Category: Petty

Trump Revokes Security Clearances in Retaliatory Move

In a politically charged move, Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of prominent Democrats, including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This decision aligns with Trump’s ongoing strategy to silence his critics and reinforce his authoritarian control over adversaries who have publicly challenged him.

The revocation of these clearances, described by some as largely symbolic, holds significant implications for those affected. The targeted officials may face barriers in performing their official duties, as restricted access to federal buildings, including courthouses and law enforcement facilities, would severely hamper their operational capabilities.

Immediately following Trump’s action against these officials, he also revoked President Joe Biden’s security clearance, arguing there is no justification for Biden to access classified information. This retaliatory tactic is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine Trump’s opponents, while attempting to deflect attention from his own questionable behavior as president.

Trump has a history of vindictiveness towards individuals like Letitia James, who has pursued legal action against him, and Alvin Bragg, who is prosecuting Trump in a high-profile criminal case. By stripping their security clearances, Trump not only retaliates against them for their opposition but also sends a chilling message to others within the political sphere.

This latest action reveals Trump’s blatant disregard for the principles of democracy and governance, emphasizing his preference for authoritarian tactics over collaborative political discourse. By continuing to target those who have opposed him, Trump’s actions further illustrate a dangerous trend within the Republican Party that prioritizes personal vendettas over public service and accountability.

(h/t: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14376597/Trump-strips-security-clearances-Anthony-Blinken-Letitia-James-Alvin-Bragg-including-humiliating-ban-entering-federal-buildings.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490)

Trump Revokes Biden’s Security Clearance

Former President Donald Trump has announced that he is revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance, claiming there is no need for him to access classified information. This move appears to be a retaliatory action stemming from Biden’s critique of Trump’s trustworthiness during his presidency, when Biden suggested Trump should not receive intelligence briefings due to his “erratic behavior.” Trump’s decision is just another attempt to undermine his political rivals under the pretense of national security.

Trump further justifies his decision by referencing the findings of Special Counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents. However, it is crucial to note that Hur ultimately did not find sufficient evidence to recommend criminal charges against Biden, undermining Trump’s claims of Biden’s untrustworthiness. By distorting the context of these findings, Trump reveals a desperation to distract from his own questionable record and actions.

This policy move is illustrative of a broader trend in the Republican party, which often seeks to manipulate narratives surrounding national security and intelligence. Trump’s behavior embodies a dangerous precedent of using state power to attack political adversaries, thereby eroding the fundamental norms that underpin democratic governance. His actions against former officials, including John Bolton and Gen. Mark Milley, serve to illustrate an alarming pattern of retribution against those who challenge him.

Trump’s rhetoric surrounding security clearance also reflects a continual effort to obscure his own administration’s failures concerning intelligence and national security. By directing public attention towards Biden’s past statements and decisions, Trump distracts from ongoing discussions about his own disastrous policies and the broader implications for U.S. democracy.

Ultimately, Trump’s latest maneuver is not about security; it is a calculated effort to stifle dissent and reassert control. This represents a dangerous trajectory where political enemies are systematically marginalized through the manipulation of state mechanisms. Such tactics should be condemned as they directly contribute to the erosion of democratic principles and the normalization of fascist practices within American politics.

Trump’s Dismissal of Coast Guard’s First Female Leader Highlights His Anti-Diversity Agenda

In a shocking display of disregard for protocol and dignity, President Donald Trump’s administration evicted Linda Fagan, the former Commandant of the Coast Guard, from her official residence with only three hours’ notice. This abrupt ousting reflects the administration’s ongoing disdain for women and minority leaders, as Trump continues to pursue a policy of fascistic exclusion under the guise of authority.

Fagan, a four-star admiral and a trailblazer as the first female leader of a military branch, faced dismissal on grounds of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This decision aligns with Trump’s well-documented agenda against DEI initiatives, which he and his Republican allies falsely frame as unlawful government overreach. The timing of her eviction—carried out on Trump’s second day in office—illustrates a clear strategy to eliminate any progressive influences within the military structure.

The Defense Homeland Security officials justified the eviction, citing that Fagan had been terminated “with cause.” However, this reasoning undermines the true intent: to intimidate those who promote inclusivity and diversity. Sources indicate that the administration’s need to control the narrative and eliminate perceived dissenters is a driving force behind such actions, revealing the underlying authoritarian motivations of Trump’s regime.

Trump’s maneuverings include not only the fierce removal of Fagan but also a subtle message about his administration’s starkly traditionalist approach, where women leaders are pushed out and replaced by more compliant figures. This aligns with his practice of surrounding himself with individuals who adhere strictly to his narrow vision for leadership in the military and government.

The abrupt manner in which Fagan was forced out serves as a reminder of how Trump’s leadership is defined by pettiness and personal vendettas against anyone who does not conform to his narrow views of governance. As Trump continues to reshape the federal landscape into one that marginalizes women and minorities, he exposes the core tenets of his administration’s ethical vacuity and authoritarian ethos, threatening the very fabric of democratic governance.

(h/t: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna190820)

Trump’s Fury at Meyers: A Desperate Deflection Amid January 6 Evidence

Donald Trump has expressed his fury following Seth Meyers’ comedic mockery of his presidency and the increasing discord within the MAGA movement. This response came shortly after the release of a report by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which outlined significant evidence suggesting Trump’s involvement in the January 6th election interference case. Trump’s immediate venting on Truth Social appears to be an attempt to divert attention from this damning report by attacking the comedian.

Meyers’ recent segment critiqued the struggles within Trump’s circle, pointing out tensions between prominent figures like Steve Bannon and Elon Musk. He noted that Trump was caught in a chaotic environment where his supporters grappled with their contrasting desires, indicating Trump’s inability to manage the division effectively. Meyers characterized Trump as confused, out of touch, and struggled to comprehend the disputes occurring among his allies.

In a bid to retaliate, Trump referred to Meyers as a “moron” and issued scathing comments about NBC, asserting that the media outlet was controlled by a “bad group of people.” Such attacks are emblematic of Trump’s ongoing war with the media, whom he consistently labels as adversaries. In his tirade, he accused the network of propagating radical leftist narratives and called for consequences against Comcast for allowing such “political hits” to occur.

This reaction highlights Trump’s deep-seated vulnerability in the face of satire that exposes his inadequacies and failures. By projecting his insecurities onto comedic figures rather than addressing substantive legal and political challenges, he showcases his inability to cope with criticism, further isolating him from the American public.

As the political landscape shifts, Trump’s actions serve as a potent reminder of the authoritarian tendencies that permeate his response to dissent, a trait undeniably shared by Republicans who prioritize party loyalty over democratic principles. With serious allegations looming, Trump’s desperate deflection tactics fail to address the pressing issues of accountability and ethics in his administration’s dealings.

(h/t: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2670813730/)

Donald Trump posts video of truck showing hog-tied Joe Biden

The Biden campaign team accused Mr Trump of “regularly inciting political violence” ahead of November’s election.

A spokesman for the Trump campaign said Democrats have been calling for “despicable violence” against Mr Trump.

Mr Trump posted the video on his social media site Truth Social on Friday.

According to the caption, it was filmed in Long Island, New York, on Thursday when the former president attended the wake of a New York City police officer who was killed during a traffic stop.

The video shows two passing trucks on the road, both covered in US flags and flags claiming support for the police.

The second truck was emblazoned with the words “Trump 2024”, and the rear of the vehicle features an image of Mr Biden with his hands and feet tied.

Mr Trump’s promotion of the video drew criticism from Mr Biden campaign’s team.

“Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it’s time people take him seriously – just ask the Capitol police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on 6 January,” spokesman Michael Tyler said, referring to the storming of Congress by the former president’s supporters after he falsely claimed the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

Trump suggested that Twitter’s trending topics are ‘illegal’ because they make him look bad

President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Twitter on Monday, suggesting that the website’s trending topics section is “illegal” because the topics and content that appear there make him look bad.

“So disgusting to watch Twitter’s so-called ‘Trending’, where sooo many trends are about me, and never a good one. They look for anything they can find, make it as bad as possible, and blow it up, trying to make it trend. Really ridiculous, illegal, and, of course, very unfair!” Trump tweeted.

Trump didn’t mention a specific trend or cite any evidence to support his claim that Twitter was intentionally biasing its trends against him, nor did he say which laws he believed the company is violating.

Twitter’s website says that “trends are determined by an algorithm and, by default, are tailored for you based on who you follow, your interests, and your location.” Users can also view topics that are trending by location instead of those personalized for them, according to the site.

Twitter declined to comment for this story.

Trump and other conservatives frequently accuse social media companies of bias against their political viewpoints, though so far without any systemic evidence. Trump has more than 84 million followers on the platform, the seventh-largest audience of any user and second only to former President Barack Obama among politicians, according to Brandwatch.

Multiple lawsuits brought by conservatives who said social media companies illegally discriminated against them have been rejected by courts because the First Amendment doesn’t apply to private companies.

Trump’s own criticisms of social media sites, Twitter in particular, have escalated in recent months as platforms face growing pressure to take action against hateful and potentially violence-inducing speech as well as misinformation.

Twitter drew Trump’s ire in May when it added fact-checking links to his false tweets about voting by mail, and again the same week when it applied a “glorifying violence” label to his tweet threatening protesters following George Floyd’s death with being shot.

Shortly after, Trump issued an executive order targeting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law that protects social media companies from being sued for content posted by users on their platforms, specifically calling out Twitter. Legal and tech policy experts have expressed skepticism that the order would hold up in court.

[Business Insider]

Trump Campaign Demands CNN Retract, Apologize for Poll Showing Joe Biden Leading

President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign demanded that CNN retract and apologize for a poll that showed Democratic candidate Joe Biden leading by 14 points. The campaign sent a cease and desist letter to CNN President Jeff Zucker Wednesday. The network immediately rejected the president’s demand. “We stand by our poll,” CNN spokesman Matt Dornic said.

In addition to showing Biden with a lead of 55 percent to 41 percent over Trump, the poll found the president’s approval rating to be 38 percent, the lowest it has been since January 2019, and his disapproval rating to be 57 percent. Trump tweeted Monday that he had hired Republican pollster McLaughlin & Associates to “analyze” the CNN poll, which he called fake. McLaughlin is regarded one of the least accurate pollsters.

[Daily Beast]

Update

CNN on Wednesday dismissed a demand from the Trump 2020 campaign that it withdraw a poll as “factually and legally baseless” and the type of threat that has “typically come from countries like Venezuela.”

Trump makes baseless claim about man, 75, shoved by police: ‘Could be a set-up?’

Donald Trump has claimed a 75-year-old man who was hospitalized when police shoved him to the ground at a protest in Buffalo could be “an antifa provocateur” and suggested the incident “could be a set-up”.

Two Buffalo police officers were charged with assault after video showed them pushing Martin Gugino, a slightly built septuagenarian and longtime peace activist, with enough force that he violently struck his head on the sidewalk.

The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, responded to Trump’s claims, which were offered without evidence, on Tuesday, describing the president’s behavior as “cruel and reckless”.

“The man is still in the hospital & the president is disparaging him,” Cuomo said.

The incident has been held up as an example of aggressive policing at George Floyd protests across the country and has triggered outrage across the US and overseas.

Trump, however, claimed – without offering any evidence – that Gugino may have been attempting to infiltrate police scanners. The president also seemed to suggest Gugino had exaggerated the force used by police.

“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur,” Trump said on Twitter.

“75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?”

Gugino’s attorney, Kelly Zarcone, told WBFO News on Tuesday that the 75-year-old has been taken out of intensive care but is “still hospitalized and truly needs rest”.

“Martin has always been a peaceful protester because he cares about today’s society,” Zarcone said.

“We are at a loss to understand why the president of the United States would make such dark, dangerous and untrue accusations against him.”

Trump tagged One America News Network, a far-right conservative news network, in the tweet. Shortly before Trump’s post, OANN ran a segment which made near identical claims to Trump.

OANN, which has spread multiple conspiracy theories, cited the Conservative Treehouse, a conspiracy theory website, as its source.

The Conservative Treehouse, which is among the news sites listed in FactCheck.org’s “misinformation directory”, claimed over the weekend that Gugino “was attempting to capture the radio communications signature” when he was shoved to the ground by the police.

During the 2016 presidential election the Conservative Treehouse peddled the conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton might have cancer. It has also spread conspiracy theories about student David Hogg, who survived the Parkland school shooting and has become a prominent gun control activist.

“The president is tweeting conspiracy theories about the Buffalo incident based on no evidence, no proof,” Cuomo said.

“Was the blood coming out of his head staged? Were our eyes lying to us? No.”

Cuomo added: “It’s cruel and reckless.”

The two Buffalo officers who pushed Gugino were charged with second-degree assault. All 57 members of Buffalo police’s emergency response team resigned from the team in an apparent show of support for their two colleagues.

Trump announced he would designate antifa – the term stands for anti-fascist – as a terrorist group at the end of May. Experts said the proposal is unworkable, and have said there is no actual antifa organization to be defined in such terms.

In reality, antifa relates to a broad spectrum of leftwing groups which are opposed to fascism and the far right.

Trump has often embraced conspiracy theories, most notoriously his pushing of “birtherism” – the completely false and racist theory that former president Barack Obama was not born in the US.

[The Guardian]

The Guardian]

Trump Snaps At PBS’ Yamiche Alcindor, Shushes Her for Asking About Rising Black and Asian Unemployment Rates

When PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor asked President Donald Trump how the fact that both black and Asian American unemployment rates increased this month could be taken as a victory, he responded with a dismissive hand gesture, before adding, “you are something.”

“Mr. President, why don’t you have a plan for systemic racism? Why have you not laid out a plan for systemic racism?” Alcindor asked before Trump put his finger to his mouth, attempting to shush her.

The president noted that the signing of his bill would be the greatest thing to happen for all demographics in America, adding that his plan would be to have the strongest economy in the world, adding that they’re almost at that point.

Another reporter echoed Alcindor, asking how a better economy could have helped George Floyd, who was killed at the hands of police last week.

“Black unemployment went up by .1 percent, Asian American unemployment went up by .5 percent,” Alcindor pointed out. “How is that a victory?”

“You are something,” Trump replied before Alcindor repeated her question. “I have to say though it’s been a great achievement, I feel so good about it. This is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.”

[Mediaite]

Trump tweets a letter calling protesters ‘terrorists’

President Donald Trump tweeted out a letter Thursday that referred to a group of protesters as “terrorists,” following their violent ouster from a park near the White House earlier this week.

The letter is signed by Trump’s former lawyer John Dowd and addressed to “Jim” in a probable reference to former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. It lambasted the former Pentagon chief after he called out Trump on Wednesday for threatening a military response to protests that have engulfed cities across the country. In his letter, Dowd referred to a group of protesters who were violently forced out of Washington’s Lafayette Square on Monday as “terrorists using idle hate … to burn and destroy.”

“They were abusing and disrespecting the police when the police were preparing the area for the 1900 curfew,” the letter said.

The White House did not immediately respond when asked whether Trump views the protesters as “terrorists”.

Protesters had gathered in the park to express their outrage at the death of a black Minnesota man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer, with video showing a largely peaceful — if tense — demonstration. Police charged into the protesters about 30 minutes before the city’s 7 p.m. curfew, throwing chemical irritants and hitting protesters and journalists with shields and rubber bullets.

Trump later walked out of the White House through the cleared area for a photo-op in front of St. John’s Epsicopal Church across from the square.

Mattis joined a symphony of condemnations, which came from both parties, characterizing the episode as a grotesque abuse of power.

“Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath [to defend the Constitution] would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens — much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside,” Mattis wrote in a statement to journalists on Wednesday.

On Thursday, several protesters and the Washington, D.C., chapter of Black Lives Matter sued Trump, along with other law enforcement leadership they identified as leading the Monday clash, accusing them of violating the protesters’ rights to free assembly and freedom from unreasonable seizure.

Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which is among the organizations representing the plaintiffs, decried Dowd’s letter as “abhorrent and a completely false characterization of the peacefully assembled demonstrators who were dispersed through state-sanctioned violence at the hands of government officials.”

“It is remarkable,” Clarke said in a statement to POLITICO on Thursday night, “that President Trump objects so vehemently to those speaking out against racial and police violence while embracing gun-toting activists who take siege of government buildings and violent white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville.”

[Politico]

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