidents from appearing on U.S. coinage under 31 U.S. Code § 5112 and the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which mandates at least two years must pass after a president’s death before their likeness can be depicted on coins.

Trump’s administration has repeatedly exploited federal currency laws to enrich itself and promote the Trump brand. The Treasury Department previously violated law with a presidential gold coin, and the administration has signaled willingness to change legislation to enable a $250 bill featuring Trump if Congress acts. This pattern reflects Trump’s weaponization of government agencies to advance personal financial interests and perpetuate his political brand.

The coin release follows Trump family cryptocurrency ventures designed to extract wealth from supporters. Trump’s sons and associates have already partnered with UFC to sell commemorative coins ranging from $250 to $12,000, and UFC pays fighters in Trump crypto through World Liberty Financial, a Trump family cryptocurrency operation launched in 2024. These schemes demonstrate how Trump uses his position to convert government resources and public platforms into direct profit.

The Mint’s action exemplifies the systematic dismantling of institutional safeguards against authoritarian abuse of power. By openly violating established law without consequence, Trump normalizes executive lawlessness and signals that government agencies exist to serve his personal enrichment rather than the public interest. The story remains developing.



(Source: https://abcnews.com/amp/Politics/trump-1-coins-circulation-us-mint/story?id=136142051)

Army Secretary Driscoll Resigns After Hegseth Personnel Purge

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned Monday evening after mounting tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a U.S. official who confirmed the departure to ABC News. President Trump accepted the resignation, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly issuing a statement praising Driscoll as “highly effective” in advancing Trump’s agenda at the Department of the Army.

Driscoll and Hegseth clashed repeatedly since both assumed their positions in 2025, with disagreements centered on military personnel decisions. Hegseth fired or sidelined multiple senior officers eligible for promotion to general rank, actions Driscoll opposed. Most significantly, Hegseth terminated Gen. Randy George, the former Army Chief of Staff, in April without explanation; Driscoll had maintained a close working relationship with George and stated at a congressional hearing that he was unaware of the rationale for George’s removal.

Driscoll held unusual influence within Trump’s administration beyond typical Army Secretary responsibilities. Trump assigned him to lead diplomatic efforts to restart Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations in late 2025, a task outside the normal scope of a service secretary’s duties to train and equip military forces. His diplomatic role placed him at odds with Hegseth’s command of military strategy, creating friction over competing priorities within the Pentagon.

Driscoll had built significant political capital on Capitol Hill and maintained direct White House access through a prior relationship with Vice President JD Vance, whom he met while both attended Yale Law School following Driscoll’s service as a cavalry officer in the 10th Mountain Division. This connection and legislative support distinguished him from other service secretaries and may have contributed to the power struggle with Hegseth over Pentagon direction and personnel decisions.



(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/army-secretary-dan-driscoll-resigns-amid-tensions-hegseth/story?id=136101175)

CDC Excludes PA Measles Deaths After RFK Casts Doubt

New CDC Director Erica Schwartz declined to include two Pennsylvania measles deaths in the agency’s weekly tracker, marking the first measles fatalities in the state in 35 years. The decision came after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly cast doubt on whether measles caused the deaths during a Fox News town hall, claiming he had spoken with county officials who disputed the fatalities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the deaths on August 25, listing them as “measles-associated.” The CDC’s tracker now contains a note stating the deaths will not be included while the agency reviews additional information, asserting that available data does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths. This decision contradicted the state health department’s own assessment and drew criticism from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who accused RFK Jr. of launching “into a tirade” during their discussion about the cases.

During his Fox News appearance, RFK Jr. claimed he had spoken with a county coroner or commissioner who said there were no measles deaths in Lancaster County. The Republican coroner acknowledged that one fatality, a newborn, tested positive for measles but stated he did not believe the virus played a role in the infant’s death. RFK Jr.’s public doubting of the deaths followed his broader dismissal of measles outbreak concerns, with reporting indicating he questioned whether media outlets accurately reported disease severity.

The Washington Post described Schwartz’s exclusion of the deaths as “highly unusual.” Shapiro objected to RFK Jr.’s suggestion that the country would be “better off” with “natural measles,” highlighting the fundamental disagreement between state officials and federal health leadership over pandemic response protocols and disease prevention strategies.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/cdc-chief-excludes-pa-measles-deaths-against-states-own-health-dept-assessment-after-rfk-casts-doubt/)

Trump Demands Canadian Companies Relocate or Face Tariffs

Donald Trump demanded Canadian companies relocate their headquarters and production facilities to the United States immediately to avoid tariffs set to begin in 2027, escalating his trade war with Canada. Trump posted on Truth Social that companies moving back would face no tariffs, framing Canada as “one of the worst abusers” and declaring he does not want “Canadian cars, Canadian parts, Canadian anything,” despite Canada being the U.S.’s second-largest trading partner with nearly $900 billion in annual cross-border economic activity.

Trump’s demand came after trade talks collapsed and he announced tariffs as high as 50 percent on Canadian goods including dairy products and lumber, prompting Canada to impose reciprocal tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum, and other exports. The president credited his tariff agenda with saving the American automobile industry, though U.S. manufacturers still depend heavily on parts and systems assembled in Canada, exposing them to significant economic disruption from the new tariffs.

Trump has shown no willingness to negotiate with Canada, instead pursuing confrontational tactics including renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” through executive order on Thursday. This decision drew ridicule from Canadian officials and continued Trump’s pattern of personal hostility toward Canadian leaders, particularly Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whom Trump has engaged in direct confrontations.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that the trade war would devastate both economies and compared Trump’s Lake Ontario renaming to “Saturday Night Live,” declaring that Canada would never recognize the name change. Ford, who previously called Trump a “bully” and “loser,” stated that Trump’s approach was “absolutely backwards” and the “worst thing you could do for the American economy.” Trump’s Lake Ontario renaming escalated tensions during the ongoing trade war.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned that further Canadian retaliation would provoke an American response, stating the administration would “not just sit down and take that” if Canada continued retaliatory measures. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew characterized Trump as “very weak,” noting that America’s global standing has declined and criticizing Trump as “completely out of touch” with American cost-of-living concerns.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-canada-businesses-truth-social-b3041901.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawUB-TJwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMW1jZXp4QXVINkJoZ1JidmFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeJWaiNaT-aFnTuqutBgl7SNVlrquXavTpNtMM79azPFaCSW1Iz7VT7vG0bEo_aem_rQOKhLy3GtKkCRScvTfN8g)

Donald Trump Slams Judge Deciding Kennedy Center’s Fate

Trump continues his campaign to rename and renovate the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, attacking the federal judge overseeing the legal challenge to his efforts. On Truth Social, Trump called the building “old and decrepit” and accused the judge of being “highly conflicted” for blocking his plan to inscribe his name on the structure. In May, a federal judge ruled that only Congress holds authority to rename the institution, which was built to honor President John F. Kennedy.

Trump violated federal law by adding his name to the building’s facade without authorization, then had the sign covered with a tarp in June to conceal the violation. Rather than comply with the court’s ruling, Trump’s Justice Department lawyers have argued that blocking his $250 million renovation project would render the building so unsafe it would require demolition, a threat designed to pressure Congress into allowing the rename. Trump’s allies are attempting to circumvent Congressional approval by proposing an inscription reading “Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, characterized Trump’s renovation and renaming scheme as “very childish” after an emergency court hearing held Thursday. Beatty invoked Trump’s controversial alterations to the White House as evidence of his destructive approach to historic institutions, stating “We’ve seen what he’s done, in the most embarrassing ways, to the White House.”

The Kennedy Center, a storied performing arts venue, has faced significant operational challenges since Trump assumed his chairmanship. Artists have withdrawn from performances, and ticket sales have declined sharply, though Trump blamed the downturn on the need for renovations rather than acknowledging his role in driving away performers and audiences.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/donald-trump-takes-a-shot-at-highly-conflicted-judge-deciding-the-decrepit-kennedy-centers-fate/) than acknowledging his role in driving away performers and audiences.

Trump Official Leaks Debunked Censorship Files

A Trump administration official leaked government files to a conservative online data analyst in a failed attempt to prove that the shuttered Global Engagement Center had conducted domestic censorship operations. Sarah Rogers, the State Department’s undersecretary for public diplomacy, provided the documents to Jennica Pounds, known as DataRepublican, who claimed she was being “entrapped.” Rogers then published the files herself, alleging center officials “betrayed their stated mission.”

Two former senior GEC officials, Daniel Kimmage and Carrie Goux, examined the leaked material and concluded it demonstrates nothing. The files contained a 2022 GEC report on “gendered disinformation” and Kimmage’s congressional testimony, which Rogers selectively presented to suggest the center had targeted American speech. Kimmage stated Rogers “tried to twist” his testimony, in which he explicitly said the GEC “did not” take positions on US outlets, into false evidence of domestic censorship.

The GEC, which operated from 2017 until dissolution in 2025, spent nearly a decade tracking foreign influence operations from Russia, China, and Iran under an explicit foreign-facing mandate. During that period, it published eight detailed reports on Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns, exposed four major Kremlin operations across Latin America, Africa, Moldova, and against RT, and brokered an international pact on countering state disinformation signed by over two dozen governments. A 2022 inspector general review found the center “generally effective,” though it noted weaknesses in internal controls and contractor oversight.

Republicans, including former House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul, attacked the GEC for allegedly stretching the definition of disinformation to suppress conservative speech. The campaign centered on the center’s funding of the Global Disinformation Index, a UK nonprofit that rated media outlets; the GDI’s separate 2022 study of the US media market rated Newsmax, One America News, and the New York Post as high-risk for disinformation, which critics weaponized as evidence of domestic meddling despite the GEC’s foreign mandate.

The State Department is now resuming counter-disinformation work through other offices, including a proposal to pay up to 30 social media influencers across 11 Southeast Asian countries $2,500 each as part of an $11 million campaign to counter Chinese propaganda. The influencer program, operated by the US Mission to ASEAN, includes messaging, training, and studio visits to “intensive collaboration” in Washington and Houston, with recruitment materials citing Pounds as an ideal model. Goux stated the administration is “spending a lot more tax dollars” attempting to reconstruct the GEC’s functions through contractors while the US “has lost their seat at the table” internationally and “losing trust too.”



(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/30/state-department-global-engagement-center-leaked-documents-foreign-propaganda?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=fb_us&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUB2bFwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNhA2nVC-1TIXlpnQcULA8nZq7U7QGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4e46YPv-u3jinexDLfVD5pbBRWNKDJWnPzteIVor6UwLqdj-AiK3cye1072Q_aem_qPXIWAbHlImdCnG_ibNBHg#Echobox=1788089080)

Pentagon Stealth Hires Influencers To Pump Up Pete Hegseth

The Pentagon secretly hired conservative military veterans with large social media followings to amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s agenda and attack Trump administration critics, according to The Washington Post. Retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness (135,000 X followers), retired Army Colonel Kurt Schlichter (620,000 X followers), and retired Army Colonel Thomas Anderson, who writes as Cynical Publius (323,000 X followers), were assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, with active civilian government email addresses as of late August 2026.

Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez refused to disclose whether the three influencers draw taxpayer-funded salaries, their specific roles, or the duration of their assignments, contradicting Trump administration claims of running “the most transparent Defense Department ever.” The secrecy surrounding their placements and compensation demonstrates the administration’s use of government resources to orchestrate propaganda through influencers who then amplify official messaging to civilian audiences without public accountability.

All three individuals declined to comment to The Post about their positions and activities. Tata and Hegseth also refused to respond to questions about the program, leaving no official explanation for how the Pentagon justifies placing active political operatives on the public payroll or what oversight, if any, monitors their work.

The revelation follows reporting that Democratic and Republican politicians pay influencers on TikTok and other platforms to promote their agendas, but the Pentagon’s covert hiring of active-duty adjacent figures represents a direct weaponization of military resources for partisan message amplification by the Trump administration.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/the-pentagon-secretly-hires-conservative-influencers-to-amplify-pete-hegseths-agenda/)

Trump Threatens FCC Punishment Against NBC’s Kristen Welker

President Trump attacked NBC’s Kristen Welker on Truth Social, threatening FCC action against her after she accurately reported mixed results from his primary endorsements. Trump claimed a 99-100% success rate on endorsements while demanding FCC Chairman Brendan Carr punish Welker and NBC for what he characterized as false reporting, despite documented endorsement losses in recent races.

Welker’s comments on NBC 4 Washington noted Trump’s endorsement track record included both wins and losses, citing his recent backing of Senator Darline Graham, who narrowly defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina. Graham’s primary victory was closer than anticipated by political experts, contradicting Trump’s claim of easy wins driven by his endorsement.

Trump escalated his attack by demanding the FCC investigate and punish NBC, calling the press “a disgrace to our nation” and framing accurate coverage of his endorsement record as a threat to the country. This follows Trump’s previous walkout from an NBC interview with Welker over her questioning of his claims, demonstrating a pattern of attacking journalists who report factually about his record.

The threat to weaponize federal regulatory authority against a news organization for unfavorable but accurate reporting undermines press freedom and reflects Trump’s broader use of government power against perceived opponents. Trump’s demand for FCC punishment represents direct executive pressure on the independent regulatory process to silence critical coverage.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-rages-at-nbcs-kristen-welker-after-she-reports-on-mixed-results-of-his-endorsements-threatens-fcc-punishment/)

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