Category: Authoritarian

Trump Threatens Senate GOP for Refusing to Fire Parliamentarian

President Donald Trump attacked Senate Republicans on Wednesday for failing to remove Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, whom he accused of bias against his party. Trump posted on Truth Social that MacDonough, appointed during the Obama administration, has been "brutal to Republicans" while favoring Democrats, and demanded her replacement with someone more favorable to his agenda. The attack followed MacDonough's decision to block a filibuster-proof vote on funding for Trump's East Wing renovation and ballroom project, which she determined violated the Byrd Rule limiting non-budgetary items in reconciliation bills.

Trump threatened Senate Republicans with electoral consequences if they do not act on his demands. In his post, he warned that "you will never see another Republican President again" unless Republicans pass either his proposed "Save America Act" or eliminate the filibuster, claiming Democrats would otherwise gain additional states, senators, and Supreme Court seats. Trump characterized Republican leadership as playing "a very soft game" compared to Democrats, stating "Get smart and tough Republicans, or you'll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune refused to overrule MacDonough's determination that aspects of Trump's funding request were ineligible for reconciliation. MacDonough's role as parliamentarian is to interpret and enforce Senate rules impartially; the position operates independently of presidential direction. Trump's demand that Senate Republicans fire her reflects his expectation that institutional officials will prioritize his personal interests over their constitutional duties.

Trump's attack exemplifies his pattern of demanding absolute institutional loyalty and punishing those who constrain his power through law or procedure. His threat to Republican senators who fail to comply with his directives demonstrates his use of political intimidation to reshape Senate rules and practices to serve his personal projects, funded by taxpayer dollars.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/republicans-play-a-very-soft-game-trump-bashes-senate-gop-for-failing-to-fire-brutal-parliamentarian/)

Donald Trump as James Bond: White House Posts Image of President as 007

The White House posted an AI-generated image on social media Saturday depicting President Trump as James Bond, complete with a silhouetted 007 figure and “Make America Great Again” text overlaid on a faux movie poster. The post responded to news that Amazon MGM Studios had begun casting for Daniel Craig’s successor in the Bond franchise, with casting director Nina Gold leading the process.

The image immediately drew mockery from internet users, who created counter-memes highlighting Trump’s documented ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his physical appearance, and his recent dismissal of Americans’ financial concerns during the Iran conflict. One user captioned an AI image of an obese Trump holding a Big Mac as “I Don’t Care About Your Finances,” directly referencing Trump’s stated indifference to taxpayers’ economic hardship.

Trump has engaged in serial mythologizing through AI-generated imagery, previously sharing pictures of himself dressed as the Pope and as a Christ-like healer. These posts reflect a pattern of self-aggrandizing content designed to burnish his image while actual governance deteriorates under his administration’s authoritarian directives.

Amazon MGM Studios secured creative control of the Bond franchise in February 2025 under a deal with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, setting the stage for the studio’s casting search. Actor Tom Francis, known for a revival of Andr(Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/donald-trump-james-bond-white-house-image-1236751477/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e231_tv4_tp1_a1demo0htc1t2h&fbclid=IwY2xjawR2rklleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyN0RJbHNadkwzZXVZZHg4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlxaHRFjaX2tMB8mhHmXUTpP3GazG2IP7h5J3BON121vYBnEYFFelo__QPUV_aem_HJTXhS0NlsCQcnLkTNtawQ)ew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard,” was among those who auditioned for the role.

Trump Attacks Massie, Backs Challenger Gallrein in Kentucky Primary

President Donald Trump launched a rare public attack on Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky on Tuesday, his first tweet in months, demanding the congressman withdraw what Trump called a “fraudulent” endorsement statement from years prior. Trump endorsed Ed Gallrein, Massie’s primary challenger, declaring Massie “the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country” and calling him a “Weak and Pathetic RINO” hours before primary election results were expected.

Massie has emerged as one of Trump’s most frequent targets within the GOP, drawing the president’s wrath for opposing Trump on multiple fronts including Epstein files transparency and foreign policy matters. Trump’s Sunday Truth Social post escalated the assault, accusing Massie of voting against tax cuts, border wall funding, and law enforcement while supporting transgender healthcare and transgender athletes in sports.

Gallrein, whom Trump backed as(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-fires-off-first-tweet-in-months-to-excoriate-republican-nemesis/) “a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer,” represents Trump’s preferred alternative in the race. Trump’s endorsement of Gallrein signals the president’s expectation of absolute alignment with his agenda, positioning the primary as a test of loyalty to Trump’s policy positions and worldview.

The intensity of Trump’s public denunciation reflects Massie’s pattern of independence on key issues, particularly his isolationist foreign policy stance and his willingness to break ranks on votes Trump considers essential. Trump’s framing of the race as a choice between Massie’s alleged betrayals and Gallrein’s America First commitment underscores how dissent from Trump’s positions within the Republican Party carries severe political consequences.

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/)

1 2 3 4 5 … 175