Category: Not Factual

Trump Declares He Is the Absolute Law

During a January 8, 2026 interview with The New York Times, President Trump declared that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” explicitly rejecting international law as a binding constraint on military action. When asked if any limits exist on his global powers, Trump stated: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me,” and added, “I don’t need international law.” This represents Trump’s most direct acknowledgment of his worldview that national strength, rather than laws and treaties, should determine outcomes when powers collide.

When pressed on whether his administration must abide by international law, Trump affirmed compliance while immediately undermining that commitment by declaring himself the arbiter of when such constraints apply to the United States. “It depends what your definition of international law is,” Trump said, signaling his refusal to accept external legal frameworks as binding. This pattern reflects Trump’s broader approach to governance: acknowledging formal constraints while asserting personal authority to override them based on his subjective judgment.

Trump’s framing of unrestricted executive power extends across military, economic, and political instruments. He acknowledged deploying the National Guard to cities against state and local objections and has pursued what he describes as a maximalist strategy targeting institutions he dislikes, exacting retribution against political opponents, and coercing foreign nations through threatened military action. During the interview, Trump took a call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who expressed concern over Trump’s repeated threats of military action, mirroring Trump’s pattern of using unpredictability and force as coercion tools.

Trump’s rejection of international law as limiting his authority eliminates foundational constraints on executive power that have structured U.S. foreign policy for decades. His explicit statement that only his personal morality constrains his actions removes any institutional, legal, or constitutional check on military decisions, invasion, or coercion of other nations. This stance directly contradicts the constitutional framework requiring checks and balances and the international legal obligations the United States has accepted.

The interview reveals Trump’s authoritarian conception of presidential authority unchecked by law, institutional independence, or external legal frameworks. His assertion that he personally determines the meaning and applicability of international law consolidates decision-making power entirely in his hands, eliminating separation of powers and the rule of law as governing principles of his administration.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html)

JD Vance Declares: ICE Agent Has ‘Absolute Immunity’

Vice President JD Vance declared during a White House press conference on Thursday that an ICE agent who fatally shot Minneapolis poet and mother Renee Good is protected by “absolute immunity,” a legal claim that is factually incorrect. Vance asserted that the federal law enforcement official conducting federal law enforcement action cannot be prosecuted, stating the officer “was doing his job” and that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz pursuing charges would be “preposterous.”

Vance’s statement misrepresents the actual legal protections available to federal agents. ICE officers are covered under “Supremacy Clause immunity,” which shields them from state prosecution only when acting within the bounds of their lawful federal duties in a manner that is “necessary and proper,” according to the State Democracy Research Initiative. This protection does not constitute absolute immunity and explicitly does not apply when federal officials act beyond their duties, violate federal law, or behave in an egregious or unwarranted manner.

The legal determination of whether the ICE officer’s use of deadly force was justified has not yet been evaluated in court, meaning any declaration of immunity is premature. Until a court determines whether the shooting fell within the scope of the officer’s official duties and constituted a lawful use of force, claims of protection remain unresolved. Vance’s invocation of “absolute immunity” bypasses this necessary judicial review.

Vance further claimed that Minnesota officials are “encouraging people to commit violence against I.C.E. officials” and characterized state involvement in the investigation as an “unprecedented” overreach. The reporter’s question had addressed the FBI’s decision to exclude Minnesota officials from accessing evidence in the federal investigation, a procedural issue distinct from Vance’s sweeping immunity assertion.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/jd-vance-declares-ice-agent-involved-in-fatal-shooting-has-absolute-immunity/)

Trump Slams Woman Killed In ICE Shooting, Contradicts Police

President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday claiming that a woman fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis was a “professional agitator” who “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer.” Trump’s account directly contradicts statements from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who reported the woman was shot in the head while in her vehicle after it began to drive away from a federal agent on foot.

Chief O’Hara’s preliminary findings indicate the woman was blocking a roadway when a federal officer approached on foot, at which point the vehicle began moving and at least two shots were fired. Video evidence does not show the officer being struck or in immediate danger from the vehicle, yet Trump claimed the officer acted in “self-defense.” The Department of Homeland Security characterized the incident as defensive action after claiming the woman “weaponized her vehicle,” a narrative the mayor and local law enforcement have rejected.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey characterized DHS’s official statement as false and told ICE agents to leave the city. Trump’s post falsely blamed the incident on “Radical Left” violence against law enforcement, despite no evidence suggesting political motivation in the shooting or that the woman posed an active threat to the officer’s safety.

The conflicting accounts between federal and local authorities underscore the Trump administration’s deployment of approximately 2,100 ICE agents to Minneapolis for what officials claim is the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted. Trump’s statement weaponizes the incident to justify aggressive federal enforcement and to attack perceived political opponents rather than acknowledge the discrepancies documented by local authorities and video evidence.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/just-in-trump-attacks-woman-killed-in-ice-shooting-directly-contradicts-minneapolis-police-statement/)

The 5 Most Unhinged Claims From Trump’s January 6 Website

President Trump’s White House launched a website on January 6, 2026, reframing the Capitol riot five years after the attack. The site advances false narratives about the January 6 insurrection, contradicting documented evidence and official investigations.

The website claims Democrats staged a “real insurrection” by certifying the 2020 election and “weaponizing federal agencies” against dissenters, despite no evidence supporting Trump’s assertion that the election was stolen. It attributes the Capitol breach to Capitol Police escalation rather than rioters’ actions, alleging officers “aggressively” deployed tear gas and “inexplicably” removed barricades while simultaneously firing on crowds. These claims contradict the documented timeline of events and sworn testimony from law enforcement present that day.

The site characterizes the fatal shooting of rioter Ashli Babbitt by Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd as murder “in cold blood,” omitting that the Department of Justice determined in April 2021 that Byrd acted in self-defense and defense of Members of Congress evacuating the House Chamber as rioters broke through glass doors. The website also falsely attributes deaths solely to non-law-enforcement individuals, though four Capitol Police officers who responded to the riot died by suicide in subsequent months.

Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence is branded a “coward” for declining to reject electoral votes, a power he did not constitutionally possess. The site misrepresents Pence’s role; his stated duty was to “count the votes of the Electoral College for President and Vice President in a manner consistent with our Constitution, laws, and history,” which he executed on January 6.

The website concludes by labeling January 6 defendants political prisoners held in “harsh conditions” and celebrates Trump’s 2024 election as a triumph over “relentless Deep State efforts to imprison, bankrupt, and assassinate him” through “fabricated indictments” and “rigged show trials.” This narrative contradicts Trump’s criminal convictions and documented legal proceedings.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/the-5-most-unhinged-claims-made-on-trumps-jaw-dropping-new-january-6-website/)

Trump claims he predicted 9/11 but says no one listened to him

Donald Trump claimed on Air Force One that he predicted the September 11 attacks in his 2000 book “The America We Deserve” and warned about Osama Bin Laden, asserting the attacks could have been prevented if U.S. officials had acted on his warning. Trump’s assertion contradicts fact-check findings showing his book contained only a brief, vague reference to Bin Laden as a “shadowy figure” among general security threats, not a specific warning about him or al-Qaeda.

While Trump’s book did reference the possibility of a major terror attack, it neither identified Bin Laden nor al-Qaeda as potential perpetrators. By 2000, concerns about Bin Laden and al-Qaeda were already public knowledge, and U.S. intelligence agencies were actively monitoring both the organization and its leader, meaning Trump’s observations reflected widely available information rather than unique foresight.

Trump’s post-9/11 claim mirrors his pattern of associating himself with 9/11 commemoration events while promoting narratives disconnected from documented fact. His invocation of his own predictive ability, unsupported by the actual text of his book, demonstrates his use of false historical revisionism to construct an image of prescience and leadership.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-president-bin-laden-al-qaeda-b2895001.html)

Trump Warns Iran He Will Act if Regime ‘Kills’ Protesters

President Trump posted a threat on Truth Social on January 2, 2026, declaring the United States “locked and loaded and ready to go” to intervene militarily in Iran if the regime kills peaceful protesters during nationwide demonstrations. The warning came as Iranians protested economic collapse, soaring inflation, and currency devaluation, with reports of deaths and mass arrests as security forces deployed tear gas and detained demonstrators across Tehran, colleges, and regional cities.

Ali Larijani, Iran’s former parliament speaker and current secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, responded by claiming without evidence that Israel and the United States orchestrated the unrest. Larijani stated on X that U.S. interference would destabilize the region and harm American interests, warning Trump that he “began the adventurism” and should focus on protecting American soldiers rather than intervening in Iran’s internal affairs.

Trump’s threat marks a significant military escalation following a 12-day military campaign in June 2025 when Washington and Israel jointly struck Iranian nuclear sites. Trump has previously warned he would authorize additional strikes if Iran rebuilds its nuclear or ballistic missile programs, a position he reiterated during recent discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office promising economic reform and relief for citizens, responded by appointing a new central bank governor and meeting with business leaders to address rising prices and collapsing wages. On Thursday night, Pezeshkian stated that “people’s livelihoods are the government’s red line,” calling economic stability “non-negotiable,” though Trump did not specify what his threatened intervention would entail in practical terms.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/locked-and-loaded-trump-warns-iran-he-will-intervene-if-regime-kills-peaceful-protesters/)

Trump Suggests Tim Walz Ordered Death of MN Legislator

President Donald Trump amplified a conspiracy theory on social media suggesting that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ordered the assassination of State Representative Melissa Hortman, who was murdered in summer 2024. Trump “re-Truthed” a post from @LightOnLiberty that falsely connected Hortman’s death to alleged money laundering fraud involving Somali immigrants, despite law enforcement’s clear findings regarding the actual perpetrator.

Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed at their home by Vance Boelter, 57, a man posing as a police officer who was indicted on six federal charges of stalking and murder. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Minnesota, Boelter “embarked on a murderous rampage targeting Minnesota’s elected officials and their families” after extensive research and planning. Trump displayed indifference to the murder while blaming the “radical left” for inciting violence, deflecting responsibility for the actual crime.

Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also targeted in their home by the same suspect and survived after lengthy recoveries. The Department of Justice has never indicated charging anyone other than Boelter for the shootings, yet Trump’s amplification of the baseless conspiracy persists without factual foundation.

Trump’s promotion of this theory fits his pattern of attacking Walz over Somali immigration and alleged fraud. In November, Trump falsely claimed “hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over” Minnesota and alleged Somali gangs “roving the streets” looking for prey, while the FBI has investigated such reports for years without substantiating Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric.

On Air Force One in November, Trump defended calling Walz “retarded,” claiming “there’s something wrong with him” for allowing Somali immigrants into Minnesota and stating the U.S. funds Somalia despite his assertion it “doesn’t function like a country.” This pattern demonstrates how Trump leverages baseless conspiracy theories and racist narratives to weaponize tragedy for political gain.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-shares-conspiracy-post-suggesting-tim-walz-ordered-the-assassination-of-minnesota-legislator/)

HHS freezing child care payments to all states after Minnesota fraud allegations: Official – ABC News

The Trump administration halted child care funding to all states following fraud allegations centered on daycare centers in Minnesota, with HHS officials stating funds will resume only when states demonstrate legitimate spending. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill characterized the alleged fraud as “blatant” and “rampant” across the country, demanding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz conduct a comprehensive audit of identified facilities. The freeze expanded requirements for all child care funding recipients nationwide, mandating administrative data submission and additional documentation including attendance records, licensing reports, and inspection findings.

The federal action was triggered by an unverified online video posted by conservative influencer Nick Shirley alleging fraud in Somali community child care centers in Minneapolis. ABC News has not independently verified Shirley’s claims, which included footage of allegedly empty facilities during business hours. Minnesota state officials disputed the video’s methodology and findings, with Department of Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown questioning whether the footage was captured during operational times.

Minnesota officials documented that state unannounced visits to all facilities named in the video found children present and confirmed each site had been inspected within six months as part of routine licensing procedures. Governor Walz characterized the federal freeze as part of Trump’s strategy to defund assistance programs, stating Minnesota has actively pursued fraud investigations independent of the administration’s pressure. The state emphasized it takes fraud concerns seriously while questioning the video’s investigative standards.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced expanded investigations into alleged child care fraud and other federal program abuses, with Patel citing a $250 million fraud scheme involving federal food aid uncovered during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutor Joe Thompson described the scale of alleged Minnesota fraud as “staggering,” though unrelated fraud investigations in the state predated the viral video and Trump administration’s current response.

The funding freeze applies to all states despite allegations being localized to Minnesota, with HHS tightening documentation requirements for the Administration for Children and Families across the nation. The Trump administration has linked the child care fraud allegations to broader claims of systematic fraud nationwide, though the specific evidence supporting nationwide fraud in child care funding remains unsubstantiated beyond the Minnesota video.

(Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/hhs-freezing-child-care-payments-minnesota-after-fraud/story?id=128793851&fbclid=IwdGRleAPD_AxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeAlKtCzgHaZqiNF57R8QpvrDOu-xIFNjYML4K4McqSDWlBx43ljfzHBipd90_aem_FzrHH7CVhYuJlkcgzRqBeg)

‘They Stole $18 BILLION Dollars!’ Trump Fetes NYE Bash With Rant About Fraud

During a New Year’s Eve gathering at Mar-a-Lago on December 31, 2025, President Donald Trump delivered an unsubstantiated rant alleging $18 billion in fraud across Democratic-led states, claiming the funds were “stolen” and vowing his administration would “get that money back.” Trump made sweeping accusations against Minnesota, California, Illinois, and New York without presenting evidence, describing the alleged misconduct as “a giant scam” and framing recovery of purported stolen funds as grounds for optimism entering the new year.

Trump’s remarks followed the Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement that it would freeze federal child care funding nationwide pending state verification of legitimate spending, with Minnesota facing a complete halt to child care payments. The administration’s scrutiny of Minnesota was directly prompted by influencer Nick Shirley, whose viral video accused the state of operating empty day-care centers funded by taxpayer dollars, with claims of $110 million in fraudulent expenditures under Governor Tim Walz’s administration.

Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill explicitly cited Shirley’s video investigation in announcing the funding freeze, stating he had “identified the individuals” referenced in the material and demanding a comprehensive audit from Governor Walz. Shirley’s video, which documented visits to child-care facilities on weekdays where he alleged they were nonoperational, received endorsements from Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, amplifying its influence on the administration’s policy response.

Governor Walz responded by accusing Trump of weaponizing the fraud investigation for political purposes, characterizing the freeze as part of a deliberate strategy to defund programs benefiting Minnesota residents. Walz stated his administration had already spent years investigating fraudsters and that Trump was “politicizing the issue” to advance an agenda against Democratic-led states, despite acknowledging that fraud in child-care systems is a legitimate concern.

Trump’s unsubstantiated $18 billion fraud claim and the resulting federal funding freeze demonstrate the administration’s pattern of using executive power to target Democratic states based on viral social media content rather than verified evidence, while simultaneously Trump himself has pardoned individuals convicted of fraud when they maintained access to his circle.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/they-stole-18-billion-trump-treats-mar-a-lago-nye-revelers-to-wild-rant-about-minnesota-fraud/)

Trump Claims He Has Ridiculously High Approval Rating

President Trump claimed on Tuesday that his approval rating stands at 64%, contradicting consistent polling data showing his support underwater. Trump shared a graphic from Trafalgar Group—one of a handful of Trump-friendly pollsters—displaying 50.2% approval, yet he asserted without evidence that the actual figure is 64% and accused polls of being “rigged.”

Major polling organizations document Trump’s approval rating significantly below 50%. A Gallup poll released last week showed Trump 23 points underwater, while a Fox News survey from December recorded his lowest approval rating on economic handling at just 38%, despite Trump claiming he would give the economy an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus” grade.

Trump’s inflation and economic claims contradict voter perception. He stated the country has “No Inflation” and a “powerful Military” and “great Economy,” yet Americans remain pessimistic about economic conditions according to multiple surveys. Trump also claimed he “inherited a total mess,” contradicting his current assertions of success.

Trump’s pattern of dismissing unfavorable data as rigged reflects his broader rejection of independent verification. He stated “The polls are rigged even more than the writers,” attributing his low approval to systemic bias rather than actual public sentiment measured across numerous independent sources.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-claims-he-has-ridiculously-high-approval-rating-the-real-number-is-64/)

1 2 3 … 180