Category: Authoritarian

Trump Proposes Axis Alliance Against ICC During Beijing Summit

During last week's Beijing summit, Donald Trump proposed during the summit that the United States, China, and Russia should coordinate against the International Criminal Court, arguing their interests were aligned. The Trump administration has consistently opposed the ICC, characterizing it as engaging in politicization, abuse of power, and illegitimate judicial overreach, with some officials describing it as an instrument for "lawfare" against America. The White House declined to comment on these discussions, and the factsheet published after the summit contained no reference to conversations about Putin or the war.

China's foreign ministry rejected the account as "completely false," while the White House maintained silence. Trump's proposal to ally with Russia and China against the ICC contradicts established international accountability mechanisms and positions the administration alongside authoritarian regimes in opposing judicial oversight of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The summit occurred as Putin prepares a visit to China on Tuesday, four days after hosting Trump. Russia's war has devolved into a stalemate after four years, with Ukraine conducting increasingly effective drone strikes against Russian forces and infrastructure. Last week, Ukraine launched drone strikes near Moscow that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as "entirely justified" in response to Russia's record aerial bombardment of Kyiv, following a three-day ceasefire Trump had brokered to allow Putin's Victory Day parade.

The Biden administration frequently accused China of supplying dual-use materials to Russia that sustained its military campaign against Ukraine. The Trump administration has raised concerns less frequently, even as Russia and the United States operate without strategic arms control frameworks. Trump's alignment with Russian and Chinese positions on the ICC signals a departure from democratic accountability standards and a convergence with authoritarian approaches to international law.

(Source: https://www.ft.com/content/567c57b0-6346-43e6-9d14-840a793b4d1d?syn-25a6b1a6=1)

Trump Demands Thune Fire Parliamentarian Blocking Ballroom Funds

President Donald Trump demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune fire Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she blocked $1 billion in taxpayer funding for Trump’s ballroom project from a budget reconciliation bill. MacDonough determined that the ballroom funding violated the Byrd Rule, which prohibits non-budgetary items from passing with a simple majority vote. Trump called Thune to pressure him into removing MacDonough, but Thune refused, stating he would not fire her and noting that both sides of contentious reconciliation debates routinely criticize the parliamentarian.

Trump’s ballroom project has destroyed significant portions of the White House, including the entire East Wing, contradicting his initial assurances that construction would not interfere with existing structures. Initial claims that private donors would fund the project proved murky, and the endeavor has violated ethics standards regarding conflicts of interest. After an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Trump and Republicans pivoted to demanding $1 billion in taxpayer funding for the ballroom’s “modernization” and security upgrades as part of a Secret Service budget.

The Senate Parliamentarian is a nonpartisan official tasked with interpreting and applying Senate rules. MacDonough’s Saturday ruling followed standard parliamentary procedure and reflects the institution’s established constraints on reconciliation bills. Republicans indicated they would revise the provision to comply with the Byrd Rule, a standard procedural response when proposals fail initial review.

This is not the first time Trump has pressured Thune to remove MacDonough. Trump has a documented pattern of threatening institutional measures when he does not get his way. Last year, when MacDonough stripped Medicaid provisions from a tax bill during reconciliation, Trump allies demanded her removal. Thune rejected that demand as well, maintaining that he would not overrule or fire MacDonough for doing her constitutional job.

The White House declined to confirm whether Trump made the call to Thune, offering only a statement that it does not comment on private conversations. Thune’s refusal to cave to presidential pressure demonstrates that Senate leadership remains bound by institutional constraints, though Trump’s attempt to weaponize the parliamentary process for personal projects demonstrates his contempt for constitutional limits on executive power.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-is-reportedly-trying-to-badger-senate-leader-into-firing-official-who-nixed-ballroom-funding/)

Trump Defends Giant Golden Statue of Himself Amid Much Debate

Trump defended a 22-foot golden statue of himself erected at Trump National Doral Miami, commissioned by the $PATRIOT cryptocurrency group and unveiled in May 2026. Trump stated the statue, dubbed “Don Colossus” and covered in gold leaf, was created by “a large group of political supporters” and predicted it would “become a landmark,” while praising those involved as “great American patriots.”

Pastor Mark Burns, a spiritual adviser to Trump who led the dedication ceremony, issued a lengthy statement defending the installation after critics compared it to the biblical golden calf and accused supporters of idolatry. Burns asserted the statue represented “patriotism,” not worship, stating “We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone” while arguing critics were “in gross error” if they believed the statue constituted idol worship.

Late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart mocked the golden display, with Colbert describing it as “some recreational idolatry.” The statue was commissioned in August 2024 by sculptor Alan Cottrill following the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the design referencing Trump’s fist-raised gesture to the crowd after the shooting. The original plan called for unveiling during Trump’s inauguration, but reported internal disputes delayed its release.

The golden statue represents part of a broader pattern of Trump’s personal brand permeating government spaces and commercial products since his return to the White House, including Trump’s use of government resources for personal benefit, limited-edition passports, commemorative coins, and banners adorning federal buildings. This pattern mirrors House Republicans funding Trump’s Doral resort through their three-day retreat, further blending his personal commercial interests with political operations.

Critics have also installed counter-statues on the National Mall, including a bronze sculpture depicting Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a Titanic-themed pose that appeared in late 2025, and a gold-painted replica in March 2026 showing Trump embracing Epstein with outstretched arms. These installations emerged amid renewed calls for full release o(Source: https://time.com/article/2026/05/15/trump-gold-statue-controversy-comments-history/)f the Epstein files and renewed scrutiny of Trump’s former relationship with the disgraced financier.

Trump Attacks Taiwan in Wild Fox News Bret Baier Exchange

During a Fox News interview in Beijing following meetings with President Xi Jinping, Trump attacked Taiwan, claiming the island “stole our chip industry” and suggesting both Taiwan and China should “cool it” regarding escalating tensions. When pressed by anchor Bret Baier about whether Taiwanese people should feel more secure after his talks with Xi, Trump deflected, saying they should feel “neutral,” then pivoted to blaming previous U.S. administrations for failing to impose tariffs that would have kept semiconductor manufacturing domestic.

Trump framed Taiwan as a “negotiating chip” worth “$12 billion” in potential arms sales, emphasizing China’s size and proximity to the island while noting the United States is 9,500 miles away. He argued that tariffs of 100 to 200 percent on imported chips would have prevented Taiwan’s development as a semiconductor hub, repeating his longstanding complaint that American presidents lacked the foresight or will to protect domestic chip manufacturers. His comments suggested a willingness to deprioritize Taiwan’s security concerns in favor of what he characterized as economic leverage.

The remarks reflected a pattern consistent with Trump’s reported pressure on Japan’s leadership to suppress public support for Taiwan following his call with Xi. Trump’s framing of Taiwan as a bargaining tool rather than a democratic ally with independent strategic interests echoed his approach of accommodating authoritarian leaders’ positions on geopolitical disputes. His suggestion that Taiwan should “cool it” appeared to align Beijing’s preferred narrative that the island should refrain from asserting its autonomy.

The interview demonstrated Trump’s tendency to blame domestic predecessors rather than acknowledge China’s agency in Taiwan’s development, while simultaneously treating the island’s security as secondary to his transactional view of U.S. foreign policy. His comments on the a(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-attacks-taiwan-in-wild-fox-news-exchange-they-stole-our-chip-industry/)rms sale remained vague, neither committing to nor explicitly rejecting the pending $12 billion package, leaving Taiwan’s defensive capabilities in uncertain standing after his Beijing visit.

Trump DOJ Creates $1.776B Slush Fund to Settle IRS

Trump’s Department of Justice is finalizing a deal to establish a $1.776 billion “Truth and Justice Commission” compensation fund, contingent on Trump dropping his lawsuit against the IRS and two civil claims totaling $230 million related to the Russia investigation and the Mar-a-Lago search. DOJ lawyers initially attempted to justify Trump suing the government he directly controls by invoking a “rule of necessity,” arguing no alternative existed despite the obvious conflict of interest. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams rejected this framework after raising concerns that Trump possesses “extraordinary” control over the defendants and that the arrangement would allow defendants to “operate at the President’s direction.”

The proposed compensation structure would bypass normal oversight mechanisms: a five-member commission, four appointed by the attorney general with Trump holding removal power without cause, would distribute nearly $2 billion with no obligation to disclose its award process. Trump himself cannot claim payments for the three dropped cases, but entities associated with him are eligible to file claims, creating a mechanism for indirect personal enrichment. Democratic lawmakers condemned the arrangement as corruption and a “slush fund” for Trump’s allies, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stating, “We’re looking at a billion dollars for a ballroom; $1.7 billion for a slush fund for the president’s friends.”

The settlement violates fundamental principles of judicial integrity and separation of powers. Trump sued the IRS in 2023 after a government contractor admitted stealing his tax information in 2019 and 2020, but the underlying legal claim became a vehicle for Trump to extract taxpayer funds while exercising direct authority over the defendants. The commission’s lack of transparency and removal power vested in Trump transforms a compensation mechanism into an instrument for rewarding political loyalty without accountability. Court-appointed attorneys warned that Trump has “significantly expanded” presidential oversight over the DOJ in “ways that blur the line between fidelity to the President’s policy priorities and fidelity to the President himself.”

It remains unclear whether Judge Williams will approve the settlement or whether it will reach the Supreme Court. Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick acknowledged the constitutional dimension of the arrangement, stating “I don’t even know how that’s allowable to happen,” signaling that even GOP lawmakers recognize the proposal exceeds executive authority. Democratic lawmakers have called for congressional legislation to restrict taxpayer funding of the compensation fund, recognizing that the executive branch has unilaterally created a mechanism to distribute federal funds without legislative oversight or judicial review.

(Source: https://abcnews.com/US/trump-administration-create-1776b-truth-justice-commission-compensate/story?id=133005480)

Trump Attacks Cassidy as ‘Disloyal’ Over 2021 Impeachment Vote

President Donald Trump attacked Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on Saturday, calling him a “disloyal disaster” and “sleazebag” while urging voters to support Cassidy’s primary challengers, Representative Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming. Trump posted on Truth Social that Cassidy campaigned on loyalty to Trump in 2020 but then voted to convict him during the 2021 impeachment trial, accusing the senator of betrayal and claiming Cassidy is “BAD FOR LOUISIANA.”

Cassidy is facing his first primary challenge since the impeachment vote, with Trump endorsing Letlow as “a winner who will NEVER let you down.” In the post, Trump emphasized his electoral dominance in Louisiana, stating he won the state three times and “got the most votes in its history, by far,” framing the primary as a test of loyalty to his political movement.

When CNN’s Manu Raju asked Cassidy last month about Trump’s repeated accusations of disloyalty, the senator deflected multiple times before stating he is “loyal to the United States of America” and committed to working with the president “whenever we’re working for the best of the U.S.” Cassidy’s careful distinction between loyalty to the country and loyalty to Trump reflects the tension between institutional duty and party demands for personal allegiance.

Saturday’s primary election in Louisiana determines whether Cassidy advances or faces a runoff in late June if no candidate secures a majority vote. Trump’s full-throated intervention exemplifies his pattern of targeting Republicans who defy his directives, using inflammatory language and endorsements to remove party members he views as insufficiently loyal to his leadership.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/disloyal-disaster-trump-trashes-sleazebag-republican-senator-battling-primary-challengers/)

Trump Attacks Talarico with False Claims About Gender and Faith

Donald Trump attacked Democratic Texas state Senate nominee James Talarico aboard Air Force One on Friday, calling him “weird” and “pathetic” while making obscure and false claims about his background. Trump’s attack included references to “six genders” and an unclear jab about “Jesus,” alongside attacks on Talarico’s dietary choices, describing him as vegan in contradictory statements.

Talarico won the Democratic primary on March 4, defeating Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Trump’s remarks came as he declined to endorse a Republican candidate in the party’s unresolved primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who will compete in a May 26 runoff. Cornyn has been a reliable Trump ally in the Senate, while Paxton has advanced Trump’s false 2020 election fraud narrative despite facing impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House.

The “six genders” reference appears to distort a 2021 statement by Talarico about biological sexes. Trump’s “hit on Jesus” comment lacks clear meaning, though Talarico has publicly discussed his Christian faith repeatedly. Trump’s incoherent attacks reflect his pattern of making false and contradictory personal attacks on political opponents.

Trump claimed his “record of endorsements is extraordinary” while declining to specify which Republican candidate he would support in the Texas runoff. He stated he knows both candidates “very well” and likes them “a lot,” yet proceeded to attack the Democratic nominee rather than address the Republican primary race directly.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-uncorks-gonzo-attack-on-political-foe-six-genders-a-real-hit-on-jesus/)

Eric Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against Jen Psaki Over Alt5

Eric Trump announced plans to sue MSNBC’s Jen Psaki and the network over a May 15, 2026 segment in which Psaki identified him as a board member of Alt5 Sigma, a Las Vegas-based fintech firm rebranded as AI Financial. Trump denied the claim in a post to X, stating he had “NEVER” served on the company’s board and accused Psaki of spreading “blatant lies.”

Psaki’s segment addressed Eric Trump’s presence during his father’s Beijing trip, citing a Financial Times report that Alt5 Sigma was exploring a deal with a Chinese chipmaker connected to the Chinese Communist Party. The MSNBC host noted Eric Trump appeared in footage ringing the NASDAQ opening bell alongside the Alt5 Sigma logo and questioned potential conflicts of interest given his stated separation from family business operations during his father’s presidency.

Eric Trump was previously listed as a board observer and adviser for Alt5 Sigma following the company’s August 2025 partnership announcement with World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture founded by President Trump and his sons. Bloomberg reported in April 2026 that Eric Trump’s name and affiliation were removed from the company’s public website amid financial losses and executive turnover.

Psaki’s reporting detailed multiple instances of Trump family business dealings during the presidency, including Pentagon contracts worth millions awarded to companies partially or fully owned by Eric and Donald Trump Jr. She questioned whether the family’s financial interests warranted closer scrutiny from agencies like the Internal Revenue Service given apparent conflicts of interest.

President Trump has pursued an aggressive litigation strategy against media outlets, having reached settlements with Paramount and ABC while maintaining ongoing defamation cases against other news organizations including the BBC. Eric Trump’s threatened lawsuit against Psaki and MSNBC continues this pattern of using legal threats to challenge critical media coverage.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/eric-trump-accuses-jen-psaki-of-blatant-lies-as-he-announces-lawsuit-against-her-and-ms-now/)

Trump Attacks BBC Over Iran Bombing Query, Repeats False AI Claims

Trump attacked the BBC as "fake" aboard Air Force One on Friday after being questioned about an Iranian school bombing that killed over 170 civilians, including children. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, testified that week that the United States may have caused the bombing, which is under investigation. Trump used the question to rehash his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, falsely claiming the network used artificial intelligence to manipulate his January 6 speech and "put words in my mouth."

Trump attacked the BBC as "fake" after questions about an Iranian school bombing. He cited his lawsuit against BBC, misrepresenting their editing of his January 6 speech. While the BBC admitted to edits that unintentionally misled viewers, Trump's speech indeed indirectly incited violence, urging supporters to march to the Capitol. Despite no direct call for violence, his inaction during the attack and later actions, like pardoning participants and releasing a song with them, emphasize his indirect influence and support for the rioters.

Trump's lawsuit against the BBC follows resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness in the aftermath of the editing controversy. The departures came as the BBC faced public criticism over the January 6 segment, though the broadcaster maintained the edit was unintentional rather than malicious. Trump weaponized the incident to deflect from questioning about civilian deaths in Iran and to attack press accountability.

Trump's outburst exemplifies his pattern of attacking journalists and news organizations when confronted with uncomfortable questions about military actions and their consequences. By characterizing legitimate editorial scrutiny as "fake" and fabricated, Trump delegitimized the question about the Iranian school bombing itself. His false claims about AI manipulation and invented defenses obscured accountability for the deaths of over 170 civilians, including children.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-lashes-out-at-reporter-and-fake-bbc-over-iran-question-the-ones-who-put-ai-in-my-mouth/)

Trump Slams Reporter Inches From His Face on Air Force One

During the return flight from Beijing on Air Force One, President Donald Trump attacked New York Times White House and National Security Correspondent David Sanger with a sustained barrage of personal insults while positioned inches from the reporter’s face. Trump called Sanger “fake,” “treasonous,” and accused him and The New York Times of writing false accounts of military operations in Iran, falsely claiming Trump achieved a “total military victory” that destroyed Iran’s Navy, Air Force, air defense systems, radar, and leadership across multiple command divisions.

Sanger had questioned Trump about the utility of repeating bombing campaigns in Iran after 38 days of strikes failed to produce the stated political changes. Trump responded by denying the basic facts reported by the Times and other outlets, insisting that New York Times coverage constituted “treason” because journalists described Iran as maintaining military capability when Trump asserted they had been completely dismantled. Trump threatened additional destruction, stating “Within two days, we can knock out the whole thing” and claimed he could destroy Iran’s bridges and electrical infrastructure at will.

Trump attributed the New York Times’ declining subscriber numbers to what he characterized as fake news coverage, weaponizing the encounter to attack press credibility while simultaneously making grandiose and unverified claims about military achievements. The confrontation exemplifies Trump’s documented pattern of threatening media outlets for unfavorable coverage and using presidential power to intimidate journalists who contradict his statements.

Sanger’s colleagues at the Times subsequently published a report documenting Iran’s capability restoration and the Trump administration’s exaggeration of military success, directly contradicting Trump’s claims aboard Air Force One. The incident occurred following Trump’s high-security visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping under conditions of secrecy and pageantry that limited independent press access.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-attacks-reporter-inches-from-his-face-on-air-force-one-treasonous-fake-guy/)

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