Category: Unpresidential

Trump Bizarrely Claims Credit For Ending 1/4 of a War on Fox

During a Fox News interview Thursday night, President Trump claimed credit for ending “eight and a quarter” wars, adding a fractional war to his repeated assertions of peace-brokering accomplishments. Trump attributed the quarter-war credit to Thailand and Cambodia “going at it again,” contradicting his claim of having stopped conflicts entirely. His statements came in response to discussion of María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient who recently offered to give her award to Trump for “liberating” Venezuela.

Trump has routinely inflated his war-ending record on social media and in public appearances, variously claiming to have ended 8, 9, or 10 wars without factual support. Fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked these assertions, yet Trump continues to invoke the falsehood as evidence of his diplomatic achievements and as grounds for his own Nobel Prize candidacy. His willingness to revise the number mid-interview—from “eight” to “eight and a quarter”—demonstrates the malleable nature of his claims.

Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime and dedicated the honor to Trump during her acceptance. Trump publicly justified the U.S. invasion of Venezuela by stating the operation would secure control over Venezuelan oil reserves. When asked by Hannity whether he would meet with Machado and accept her prize, Trump expressed willingness but pivoted to amplifying his unsubstantiated war-ending claims instead of addressing her political situation or offering concrete support.

The interview highlights Trump’s pattern of manufacturing achievements through rhetorical inflation and repetition rather than documented accomplishment. By presenting fractional credit for unresolved conflicts as proof of peace-brokering success, Trump conflates aspiration with outcome while avoiding accountability for conflicts that persist. His eagerness to accept recognition he has not earned reflects his consistent approach to self-aggrandizement across foreign policy matters.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-bizarrely-claims-credit-for-ending-1-4-of-a-war-in-falsehood-riddled-rant-on-fox-news/)

France changes its G7 schedule because Trump is busy with White House UFC fight on his birthday: report

French officials rescheduled the Group of 7 summit from June 14-16 to June 15-17 after Trump announced plans to host a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, his 80th birthday. A White House official stated the summit was moved to “accommodate” Trump’s schedule, claiming international partners “kindly shifted dates” because Trump’s attendance was “essential.” France’s government declined to explicitly confirm the UFC event prompted the change, attributing the rescheduling to “consultations with G7 partners.”

Trump announced the White House UFC event during an October rally in Norfolk, Virginia, stating he would host a “big UFC fight” on the White House grounds on June 14. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed logistical planning is underway and disclosed the event will accommodate approximately 5,000 spectators on the White House lawn, with large screens, a stage, and music scheduled throughout the day. White indicated that fighters will walk directly from the Oval Office to the venue.

Trump is a documented UFC enthusiast who has attended multiple fights, including one in November 2024 with his son and Elon Musk. The scheduling change demonstrates how Trump’s personal entertainment commitments now direct diplomatic calendars, with world leaders accommodating his birthday event over established international protocols.

Trump attended the previous G7 summit in Canada but departed early, citing Middle East tensions. His prioritization of a UFC event over the standard G7 schedule reflects his pattern of treating official duties as secondary to personal interests and entertainment.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/france-changes-g7-schedule-because-003823827.html)

Trump Goon Melts Down Defending Kennedy Center Disasters

Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell defended the performing arts venue’s controversial Trump-branded renaming by attacking major news outlets rather than addressing why the Washington National Opera ended its 50-year residency. The opera company cited the Kennedy Center’s new business model, which demands performers fund productions entirely in advance—a departure from standard industry practice where ticket sales cover only 30–60% of costs, with grants and donations making up the remainder.

Grenell accused CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times of encouraging artists to boycott performances without providing evidence, posting on X that “legacy media are left wing activists.” His deflection ignored the concrete operational issue: the Kennedy Center’s funding requirement is incompatible with how opera companies—and most performing arts organizations—operate financially.

The Washington National Opera’s departure represents another institutional rejection of Trump’s attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after himself. The company stated the split was amicable, but the timing reflects broader artist resistance to the renaming decision, which has drawn criticism from cultural leaders and the Kennedy family itself.

Grenell’s response exemplifies the administration’s pattern of blaming media outlets for negative coverage rather than addressing substantive concerns about institutional changes. Grenell previously made similar unsubstantiated claims about media influence on artist decisions regarding the Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Center’s new funding model appears designed to prioritize corporate or private sponsorship over traditional arts support structures, fundamentally altering how the institution operates. This structural shift, not media pressure, explains why established arts organizations are reconsidering their participation at the venue.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/trump-goon-melts-down-latest-070034608.html)

Smithsonian scrubs negative info about Trump from caption of presidential portrait: report – Raw Story

The Smithsonian Institution removed references to Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection from his official presidential portrait caption at the National Portrait Gallery, according to The Washington Post. A Trump official had previously complained about the caption, which documented his impeachments on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection, as well as his Senate acquittal in both trials. The institution also replaced the portrait photograph itself with a new image showing Trump with his fists on the Resolute Desk, removing the prior photo by Washington Post photojournalist Matt McClain.

The revised caption now contains only Trump’s years in office, making it substantially shorter than the previous text and leaving a visible outline of the old placard on the wall beneath it. This alteration contradicts the Smithsonian’s treatment of other former presidents’ portraits, which continue to include significant events from their administrations. Former President Bill Clinton’s portrait caption, for example, still mentions his impeachment, demonstrating the selective erasure applied only to Trump’s historical record.

The action reflects ongoing Trump administration efforts to systematically dismantle the Smithsonian’s historical narratives through pressure and institutional control. The removal of documented facts about impeachment proceedings and the Capitol attack from the official record demonstrates direct censorship of American history within a federal institution.

This revision represents a factual omission that rewrites the historical record available to the public visiting the National Portrait Gallery. By removing impeachment documentation from Trump’s portrait while preserving it for Clinton, the Smithsonian has created an inconsistent standard that privileges Trump’s image over historical accuracy and transparency about presidential conduct.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-portrait-2674872324/)

US quits global organisation dedicated to preventing violent extremism | Reuters

The Trump administration withdrew U.S. support from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) on Wednesday as part of a broader pullout from 35 international agencies and 31 U.N. entities deemed misaligned with U.S. interests. GCERF, a Geneva-based organization supporting extremism prevention programs across dozens of vulnerable countries, was eliminated without explanation according to Dr. Khalid Koser, the fund’s director.

Koser stated the decision reflects an ideological shift toward security-focused counterterrorism over multilateral prevention strategies, telling Reuters: “I think it’s a mistake to take out that fundamental piece of prevention. But I don’t think this administration believes in prevention.” The withdrawal contradicts Trump’s stated “America First” foreign policy positioning, as the U.S. originally helped establish GCERF’s programs including reintegration efforts in northeast Syria for families from Islamic State militant circles.

The timing of the withdrawal undermines global security objectives, as extremist violence risks are at their highest level since the 2011 Arab Spring, with escalating attacks documented in Afghanistan, the Sahel region, and northeast Syria camps holding tens of thousands of Islamic State family members vulnerable to radicalization. The 2025 Global Terrorism Index recorded terrorist attacks in 66 countries in 2024, up from 58 in 2023, reversing a decade of improvement and marking a severe deterioration in global security conditions.

Simultaneous with the GCERF withdrawal, the Trump administration quit the 30-nation Global Counterterrorism Forum, further dismantling collaborative international security infrastructure. GCERF now carries the global prevention burden largely alone with a $50 million annual budget insufficient to address expanding gaps left by mass U.S. foreign aid cuts implemented last year.

Koser warned that abandoning prevention work compounds future threats, stating: “If you don’t work on prevention, then in 10 years time, you’re going to have lots of terrorists and lots of problems.” The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the decision.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-quits-global-organisation-dedicated-preventing-violent-extremism-2026-01-09/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69617cc5e2c00a000174139f&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAPPyMFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe9L9Z_kiKuO10bQQLMkADhMMduDDDaLHmNyKckGNc8OUu6nQtboNAGfEIpIQ_aem_2qQIBLazr7EgIYpJqLB-RA)

Trump orders ‘my representatives’ to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds in effort to lower housing costs | CNN Business

President Trump announced on January 8, 2026, that he ordered “my representatives” to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower housing costs and mortgage rates. Trump claimed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, government-owned mortgage entities he did not sell during his first term, are now worth “an absolute fortune” and possess sufficient cash reserves to fund the directive.

Historically, the Federal Reserve has been the primary purchaser of mortgage-backed securities, with large-scale purchases during the pandemic contributing to historically low mortgage rates. When entities purchase mortgage bonds, interest rates on mortgages typically decline, though the mechanism is indirect—the Fed does not directly control mortgage loan rates, and other factors influence pricing. Trump’s framing of the action as executive authority ignores that such major financial operations typically require congressional approval.

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operations, stated his agency would implement the initiative, writing “We are on it, Mr. President!” immediately after Trump’s announcement. Trump provided no details regarding the identity of his representatives, implementation timeline, or execution methodology, creating uncertainty about feasibility and legal authority for the purchase directive.

The housing market faces structural challenges independent of Trump’s mortgage bond purchases. America has a shortage of approximately 4 million homes according to Goldman Sachs Research, and current inventory and sales remain near their lowest levels since the 2010 financial crisis, indicating supply constraints rather than interest rate problems as the primary affordability driver.

Trump has previously considered privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through initial public offerings during both his first term and recently, with reports indicating Trump uses government entities and appropriations to fund priorities while claiming alternative funding sources. His use of possessive language—”my representatives,” “my military,” “my generals”—demonstrates his treatment of government institutions as personal assets rather than independent entities accountable to law and constitutional process.

(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/08/business/mortgage-bonds-trump-purchase-rates?Date=20260108&Profile=CNN+Politics&utm_content=1767910276&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAPOXvFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeoJRnKbPnWzIqjBVI2QXlOSMrn84-JBArpue4hMNxT0KIRv_148M8S6HTD8Y_aem_9IAlfe8jwKHuyECCp-wLrg)

Trump Gets Up, Walks Away From Meeting To Stare Out Window At Ballroom

During a Friday meeting with oil executives from Exxon and Chevron at the White House, President Donald Trump abruptly left his seat to stare out a window at the construction of his new ballroom project. Trump stood for approximately 20 seconds admiring the work, telling his guests “Wow, what a view. This is the door to the ballroom,” before returning to his seat next to Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump used the interruption to promote the ballroom’s scale, claiming it would accommodate over 1,000 people compared to current White House meeting rooms. He stated the project was “ahead of schedule” and “under budget,” despite the White House significantly raising its cost estimate from $200 million to $400 million in recent months. Trump told the executives, “I don’t think there’ll be anything like it in the world, actually.”

The ballroom required demolition of the East Wing and is being funded by private donations, including contributions from Trump himself and major technology companies such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Coinbase, and Meta. Trump emphasized the facility’s security features, noting it would include “bulletproof glass, drone-proof ceilings and everything else” needed for modern operations and inaugurations.

Trump has previously acknowledged the ballroom functions as a personal monument he is “building to himself because no one else will.” His fixation on the project has extended to attacking journalists who question its costs and scope, having verbally assaulted CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and criticized Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason for raising questions about the project’s transparency and extent.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-gets-walks-away-meeting-221107280.html)

Marco Rubio Slides Private Note to Donald Trump During Televised Press Conference. Trump Looks Down and Reads It Aloud

During a White House press conference on January 9, 2026, President Donald Trump read aloud a private handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio in front of oil and gas executives, exposing Rubio’s internal directive. The note instructed Trump to “go back to Chevron” to discuss company matters, revealing Rubio’s attempt to manage Trump’s attention during the meeting.

Trump announced the note’s existence to the room before reading it verbatim, causing visible discomfort for Rubio, who appeared to regret the public exposure of his written instruction. Vice President JD Vance was visibly amused by the incident, laughing as Rubio smiled uncomfortably. Trump then patted Rubio on the back and thanked him, apparently unaware of the breach of confidentiality or its implications.

This incident is not Trump’s first encounter with Rubio’s written directives. In October 2025, photographers captured another note in which Rubio instructed Trump to “approve” a Truth Social post announcing an Israel-Hamas peace agreement, suggesting Trump did not draft the statement himself. Trump acknowledged the note publicly at that meeting as well, stating he was “very well represented” by Rubio.

The pattern of Trump publicly disclosing private notes from his Secretary of State demonstrates a lack of operational discipline and respect for confidential communication channels. Rubio’s repeated need to issue written instructions suggests the President requires constant guidance on procedural matters and media strategy.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/marco-rubio-slides-private-note-230443426.html)

‘His dementia is acting up’: Internet skewers Trump for bizarre new ‘elections’ claim – Raw Story

During a Fox News interview Thursday night, Trump claimed Venezuela “wouldn’t know how to have an election,” despite the country conducting elections as recently as last year. When asked by Sean Hannity whether Venezuela would hold free and fair elections, Trump pivoted to stating his administration would control Venezuelan oil infrastructure and “make a lot of money” from the operation.

Social media users and political observers immediately flagged the statement as disconnected from reality. Veteran Frank C stated Trump’s remark indicated cognitive decline, while activist Matthew J Shochat pointed out that Venezuela held an election last year and that Trump’s preferred replacement leader was involved in that election’s irregularities. Former foreign correspondent Roland Ley characterized Trump’s position as “US colonization” rather than liberation.

Political analyst WarMonitor summarized Trump’s stated priorities as replacing one dictatorship with another, with Trump personally running the country. Former Navy wife Rebecca Clester directly challenged Trump’s claim, asking what “closet” he had been living in and highlighting that his explicit focus remains extracting Venezuelan oil rather than establishing democratic governance.

The remarks underscore Trump’s stated intention to personally control Venezuelan oil revenues following the U.S. invasion of Venezuela. Trump has publicly outlined plans to sell 30 to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market rates under his personal oversight, while also proposing that U.S. taxpayers reimburse oil companies for Venezuelan infrastructure reconstruction.

Trump’s election claim contradicts documented Venezuelan electoral processes and reflects his administration’s framing of military intervention as resource extraction rather than democratic restoration.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-venezuela-2674863947/)

Trump dials Collins with ‘profanity-laced rant’ over Venezuela war powers vote

President Trump conducted a profanity-laden phone call with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday after she voted with Democrats on a war powers resolution blocking military action against Venezuela. According to two Senate GOP sources, Trump verbally attacked Collins during the call, which passed 52-47, stating the resolution undermined his authority as commander-in-chief. The call came unexpectedly, as Trump and Collins do not communicate regularly.

Following the vote, Trump posted on Truth Social that Collins and four other Senate Republicans who supported the resolution—Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Todd Young—”should never be elected to office again.” Trump claimed the vote “greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security” and strips him of powers necessary to defend the country. Senate Majority Leader John Thune characterized Trump as “fired up” before the vote and described the social media posts as a “short-term, immediate reaction.”

Collins responded to Trump’s public condemnation by telling reporters his reaction indicates he would prefer to see her replaced by a Democratic opponent in November’s election. The Maine senator, widely viewed as the most vulnerable Republican incumbent seeking reelection, did not engage further with Trump’s attacks but suggested his preference for her loss by referencing potential challengers including Democratic Governor Janet Mills.

This episode demonstrates Trump’s willingness to weaponize both direct intimidation and public statements against members of his own party who exercise independent judgment on national security matters. The incident reflects a pattern of Trump attacking opponents through name-calling and intimidation when they oppose his directives, extending that approach to Senate Republicans who deviate from his preferred policy positions.

(Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5682106-trump-collins-call-venezuela-vote/)

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