Author: Stop the Donald Trump

Billionaire Trump hasn’t heard of a ‘corner store’ and laments poorer people ‘don’t think in terms of deductions’ at tax event | The Independent

During a Thursday tax event in Las Vegas, President Donald Trump demonstrated a disconnect from working-class experience when he claimed unfamiliarity with the term “corner store,” despite asserting he understands the concept. Trump questioned who wrote the phrase into his remarks, suggesting surprise at its usage in a discussion framed around Republican tax policy.

Trump asserted that wealthy individuals consistently seek tax deductions while suggesting middle-class and poor people fail to think strategically about deductions. This statement contradicts the reality that lower-income households often lack sufficient deductions to benefit from itemization and typically rely on standard deductions, revealing Trump’s misunderstanding of how taxation functions across income levels.

Trump claimed the current economy exceeds his first-term performance “despite our little diversion to the lovely country of Iran,” referring to military conflict he initiated in the Middle East. The Iran conflict has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, causing national average gas prices to surge to $4.09 per gallon from $2.92 before the war began, with Nevada prices approaching $5 per gallon according to AAA data.

Despite acknowledging the war’s economic impact, Trump labeled war-driven inflation as “fake inflation” and told reporters gas prices “are not very high” while highlighting stock market gains. The International Monetary Fund has warned the conflict could trigger global recession, undermining Trump’s claims about economic superiority.

Trump revealed market sensitivity to his rhetoric by stating his statements make “the whole market go a little jittery” and instructing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “clean it for me” after his comments. Trump reported approximately 50 percent of American tax-filers utilized new tax policies and roughly five million people have established “Trump account” savings pools for children.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tax-las-vegas-corner-store-inflation-iran-b2959483.html)

Trump Demands No Judge Stop His Military Ballroom

President Donald Trump posted inflammatory messages on Truth Social attacking Judge Richard Leon’s ruling on his $400 million White House ballroom project, characterizing the structure as militarily essential and declaring “no Judge can be allowed to stop” its construction. Trump’s posts came after Leon issued a revised order allowing underground construction of bunkers, bomb shelters, and military installations while prohibiting Trump from finalizing the above-ground ballroom design without Congressional approval, which the project still lacks.

Trump accused Leon of undermining national security and engaging in “illegal overreach,” claiming the ballroom is vital for presidential safety during events, inaugurations, and global summits. In his lengthy Truth Social rant, Trump detailed the ballroom’s purported military features, including missile-resistant steel, drone-proof ceilings, blast-proof glass, and military-grade venting, framing these specifications as necessary for protecting future presidents and world leaders.

Trump insisted the underground and above-ground portions are inseparable, claiming the underground sections serve no purpose without the upper structure and that the entire project is “tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit.” He further asserted that material worth hundreds of millions of dollars has already been ordered and partially paid for, suggesting the court order threatens investments already committed to the construction.

The ballroom remains funded through private donations and Trump’s personal cash rather than taxpayer money, yet Trump has framed judicial oversight as obstructing national defense. Trump previously attacked the court halt, and his administration appointed an unqualified receptionist to the Commission of Fine Arts, illustrating his pattern of circumventing institutional expertise and oversight on the project.

Trump’s assertion that judges cannot stop the project defies judicial authority and the requirement for Congressional approval, establishing a precedent for executive defiance of court orders. His characterization of legitimate legal review as “Trump Hating” and a “mockery to our Court System” exemplifies his broader pattern of attacking judicial independence when rulings oppose his interests.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-drops-wild-post-about-his-militarily-imperative-ballroom-no-judge-can-be-allowed-to-stop-it/)

Hegseth scolds reporters as ‘Pharisees’ in fire-and-brimstone Iran war briefing after Trump-as-Jesus furor | The Independent

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a Pentagon briefing on Iran operations on Thursday to attack journalists, comparing them to biblical Pharisees with “hardened hearts” who reject truth. Hegseth claimed the press exhibits “relentlessly negative coverage” and “unpatriotic” bias while refusing to acknowledge what he described as the “historic and important success” of U.S. military efforts and an emerging deal to address Iran’s nuclear program.

Hegseth’s attack centered on a Sunday church sermon about Pharisees witnessing Jesus heal a man, which he said paralleled journalists documenting military operations without recognizing their significance. He accused reporters of being “politically motivated” and “Trump hating,” stating their focus on negative coverage rather than military achievements proves they function as adversaries rather than observers of fact. Hegseth also attacked what he called “fake news” for failing to cover recruitment surges and national morale he attributed to Trump administration policies.

The defense secretary’s press conference assault on journalists reflects his ongoing hostility toward media access at the Pentagon, including attempts to restrict reporters from workspace designated for their use for decades. His tenure has been marked by repeated diatribes against the press during briefings conducted with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine, establishing a pattern of blaming journalists for insufficient support of administration military operations.

Hegseth’s invocation of religious imagery to attack the press mirrors Trump’s recent posting of AI-generated images depicting himself as Jesus, which drew backlash even from conservative allies before Trump deleted and later reposted similar content. Pope Leo XIV responded with a statement condemning those who “manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain,” appearing to directly reference the administration’s use of religious rhetoric to justify military action.

The briefing underscores the Trump administration’s systematic attack on press freedom amid broader military escalation against Iran, with officials employing religious language and accusations of disloyalty to delegitimize journalistic scrutiny of war policy. Hegseth’s comparison of reporters to biblical antagonists represents an escalation in the administration’s framing of independent journalism as an obstacle to military objectives rather than a constitutional safeguard.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-iran-war-briefing-press-ai-photos-b2959018.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)

Trump believes diet soda kills cancer cells, Dr Oz reveals | Donald Trump | The Guardian

Trump claimed to Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief, that diet soda kills cancer cells because it can kill grass when poured on it, suggesting the logic applies to cancer cells in the human body. Oz recounted the exchange on his son Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast “Triggered with Don Jr,” describing a moment aboard Air Force One when Trump defended his consumption of orange Fanta by making this assertion, later joking that the drink could not be unhealthy because it is “fresh squeezed.”

Multiple physicians publicly rejected Trump’s claim, emphasizing that no scientific evidence supports the notion that diet soda prevents or cures cancer. Pediatrician Zachary Rubin pointed out the logical fallacy in Trump’s reasoning, noting that by the same standard, bleach would be a superfood, and he referenced Trump’s pandemic-era suggestions about injecting disinfectants as evidence of similar flawed health reasoning. Emergency physician Owais Durrani issued a straightforward statement that diet soda does not kill cancer cells.

The scientific evidence on artificial sweeteners in diet soda is limited and concerning but does not support Trump’s claims. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies aspartame, the sweetener used in most diet sodas, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence, while a 2022 French cohort study found aspartame linked to a 15 percent higher cancer risk without establishing causation. Research also indicates that artificial sweeteners may harm gut health and microbial diversity, contradicting any protective effect.

Trump has consistently defended his diet of sweet drinks and fast food as part of his health regimen, with Oz characterizing his approach as eating junk food from major chains due to their quality control standards. Don Jr. suggested his father’s consumption habits might reflect something beneficial, citing Trump’s energy and stamina despite his age, effectively endorsing disproven health claims.

These remarks emerge as the health department works to update U.S. nutrition guidelines and revise dietary recommendations to emphasize “real food,” making Trump’s promotion of diet soda particularly problematic at a moment when federal health policy is being reshaped. The incident underscores the administration’s broader push toward alternative medicine narratives that prioritize unscientific claims over established medical consensus.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/15/trump-diet-coke-soda-kills-cancer)

Trump Attacks Fox News Over Steyer Coverage

President Donald Trump attacked Fox News on Wednesday for covering Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer, whom Trump called a “SLEAZEBAG” and “LOSER.” Trump posted on Truth Social that the network was “promoting” Steyer instead of focusing on Republican candidate Steve Hilton, whom Trump has endorsed to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.

Trump’s complaint about Fox News coverage lacked factual grounding. His post came approximately 40 minutes after Fox News had already featured Hilton on air discussing his campaign with host Harris Faulkner. Fox News had not run a substantial segment on Steyer on Wednesday but instead mentioned him briefly in relation to his fundraising totals, policy positions, and polling performance against other candidates.

The president appeared to reference a graphic displayed during Hilton’s interview that showed Steyer’s five-point immigration plan while Faulkner discussed his anti-ICE agenda and $120 million spending on the race. Hilton used the airtime to criticize Steyer’s immigration positions as “far-left extremism” and an extension of what he characterized as Biden-era open borders policies.

Trump’s attack on Fox News reflects a pattern of hostility toward the network when coverage does not align precisely with his preferred narrative. Trump has previously attacked both Fox News and Steyer simultaneously, demonstrating a longstanding grievance with both the billionaire Democratic donor and the Republican-aligned outlet that regularly gives Trump platform access.

Trump’s criticism of Fox News contradicts his repeated beneficiary status from the network’s coverage. Despite claiming the channel promotes Democrats, Trump continues to receive favorable treatment and extensive airtime on Fox News programming while endorsing Republican candidates aligned with his political interests.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-bashes-fox-news-for-covering-sleazebag-tom-steyer-right-after-interviewing-his-favorite-california-candidate/)

Trump Posts Another AI-Generated Image of Jesus

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting Jesus Christ and himself standing side-by-side on Wednesday, with Jesus placing his arm around the president. The image included text suggesting God is “playing his Trump card” to expose “satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monsters,” language Trump used to mock opponents he labeled “Radical Left Lunatics.” This post came days after Trump deleted a previous AI image showing himself as Jesus healing a sick man, which drew fierce backlash even from Republican party members.

When initially confronted about the deleted image, Trump lied about its content, claiming he believed it depicted him as a “doctor” rather than acknowledging the religious comparison. He blamed “fake news” for the controversy surrounding the original post. Instead of accepting criticism, Trump escalated by posting the second image while explicitly mocking those who objected to his previous religious imagery.

Trump’s repeated posting of AI-generated religious content depicting himself alongside Jesus reflects his use of disinformation and inflammatory rhetoric to provoke his supporters and dismiss legitimate criticism. The caption text, invoking conspiracy theories about child sacrifice, demonstrates Trump’s willingness to amplify unfounded and dangerous narratives to justify his own behavior and attack his opponents.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-another-ai-generate-image-of-jesus-to-spite-radical-left-lunatics/)

Trump Deletes Jesus Image, Claims It Showed Him As Doctor

President Donald Trump deleted a Truth Social post featuring an AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus Christ, claiming the image was meant to show him as a doctor. Trump posted the image Sunday night after attacking Pope Leo XIV for criticizing U.S. military actions against Iran and Venezuela, showing himself in a white robe with a glowing hand healing a sick person, flanked by American flags and military aircraft.

When confronted by reporters at the White House, Trump denied the religious imagery interpretation, stating "I thought it was me as a doctor" related to Red Cross work and his claimed ability to make people better. Trump dismissed the backlash as "fake news" invention, insisting the image represented medical healing rather than religious symbolism.

Conservative Christian commentator Megan Basham called the image "OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy" and demanded Trump remove it and seek forgiveness from Americans and God. Former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once an ally of Trump, denounced the post on X, writing that Trump attacked the Pope on Orthodox Easter and then "posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus," declaring she would "completely denounce this and I'm praying against it."

Vice President JD Vance defended Trump's post as a joke the president recognized people misunderstood, characterizing Trump's unfiltered social media use as a positive attribute. This incident follows a May 2025 post where Trump shared an image of himself as a Catholic pope after Pope Francis's death, prompting the New York State Catholic Conference to condemn the image as unmock-worthy during the papal conclave.

(Source: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/04/13/trump-jesus-truth-social-pope-leo.html)

Trump DOJ Seeks to Vacate Seditious Conspiracy Convictions

Trump’s Department of Justice, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, filed motions on Tuesday to vacate convictions against members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and related crimes for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack. The filing seeks to erase convictions for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, militia members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, and Jessica Watkins, and Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. This escalates Trump’s earlier mass pardons and commutations issued on his first day in office.

Stewart Rhodes, convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison, had his sentence commuted to time served by Trump in January. Enrique Tarrio, former Proud Boys leader also convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years, was similarly pardoned. The remaining defendants had their sentences commuted to time served, though convictions technically remained until these new motions. Federal prosecutors argue that continuing prosecution is not in the interests of justice, according to the filed motions.

Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers anti-government militia group in 2009 and coordinated extensive preparations for armed conflict before January 6, including weapons caches and encrypted messaging discussions about a violent response to the 2020 election. Similarly, Proud Boys members including Nordean, Biggs, and Rehl were convicted after evidence demonstrated they orchestrated a violent plot to stop the peaceful transfer of power. Rehl called for “firing squads” for election “traitors,” and Pezzola was filmed using a stolen Capitol riot shield to break windows during the assault.

The Trump administration is systematically dismantling accountability for the January 6 attack through mass pardons, sentence commutations, and now attempted erasure of convictions. Stewart Rhodes appeared at Trump’s Las Vegas rally in January following his sentence commutation. Additionally, the administration has targeted federal prosecutors involved in January 6 cases and is identifying FBI agents involved in investigations while removing evidence and public statements about the attack from government websites.

Convicted rioters are now suing the federal government alleging excessive force by law enforcement, and the Justice Department has already settled with the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol police. Trump pledged to review the shooting decision. At least one rioter who called for police to be killed now works for the Trump administration, and a newly launched White House website attributes blame to law enforcement for “deliberately escalating tensions” during the Capitol breach.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-jan-6-oath-keeper-proud-boys-doj-b2957740.html)

Trump Attacks Former Ally Meloni After She Defends Pope

President Donald Trump denounced Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday, calling her “unacceptable” after she publicly criticized his attacks on Pope Leo XIV. In a phone interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump accused Meloni of being a changed person and claimed he was “shocked by her,” stating “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.” Trump’s reversal came after Meloni defended the Pope’s calls for peace, characterizing Trump’s words toward the pontiff as unacceptable.

Meloni’s statement defended the Pope’s role as head of the Catholic Church and his right to condemn war. Trump had previously attacked the Pope as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and reiterated his grievances by stating he did not want a Pope who criticizes his presidency, which he characterized as setting “Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.” Trump then pivoted his criticism to Meloni, repeating her language and accusing her of indifference to Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities, falsely claiming Iran could destroy Italy if given the opportunity.

Trump had previously praised Meloni during a visit to Mar-a-Lago, positioning her as a significant figure in European politics aligned with his agenda. Meloni, a right-wing populist, had begun distancing herself from Trump in recent weeks following domestic political setbacks linked to Trump’s rock-bottom approval ratings in Italy. She stated earlier in the month that “when we don’t agree, we must say it,” in response to being questioned about the Iran war.

Meloni had previously served as a bridge between Trump and the European Union, particularly regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and harder-line immigration policies. Her recent shift reflects her attempt to separate herself from Trump’s declining political standing domestically. Trump’s attack on Meloni demonstrates his pattern of abandoning allies who refuse absolute loyalty or who publicly diverge from his positions, revealing his transactional approach to international relationships.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-flips-on-former-key-european-ally-its-her-whos-unacceptable/)

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