Category: Unpresidential

Trump Claims Conversation with AI Theodore Roosevelt

President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday to have conversed with Theodore Roosevelt at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota. Trump asked the historical figure about the Panama Canal and criticized Democrats for allegedly giving it away, but he was actually speaking to an AI simulation of the twenty-sixth president, not a genuine interaction with a deceased historical figure.

The exchange, captured in video by Special Assistant Margo Martin, showed Trump listening to a computer-generated version of Roosevelt that reminded him “the nation comes first.” Trump praised the artificial interaction as “fantastic” and claimed it was “an honor” to engage with the simulation. This marks Trump’s continued reliance on AI recreations of historical figures at his events, including an AI George Washington at his Great American State Fair.

At the same ceremony, Trump bragged about diverting 90 acres of protected federal land to facilitate the library’s construction. Trump stated he had “ripped it away from the federal government” during his first term, claiming officials “don’t know it’s missing.” The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation purchased the protected land from the U.S. Forest Service in 2021 following Trump-backed legislation passed in December 2020. Trump has simultaneously rolled back environmental protections that Roosevelt championed, weakening the Endangered Species Act and exposing 86 million previously protected acres to drilling and development.

Trump’s visit occurred amid broader legal setbacks for his administration. Earlier in the week, Trump delivered remarks at the Roosevelt Library emphasizing historical precedent for presidential family honors, while federal courts continued dismantling his policies, striking down his birthright citizenship ban and blocking restrictions on student loan forgiveness programs.



(Source: https://newrepublic.com/post/212650/donald-trump-teddy-roosevelt-ai-conversation)

Trump Denies Managing Billion-Dollar Crypto Profits

Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he plays no active role in his financial dealings, attributing his reported $1 billion windfall to unnamed financial advisers rather than his own deliberate business decisions. Trump stated he does not “get involved” in his personal finances because he has “funds that run my money well,” even as his sons Don Jr. and Eric stood nearby during the remarks to reporters traveling to North Dakota.

Trump’s assertion contradicts his actual financial structure. Unlike presidents who typically place assets in blind trusts to avoid conflicts of interest, Trump never did so and maintains direct control over his business holdings alongside his children. Financial disclosures reveal the Trump family sold a 49% stake in his cryptocurrency venture World Liberty Financial to a UAE official for $500 million, demonstrating active family involvement in major business transactions.

Trump’s cryptocurrency earnings significantly exceed his traditional real estate income. Financial disclosures document over $1 billion in profits from two cryptocurrency businesses, substantially surpassing revenues from his property portfolio. The UFC will compensate fighters with stablecoins issued by World Liberty Financial, Trump’s cryptocurrency venture co-founded with his sons, illustrating the direct connection between his family’s crypto interests and his presidential actions.

Trump’s cryptocurrency profits are directly tied to his presidential actions and policy decisions. Since taking office, Trump reversed his previous tough stance on cryptocurrency regulation and actively promoted industry-friendly policies after receiving campaign contributions from crypto interests. This pattern demonstrates how Trump has leveraged his presidency to advance financial interests that allegedly operate without his involvement.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-billions-stocks-financial-disclosures-crypto-b3006973.html)

Donald Trump Talks About Giving His Sons the Medal of Honor

President Trump used a speech at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota on Wednesday to talk repeatedly about awarding himself and his sons the Congressional Medal of Honor. Trump referenced the historical father-son pairs of Theodore Roosevelt and General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and Arthur MacArthur and General Douglas MacArthur, who are among the only recipients of the award, then pivoted to himself. "As I see my two beautiful sons sitting there, I think, 'I'm going to give one to myself and one to them'. We'll have a threesome. I'll pick out one of the two," Trump stated, adding he would give the medals "for their genius at hunting" and claiming he deserves one "for taking on Russia, Russia, Russia, or something."

Trump acknowledged the routine nature of these comments, admitting "I have thought about this" while claiming to joke frequently on the topic. He also noted the risk of his remarks being misinterpreted, saying "this is dangerous to say because the fake news is up there." Trump has made similar Medal of Honor jokes at least twice within two weeks, including a recent appearance in Montana, establishing a pattern of returning to the idea throughout his second term.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military decoration, awarded exclusively for extraordinary heroism in combat. Trump's casual treatment of the award contradicts his stated reverence for it; he has previously struggled publicly with the ceremonial presentation of the medal, fumbling to fasten it around a recipient's neck at a formal Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony.

The remarks reflect Trump's pattern of conflating personal grievance with national honors and blurring the line between jest and actual policy inclination. Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were present during the speech but did not respond publicly to the comments about receiving military decorations neither has earned through military service.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-drops-wild-rant-about-giving-his-sons-medals/)

Trump Flips Out at Gas Companies Over ‘Illegal’ Gouging

President Donald Trump demanded that gasoline retailers immediately slash prices to approximately $2.50 per gallon, accusing them of “totally illegal” price gouging in a Monday Truth Social post. Trump claimed that with crude oil around $68-70 per barrel, significantly lower than the $100+ levels following his Iran war, gas stations were not passing savings to consumers, and warned of “big problems ahead” if retailers did not comply.

The national average gas price stood at $3.86 per gallon as of Monday, down from peaks near $4.50 in recent months. The U.S. and Israel initiated military action against Iran in February, prompting Iran to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil transits; a tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is currently in effect. Trump previously claimed his administration was conducting a “big investigation” into pricing practices by major oil companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP.

Last week, Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner stated that a lag exists between crude oil price declines and retail pump prices, with reductions expected as market conditions normalize. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the impact of his military actions on energy costs, telling reporters in May that gas prices represented “peanuts” and assuring the public the situation would not persist long.

Trump’s current demand contradicts his prior messaging and mischaracterizes how energy markets function. By framing market dynamics as criminal behavior and threatening retailers with unspecified consequences, he attempts to leverage presidential power to dictate prices without acknowledging his own foreign policy decisions that disrupted global oil supplies and contributed to price volatility.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-flips-out-at-gas-companies-over-totally-illegal-gouging-drop-your-price/)al oil supplies and contributed to price volatility.

Trump Celebrates Supreme Court Ruling Expanding Presidential Firing Power

Donald Trump celebrated a Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential authority to fire Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners, claiming the decision overturned 90 years of precedent and "greatly increasing Presidential Power." Trump had fired Biden-appointee Rebecca Slaughter from the FTC in 2025, citing her service as "inconsistent with the Administration's priorities," and the Court's 6-3 decision on Monday upheld his authority to do so.

In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court limited Trump's power by preventing him from firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, preserving the central bank's independence from executive removal authority. Trump had fired Cook in August after Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte accused her of mortgage fraud; Cook has denied the charge. Trump vowed to pursue "appropriate action immediately" and claimed Cook committed "wrongdoing," while Pulte, now interim head of the Department of National Intelligence, reiterated his belief that Cook "will be indicted for mortgage fraud."

It's important to note that Trump has falsely claimed mail-in voting is "really dishonest"; it is a legitimate voting method used by legitimate voters, including Trump himself.

All evidence shows fraud rates are tiny. He also falsely described what Jimmy Carter and a Carter-led 2005 commission said about mail-in ballots. Carter didn't say "you can't have them," and the commission didn't declare cheating inevitable. Additionally, Trump falsely claimed, "We're the only nation that does birthright citizenship," though about three dozen countries provide automatic citizenship to people born on their soil.

CNN's Paula Reid explained the split outcome, noting that the FTC ruling favored Trump because the agency operates within the Executive branch, while the Federal Reserve maintains independence as a separate entity. The decisions represent conflicting judicial positions on the scope of presidential removal powers, with the Court granting Trump greater control over executive agencies while constraining his authority over the Fed.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-takes-victory-lap-over-supreme-court-case-greatly-increasing-presidential-power/)

Supreme Court Lets Border Agents Strip Green Cards Without Proof

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority, led by Justice Clarence Thomas, ruled 6-3 that border officers may deny reentry to green card holders based on unproven criminal allegations without requiring “clear and convincing evidence” of actual wrongdoing. The decision strips lawful permanent residents of foundational due process protections and empowers border agents to treat returning green card holders as “applicants for admission” vulnerable to detention and removal on mere suspicion, even if convictions occur only after their return or result in acquittal.

The case involved Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident since 2007, who was arrested in 2012 for allegedly selling counterfeit goods and briefly left the U.S. Upon return, immigration officers declared him inadmissible based on pending charges. A federal appeals court had previously required “clear and convincing evidence” of an actual crime before changing his status, but the Supreme Court overturned that protection Tuesday. Lau ultimately pleaded guilty in 2013 and was ordered removed, but the ruling’s scope extends far beyond his case.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent condemned the majority for handing the government a “massive blank check” to rewrite immigration law and circumvent statutory protections. She warned that green card holders face potential years in legal limbo or detention even if later acquitted, as the sequencing of charging before conviction or conviction before hearing fundamentally contradicts the plain terms of immigration statutes. The ruling violates the rights of lawful permanent residents who have already cleared security vetting to establish their status.

This decision amplifies the Trump administration’s coordinated assault on legal immigration pathways, executed by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and immigration officials who have transformed agencies into loyalty enforcement arms of the mass deportation campaign. A federal judge recently found that USCIS policies unlawfully discriminated against asylum seekers, green card applicants, and citizenship candidates “solely by the happenstance of their birth,” using purported national security concerns that “mask anti-immigrant sentiments” to justify sweeping removal actions leaving thousands in legal limbo.

Concurrent efforts target additional legal immigration protections, including attempts to strip Temporary Protected Status from over one million immigrants and accelerated citizenship revocation proceedings against naturalized Americans. The administration also unlawfully terminated status for tens of thousands who used a Biden-era appointment app at the U.S.-Mexico border, a determination a federal judge made earlier this year. Combined with Tuesday’s Supreme Court green card ruling, these actions dismantle legal immigration infrastructure while operating under false claims that enforcement targets only the “worst of the worst.”



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/supreme-court-green-card-immigration-ruling-b3005036.html)

Trump Touts Failed State Fair as Fantastic Despite Sparse Crowds

President Trump claimed on Truth Social that his Great American State Fair at the National Mall was a resounding success, asking followers whether they believed he had done a “fantastic job” building and operating the event. Trump contrasted his effort with former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, asserting they could not have accomplished the same feat.

The two-week event, which launched last Wednesday under Trump-aligned Freedom250 organization rather than the nonpartisan America250 group, has been marked by successive operational failures and sparse attendance. Multiple musicians canceled performances after discovering they had been misled about the event’s affiliation, and several Democratic-led states withdrew from staffing booths, objecting to MAGA-aligned messaging replacing the promised patriotic theme.

Trump claimed his kickoff speech drew 45,000 attendees and that America was “back” and “respected by everybody” under his leadership, yet video documentation contradicted the crowd size assertion. The next morning, a power failure destroyed food inventory in the event’s food hall facility, with ice cream melting in summer Washington heat.

Photographs and news reports reveal the fairgrounds remained largely empty throughout the weekend. The Associated Press captured musician Jason Hershey performing at a Christian worship space to only two visible attendees, while other images showed minimal visitor engagement with exhibits. NBC News reported actual attendance fell far short of Trump’s stated figures, with many Wednesday attendees coming solely to see the president speak.

The Washington Post documented that the Wednesday crowd “thinly covered an area about the length of the National Museum of American History,” smaller than typical summer outdoor movie screenings, further contradicting Trump’s characterization of the event’s scale and success.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-great-america-state-fair-crowds-post-b3005067.html)

Trump White House Secretly Pressured Board Protecting Federal Workers

The Trump administration orchestrated a covert pressure campaign on the Merit Systems Protection Board, a federal agency designed to shield civil service employees from arbitrary dismissal, resulting in a March ruling that dismantled decades of precedent protecting federal workers. The board's decision accepted the White House's constitutional theory that President Trump possesses sweeping authority to remove officials without due process, effectively erasing civil service protections for federal employees, including immigration judges whose legal duties often conflict with Trump's political objectives. This ruling represents a deliberate dismantling of the most effective mechanism federal workers possess to contest wrongful termination.

The pressure campaign, led by a White House aide dedicated to expediting federal worker terminations, operated through both public and private channels in ways that parallel direct judicial coercion. By compelling the board to abandon established legal standards, the Trump administration weaponized a protective agency into a tool for authoritarian control over the federal workforce. The board's reversal of longstanding doctrine signals the administration's systematic effort to consolidate executive power and eliminate institutional checks on presidential authority.

This decision implements the "unitary executive" theory, a cornerstone of Trump's governing philosophy that concentrates all executive branch power in the presidency, allowing Trump to direct federal prosecutors, immigration judges, and other officials whose professional independence once constrained his political agenda. The administration has already moved to measure HHS employees' performance based on demonstrable loyalty to Trump's policies, illustrating the practical application of this authority. The ruling defangs the primary legal recourse available to federal workers challenging unlawful dismissals.

Though the board's decision does not directly affect pending Supreme Court cases on presidential power over the civil service, its precedent could devastate protections for vast segments of the federal workforce if upheld on appeal. The timing and methodology of this ruling reveal the administration's calculated assault on institutional independence, transforming independent agencies into compliance mechanisms for Trump's consolidation of power.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/us/politics/trump-firings-workers-merit-systems-protection-board.html)

Trump Defies Judge’s Warning to Begin Golf Course

President Donald Trump announced on June 28 that work will begin September 1 on renovating the public East Potomac Golf Course despite a federal judge explicitly warning of “serious consequences” if the administration proceeds with major work without prior court approval and notification. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes stated: “I do not want a situation where something has happened and then I’m being told by the government or by a foundation or by a bulldozing company that it’s too late to do anything about it.”

Trump toured the golf course alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf architect Tom Fazio, describing the project as a public-private partnership that will create “one of the Greatest Golf Courses anywhere in the World” capable of hosting major tournaments including the U.S. Open and Ryder Cup. The administration terminated the previous operator’s lease, National Links Trust, in December citing maintenance failures, though the nonprofit disputes those claims and was permitted to continue operating under a May agreement while Trump’s renovation plans advance.

The D.C. Preservation League warned the course would be “razed” before legal challenges could prevent it, citing the rapid demolition of the White House’s East Wing. This follows Trump’s pattern of moving forward with projects despite judicial restraint, including his 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery that prompted a veterans’ lawsuit and his addition of his name to the Kennedy Center before a judge ordered its removal.

Trump also claimed vandals caused algae blooms and liner damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, describing the vandals as “Criminal, Radical Left” individuals without evidence. He stated the $16 million pool renovation is now in “full use” and promised additional treatment after July 4 to restore it to “perfect shape.”



(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-work-begin-dc-golf-despite-judges-warning/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/690486707&id=134293591&fbclid=IwVERDUASutIJwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJkhPhw7MgNMqb6g9axbZGLPouEvK2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7grCkKIcjfqOt3wEYrxm4M9uG1DPmqyEKDaLjhsw9KIo3aIEojm7_S-B58dg_aem_3syqiwivXYdmw1FAVkwNow)to “perfect shape.”

Trump Threatens Iran’s Annihilation Over Ceasefire Violations

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile, drone storage, and coastal radar sites on Saturday in response to Iran violating a ceasefire agreement. Trump stated the United States was prepared to be “forced” to complete military operations against Iran if additional violations occurred, declaring that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist” if the country continues its aggression. Trump’s threat escalated rhetoric surrounding the ongoing conflict, as U.S. Central Command confirmed strikes were conducted in direct response to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin, Iranian forces launched one-way attack drones targeting U.S. naval assets, including the Navy’s regional headquarters and the 5th Fleet based in Bahrain. The strikes hit a commercial vessel carrying approximately 200,000 barrels of oil in the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday morning, marking the second ship attacked in two days. Griffin reported the U.S. military response was substantially larger than previous night strikes and included targeting air defense systems, drone storage facilities, cruise missiles, and minelaying capabilities.

Trump has repeatedly employed annihilation rhetoric throughout the conflict with Iran. Previously, Trump threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, following which a two-week ceasefire was announced and Trump withdrew the threat. His pattern of catastrophic ultimatums paired with tactical concessions demonstrates a strategy of escalating military pressure while maintaining negotiating leverage, though his latest statements suggest willingness to pursue total military conquest if Iran continues its maritime operations.

The escalating military exchanges occurred as ongoing negotiations to end the war continued. U.S. officials stated Iran was given an opportunity to honor the ceasefire agreement but “elected not to” when its forces conducted the drone attack. The cycle of Iranian aggression and American military retaliation underscores the fragility of the ceasefire arrangement and the potential for broader regional conflict if either side abandons restraint. Trump’s threats to occupy Iran over the Strait of Hormuz reflect his consistent maximalist positioning in the conflict.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-warns-usa-is-getting-forced-to-wipe-out-iran-once-and-for-all/)

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