Category: Unethical

‘Some homework to do’: Trump appointees vote to address gaps in arch plan in heated meeting – ABC News

Trump’s National Capital Planning Commission, stacked with his appointees, voted Thursday to conditionally advance a 250-foot “triumphal arch” project near Arlington National Cemetery, but only after staff identified significant gaps requiring the administration to provide additional details before final approval. Commission Chair Will Scharf, Trump’s White House staff secretary, acknowledged the project team has “homework to do,” requesting more renderings and technical information on lighting, stormwater management, materials, and height justification under the Height of Buildings Act. Despite Trump immediately claiming approval on social media, Scharf clarified the vote was not final and will return for further review.

The commission received 1,696 public comments before the hearing, nearly all opposing the project as a vanity structure inconsistent with American values. Veterans including Gary Langston and Marine Jimi Shaughnessy testified that the arch would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery and cast literal and figurative shadows over sacred ground where their families rest. Langston warned the design contains “elements that I fear won’t stand the test of time,” while Shaughnessy called the 250-foot structure “a profound disruption and insult at the entrance to sacred ground” and “a momentous symbol of selfishness.”

Commission staff, though outnumbered by Trump loyalists, raised critical unresolved issues including pedestrian safety, potential interference with Reagan National Airport flight paths, and obstruction of cemetery views. Jamie Herr, the commission’s urban planner, stated the submission lacks essential information and noted the administration must provide “necessary elements for the commission to review as the design advances.” Jessica Bowron, representing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, supported the staff recommendations and pledged to provide the requested additional information.

The vote to accept staff concerns passed 9-1, with only Evan Cash, representing D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, voting no on grounds that the administration cannot answer the “fundamental question about why this project belongs in this place.” Cash’s dissent highlighted the threshold issue: whether Trump’s triumphal arch near Arlington serves any purpose beyond personal aggrandizement, part of a broader pattern of Trump spending millions to gild and renovate Washington monuments while bypassing normal oversight processes.(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/homework-trump-appointees-vote-address-gaps-arch-plan/story?id=133600719)

HHS Employees Now Being Measured By Loyalty To Trump’s Policies | HuffPost Latest News

The Trump administration has implemented a new performance metric at the Department of Health and Human Services requiring tens of thousands of employees to demonstrate they "clearly and demonstrably support implementation" of Trump's policy agenda as a "critical element" of their annual reviews. The requirement, titled "Faithful Support of Administration of the Law and the President's Policies," mandates that Senior Professionals prove loyalty to Trump's specific policy priorities through measurable results aligned with his agenda, fundamentally inverting the merit-based civil service system designed to serve the public rather than any individual.

Federal employees are statutorily required to serve the government and public interest, not pledge allegiance to any president's policies. HHS workers report the requirement creates fear and coercion, with one employee stating employees must "go along to get along" or face termination, effectively forcing compliance under threat of job loss. The Office of Personnel Management directed all federal agencies to adopt similar language following Trump's January executive order "Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives," making this loyalty assessment government-wide policy.

The mandate threatens the independence of HHS's Office of the Inspector General, which operates independently to identify waste, fraud, and abuse across the department. Employees in this office now face a direct conflict between the loyalty requirement and their legal mandate to expose wrongdoing, regardless of whether it implicates Trump administration policies. Trump terminated all 18 inspectors general across federal agencies within weeks of taking office, and this new performance standard consolidates his control by subordinating their investigative function to political loyalty.

Stanford presidential scholar Terry Moe identified the requirement as part of Trump's systematic assault on the administrative state, stating the administration aims to replace merit-based civil servants with loyalists throughout the executive branch. Moe emphasized this policy "flies in the face of the entire foundation of civil service, which is merit." The requirement transforms federal workers into political operatives bound to advance Trump's agenda rather than neutral administrators applying law and expertise to serve citizens.

HHS employees remain under additional pressure from ongoing government shutdown furloughs and widespread job uncertainty as Trump carries out sweeping workforce cuts. One employee expressed the cascading effect: the loyalty requirement compounds existing morale collapse, with staff unable to predict or prepare for daily directives while fearing retaliation for dissent. The policy structurally eliminates the ability of federal workers to voice concerns or apply professional judgment independent of Trump's political priorities.

(Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hhs-employees-trump-loyalty-performance-reviews_n_68ffa3b7e4b0ebfddfbaf88c)

Trump promotes $55 America’s 250th birthday hats during Cabinet meeting | The Independent

During a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump distributed $55 hats celebrating America's 250th anniversary to officials seated at the table, each accompanied by a presidential challenge coin that Trump signed. The hats, sold through the Trump Store, feature Mount Rushmore, a bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Bell, and represent the latest instance of Trump converting his office into a direct profit engine for his family business.

Since taking office, the Trump Store has launched over 600 products, generating unprecedented revenue streams for the president. According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, this level of monetization of the presidency exceeds even Trump's first term. Forbes reports Trump has accumulated at least $1.4 billion since taking office, with his net worth reaching approximately $6.5 billion as of March 2026, nearly triple his 2024 valuation, largely driven by his family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture.

At the same meeting, Trump dismissed concerns about the unpopularity of his Iran war affecting midterm elections, stating "I don't care about the midterms" while asserting the military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin characterized a protest and hunger strike at an ICE detention facility, where Democratic Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed Monday, as evidence of "radical left Democrats' priorities," claiming detainees were demanding "ethnic right food" rather than addressing substantive conditions.

The Cabinet meeting merchandise display exemplifies Trump's systematic conversion of government functions into commercial opportunities. Each official received items directly from Trump's profit-generating enterprises, blurring the constitutional separation between executive duties and personal business interests in a manner that normalizes using official government events for private commercial gain.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-america-250-birthday-hats-cabinet-b2985330.html?fbclid=IwVERFWASGeLdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHxeBE3qOEc8SgB1D0fRIsOq7l6JAyqWgPxJLrL7tSHS9JFVfAxuukdABwQc_aem_nPU8D61r8JwIu17qXpj_3w)

Trump Tells Security Not to Harm Rally Protestor For “Legal” Reasons

President Donald Trump held a rally in Rockland County, New York, on Friday for Rep. Mike Lawler, where security removed two hecklers from the crowd. Trump characterized the interruptions as rare, stating it was "the first time it's happened in a long time," and claimed that protesters at his rallies had learned such disruptions were "dangerous" and stopped occurring after his initial months in office.

When security rapidly removed the second protester, Trump publicly instructed his security detail not to harm the individual, stating "Don't hurt him! Don't hurt him! Don't hurt him — I do that for legal reasons!" He then claimed this instruction allowed him to say "I'm innocent," framing his vocal concern for a protester's safety as legal protection for himself rather than genuine concern for the person's welfare.

Trump's explicit invocation of "legal reasons" for publicly demanding restraint reveals the transactional nature of his statements. His framing transforms a basic instruction against assault into a self-protective legal maneuver, suggesting that public declarations of non-violence serve his legal defense rather than reflecting actual values or policy.

This moment contrasts sharply with Trump's 2016 rhetoric at another rally, when he stated about a protester: "The guards are being very gentle with him. I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you that." The shift from openly expressing violent desires to publicly demanding restraint for legal cover illustrates how Trump deploys rhetoric strategically to manage legal exposure while maintaining his aggressive stance toward opponents and critics.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/dont-hurt-him-trump-quips-he-tells-security-not-to-harm-rally-protestors-for-legal-reasons/)

Trump Posts Memes Attacking Obama as ‘Traitor,’ Powell Dumped

President Donald Trump posted memes on Truth Social attacking former President Barack Obama and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday afternoon. The first meme displayed Trump with a raised fist alongside images of former President Joe Biden kneeling in a mask and Obama bowing, captioned "LEADERS LEAD," "COWARDS KNEEL," and "TRAITORS BOW" respectively. Trump's attack on Obama referenced his longstanding criticism of the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump terminated, and falsely claimed that without its termination "you would have had a nuclear holocaust."

Trump's second post featured an artificially generated image of Powell being dropped into a dumpster, captioned "'Too Late' is a DISASTER for America! Interest Rates too high!" Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for not lowering interest rates according to Trump's demands and for spending over $4 billion on Federal Reserve building renovations, approximately $1.5 billion above the projected cost. Trump announced last year his intention to sue Powell over the renovation expenses.

The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into Powell weeks after Trump's lawsuit threat, which Powell characterized as retaliation for refusing to comply with Trump's pressure to lower rates. The DOJ dropped the investigation last week, yet U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated on Sunday that she has not fully closed the matter and may pursue further investigation into Powell. This pattern reflects Trump's systematic weaponization of federal law enforcement against political adversaries who resist his directives, as documented in prior reporting on Pirro's investigation into Powell.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-bonkers-memes-slamming-political-foes-from-traitor-obama-to-powell-in-a-dumpster/)

Trump shares another bizarre AI image with Cabinet members in bathing suits | The Independent

Trump posted AI-generated images on Truth Social Friday depicting himself, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shirtless in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The images circulated as the pool undergoes a $1.5 million renovation ordered by Trump and overseen by Burgum, aimed at repairing leaks and applying a new “American flag blue” coating before the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4.

Trump has weaponized criticism of the landmark’s previous condition to justify the renovation, falsely attributing maintenance failures to the previous administration. The project represents Trump’s pattern of using federal resources and monuments to advance his personal political brand and self-aggrandizement.

On the same day Trump posted the AI images, the Reflecting Pool renovation site was vandalized with “86 47” spray-painted graffiti under investigation by U.S. Park Police. Republicans have interpreted the number “86” as a coded threat against Trump, comparing it to the recent indictment of James Comey for a social media post containing “8647,” demonstrating how Trump supporters conflate unrelated incidents to amplify victimhood narratives.

Trump’s distribution of fabricated images depicting government officials in demeaning scenarios violates norms of presidential conduct and demonstrates his abuse of Truth Social to disseminate disinformation for ent(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-ai-photo-jd-vance-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-b2969540.html)ertainment and self-promotion. The bizarre nature of the content underscores Trump’s contempt for the dignity of office and serious governance.

Ellison Hosts Trump Dinner as Paramount Seeks Merger Approval

David Ellison, billionaire head of Paramount, hosted a private dinner at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday to honor President Trump and senior administration officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who oversees the Justice Department’s antitrust review of Paramount’s pending $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The event featured CBS News executives and journalists, including Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who sat at Trump’s table alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, and the First Lady.

The dinner created immediate conflict within CBS’s newsroom. Multiple journalists expressed concern that Paramount was hosting an event designed to honor politicians whom CBS News is tasked with covering objectively, particularly while the company awaits federal regulatory approval for its massive media merger. CBS staff said the event risked creating a perception of inappropriate closeness between the news division and the Trump administration at a critical moment for the deal’s fate.

Bari Weiss, the network’s editor-in-chief, has drawn criticism for potentially shifting CBS News coverage toward Trump-friendly editorial directions. Trump has given mixed reviews of CBS under Ellison’s ownership, praising some moves while harshly attacking “60 Minutes” reports he deemed unfair. Meanwhile, Trump has publicly demanded CNN be sold as part of discussions about the Warner Bros. merger, effectively endorsing Ellison’s acquisition strategy.

Paramount’s chief legal officer, Makan Delrahim, also attended and sat with Trump, positioning the company’s leadership directly before the president who benefits from regulatory approval. Paramount beat Netflix in February to secure the Warner Bros. deal, which would place CNN and HBO under Ellison’s control, fundamentally reshaping the American media landscape. Shareholders approved the sale this week, but the Justice Department must still authorize the transaction.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the Institute of Peace on Thursday opposing the merger. CBS News declined to comment on the event, the White House did not respond to requests for comment, and Paramount also refused to address the controversy. Trump is scheduled to speak at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, where CBS News will host administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/business/media/david-ellison-trump-cbs-news.html)

Donald Trump Rails Against Supreme Court Over Ending His “Liberation Day” Taxes

President Donald Trump attacked the Supreme Court on Friday for its February ruling invalidating his “Liberation Day” emergency tariffs, claiming the court could have prevented a $159 billion refund obligation by including “one little half sentence” in its decision. Trump stated that justices needed only to add language exempting already-collected tariff revenue from repayment, insisting this single phrase would have made the country substantially wealthier and spared companies from receiving refunds on duties he had imposed on nearly every U.S. trading partner.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision determined that Trump’s sweeping tariff action violated constitutional authority, which Congress alone possesses under Article I. Trump mischaracterized the ruling on CNBC, falsely claiming he had lost “by just two votes” when he actually lost by three votes, and incorrectly stating the justices found he had power to unilaterally levy tariffs without congressional approval. He demanded the Court should have simply reworded its opinion to shield the government from repaying collected duties, framing the refund obligation as a preventable loss caused by judicial negligence.

Trump’s complaints reveal his expectation that the Supreme Court should have restructured its legal reasoning to serve his financial interests rather than apply constitutional law as written. His repeated emphasis on a hypothetical “one sentence” fix demonstrates frustration that the judiciary did not accommodate his policy preferences through creative statutory language, and his false characterization of the vote margin and the Court’s reasoning compounds the distortion of what the decision actually addressed.

The tariff ruling stands as a constraint on Trump’s unilateral executive power, requiring him to pursue tariff authority through the different legal mechanisms already available under existing emergency statutes that Congress has delegated. Trump’s public complaints about the Court’s wording rather than its substance underscore his conflation of legal outcomes with personal grievances and his apparent belief that justices should tailor opinions to minimize fiscal consequences for his preferred policies.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-rails-against-supreme-court-over-absence-of-one-little-half-sentence-on-tariffs/)

Kash Patel Says He’s Suing Over Report Claiming He’s Repeatedly Been Intoxicated in Public While FBI Director – Yahoo News UK

FBI Director Kash Patel announced plans to sue The Atlantic after the publication reported that he had struggled to log into a computer system on April 10, initially believing he had been fired by President Trump. According to the article by Sarah Fitzpatrick, Patel panicked and frantically contacted aides and allies about his supposed termination, with nine sources describing his behavior and two characterizing it as a “freak-out,” though the lockout was later determined to be a technical issue unrelated to any personnel action.

The Atlantic’s report also detailed allegations that Patel had been intoxicated in public at restaurants in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. The publication claimed that members of his security detail had experienced difficulty waking Patel on multiple occasions due to excessive alcohol consumption, and that a request for breaching equipment typically used by SWAT teams was made after Patel became unreachable behind locked doors.

Patel’s response came through FBI spokesperson Erica Knight, who dismissed the reporting as “fabricated” and announced a lawsuit would be filed. Patel himself posted on X stating he would meet the outlet “in court” and accused it of producing “fake news,” suggesting the actual malice standard required in defamation cases would favor his legal position.

FBI Assistant Director Benjamin Williamson released a statement calling the article “one of the most absurd things” he had read, characterizing it as “completely false reporting at a nearly 100% clip” despite a tight two-hour deadline provided to the publication for response. The statement was included in Patel’s social media post as supporting documentation for his claims of inaccurate reporting.

(Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kash-patel-says-suing-over-031725423.html)

Trump Demands Fox News Take Jessica Tarlov off Air

President Donald Trump demanded Fox News remove co-host Jessica Tarlov from the air, calling her “a real loser” and criticizing her voice, statements, and overall presence on the network. Trump posted his demand on Truth Social, claiming Tarlov uses “fake numbers” and “fake polls” while expressing his dislike for her work, though he added he was “sure she’s a lovely person.”

Trump also targeted Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream, criticizing her interview with Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss and instructing her to correct Democratic guests when they present what he calls “propaganda and lies.” The president objected to Bream’s characterization of the SAVE Act, insisting it be called the “SAVE America Act,” a distinction he emphasized as significant.

This marks a continued pattern of Trump attacking Fox News personalities who he perceives as insufficiently loyal or critical of his positions. In 2024, Trump accused Bream of conducting an “anti-MAGA” interview with his attorney, and he has repeatedly called Tarlov a “loser” in previous public statements, including during a March appearance on The Five when Tarlov was absent.

Trump’s demand reflects his expectation that media outlets, including Fox News, align with his messaging without independent editorial judgment or hosting of opposing viewpoints. His explicit instruction to “Fox executives” to remove Tarlov demonstrates an abuse of power, using his position as president to pressure media organizations into personnel decisions based on his personal preferences rather than journalistic merit.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-demands-fox-news-take-host-off-air-a-real-loser/)

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