Category: Unpresidential

FBI Fires 10 Agents From Trump Documents Investigation

At least 10 FBI employees who investigated Trump’s retention of classified documents were fired on Wednesday following allegations by FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau had improperly subpoenaed his phone records as a private citizen. Patel claimed the FBI used “flimsy pretexts” to obtain the records, though Reuters reported he provided no evidence of wrongdoing by the terminated staff. All fired agents and analysts worked on the documents case overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which resulted in the first federal criminal indictments against a former president.

The firings represent Trump administration retaliation against federal employees who conducted investigations into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and obstruct the Justice Department’s classified documents inquiry. A source confirmed that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ records were reviewed as part of the documents case, though verification of Patel’s claims remained unavailable. The Trump administration has systematically targeted personnel from both investigations, having previously purged senior FBI agents involved in Trump criminal investigations and fired prosecutors who worked on Smith’s team.

The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as violations of due process, stating the removals “weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce” while undermining recruitment and national security. Smith’s investigations led to charges that Trump unlawfully attempted to overturn the 2020 election results and retained classified records while obstructing efforts to retrieve them. A federal judge dismissed the classified documents charges in mid-2024 on grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed, and Smith dropped the election charges after Trump won the 2024 race.

Trump has demanded prosecution of Smith, former Attorney General Merrick Garland, and former FBI Director Christopher Wray for what he characterized as “illegal and highly unethical behavior.” Attorneys for Smith countered that his actions were “entirely lawful, proper and consistent with established Department of Justice policy.” The Trump administration’s firing campaign extended to agents who worked the Arctic Frost election investigation, as controversy erupted over the FBI obtaining phone records of Republican lawmakers during the January 6 Capitol riot investigation.

(Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-least-10-fbi-staffers-who-worked-on-mar-a-lago-documents-case-are-fired-sources-say/)

Trump Lies About Charlie Kirk Spurring Religious Revival

During his State of the Union address on February 27, 2026, Trump falsely claimed that a “tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity and belief in God” occurred during his presidency, specifically attributing this supposed revival to Charlie Kirk. Trump stated Kirk was instrumental in driving religiosity among young people, describing him as “my great friend” and “great guy.” This lie contradicts extensive polling and survey data spanning years.

Multiple independent sources directly contradict Trump’s claim. The General Social Survey, conducted biennially over decades, shows young Americans have become consistently less likely to attend religious services, not more. Comparing 2016 to 2024 data, the percentage of every age group reporting never attending services increased during Trump’s first term. Pew Research Center analysis reinforces this finding, with researcher Gregory Smith explicitly stating that “our recent polls, along with other high-quality surveys we have analyzed, show no clear evidence that this kind of nationwide religious resurgence is underway.” Church attendance among young Americans aged 18 to 24 remained statistically flat from 2020 to 2025.

Trump appears to have distorted a report from Barna Group and Gloo published before Kirk’s death, which identified marginal increases in church attendance among Generation Z males. However, both organizations have financial interests in promoting religious engagement. Additionally, only about one quarter of adults under 30 were very familiar with Kirk, according to YouGov polling. Given that younger Americans skew politically left and Kirk’s work was explicitly political rather than religious, the notion that he drove any meaningful religious resurgence is unsupported.

Trump’s false claim serves multiple propaganda functions. First, it reinforces his campaign narrative that he is America’s savior, particularly for conservative white voters anxious about Christianity’s declining cultural influence. Second, it weaponizes Kirk’s death by reframing him as a martyr “murdered for his beliefs” while advancing Christian nationalist grievance narratives that position religious conservatives as oppressed and in need of Trump’s protection.

The lie exemplifies Trump’s pattern of fabricating national triumphs to justify his continued grip on power. By claiming a religious revival that data categorically disproves, Trump manufactures false evidence that his leadership benefits the Christian voters whose electoral support he depends on, regardless of measurable reality.

(Source: https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-charlie-kirk-religion-church-attendance)

Trump White House Mock Canada After Team USA Ice Hockey

The White House and President Trump responded to Team USA’s 2-1 gold medal victory over Canada in men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics by mocking their northern neighbor on social media. The White House posted an image of an American bald eagle trampling a Canadian goose, directly referencing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s February statement that “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game,” which itself was a response to Trump’s repeated demands to annex Canada as the “51st state.”

Trump amplified the mockery by reposting Carney’s original comment and sharing an AI-generated video depicting himself playing alongside Team USA and scoring against Canada, captioned “Trump, the enforcer!” Senior advisor Kari Lake reposted the video on her platform. Trump had previously praised Team USA’s overall Olympic performance on Sunday, stating “We’re winning too much, it’s just not fair!” after the team set a Winter Olympics record with 12 gold medals, 12 silver, and nine bronze medals.

The hockey victory became the latest flashpoint in escalating tensions between the U.S. and Canada rooted in Trump’s policy threats and nationalist rhetoric. Trump has threatened to annex Canada, blocked the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Ontario and Michigan, and repeatedly attacked Canada over trade, claiming the country has “ripped off” America for years. These threats have intensified despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring Trump’s sweeping tariffs illegal, which Canadian Minister Dominic LeBlanc said “reinforces Canada’s position that the IEEPA tariffs imposed by the United States are unjustified.”

Tensions escalated further after Trump joked about facing impeachment over inviting the U.S. women’s hockey team to White House celebrations, though the women’s team declined Trump’s invitation while the men’s team is expected to attend the State of the Union address. In January, Canadian Prime Minister Carrey delivered a World Economic Forum address warning that the “old world order is not coming back” and urging middle powers to resist economic pressure from “great powers,” a direct rebuke to Trump’s threats to coerce allies including Denmark over Greenland and European nations over tariffs.

During his own Davos speech, Trump responded by telling Carrey directly: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark.” The Canadian Prime Minister rejected this framing upon returning home, stating in a televised address that “Canada does not live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.” This rhetorical warfare mirrors Trump’s pattern of weaponizing cultural moments and sports achievements for nationalist posturing while pursuing substantive policies that destabilize relationships with longstanding U.S. allies.

(Source: https://time.com/7380444/white-house-trump-respond-team-usa-canada-hockey-victory-olympics/)

Trump Lies About Hospital Boat to Greenland

Trump announced Saturday he would send a hospital boat to Greenland after Danish forces evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member requiring urgent medical care. Trump posted on Truth Social that he was "working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry" to dispatch "a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It's on the way!!!" This claim is false, according to maritime sources. Both U.S. hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort, are currently undergoing maintenance in Alabama and are incapacitated.

Trump's announcement came immediately after Denmark's military rescued an American sailor from a submarine near Greenland, evacuating him to a hospital in Nuuk for treatment. Rather than expressing gratitude for the rescue, Trump weaponized the incident to promote his ongoing campaign to acquire Greenland from Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded indirectly on Sunday, posting about Denmark's universal healthcare system where "it's not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment," implicitly contrasting it with the U.S. system.

Trump has intensified his fixation on acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns about a "Golden Dome" missile defense system and countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. This push has strained relationships with U.S. allies including Denmark, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Jeff Landry, Louisiana's governor, serves as Trump's special envoy to Greenland as part of this acquisition effort.

Trump's lie about the hospital boat deployment represents his pattern of using humanitarian gestures as political theater. By announcing medical aid that does not exist and cannot materialize due to ship unavailability, Trump attempted to reframe Denmark's successful rescue operation as evidence of Greenland's inadequate healthcare while promoting his territorial ambitions. The timing and false claim exploit a moment of genuine international cooperation for propaganda purposes.

(Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5749675-trump-greenland-hospital-boat/)

Trump Jokes He’ll Face Impeachment Over Women’s Hockey Team White House Invite

President Donald Trump called the U.S. men’s hockey team moments after their Olympic gold medal victory over Canada, during which he joked that inviting the women’s team, who also won gold, to White House celebrations would result in his impeachment. Trump made the remark while discussing plans to bring the men’s team to his State of the Union address on Tuesday and present them with medals at the White House.

When Trump stated “we’re gonna have to bring the woman’s team,” he followed with the quip “I do believe I would probably be impeached,” framing the inclusion of the women’s champions as an obligation he opposed. The male players laughed at the comment, with one shouting “Two for two” to reference both teams’ gold medal wins.

Trump also praised the men’s team during the call, calling their performance “unbelievable” and remarking on goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s clutch saves in overtime. FBI Director Kash Patel, present in the locker room during the celebration, facilitated the call and subsequently assured the president he would arrange logistics for bringing the team to the White House.

Trump’s comment trivializes the women’s team’s equivalent athletic achievement and frames their equal recognition as an unwelcome burden, demonstrating indifference toward women’s sports and their accomplishments at the international level.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/sports/trump-jokes-to-mens-hockey-team-that-hell-have-to-invite-womens-team-to-white-house-or-hell-be-impeached/)

Trump Yanks Hurd Endorsement Over Tariff Opposition

President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of Representative Jim Hurd (R-CO) on Saturday via Truth Social, citing the congressman’s opposition to Trump’s tariff policies. Hurd voted for H.J.Res.72, which seeks to terminate Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian goods, an action Trump characterized as betrayal of the country.

Trump claimed this was only the second time he has yanked an endorsement, the first being ex-Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL) in 2022 after Brooks questioned Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. In his Saturday post, Trump stated Hurd “let me and our Country down” by prioritizing foreign interests over American ones, describing the congressman as more loyal to countries “ripping us off for decades” than to the United States.

Trump immediately endorsed Hope Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and nurse, as Hurd’s replacement in Colorado’s 3rd District. Trump praised Scheppelman as someone who “will never let you down,” contrasting her with what he called a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) in Hurd. This endorsement shift demonstrates Trump’s willingness to weaponize party support to enforce loyalty to his tariff agenda.

The withdrawal follows Trump’s earlier threats against six Republican members of Congress who opposed his tariff policies, with Trump declaring they would “seriously suffer the consequences come Election time.” The move underscores Trump’s pattern of using primary challenges and endorsement reversals to punish Republicans who defy his economic agenda, effectively demanding absolute loyalty over independent legislative judgment.

Trump’s action came one day after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that his tariff authority exceeded his statutory power under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump attacked the justices who ruled against him as “unpatriotic and disloyal,” demonstrating his broader campaign to punish any institution or individual who challenges his authority.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-yanks-endorsement-for-republican-lawmaker-for-second-time-ever-over-lack-of-support-for-tariffs/)

Trump Demands Netflix Fire Susan Rice Over Corporate

President Trump demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice, a board member since 2023, after Rice criticized corporations that capitulate to Trump’s agenda. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump called Rice a “racist, Trump Deranged” political hack with “no talent or skills,” threatening Netflix with unspecified consequences if the company did not comply immediately. Trump’s attack followed a video clip shared by Laura Loomer showing Rice warning that companies bowing to Trump will face accountability from Democrats if they return to power.

Rice, former National Security Adviser and U.N. Ambassador under President Obama, stated that corporations, law firms, universities, and media entities taking a knee to Trump will not fare well. She argued their capitulation represents short-term self-interest and predicted they will be held accountable by future Democratic administrations for firing employees and abandoning principles. Rice specifically challenged the assumption that Democrats would forgive such actions, saying corporations have “another thing coming” if they expect leniency.

The timing of Trump’s attack coincides with Netflix’s efforts to close a $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery while facing Department of Justice scrutiny over potential harm to consumers. Trump’s demand for Rice’s firing exploits regulatory vulnerability as competing bidders, including Paramount Skydance, attempt to block the merger and acquire WBD themselves. Rice has previously criticized Trump initiatives, including his dismantling of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and his defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth.

Trump’s demand weaponizes his presidential authority to pressure a major media company into firing a corporate board member for expressing political speech. This attack exemplifies Trump’s use of regulatory power and public threats to silence critics and enforce loyalty, directly targeting someone who warned corporations against capitulating to his administration.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-demands-netflix-fire-racist-susan-rice-after-ex-obama-ambassador-slammed-companies-that-take-a-knee-to-potus/)

Trump Escalates Global Tariffs to 15% After Court

Donald Trump announced a 15% global tariff effective immediately on Saturday via Truth Social, escalating from the 10% levy he imposed Friday after the Supreme Court struck down his reciprocal tariff policy. Trump claimed the higher rate was “fully allowed, and legally tested,” attacking the court’s decision as “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American” while asserting countries have been “ripping off” the United States for decades.

The British Chambers of Commerce condemned the increase as damaging to UK businesses, warning that the additional 5% tariff on most British exports would harm trade, US consumers, and global economic growth. William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, stated the announcement proved their fears that Trump’s backup plan would be worse than his initial proposal and called for businesses to receive “clarity and certainty” rather than escalating tariffs.

Britain had negotiated the lowest initial rate of 10% under a deal between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Trump, with carve-outs protecting steel, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. The UK government indicated it expected these preferential arrangements to remain intact under the new 15% framework, though officials acknowledged uncertainty about the tariff’s full implications for British trade.

Trump bypassed Congress by signing an executive order Friday invoking emergency powers after the Supreme Court overturned his reciprocal tariffs policy, allowing him to unilaterally increase import taxes. His escalation to 15% followed his public attacks on Supreme Court justices as “unpatriotic and disloyal” for blocking his previous tariff authority.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/president-donald-trump-keir-starmer-government-uk-government-b2925023.html)

Trump Praises Kavanaugh as Hero After Tariff Ruling Loss

President Donald Trump praised Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as his “new hero” on Saturday morning, along with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, after the Court voted 6-3 to strike down his emergency tariff authority on Friday. The decision included votes against Trump from Chief Justice John Roberts and two Trump-appointed justices, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, alongside the three Democratic-appointed justices. Trump’s public embrace of the three dissenters revealed his deliberate strategy to reward judicial loyalty and punish perceived disloyalty.

On Friday evening, Trump responded to the tariff ruling by attacking the majority justices, claiming their decision was “ridiculous” and that the justices who voted against him “should be ashamed of themselves.” He specifically targeted his own appointees Gorsuch and Barrett, claiming they violated an implicit obligation by ruling against him and complaining that “this never seems to happen with Democrats,” who he alleged vote as a bloc in their own interest regardless of the case merits.

Trump’s escalating posts throughout Friday night revealed his transactional view of judicial appointments. He complained that he did not appoint Chief Justice Roberts, blaming Roberts for allowing “foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years to continue to do so.” His final evening post urged Republicans to “Unite, stick together, and WIN,” framing judicial independence as party disloyalty rather than constitutional obligation.

By Saturday morning, Trump shifted to praising the three justices who sided with him, declaring Kavanaugh his “new hero” and asserting without evidence that all three dissenters wanted to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” This pattern of public reward and punishment for judicial decisions directly contradicts the principle of an independent judiciary, positioning judges as political operatives accountable to the executive.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-wakes-up-blurting-praise-for-my-new-hero-and-its-about-his-devastating-court-loss/)

Trump FDA Allows Deceptive Food Labels Despite Ban Pledge

Trump’s FDA announced in February 2025 that it would allow food manufacturers to label products “no artificial colors” even when they contain potentially dangerous substances like titanium dioxide, provided the dyes are not petroleum-based. This reversal contradicts the agency’s earlier 2025 pressure on companies to phase out petroleum-based dyes entirely and represents a significant retreat from the stated goals of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, whose Make America Healthy Again movement positioned removing toxins from food as a cornerstone policy.

Health experts and consumer advocates criticize the new labeling standard as deceptive and ineffective. Thomas Galligan, principal scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stated that the move “is going to cause confusion and allow some companies to mislead folks about the colors that are present in their foods,” noting that the rules are already riddled with loopholes enabling consumer deception. Galligan emphasized that a complete ban is the only effective measure to protect consumers, contradicting claims by Kennedy and the FDA that the policy represents progress.

Titanium dioxide, a naturally derived ingredient now permitted under the new rules, is banned in the European Union because regulators could not conclude it is safe and expressed concern it damages genes. The substance accumulates in organs, is a potential carcinogen, and is linked to neurotoxicity, intestinal inflammation, reproductive damage, and birth defects. The Environmental Working Group identified nearly 2,000 U.S. food products that may contain titanium dioxide, with estimates as high as 11,000, concentrated heavily in candy, cakes, cookies, and desserts.

Kennedy defended the policy as enabling companies to adopt “safer, naturally derived alternatives,” framing it as advancing the Make America Healthy Again agenda. However, the Environmental Working Group co-founder Ken Cook characterized the shift as “another broken promise,” stating that Trump and Kennedy pledged outright bans on dangerous food chemical additives to their base but instead settled for unenforceable handshake agreements with industry, leaving accountability and enforcement entirely uncertain.

The FDA has ignored a 2023 petition from five major U.S. public health advocacy groups requesting withdrawal of titanium dioxide approval for food use. Meanwhile, more than 25 states are independently considering bans on synthetic food dyes and other food chemical additives, with West Virginia and Texas having already enacted restrictions, effectively replacing federal action with state-level protection.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/fda-artificial-colors-food)

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