Category: Unpresidential

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/)

‘They Tried to Kill Him’ Wild Trump Intro Says God Saved Him

Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed introduced President Donald Trump at the Faith and Freedom Policy Conference in Washington, DC on Friday with inflammatory rhetoric depicting Trump as a divinely protected figure under siege. Reed claimed Trump alone accomplished conservative achievements including appointing conservative Supreme Court justices, securing the border, enacting tax cuts, and directing military action against Iran, while listing a series of legal and political challenges Trump faced: “They impeached him! They indicted him! They tried to imprison him! They tried and knock him off the ballot! And then they tried to kill him!”

Reed attributed Trump’s survival of these challenges to divine intervention, stating “it all failed because God has a purpose for this man. And it is to save our nation.” This characterization mirrors earlier remarks Reed made at a leaked spring event and frames Trump’s legal jeopardy as persecution rather than accountability for conduct.

The introduction employed language consistent with authoritarian personality cults, positioning Trump as uniquely targeted and supernaturally protected while consolidating support among evangelical voters who form a crucial political base. Reed’s framing of indictments, impeachments, and assassination attempts as evidence of persecution rather than legitimate legal process normalizes rejection of institutional constraints on executive power.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/they-tried-to-kill-him-wild-trump-intro-goes-right-into-god-saved-him-territory/)mpts as evidence of persecution rather than legitimate legal process normalizes rejection of institutional constraints on executive power.

Trump Defies Congress And Blocks Humdreds of Millions For Foreign Aid

The Trump administration is systematically defying congressional mandates on foreign aid spending, blocking $500 million in global health funds and delaying humanitarian assistance despite President Trump signing legislation that explicitly required these expenditures. Russell Vought's Office of Management and Budget has labeled funds as "unallocated" to maintain control over spending, a tactic legal scholars say violates the Impoundment Control Act and undermines Congress's constitutional power of the purse.

Eight months into the fiscal year, the State Department has obligated only $190 million of the $9.4 billion Congress directed for global health, representing just 5% of typical spending levels for the same period. Programs explicitly funded by Congress for family planning ($524 million), nutrition ($165 million), and neglected tropical diseases ($109 million) have seen little or no implementation, while PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS program credited with saving 26 million lives globally, has been restricted to half its available budget despite congressional appropriation of $4.6 billion.

Jeremy Lewin, a 29-year-old lawyer with no prior humanitarian experience who arrived via Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, controls foreign aid policy as an unconfirmed acting undersecretary. Lewin refuses to meet with career staff, withholds information about implementation plans, and demands personal approval for routine payments, creating a bottleneck that has left Congress unable to obtain basic answers about administration spending despite repeated requests for required reports and briefings.

The administration's defiance mirrors its 2025 use of "pocket rescissions," an illegal maneuver under the Impoundment Control Act that clawed back $13 billion in foreign aid Congress had approved. Though a federal court initially blocked the tactic, the Supreme Court issued an emergency ideological split decision allowing it to continue without ruling on its legality. Constitutional scholars and legal experts warn that continued withholding of appropriated funds constitutes a fundamental assault on the separation of powers, threatening U.S. democracy itself.

The State Department has denied withholding funds while simultaneously announcing bilateral deals requiring recipient nations to provide health data as a condition for receiving medications the United States previously donated. Additionally, the administration funneled $3.8 billion to a small U.N. office without allowing independent U.S. audits, and has delayed $661 million in required contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, forcing the organization to reduce support to nations that depend on American funding for lifesaving treatments.

(Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-defying-congress-foreign-aid-usaid-vought-rubio-constitutional-crisis?utm_campaign=propublica-sprout&utm_content=1782567906&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleASs8iRwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJdPWI_QwoRxn6jpTg7VaYtDYAhPDmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5zL9Tu-THjlQ6p44jYmgmO5iK178eT2QOztVFD-z51WyPduid3hOBL41yaDA_aem_pkPqY5Bc-FMN9QGc-i5Kdw)

Trump, 80, Wants to Run for President Again | The New Republic

At a Pennsylvania rally on June 23, 2026, President Donald Trump publicly floated running for a third presidential term, stating “Maybe we should run again” and “I’d like to do it,” despite the Constitution explicitly prohibiting more than two terms. Trump has repeatedly referenced third-term ambitions, previously stating he is “not joking” about the prospect, and has discussed the scenario with his lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who is writing a book exploring that outcome. The Trump Organization capitalizes on this messaging by selling “Trump 2028” hats for $55, up from $50 the previous year.

Trump’s claims about his military achievements and Iran’s capabilities directly contradict statements he made days earlier. At the same Pennsylvania rally, Trump declared that the U.S. had left Iran with “no Navy, no Air Force, no antiaircraft, no missile capability, no nuclear program,” and claimed Americans could “fly over Tehran just at will.” However, Iran maintains active naval units controlling the Strait of Hormuz, retains its nuclear energy program and development capacity, operates aging aircraft, and possesses substantial ballistic missile capabilities, according to New York Times reporting from May 2026. Trump himself acknowledged Iran’s missile arsenal at the G7 summit the previous week, stating other nations have missiles and questioning why he should disarm Iran while allowing Saudi Arabia to retain its arsenal.

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, facing federal fraud and bribery charges in Brooklyn under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, met privately with Donald Trump Jr. in November 2024 in Ahmedabad, India. Seven months later, in May 2025, the Department of Justice abruptly dropped all charges against Adani, with prosecutors citing prosecutorial discretion in a brief filing. Trump Jr.’s spokesperson denied the meeting had “zero to do” with the DOJ’s decision, though the substance of their discussion remains undisclosed. The dismissal triggered an immediate market surge in Adani’s companies, temporarily elevating him to Asia’s wealthiest person.

Federal law enforcement deployed AI-powered surveillance towers at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in response to Trump’s unsubstantiated vandalism claims. Trump has alleged that vandals inflicted a progressively enlarging gash on the pool’s floor, expanding his claims from 250 feet on Saturday to 300 feet by Monday to 350 feet by Tuesday, yet has refused to provide photographs or evidence despite claiming the Interior Department possesses video documentation. CBS News inspectors found no evidence of any such damage, and Trump has directed over $16 million in renovations to the pool, which deteriorated again within days, now requiring additional drainage and repairs at unknown cost to taxpayers.

Trump has ordered the arrest of six individuals accused of vandalizing the pool, deploying sophisticated surveillance infrastructure including AI-powered audio alerts, strobes, and spotlights that automatically detect and deter alleged threats. The escalation at the memorial follows Trump’s contentious history with the landmark, including blaming vandalism and ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl for pool deterioration and self-congratulating the renovation project while concealing structural failures underlying its rapid decline.



(Source: https://newrepublic.com/post/212242/trump-80-third-term-president-pennsylvania-lehigh-valley?utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleASpSJxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeQasl5O59yGmesAb4GJZyNREQYGh2KBJBS2Rgp-wAMsFgdw_cmcIWqqCwul4_aem_Q1yHw0AWtEyNN97VXNycRA)elf-congratulating the renovation project while concealing structural failures underlying its rapid decline.

Trump Threatens to Occupy Iran Over Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump threatened to occupy Iran entirely if Tehran does not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks he made to Fox News on Sunday. In an early morning phone call with Iranian officials, Trump stated, “You close the strait and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your f***** country. We’ll take over the rest of the country,” according to Fox’s Trey Yingst. The threat escalates Trump’s previous consideration of occupying Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil production facility, and marks a dramatic shift from his stated goal of negotiating a way out of the conflict he initiated in February.

Iran announced Saturday it would close the Strait of Hormuz in response to ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, just days after signing a 60-day ceasefire agreement with the Trump administration on Wednesday. The closure demonstrates the extreme fragility of the ceasefire arrangement and highlights the administration’s inability to restrain Israeli military actions, which have killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon since the war began. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Israeli forces to “burn all of Lebanon,” rhetoric that Iran’s foreign minister and others denounced, yet Trump has proven unable to curb such statements or halt the Israeli assault despite public criticism.

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland this weekend to lead renewed peace negotiations with Iranian officials, while the administration publicly rebuked Israeli policy decisions. Vance warned Israeli officials not to alienate the United States, their closest ally, and previously expressed frustration that Israel cannot “kill” its way out of every problem. Trump echoed similar sentiments, asserting Israel would not exist without his administration’s support, yet his direct threats to Iran reveal his administration will apply far greater pressure on Tehran than on its Israeli counterpart to enforce the ceasefire terms.

The 60-day ceasefire agreement extends existing ceasefires while offering sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian funds, provided Iran complies with terms including a commitment to forgo nuclear weapons development. The agreement mirrors language from the Obama-era nuclear deal Trump abandoned in 2018, dividing Republican support. Senator Bill Cassidy criticized the deal as a strategic defeat, stating Iran learned that threatening the Strait works and will repeat the tactic, while the administration’s tacit support for a $300 billion economic redevelopment fund for Iran drew opposition from both hawkish Republicans and Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who pledged his caucus would block votes if the fund reached Congress.

The administration indicated it could authorize many terms of the agreement, including sanctions relief, directly without congressional approval, circumventing legislative oversight. Trump’s volatile approach to negotiation, characterized by extreme threats followed by pursuit of agreements, underscores the instability surrounding U.S.-Iran relations and the ceasefire’s uncertain future as Israel continues operations Trump publicly opposes but cannot effectively control.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-threat-hormuz-ceasefire-b2999930.html)

Tulsi Gabbard, her guru and the mysterious messages that helped shape her political career – The Washington Post

Tulsi Gabbard’s political trajectory has been shaped significantly by her association with Chris Butler, the leader of a Hawaii-based spiritual organization. According to reporting by The Washington Post, Gabbard maintained close ties to Butler and his group throughout her congressional career and into her role as Director of National Intelligence under Trump, raising questions about external influence on her decision-making in sensitive national security positions.

Butler’s organization, which operates with characteristics similar to a cult, exerts considerable control over members’ lives and finances. Gabbard’s deep involvement with the group and Butler’s teachings informed major policy positions she advocated for in Congress, including her foreign policy stances and opposition to military interventions. Former associates and observers have documented how Butler’s ideological framework aligned closely with positions Gabbard publicly promoted, suggesting her independent political identity may have been substantially intertwined with the organization’s philosophy.

During her tenure as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard’s handling of sensitive intelligence raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and allegiance to Trump over institutional independence. Reports indicated she intervened in standard intelligence protocols in ways that benefited Trump personally, departing from the nonpartisan norms expected of intelligence officials. Her willingness to prioritize Trump’s interests over established intelligence community procedures demonstrated the kind of loyalty expected from those in his inner circle, paralleling the deference she showed to Butler within the spiritual organization.

Gabbard resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence in June 2026, citing family health reasons. Her departure followed a pattern of concerns about her judgment and independence in the role, with critics and intelligence professionals questioning whether her background and affiliations made her suitable for overseeing the nation’s intelligence agencies. The brevity of her tenure underscored the broader questions about whether individuals with strong ties to charismatic leaders can operate with the independence required in positions of national security responsibility.

The Washington Post’s investigation documents how Gabbard’s relationship with Butler and his organization persisted as a defining influence on her political career, from her congressional service through her appointment to Trump’s administration. The reporting suggests that understanding Gabbard’s actions and positions requires recognizing the role played by external figures and organizations in shaping her worldview and decision-making, casting doubt on claims of complete political autonomy made by her supporters.



(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/21/tulsi-gabbard-her-guru-mysterious-messages-that-helped-shape-her-political-career/) by her supporters.

Trump Attacks Meloni Over Iran War Refusal, Invents Photo Claim

President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday, attacking her in a Truth Social post without naming her directly while simultaneously condemning NATO for failing to support his Iran military campaign. Trump claimed he had denied Meloni a photograph at the Group of Seven summit in France because Italy would not permit U.S. military use of its landing strips and runways, and added that Meloni sought to “be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.'”

Meloni directly rejected Trump’s characterization of events, calling his attacks “unprovoked” and “senseless.” She stated that her popularity rests on defending Italy’s national interests and that her country remains a sovereign nation whose military base agreements cannot be violated. Meloni emphasized that Trump’s attempts to control her political standing are not her concern, and countered by suggesting he focus on his own popularity instead.

Trump’s repeated false claims about Meloni begging for a photograph represent a continuation of his pattern of fabricating details to demean allied leaders. His invocation of Italy’s refusal to support military action against Iran contradicts his earlier demands that NATO members fund defense spending, revealing inconsistency in how he applies pressure to allied nations.

The deterioration of Trump’s relationship with Meloni marks a significant rupture with what was previously one of his closest European political relationships. Trump had publicly praised Meloni as a “beautiful young woman” during a speech last year, framing the comment as politically risky but worth the exposure. Trump has threatened withdrawal of U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, citing both nations’ refusal to participate in military action against Iran.

Trump’s broader assault on NATO reflects his demand that allied nations comply with military objectives he deems necessary, regardless of their own strategic assessments or international law. The feud with Meloni demonstrates his willingness to weaponize military presence and personal relationships as leverage against leaders who assert their nation’s sovereignty and independent judgment.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/not-good-trump-ramps-up-feud-with-italys-prime-minister-in-scorching-new-post/)

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