Category: Authoritarian

Trump Attacks CNN’s Collins as Hateful During Oval Office Press

During an Oval Office question-and-answer session on Wednesday, President Trump attacked CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins while discussing his abandoned "Anti-Weaponization fund," a Department of Justice initiative he had claimed would address alleged persecution of his supporters. Trump stated that people aligned with him were "weaponized by the Biden administration" and destroyed through prosecutions, then pivoted to attack Collins directly, describing her as someone with "hatred in her eyes" who "never smiles" and opposing his administration's policies on borders, military strength, and tax cuts.

Trump's assault on Collins exemplifies his pattern of weaponizing the presidency against critical press coverage. His rhetoric conflates legitimate law enforcement actions, including the execution of a lawful search warrant at his Mar-a-Lago residence, with fabricated claims of persecution. He accused CNN of being "crooked as hell" and "a very corrupt organization," extending his long-standing campaign to delegitimize independent journalism and undermine public trust in factual reporting.

The attack on Collins as an individual, focusing on her appearance and emotional expression rather than her reporting, demonstrates Trump's reliance on personal intimidation to silence critical inquiry. CNN responded by defending Collins as "an exceptional journalist" whose reporting from the White House and field maintains credibility with global audiences. This incident reflects Trump's broader assault on the free press as a counter-majoritarian check on executive power.

Trump's invocation of his electoral performance, claiming he "won 87% of the counties" and won by a "massive landslide," continued his pattern of inflating his political mandate to justify authoritarian governance. He framed border enforcement, military expansion, and tax cuts for his interests as popular mandates while dismissing press scrutiny as motivated by hatred rather than professional responsibility, attempting to redefine journalism itself as an enemy of the state.

The incident underscores how Trump exploits the presidency to punish media outlets and individual journalists for coverage he views as unfavorable. By using the Oval Office as a platform for personal attacks against a reporter doing her job, Trump normalizes the conflation of political opposition with disloyalty and redefines the scope of acceptable presidential conduct in ways consistent with authoritarian governance models.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/hatred-in-her-eyes-trump-suddenly-starts-berating-cnns-kaitlan-collins-during-fiery-oval-office-qa/)

Trump Posts Request for Pardon for Controversial Lawmaker

President Trump posted a pardon request for former Indiana Congressman Stephen Buyer, who was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for insider trading schemes in 2018 and 2019. According to the Department of Justice, Buyer "engaged in two separate, but interrelated insider trading schemes to steal material non-public information that he obtained through consulting work and to place timely, profitable securities trades based on that stolen information." Trump distributed letters on Truth Social from former Republican National Committee Chairman Robert James Nicholson and multiple Republican lawmakers, both making appeals for Buyer's pardon without offering his own comment.

The Nicholson letter characterizes Buyer's prosecution as political retaliation, claiming "the SEC and DOJ were weaponized against Congressman Buyer as political retribution." This framing mirrors language used by Trump allies to describe prosecutions of Trump himself, despite documented criminal conduct in both cases. The letter references Buyer's past Republican loyalty, including his role prosecuting President Clinton during impeachment proceedings and seeking indictment against Hillary Clinton.

A second letter signed by Republican politicians echoed the weaponization narrative, stating "The Clintons, the Bidens, their surrogates and Democrats in the deep state never forgot Steve's contributions that were an affront to their beliefs and objectives." Trump posted both letters without commentary, effectively amplifying claims that federal prosecutors acted from partisan motives rather than in response to evidence of criminal conduct.

Trump's promotion of Buyer's pardon request occurs as he uses control of the Justice Department to advance personal and corporate interests, including overseeing antitrust reviews affecting major media companies. Trump himself faces scrutiny for stock trades made while serving as commander in chief, creating direct parallel circumstances to Buyer's insider trading convictions.

The pardon push demonstrates Trump's pattern of using executive clemency to reward political allies while weaponizing the Justice Department against perceived enemies. By distributing unsigned pardon appeals without commentary, Trump signals approval while maintaining plausible deniability, a characteristic strategy employed throughout his administration to bypass accountability mechanisms and consolidate loyalty among Republican officeholders.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-posts-appeal-for-a-pardon-by-ex-congressman-slapped-with-insider-trading-charges/)

Trump’s Pentagon hires Jan 6 rioter for highly sensitive counterterrorism role | The Independent

The Trump administration hired Elias Irizarry, a convicted January 6 Capitol rioter, to serve in the Pentagon's Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, which oversees counterterrorism, hostage rescues, and embassy security operations. Irizarry, who was 19 years old during the insurrection, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for entering the Capitol through a broken window while holding a metal pole and now holds a sensitive position influencing military strategy in dangerous environments.

Pentagon officials defended the appointment, with a spokesman calling Irizarry "a qualified, patriotic young professional," and DOJ official Ernie Sampera attesting to his character and loyalty. However, an anonymous Pentagon insider told the Washington Post that placing someone "so junior and new to DOD, and with such a checkered background, into such a sensitive portfolio" for rescue and extraction missions operating in complex combat zones contradicts basic security protocols for positions handling classified counterterrorism information.

Irizarry had previously apologized to the court for his January 6 involvement, stating his participation "brought great shame upon myself, my family, and, unfortunately, my country." He later reframed his Capitol riot participation as evidence of commitment to the "America First movement" during an unsuccessful campaign for South Carolina state legislature, characterizing prosecution of rioters as targeting "nonviolent activities."

Trump pardoned Irizarry alongside more than 1,500 others convicted or accused of January 6 participation. The administration has systematically hired multiple individuals connected to the insurrection, including another accused rioter prosecutors say urged violence against law enforcement, now employed at the Justice Department.

Congressional Democrats have initiated investigations into whether the Department of Homeland Security is hiring former January 6 participants. Trump's proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of alleged DOJ "weaponization" has triggered concern among lawmakers that federal money could be redirected to compensate insurrectionists.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-elias-irizarry-january-6-pentagon-b2988374.html)

White House App Exposes Users to Data Theft Via Undisclosed Third Parties

The Trump White House's official app collects and shares user data with third-party vendors without proper disclosure, according to cybersecurity researchers who analyzed its code. The app's privacy manifest on Apple's App Store is blank despite the fact that it transmits IP addresses, time zones, device identifiers, and mobile carrier information to companies including OneSignal and Elfsight, a Russia-founded software vendor. Philip Fields, a cybersecurity researcher and former FBI intelligence analyst, stated that "having an amateur WordPress developer running the White House's public presence puts everybody who visits it at risk," especially while the U.S. is engaged in military conflict.

The app fails to meet federal security standards and bypasses established oversight mechanisms. Federal apps and websites are required to use certified cloud services such as FedRamp or GovCloud, which have been vetted and certified by Congress for security compliance. Instead, the White House contracted with 45Press, an Ohio-based WordPress development company with no disclosed mobile app experience, which was awarded over $1.4 million in February. The app lacks basic security protections including code obfuscation and certificate pinning, making its code and network traffic vulnerable to reverse engineering.

Data sharing with third parties violates the app's stated privacy disclosures to users. Apple's app store requires developers to declare all data collection in privacy manifests; the White House app's manifest is completely blank, falsely indicating no data collection occurs. Cybersecurity researcher Thereallo noted that "users downloading an official government app would reasonably expect their data to stay within the US government systems, not flow to commercial third-party platforms." OneSignal's chief marketing officer acknowledged the company collects functional data but stated it is Apple's responsibility to ensure developers disclose this collection accurately.

The White House defended the app's security practices, claiming third-party vendors underwent full IT review and that data sharing is "standard" for applications. However, Sen. Dick Durbin, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the administration's cybersecurity failures, stating "in true Trump White House fashion, their lackluster app appears to pose a cybersecurity threat to its users," particularly as the administration simultaneously cuts funding from cybersecurity agencies. The app ranks as the third-most downloaded news app on Apple's App Store after its launch last week, with Trump promoting it as providing "front-row access" to his administration.

The White House has deployed four updates to the app within one week of its release, with developers attributing two updates to "minor bug fixes." Initial versions included inactive location-tracking permissions that were subsequently removed. Cybersecurity expert Adam Enger warned that state-sponsored attackers possess far more sophisticated analysis capabilities than independent researchers and are actively monitoring the app for vulnerabilities, stating "if I could find this by myself in an hour on Friday night, then how far along are our adversaries with this?"

(Source: https://www.notus.org/technology/trump-white-house-app-cybersecurity)

Trump Spends $5M Gilding Statues While Bypassing Competitive Bidding

The Trump administration awarded a $5 million no-bid contract in April 2026 to cover four bronze horse statues near the Lincoln Memorial with 23.75-karat gold leaf, according to reporting by NOTUS on May 29. The National Park Service, overseen by the Department of the Interior, bypassed competitive bidding to meet a July 4 deadline ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebration. The statues, known as the Arts of War and Arts of Peace, are located on the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

This project exemplifies Trump's pattern of using federal funds for vanity projects that reimagine Washington, D.C. landmarks in his image. Trump has described the capital as "disgusting" and "ugly," yet his administration has spent millions on restoration work, including a $1.5 million Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation and announced plans to repaint the World War II Memorial's central fountain. During a May 27 Cabinet meeting, Trump stated he and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have had "a lot of fun" remaking historic sites.

The no-bid contract diverts National Parks funds to gold-plating statues rather than infrastructure maintenance or preservation. The Interior Department justified the expedited process by citing the compressed July 4 timeline, claiming the project demonstrates Trump's commitment to making "D.C. Safe and Beautiful." Trump's broader renovation agenda ahead of the semiquincentennial includes a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery modeled on Paris' Arc de Triomphe, modifications to the White House East Wing, and paving over sections of the Rose Garden.

These projects consume taxpayer resources while serving Trump's personal brand-building agenda. A federal judge recently ordered Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center after the board voted in December to add it alongside John F. Kennedy's, demonstrating the administration's pattern of appropriating national institutions for self-promotion. Concurrent construction on a UFC arena on the White House South Lawn for Trump's 80th birthday on June 14 further illustrates how federal property is being converted to serve Trump's personal interests.

(Source: https://people.com/trump-administration-pays-millions-to-cover-bronze-horses-in-extra-thick-23-75-karat-gold-11987153?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_content=photo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=6a1dff0999519100013f6cbd&fbclid=IwdGRjcASLuvhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeCb9ecZExU9ourhcWLg0WiQUw8F3ka54PxxNhdssziMh45kAd33CR9exWrSE_aem_BlL89Mht_Fpts6O380yRvw)

Trump Demands Prosecution Be Erased After Felony Conviction

Donald Trump used Truth Social to attack prosecutors, judges, and media figures in a late-night post series, claiming he is an "innocent man" despite his May 2024 conviction on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payoff to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump falsely asserted that his former personal attorney Michael Cohen stated he was "pressured and coerced" to testify, mischaracterizing Cohen's podcast comments to Sirius XM host Michael Smerconish as exoneration when Cohen detailed his own decision to provide truthful testimony.

Trump demanded Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James be fired, claiming they invented charges "that nobody has ever been charged with in the History of Manhattan" and transformed nonexistent "misdemeanors" into felonies. He made no factual distinction between the charges he faced and any prior cases, instead advancing the baseless argument that prosecution itself constitutes persecution targeting him personally.

The posts included links to six articles from the conservative outlet Just the News focused on Democratic corruption allegations, Trump's cognitive test results, the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents, Hunter Biden, and Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis's efforts to prosecute Trump for election interference. Trump continued his decade-long campaign against mainstream media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN, claiming they would frame even an Iranian surrender as a victory against the United States.

Trump boasted of orchestrating political retribution against Republican officials including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, characterizing these actions as "taking out" enemies. He also claimed credit for deterring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a "major raid" on Beirut, Lebanon, contradicting reporting of a contentious phone call between the two leaders on Monday.

The posting spree demonstrated Trump's reliance on unsubstantiated claims and distortion of factual record while seeking to reshape legal accountability as political weaponization, continuing his pattern of attacking institutions and individuals who have enforced laws against him or refused his demands for personal loyalty.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-truth-social-michael-cohen-b2987736.html)(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-truth-social-michael-cohen-b2987736.html)

Pete Hegseth Blocks Black and Female Navy Officers from Getting Promotions: Report

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotions for at least seven Navy officers in May 2026, including two women and two Black men, according to reporting by The New York Times on June 1. Three additional officers removed from the promotion list were white men. The blocking contradicts the stated composition of the Navy, where women comprise approximately 21% of active-duty personnel and about 38% identify as racial minorities, yet the May promotion list included no female officers and only two nonwhite officers.

Four current and former defense officials characterized Hegseth's actions as "highly unusual." This pattern aligns with reporting from NBC News in April, citing nine U.S. officials, that Hegseth blocked or delayed promotions across all military branches based on officers' "race, gender or perceived affiliation with [former President Joe] Biden administration policies or officials." In March, The New York Times documented Hegseth blocking promotions of two women Army officers and two Black Army officers to one-star general ranks.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied the report, calling The New York Times "race-baiting garbage" and claiming the outlet views "almost everything through the lens of race and gender over merit." Parnell stated that "military promotions are given to those who have earned them" and asserted the Department will never consider "the color of a service member's skin or their gender as a factor in promotions." These denials came despite the documented pattern of exclusions.

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith, a Democrat, directly attributed the removals to Hegseth's ideological targeting. Smith stated in April that Hegseth has "oust[ed] numerous decorated, knowledgeable, and well-respected U.S. military leaders" and "continue[s] to target others in the department who appear to pose a challenge to him personally or don't fit his world view rather than letting merit and competence determine promotions." Smith warned the actions "threaten the stability of our armed forces" and "erode the non-partisan role of the military."

Hegseth's removals form part of a broader pattern of institutional control consistent with efforts to restrict press access to Pentagon operations and consolidate loyalty within the defense apparatus. These personnel decisions demonstrate the use of military authority to enforce ideological conformity rather than merit-based advancement.

(Source: https://people.com/pete-hegseth-blocks-black-and-female-navy-officers-from-receiving-promotions-report-11988460?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_content=photo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=6a1e215499519100013f9925&fbclid=IwdGRjcASLs9JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeIbFKNfkDxLmkNcnnWrrCrZ2LoFJkdKXsd1PjTri2IF8qGLfzwfgr-Gk_ws0_aem_YSm1EWQnHrlm8PnYzAlpWQ)

Trump Administration Defies Court Order on Kennedy Center

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum refused to commit to complying with a federal court order requiring President Donald Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center within two weeks. When asked on CNN's State of the Union whether the name would be removed, Burgum deflected by suggesting the ruling might be appealed and claimed "there's controversy on both sides," despite U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper's clear ruling that only Congress has authority to change the center's name under the 1964 statute that created it.

Trump's administration had added his name to the building's facade in December 2025 after the board, comprised entirely of Trump appointees, voted to rename it "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." Judge Cooper found this decision violated federal law, writing that "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it." The board's vote to close the venue for a two-year renovation was also deemed "ill-informed and seemingly preordained" by the judge, who noted the decision lacked sufficient independent analysis of the center's actual needs.

Trump responded to the court order by attacking Judge Cooper and his wife on Truth Social in posts exceeding 1,300 words, making unfounded claims about the judge's impartiality and alleging without evidence that Cooper's wife, attorney Amy Jeffress, influenced the ruling because of her work with President Biden's legal team. Trump claimed the center was "rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested," language echoed by Burgum, who cited deterioration in HVAC systems to justify the renovation as necessary.

The Kennedy Center controversy reflects deeper tensions over Trump's control of the institution. Multiple high-profile artists have withdrawn or canceled performances in response to the takeover, including folk singer Kristy Lee, jazz group the Cookers, and the producers of Hamilton, with creator Lin-Manuel Miranda stating the center was "not created in this spirit" under Trump's leadership. The center has already conducted massive layoffs in preparation for the shutdown.

Judge Cooper's ruling only temporarily blocks the closure and does not prevent the board from reconsidering the decision if it does so with proper analysis of the center's actual operational and maintenance needs. The administration's refusal to acknowledge the court's authority to enforce this decision, combined with Burgum's equivocation, demonstrates a pattern of disregarding judicial orders when they conflict with Trump's interests. A spokeswoman for the center stated confidence that "on appeal the court will uphold the Board's will," signaling continued defiance of the judge's determination.

(Source: https://time.com/article/2026/05/31/burgum-says-trump-s-name-won-t-be-taken-off-kennedy-center-after-judges-ruling/)(

Pentagon Bans Press Office Access via Classified Room

The Pentagon eliminated journalist access to its press office by redesignating the space as a "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" (SCIF), according to Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez's announcement Monday. The Trump administration justified the ban by claiming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speechwriters require access to classified material and SIPRNet (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network), making the office incompatible with reporter presence. Valdez dismissed concerns by stating "There's nothing controversial about that" while claiming the Pentagon operates with unprecedented transparency.

This escalation follows a pattern of Pentagon press restrictions under Hegseth. In October, dozens of journalists surrendered their Pentagon press badges after the Defense Department imposed rules requiring pre-approval of all reporting and mandatory escorts for reporters moving through the building. Major news outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax, rejected these restrictions. In December, The New York Times sued the Pentagon, arguing the rules violated freedom of speech and due process rights.

A federal judge ruled in March that key security provisions were unlawful, forcing the Pentagon to revise its policy. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced a compromise allowing press access to an annex facility outside the building with mandatory escort requirements. The New York Times filed a second lawsuit last month, contending that mandatory escorts for Pentagon access violate the Constitution.

Mark Schoeff Jr., president of the National Press Club, characterized the SCIF redesignation as a "remarkable and troubling escalation in the Defense Department's ongoing effort to restrict independent reporting." Parnell defended the latest restrictions by claiming the New York Times lawsuit "is nothing more than an attempt to remove the barriers to them getting their hands on classified information," asserting the policy is "completely lawful and narrowly designed to protect national security information."

The Pentagon's progressive elimination of press office access mirrors broader efforts to suppress information flows to journalists through federal employee NDAs and reflects the administration's hostility toward independent oversight of military operations and defense policy.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pentagon-bans-reporters-press-office-b2987592.html)

Trump Defends Exodus of Lawyers from His Administration

The departure of over 10,000 government lawyers from Trump’s administration is not just an isolated event but part of a broader strategy, viewed by some as a “deep state” conspiracy endorsed by Trump and the Republicans. This approach targets those not blindly loyal to Trump, seeing periodic loyalty purges as necessary for authoritarian control. Low-quality loyalists replace experienced civil servants, willing to follow Trump’s directives regardless of constitutionality. This aligns with Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation policy blueprint aiming to dismantle federal bureaucracy.

Project 2025 outlines a plan to replace tens of thousands of career civil servants with political loyalists, ensuring presidential control over the executive branch. Key strategies include the proposed revival of “Schedule F,” which would reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers into political appointments, stripping their job protections. It also relies on “unitary executive theory,” granting the president total control over federal agencies, challenging the independence of bodies like the Department of Justice and the FBI.

The project organizes databases of pre-vetted conservative loyalists to fill government positions swiftly, aiming to install “conservative warriors” in legal, regulatory, and policy-making roles across all departments.

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