Author: Stop the Donald Trump

Kennedy Center president claims ‘legacy media’ is encouraging artists to boycott performances over Trump name change | The Independent

Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell accused major news outlets CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times of encouraging artists to boycott performances in response to the Trump administration’s attempt to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. Grenell made these claims without providing evidence across multiple X posts, stating that “legacy media are left wing activists.” Critics, including former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, demanded Grenell produce the alleged emails, which would violate journalistic standards.

Multiple artists have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center since the board’s controversial February vote to add Trump’s name to the statutorily protected institution. Jazz supergroup The Cookers canceled New Year’s Eve concerts, with saxophonist Billy Harper stating he would not perform at a venue “bearing a name (and being controlled by the kind of board) that represents overt racism and deliberate destruction of African American music and culture.” The Doug Varone and Dancers troupe withdrew from an April 2026 performance, and drummer Chuck Redd canceled a longstanding Christmas Eve jazz concert in protest. In response to Redd’s cancellation, Grenell demanded $1 million from the artist, labeling the withdrawal a “political stunt.”

Trump attacked the Kennedy family on social media hours after the death of JFK’s granddaughter, amplifying MAGA supporters’ mockery of their objections to the name change. The administration installed MAGA-friendly board members in February and named Trump chairman of the center, abandoning the institution’s bipartisan tradition. Some observers dispute the legality of the board’s voting process, noting that a congresswoman was muted during the call and prevented from voicing criticism.

The attempted renaming has damaged the Kennedy Center’s financial performance and viewership. Ticket sales reached their worst levels in years following Trump’s takeover, according to October analysis by The Washington Post. The Kennedy Center Honors viewership dropped 35 percent year-over-year when Trump became the first president to host the event.

The Trump administration defended the name change as necessary to save the institution from deterioration, disregarding criticism from Kennedy family members and the broader artistic community. Grenell’s unsubstantiated allegations of media coordination appeared designed to shift focus from the substantive objections raised by canceling artists regarding Trump’s control of the culturally significant venue.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-kennedy-center-artist-boycott-b2892457.html)

Donald Trump Attacks Kennedy Family on Truth Social Hours After Death of JFK’s Granddaughter Tatiana Schlossberg

Hours after Caroline Kennedy’s daughter Tatiana Schlossberg died on December 30 at age 35 from acute myeloid leukemia, President Donald Trump shared screenshots on Truth Social mocking the Kennedy family for objecting to his decision to rename the Kennedy Center after himself. Trump did not acknowledge Schlossberg’s death; instead, he amplified MAGA supporters’ attacks on the Kennedys, claiming they had neglected the performing arts venue and failed to support it financially.

The Kennedy Center board voted on December 18 to rename the historic memorial—originally dedicated to President John F. Kennedy following his 1963 assassination—as the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” with work crews adding Trump’s name above Kennedy’s existing inscription. Multiple board members and family representatives challenged the process, asserting the vote was not unanimous and violated federal law prohibiting renaming the center without Congressional approval.

Kennedy Center board member Rep. Joyce Beatty reported she was muted during the call and prevented from voicing opposition to the renaming. She stated the vote was not on the agenda, lacked consensus, and constituted an attempt to circumvent law and deny citizens a voice in the decision. Joe Kennedy III argued that the Kennedy Center, established by Congress as a memorial to a fallen president, cannot be renamed any more than the Lincoln Memorial can be.

Family members responded with tributes to Schlossberg rather than engaging Trump’s attacks. Caroline Kennedy’s cousin Maria Shriver wrote that Schlossberg “fought like hell” to survive, describing her as a “beautiful, courageous spirit” and expressing her solidarity with Caroline Kennedy during the family’s mourning.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/donald-trump-attacks-kennedy-family-021944814.html)

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/)

Trump Posts Photo of Dead Falcon in Israel and Says, ‘Windmills Are Killing All of Our Beautiful Bald Eagles!’

President Donald Trump posted a photograph on Tuesday claiming windmills kill bald eagles, but the image actually depicts a falcon from Israel, not an American bald eagle. Google Lens traced the dead bird photo to Israeli news sources Haaretz (2017) and The Times of Israel (2019), both crediting the Israel Nature and Parks Authority; Haaretz identified it as a falcon, while The Times of Israel specified a kestrel.

Trump’s opposition to wind turbines dates to at least 2012, when he testified against their installation near his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. After 11 turbines were eventually built, Trump denounced them as “some of the ugliest you’ve ever seen.” He has made baseless claims that windmills cause cancer, stating in 2019 that “the noise causes cancer,” and in July called them “a disgrace,” claiming they are inefficient and the most expensive energy source.

Trump’s assertion that windmills kill bald eagles contradicts factual record and mirrors his broader pattern of making demonstrably false claims about wind power, including allegations they damage the ozone layer. His long-standing vendetta against wind energy appears rooted in personal business interests rather than environmental or wildlife conservation concerns.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-posts-photo-dead-falcon-005211969.html)

Trump will support more strikes on Iran if it rebuilds its missiles program

President Trump declared Monday that he would support Israeli military strikes against Iran if the country rebuilds its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs, stating “we will knock the hell out of them.” Speaking ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Palm Beach residence, Trump claimed he had learned Iran was attempting to expand its missile capabilities and threatened military action to prevent such advancement.

Trump referenced his June authorization of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which he had previously claimed totally destroyed the country’s capabilities. He conditioned future support for Israeli action on Iran’s continued weapons development, saying “if they will continue with the missiles, yes. The nuclear, fast,” signaling readiness to endorse immediate strikes if nuclear programs resumed.

During the Monday meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also endorsed granting the Israeli prime minister a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, calling Netanyahu a “wartime prime minister who’s a hero” and claiming Herzog told him a pardon was forthcoming. Netanyahu is currently facing a corruption trial and has requested the preemptive pardon before any potential conviction.

The meeting occurred as Netanyahu and Trump discussed escalating Iranian threats and the Gaza ceasefire. Trump’s statements on Iran followed his hosting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago the previous day, where Trump expressed optimism about negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, demonstrating his administration’s willingness to pursue military action against some adversaries while seeking diplomatic deals with others.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-support-more-strikes-iran-203217312.html)

Trump Doubles Down On Claim U.S. Attacked Inside Venezuela

President Donald Trump claimed on December 29 that the United States struck a facility inside Venezuela, stating during a conversation at Mar-a-Lago that “we hit all the boats and now we hit the area.” Trump declined to specify whether the U.S. military or CIA conducted the operation, saying only that it occurred “along the shore” and that the targeted area is “no longer around.” This assertion followed an earlier radio interview where Trump first mentioned knocking out a “big facility where the ships come from” two nights prior.

The White House, Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command, and CIA have provided no official confirmation or evidence corroborating Trump’s claim. Anonymous American officials told The New York Times that Trump was “referring to a drug facility in Venezuela” but offered no details. Videos circulated online suggesting an explosion and fire at a Primazol chemical plant near Lake Maracaibo matched Trump’s timeline, though the company rejected claims it was attacked. A local journalist cautioned against the connection, noting residents observed nothing unusual. Trump’s statement remains unverified by independent sources or Venezuelan authorities.

Trump’s announcement followed months of escalating military operations in the Caribbean, including a declared “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan oil shipments and numerous strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels that have killed over 100 people. The U.S. military presence has expanded significantly, with satellite imagery documenting doubled deployments of MC-130J transport aircraft, CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotors, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and special operations forces staging at Puerto Rico airports. Personnel have been photographed obscuring fences to conceal military aircraft from public view.

The Trump administration has simultaneously expanded U.S. military presence across Latin America through security agreements, establishing troop deployment rights and operational access across multiple nations under the stated pretext of counter-narcotics efforts. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned both the blockade and seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers, characterizing the policy as “neo-colonial” and warning of unpredictable consequences for the Western Hemisphere. The proximity of an amphibious ready group and special operations mothership in late December suggests preparations for operations beyond attacks on vessels.

Trump’s unsubstantiated claim of a Venezuelan strike contradicts the established pattern of official silence regarding covert military action, raising questions about the veracity of his assertion and the scope of undisclosed operations in the region. The absence of White House corroboration, military confirmation, or independent verification stands against Trump’s public statements, while escalating military deployments and infrastructure expansion indicate sustained preparations for expanded kinetic operations.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-doubles-down-claim-u-204927819.html)

Trump threatens lawsuit against Fed Chair Jerome Powell

President Trump announced he is considering filing a lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, citing “gross incompetence” over renovations to Federal Reserve buildings. During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump claimed the construction project was poorly managed and that the costs ballooned unnecessarily, calling Powell’s oversight of the work his “baby” and describing the outcome as incompetent.

Powell has disputed Trump’s characterization of the renovation expenses. The Federal Reserve published a FAQ addressing the claims, clarifying that the project was first approved in 2017 and has undergone annual budget review by the Fed’s board of governors since its inception, contradicting Trump’s narrative of unchecked spending under Powell’s watch.

Trump has previously threatened legal action against Powell and has repeatedly demanded his resignation, stating “He should resign. It would be a favor to the nation.” However, Trump indicated he would allow Powell to complete his term, which ends in May, noting he was “so close” to the term’s conclusion and acknowledged Powell’s impending departure even as he suggested he might still remove him.

Trump originally nominated Powell to lead the Federal Reserve during his first presidency, and President Biden subsequently renominated Powell for a second four-year term. Trump’s ongoing fixation on the Federal Reserve leadership and his repeated attacks on Powell reflect his broader pattern of targeting the institution when monetary policy decisions conflict with his economic demands.

This lawsuit threat represents another instance of Trump weaponizing the legal system against federal officials who do not comply with his directives. The Federal Reserve’s independence from presidential control is foundational to U.S. economic stability; Trump’s repeated attempts to intimidate, remove, or sue the Fed chair directly undermine that institutional autonomy.

(Source: https://thehill.com/business/5665840-trump-powell-lawsuit-fed-buildings/amp/)

America Now Involved In Slave Trade with Trump Sending Deportees To Forced Labor in Palau

The Trump administration and Palau signed a migrant agreement on Wednesday, with the Pacific island nation accepting up to 75 “third-country nationals” in exchange for $7.5 million in U.S. foreign aid. According to statements from Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. and the U.S. Embassy in Koror, the migrants would be individuals never charged with a crime who would “live and work in Palau” to address local labor shortages. Palau’s national working group would screen each arrival on a case-by-case basis before approval.

U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich and Palau’s Minister of State Gustav Aitaro signed the accord at a ceremony, cementing the Trump administration’s framing of the deal as enforcement of U.S. immigration law. The U.S. Embassy statement described Palau’s participation as cooperation on immigration priorities, while the financial package extends beyond the initial $7.5 million to include increased funding for health, disaster preparedness, financial stability, and law enforcement.

Palau, home to fewer than 18,000 people, maintains a Compact of Free Association with the United States established after its 1994 independence, under which the U.S. provides defense and substantial financial support in exchange for strategic military access to Palauan territory and waters. The agreement effectively uses development aid as leverage to export the administration’s migration policies to a dependent sovereign nation with minimal capacity to refuse.

(Source: https://thehill.com/policy/international/5662934-palau-trump-agreement-migrants/amp/)

Trump Hires Beauty Salon Owner Mora Namdar to Decide Who to Ban From U.S.

Donald Trump appointed Mora Namdar, a Texas-based beauty salon owner and attorney, as assistant secretary for consular affairs, giving her authority over visa approvals, revocations, and decisions about who enters the United States. Namdar, 46, owns the Bam salon chain in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano, offering blowouts starting at $45 and makeup sessions at $55, while simultaneously operating a one-woman law firm she announced closing on Christmas Day. She previously held an interim position in the State Department’s Middle East and North Africa bureau during Trump’s first term in 2020.

Namdar’s Senate confirmation this month elevates a politically connected operative with no demonstrated expertise in immigration or consular affairs to control visa adjudications affecting millions of foreigners. In testimony, she aligned visa decisions with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s national security framing, stating that consular officers can revoke visas for individuals who “undermine” U.S. foreign policy, a standard potentially weaponizable against political opponents and critics.

Namdar contributed to Project 2025, Trump’s policy blueprint, by authoring a section attacking the U.S. Agency for Global Media—which operates Voice of America and Radio Free Europe—accusing it of “espionage-related security risks” and “anti-U.S. talking points,” and calling for its reform or closure. Her appointment operationalizes the “personnel is policy” strategy documented by PBS, which found the administration has implemented approximately half of Project 2025’s agenda through ideological staffing choices.

Her interim leadership of the State Department’s Near Eastern affairs bureau triggered internal concerns about management and morale according to multiple outlets. Namdar now oversees implementation of the administration’s ban on citizens from various European countries announced Wednesday, which Trump and Rubio framed as punishment for “egregious” social media censorship of “American viewpoints,” with additional bans promised.

This appointment exemplifies Trump’s strategy of installing operatives committed to Project 2025’s authoritarian goals across government agencies controlling speech and entry. Paired with FCC chairman Brendan Carr—another Project 2025 architect now pushing regulatory rollbacks and culture-war “censorship” narratives—Namdar’s position consolidates power to silence dissent and control who accesses the United States based on political loyalty rather than law.

(Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-hires-beauty-salon-owner-mora-namdar-to-decide-who-to-ban-from-us/)

Trump says US launched strike on ISIS terrorists in Nigeria – ABC News

President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States conducted military strikes against ISIS operatives in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, characterizing the action as a “powerful and deadly strike” targeting terrorists he claimed were “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Trump stated he had previously threatened the group with consequences if they did not cease violence, declaring “tonight, there was” retribution through what he called “numerous perfect strikes” executed by the Department of War.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth corroborated Trump’s announcement in a separate post, stating the Department of Defense had been “preparing for action” and confirming strikes were carried out. Hegseth indicated additional military operations would follow, writing “there will be ‘more to come,'” and thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, concluding with “Merry Christmas!” This followed Trump’s November video threatening to enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” in response to violence against Christians.

Trump has a documented history of making false claims about ISIS operations. In previous engagements with Nigeria’s leadership, Trump refused to apologize for calling African nations “shithole countries” and expressed preference for white European immigrants, undermining his stated concern for Nigerian Christians.

As of the announcement, the specific outcome of the strikes and exact targets remain unconfirmed. ABC News requested additional details from the White House, but no clarification on operational success or casualty figures has been provided. The military action was announced on Christmas Day without prior public disclosure of imminent operations.

This military action represents Trump’s use of military force in a sovereign nation without clear public justification or transparency regarding tactical objectives, civilian impact assessment, or coordination with international partners beyond Nigeria itself.

(Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-us-launched-strike-isis-terrorists-nigeria/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/624189102&id=128697246&fbclid=IwVERFWAO6sMhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeIri2ltSpiW2ijbI5_3BKXGc1ILofaQIHuOz0O216QjVACgiInQkujGOTTCw_aem_rM5sZiWG7gjdVK3uNITopg)

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