Category: Hire The Best People

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)

Trump Aide Steven Cheung Criticizes Mike Pompeo Over Iran Deal Comments

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung attacked former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday for criticizing Trump’s proposed Iran nuclear agreement, posting vulgar criticism on X stating that Pompeo “has no idea what the f*ck he’s talking about” and demanding he “shut his stupid mouth.” Cheung claimed Pompeo lacked access to current negotiations and therefore possessed no legitimate basis to comment on the still-developing framework.

Pompeo had posted hours earlier that the reported Iran deal follows patterns from the Obama administration that he characterized as capitulation to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, stating it would enable Iran to develop nuclear weapons and maintain control of shipping lanes. He called for the U.S. to instead blockade Iran’s access to funds and eliminate Iranian military capability threatening regional allies.

Conservative critics including Senator Ted Cruz joined Pompeo’s opposition, warning the agreement would deliver billions to an Islamist regime while permitting uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons development. Pompeo has faced prior conflicts within Trump’s orbit, including efforts to prevent his appointment to cabinet positions.

Cheung’s public assault on Pompeo reflects the Trump administration’s pattern of attacking dissenting voices within its own party and former appointees. The dispute demonstrates how Trump administration officials deploy aggressive rhetoric and personal attacks to suppress criticism rather than address substantive policy disagreements about Iran negotiations.

Trump previously praised Pompeo for combating press scrutiny, and the current conflict underscores how Trump demands absolute loyalty from current and former officials, moving to silence former Secretary of State Pompeo when his views diverge from administration positions on foreign policy.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/wh-spox-excoriates-trumps-fmr-secretary-of-state-for-criticizing-iran-deal-no-idea-what-the-fck-hes-talking-about/)

Trump Secretary Spent Last Year Making Reality TV Show With Family | The New Republic

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spent seven of his first seven months in office on a family road trip across eight conservative states and Washington, D.C., documented as a reality television show called “The Great American Road Trip” produced in partnership with Fox News for YouTube release. Duffy confirmed in a Fox News interview on Friday that the multimonth journey, which consumed nearly half his tenure since his Senate confirmation in January 2025, was his idea to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, stating his motto as “To love America is to see America.” His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, later revealed the project originated from a directive by Donald Trump urging Cabinet members to develop ways to mark the anniversary, though the couple framed it as a spontaneous family decision to produce “wholesome” content.

Campos-Duffy defended the extended absence from Duffy’s official duties by characterizing American culture as a “PornHub world” and positioning the road trip as wholesome family content, urging other Americans to embark on similar journeys during 2026. The couple provided no acknowledgment of how working families facing severe economic hardship could afford such an undertaking, particularly as fuel costs remain elevated due to the ongoing war with Iran. Gas prices nationwide average $4.54 per gallon according to the American Automobile Association, approximately 50 percent higher than pre-war levels, with California regions such as Mono County experiencing prices exceeding $7 per gallon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright predicted costs could climb further before the midterm elections as the conflict continues.

The road trip states visited were Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Montana, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.—a deliberately selective geographic footprint excluding 41 states and heavily favoring conservative strongholds. Duffy’s documented absence from transportation policy oversight while the nation faces infrastructural and energy challenges demonstrates how Trump’s Cabinet uses federal positions to advance personal projects and media ventures. The promotion of family leisure travel as national policy inspiration(Source: https://newrepublic.com/post/210192/donald-trump-transportation-secretary-reality-tv-show-family) during a period of economic strain for ordinary Americans exemplifies the disconnect between Trump administration messaging and material reality facing working people.

Trump Nominee Refuses to Confirm 22nd Amendment Bars Third

Trump’s judicial nominee John George Edward Marck refused to answer Senator Chris Coons’ direct question about what the 22nd Amendment states during a federal court confirmation hearing for the Southern District of Texas on May 4, 2026. The 22nd Amendment explicitly prohibits any person from being elected President more than twice. When Coons asked whether Trump is eligible to run for a third term, Marck claimed he needed to “review the facts” rather than confirming the constitutional bar, and sat silently while another witness answered.

Marck’s evasion violated constitutional duty by dodging a foundational legal question that judges must understand. Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger labeled the response “DISQUALIFYING,” and former GOP analyst Tara Setmayer called it “UNEQUIVOCALLY DISQUALIFYING.” The silence from other Trump nominees when asked to confirm the constitutional two-term limit demonstrated coordinated refusal to acknowledge clear constitutional limits on Trump’s power.

Trump has threatened to run for a third term, contradicting the explicit language of the 22nd Amendment. Republicans in Congress have offered only minimal resistance to this threat. Trump has a documented history of surrounding himself with advisers willing to abandon constitutional norms and reshape federal institutions according to his personal agenda.

Author Nick Bryant described Marck’s response as “really chilling” and “like a scene from a dystopian movie.” The nominee’s refusal to answer a basic constitutional question revealed Trump’s intention to pack federal courts with judges unwilling to enforce constitutional limits on executive power. This nomination exemplifies Trump’s systematic dismantling of institutional independence through loyalty-based judicial appointments.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-judiciary-2676849914/)

‘Our candidates are fat Jewish Zionists!’ Trump aide Paul Ingrassia under fire again as leaked group chat reveals slur-filled rant targeting fellow Republican with vile AI-altered photo | Daily Mail Online

Trump administration official Paul Ingrassia, a 30-year-old attorney and longtime Trump loyalist, is facing renewed scrutiny after leaked text messages reveal he used racist and antisemitic language targeting fellow Republicans. In messages from April 2025 exchanged in a group chat titled “Team DOJ/DHS/WH” with other Trump aides, Ingrassia called Florida Congressman Randy Fine, a Jewish pro-Israel Republican, a “fat Jewish Zionist” and circulated an AI-altered photograph designed to make Fine appear grotesquely overweight, according to the Daily Mail’s exclusive report.

Ingrassia’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, denied the allegations, claiming the group chat does not exist on his client’s phone and characterizing the accusations as “false and fabricated.” The Daily Mail verified that the original photograph of Fine was taken at an RNC meeting in Marion County, Florida, in January 2025 and had been manipulated using artificial intelligence. Congressman Fine responded by expressing hope the messages were fabricated and stated that President Trump maintains zero tolerance for antisemitism and would fire those responsible if the texts were authentic.

This incident marks the second major controversy involving Ingrassia’s inflammatory remarks in less than a year. Last October, Politico exposed racist messages Ingrassia allegedly sent in January 2024, in which he stated the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” and admitted to having “a Nazi streak” in him. The outlet also reported he used a racial slur for Black people while attacking holidays including Kwanzaa, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, and Juneteenth. Paltzik disputed the authenticity of those texts as well, claiming they were satirical commentary on liberals rather than genuine expressions of Ingrassia’s views.

Despite the October scandal leading Ingrassia to withdraw his nomination for Office of Special Counsel after Republican senators voiced opposition, he retained his position within the Trump administration. CNN previously reported on Ingrassia’s connections to white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and documented racist and conspiratorial remarks Ingrassia had made. Ingrassia currently serves as Acting General Counsel for the U.S. General Services Administration, where he leads a team of attorneys implementing the president’s executive orders.

Ingrassia’s legal and professional history shows a pattern of defending controversial figures aligned with Trump’s movement. He has represented Andrew Tate, a kickboxer and influencer facing rape charges in Romania and the United Kingdom, and provided legal representation to numerous January 6 rioters who were later pardoned by Trump. Additionally, he faced harassment allegations from a lower-ranking female colleague whom he allegedly pressured to share his hotel room during an Orlando trip, allegations Paltzik denied while initiating a defamation lawsuit.

(Source: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15762363/trump-paul-ingrassia-jewish-slur-florida-randy-fine-AI-photo.html)

Patel Claims FBI Has Evidence 2020 Election Stolen

FBI Director Kash Patel claimed during a Fox News interview that he possesses evidence supporting Donald Trump’s false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen, promising to reveal information “this week.” Patel stated, “We have the information that backs President Trump’s claim,” without specifying what evidence exists or providing any documentation to substantiate the allegation.

Patel’s statements came as he faced damaging allegations published by The Atlantic regarding his conduct as FBI director, including reports of excessive drinking at Washington, D.C. clubs and his home city of Las Vegas, as well as paranoia about being fired. The article alleged his behavior violates FBI conduct standards and could leave him vulnerable to coercion or exploitation. Patel announced he would file a defamation lawsuit against the magazine and attacked the reporting as “fake news” on social media.

Trump has consistently promoted the lie that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden through fraud despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. His former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani lost multiple court cases attempting to prove wrongdoing, and Trump’s lies inspired the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, during which his supporters attempted to prevent congressional certification of the election results. More than 1,500 insurrectionists were prosecuted, though Trump pardoned them in 2025 after reclaiming office.

Patel’s pattern of weaponizing the FBI against political opponents reflects broader administration efforts to abuse law enforcement institutions. Michigan state officials are currently resisting DOJ attempts to seize Detroit-area ballots from the 2024 election, with Attorney General Dana Nessel accusing the administration of attempting to sow doubt about electoral integrity ahead of midterm elections.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Patel’s leadership, claiming crime has “plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years” under his direction and calling him “a critical player on the administration’s law and order team.” Journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick, who authored The Atlantic report, told CNN she stands by her reporting and noted that White House insiders routinely discuss Patel’s potential removal from office.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/kash-patel-2020-election-trump-b2960883.html)

Trump Loyalist DiGenova Tapped to Lead DOJ Florida Probe

The Justice Department has assigned Joe diGenova, a Trump supporter who worked on Trump’s failed 2020 election overturn campaign, to lead a controversial Florida investigation targeting Trump’s perceived political adversaries. DiGenova’s appointment follows the removal of career prosecutor Maria Medetis Long from the probe after she expressed concerns about rushing criminal charges against former CIA Director John Brennan, according to ABC News sources.

DiGenova served as U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. in the 1980s but has not worked as a prosecutor for decades. In recent years, he has frequently appeared on media outlets promoting Trump’s grievances and conspiracy theories about investigations into the president, including unfounded claims about the 2016 Russia investigation.

The so-called “grand conspiracy” probe examines whether intelligence officials and prosecutors engaged in unlawful efforts to target Trump over several years. DiGenova has previously called former CIA Director Brennan a “real traitor” and demanded he face criminal charges for allegedly lying to Congress, accusations Brennan has denied while standing by his role in the 2017 intelligence community assessment detailing Russian interference in the 2016 election.

DiGenova’s assignment to oversee the investigation signals a more aggressive approach and is likely to raise objections from attorneys representing individuals who have received subpoenas in the probe, given his extensive history of public commentary defending Trump during the Russia investigation and his demonstrated bias against the targets of this new inquiry.

The appointment represents the weaponization of federal law enforcement institutions against Trump’s perceived enemies, continuing the pattern of using government power to settle political scores rather than pursue legitimate justice.

(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-loyalist-joe-digenova-dispatched-lead-dojs-controversial/story?id=132171939)

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)

Hegseth Reads Fake Bible Verse from Pulp Fiction

Pentagon Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recited a fabricated Bible verse during a prayer service at the Department of Defense on Wednesday, presenting it as an authentic scripture passage. Hegseth introduced the text as a prayer used by military pilots during a rescue mission in Iran, claiming it was titled “CSAR 25:17” in reference to the biblical book of Ezekiel. He urged attendees to pray along with him as he delivered the passage aloud.

The text Hegseth read closely mirrors a fake version of Ezekiel 25:17 quoted by actor Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” which Jackson’s character recites before committing violence. The actual Ezekiel 25:17 from the King James Bible contains only a brief passage about vengeance and divine judgment, bearing minimal similarity to the elaborate text Hegseth presented. Tarantino himself had sourced the fabricated verse from a 1970s Japanese martial arts film.

Hegseth’s misrepresentation of the scripture was flagged by A Public Witness, a religion-focused publication, after the Pentagon prayer service. The Secretary of Defense presented the Pulp Fiction dialogue as a genuine military prayer recited before combat search and rescue missions, falsely attributing sacred authority to entertainment industry fiction. This lie demonstrates a troubling disregard for religious authenticity and public trust in military leadership.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/pray-please-pete-hegseth-reads-114001144.html)

FEMA Official Phillips Pushed Teleportation Lies, Death

Gregg Phillips, appointed head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery in December, has promoted disinformation and violent rhetoric according to CNN’s KFile investigation released March 20, 2026. Phillips claimed in a January 2025 podcast appearance that he teleported 50 miles to a Waffle House in Rome, Georgia, and stated his truck was lifted 40 feet off the ground and transported to a ditch outside a church, describing these experiences as real and an “incredible adventure.”

Phillips expressed violent threats against Democratic figures, telling listeners in January 2025 that he would “punch that b*tch in the mouth” regarding former President Joe Biden and that Biden “deserves to die.” In a 2019 social media post, he attacked Rep. Jerry Nadler with profane insults about his weight and fitness, demanding he “lose 100 pounds” and calling him a “pig.”

Phillips promoted election conspiracy theories and false claims about national security threats. He warned listeners in 2023 that a Chinese military force was being secretly assembled within the United States and crossing the border from Texas to California, falsely portraying this as an imminent threat requiring tactical military preparation.

A FEMA spokesperson dismissed the report as “silly” and claimed Phillips’s comments were “taken out of context” or represented “personal, informal, jovial, and somewhat spiritual discussions” made while surviving cancer prior to his current position. However, multiple FEMA officials initially expressed concerns about Phillips’s lack of experience, though some told CNN that his hands-on involvement during recent storms reduced some of their doubts.

Phillips is scheduled to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee regarding the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, and lawmakers may question him about his extreme rhetoric and false claims during that testimony.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-fema-official-has-history-of-violent-rhetoric-and-claimed-he-teleported-to-a-waffle-house/)

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