Category: Authoritarian

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.

More than 10,000 lawyers have left the Trump administration leaving multiple agencies understaffed, report says | The Independent

More than 10,000 government lawyers have departed the Trump administration since his inauguration, with approximately one in five federal attorneys who worked at the end of 2024 gone by March 2026, according to a New York Times analysis. Trump systematically removed lawyers across multiple agencies to reduce the federal workforce, eliminate entire departments, and pressure remaining attorneys to implement his agenda without regard to constitutional legality. The Department of Education, which Trump seeks to dismantle permanently, lost over 50 percent of its legal staff, while the Justice Department experienced a 21 percent reduction in attorneys.

The Justice Department purged lawyers working on cases misaligned with Trump's priorities, firing prosecutors assigned to January 6 investigations and cases against Trump himself, and removing career prosecutors who refused to indict Trump's political opponents. Attorneys voluntarily departed after witnessing unprecedented pressure from officials demanding they execute Trump's personal agenda. The administration now offers $25,000 signing bonuses and lowered hiring standards to fill vacancies, yet prospective lawyers remain reluctant to accept positions, fearing association with the administration damages their future employability and legal careers.

The Department of Homeland Security was the only agency to gain lawyers, necessitated by litigation stemming from Trump's mass deportation plan and resulting immigration cases. The Department of Education is attempting to rehire lawyers it previously terminated, with Secretary Linda McMahon telling senators in April that she was bringing back dismissed staff to address a backlog of civil rights complaints. The mass exodus has left multiple government agencies understaffed and struggling to recruit qualified legal talent.

Within his first year, Trump directed government lawyers to defend policies lacking constitutional foundation, including attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship, expand executive power, and deploy the National Guard into U.S. cities during protests. The Treasury Department's top lawyer recently resigned following the DOJ's announcement of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" that would compensate individuals claiming unfair prosecution, including January 6 rioters pardoned by Trump. This fund effectively uses taxpayer money to indemnify those convicted of crimes connected to Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-administration-lawyers-jobs-staff-b2986740.html)

Trump Demands Judge’s Impeachment Over Kennedy Center Ruling

President Donald Trump demanded the impeachment of U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper after Cooper temporarily blocked Trump's planned renovations to the Kennedy Center and prevented Trump from adding his name to the building. Judge Cooper ruled that Congress alone has authority to establish the Kennedy Center's name and that the Board cannot unilaterally alter it without legislative approval. Trump attacked Cooper, accusing him of conflict of interest and alleging that the judge's wife's political views influenced the ruling, calling for the judge to face charges.

Trump characterized the Kennedy Center as "dilapidated, rusted, rotted, and rat and bug infested," framing the renovation project as necessary restoration work. The Kennedy Center Board has secured $257 million for the project and announced its intention to appeal Cooper's decision, continuing to push for approval to proceed with renovations. Trump's demand that a federal judge be impeached for an unfavorable ruling exemplifies his pattern of attacking the judiciary when court decisions contradict his agenda, undermining judicial independence and the rule of law.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-kennedy-center-judge-cooper-b2986769.html)

Trump Attacks Pope Leo, Calls Chicago Mayor Johnson ‘Useless’

President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on Saturday for meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling the mayor "useless" and renewing his assault on the pontiff's opposition to Trump's Iran military campaign. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon," responding to Johnson's photos from the Vatican showing him presenting the pope with a Chicago flag and Cubs hat. The attack marks an escalation in Trump's month-long feud with the American-born pontiff.

Trump's latest strike follows his April assault on Pope Leo for condemning Trump's threat to obliterate "a whole civilization" in Iran and for criticizing the administration's treatment of undocumented immigrants. At that time, Trump demanded the pope stop criticizing the president, declaring he was executing his "LANDSLIDE" mandate to achieve "Record Low Numbers in Crime" and the "Greatest Stock Market in History." Trump also claimed credit for Pope Leo becoming the first American pontiff, calling him "a shocking surprise" and declaring the pope should be "thankful."

Pope Leo rejected Trump's militarism directly, stating that "God does not bless any conflict" and calling Trump's Iran ultimatum "truly unacceptable." The pontiff previously condemned the Trump administration's "extremely disrespectful" treatment of immigrants. Trump responded by characterizing the pope's foreign policy views as "terrible" and branding him "WEAK" on crime and nuclear weapons.

Johnson, who met with Pope Leo on Friday, described the encounter as "one of the most awe-inspiring and humbling experiences of my life." The Chicago mayor shared images of himself with the pontiff, who was born in Chicago in 1955 and is a White Sox fan, making the Cubs hat in the photo particularly notable. Johnson's visit and positive remarks about the pope prompted Trump's hostile public rebuke.

This pattern of Trump attacking the pope over Iran policy decisions and diplomatic engagement demonstrates his intolerance for dissent from religious leaders on foreign military action. Trump's previous resort to posting AI-generated religious imagery depicting himself as Jesus after the Pope's Iran criticism underscores his demand for absolute loyalty and his conflation of personal grievance with matters of state.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-calls-out-pope-leo-for-hanging-with-useless-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson/)

Trump Mocks ‘Loser’ Thomas Massie and Tucker Carlson

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social mocking Representative Thomas Massie and Tucker Carlson, depicting them in an SUV with other Trump critics including former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens, Representative Lauren Boebert, and Senator Rand Paul. The image showed Massie driving while the others rode as passengers, captioned "Get in loser, we're going losing," in reference to critics Trump has labeled opponents of his MAGA movement.

Trump has previously attacked each figure in the image. He branded Massie "the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country" after Massie lost his Kentucky GOP primary to Trump's endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein, despite support from Boebert whom Trump called "weak minded" for campaigning for him. Trump also recently called Carlson "Low IQ" after the former cable news host criticized Trump's Iran war policy and alleged Israeli influence over U.S. decision-making.

The Saturday post was one of several from Trump targeting political opponents and critics. Trump also shared AI images of himself dunking over New York Governor Kathy Hochul and posts attacking former President Joe Biden on fentanyl policy, alongside images placing himself alongside George Washington and a bald eagle.

The mockery reflects Trump's pattern of attacking Republicans who dissent from his agenda or who have expressed public criticism of his policies and rhetoric, using social media to amplify grievances and maintain control over party messaging and loyalty.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-mocks-thomas-massie-and-tucker-carlson-for-driving-the-loser-anti-maga-bandwagon/)

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