Category: Normalization of Hate

‘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)

Trump Posts Fake Candace Owens ‘Vile Person of the Year’ Pic

President Donald Trump posted a fabricated TIME magazine cover on Truth Social on Friday depicting Republican commentator Candace Owens as “Vile Person of the Year,” accompanying the disinformation with repeated attacks calling her “an extremely low IQ individual.” The doctored image included false claims such as “0% fact check ratio on all credible fact checking sites” and “protects sex offenders,” designed to portray Owens in a deliberately negative manner.

Trump’s attack on Owens follows a pattern of personal insults he directed at her and other figures on April 9, when he posted that Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Owens, and Alex Jones all have “Low IQs” and are “stupid people.” His Friday post specifically referenced Owens’ promotion of a racist conspiracy theory about French First Lady Brigitte Macron, claiming without evidence that Macron was “secretly born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux,” a lie that has resulted in a lawsuit against Owens by the French president and first lady.

Owens responded to Trump’s attacks by mocking his age, writing on X, “It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home.” On an April 10 podcast, after Trump posted that Macron “is a far more beautiful woman than Candace,” Owens escalated her racist conspiracy theory by questioning whether Trump was gay for finding Macron attractive and repeating her false claim using the deadname “Jean-Michel Trogneux.”

The incident demonstrates Trump’s continued use of disinformation and personal attacks against critics, including those within his own political sphere. By creating and sharing a fake magazine cover with fabricated claims about Owens’ credibility, Trump engaged in the spread of false information while simultaneously attacking her intelligence in crude, schoolyard terms characteristic of his public rhetoric.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-shares-doctored-time-cover-of-low-iq-candace-owens-vile-person-of-the-year/)

‘Political stunt’: Critics slam Trump’s reading of a Bible passage one week after posting AI image of himself as Jesus | The Independent

Donald Trump participated in a Bible-reading marathon on Tuesday, reciting a passage from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 in a pre-recorded video from the Oval Office as part of the “America Reads the Bible” event. The passage, frequently cited by those claiming the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation, featured Trump seated at the Resolute Desk delivering a roughly three-minute recitation. Critics immediately labeled the reading a “political stunt,” while supporters praised the Republican president for publicly affirming Christian values and American identity.

The scripture reading follows Trump’s posting of an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ one week earlier, which he later claimed showed him as a doctor rather than a religious figure. Trump deleted the Jesus image after backlash, falsely claiming it represented medical healing, and the incident sparked criticism from Christian commentators and former Republican allies including Marjorie Taylor Greene, who denounced the post as an inappropriate replacement of Jesus imagery.

The Bible reading occurs within Trump’s broader campaign to integrate Evangelical Christianity into federal governance. Since returning to office, Trump established the White House Faith Office headed by televangelist Paula White-Cain, who has compared him to Jesus, and authorized federal workers to encourage religious expressions in government workplaces. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has explicitly invoked Christian language in military contexts, praying that rounds “find their mark against the enemies of righteousness” during Iran war operations, demonstrating how Trump’s administration has weaponized religious rhetoric to justify military action.

Trump’s emphasis on Christianity has intensified his conflict with Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, who has repeatedly condemned the Iran war and rejected the use of faith to justify violence. Trump attacked the pope in a 334-word Truth Social post, branding him “terrible” on foreign policy and falsely suggesting the pontiff accepts Iran possessing nuclear weapons. Pope Leo has refused to remain silent, stating he will continue speaking against war and promoting dialogue to end suffering.

Brian Kaylor, author of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power,” rejected Trump’s interpretation of the selected passage, telling the Associated Press that the verse represents “a promise made to one particular person in one particular moment” and cannot legitimately be applied to modern U.S. political purposes through decontextualization. Social media responses divided sharply, with supporters viewing the reading as moral leadership while critics questioned whether Trump has ever genuinely engaged with scripture.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-bible-passage-reading-white-house-b2962262.html)

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)

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/)

Trump Posts Jesus-Like Picture of Himself Amid Pope Leo Feud

President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ performing a miraculous healing on a sick man, complete with religious iconography including a glowing hand, American flags, the Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, and angelic soldiers. The image also featured a praying woman, a person in what appears to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement uniform, and a nurse observing Trump’s supposed miracle work in a hospital setting.

Trump posted the image approximately 40 minutes after launching a hostile attack on Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff’s criticism of the Iran war. Trump branded the pope “WEAK” on crime and nuclear weapons, calling him “terrible” on foreign policy. Trump also attacked the pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, claiming he preferred him because Prevost was “all MAGA,” demonstrating Trump’s weaponization of family members to escalate conflicts.

The pope’s criticism stemmed from Trump’s threats to obliterate “a whole civilization” in Iran if its leadership refused to make a deal, which the pontiff called “truly unacceptable.” Pope Leo XIV subsequently declared that “God does not bless any conflict.” The pope had previously denounced the Trump administration’s “extremely disrespectful” treatment of undocumented immigrants, establishing a pattern of moral opposition to Trump’s policies.

When speaking to reporters at Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump doubled down on his attacks, stating “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” and describing Pope Leo XIV as “a very liberal person” who “doesn’t believe in stopping crime.” Trump’s messaging contradicted the pope’s actual position on nuclear proliferation while mischaracterizing the pontiff’s humanitarian stances.

The AI-generated image and accompanying tirade reflect Trump’s pattern of appropriating religious imagery and language to reinforce a messianic narrative among his supporters, while simultaneously attacking religious figures who challenge his military and immigration policies. The juxtaposition of the image with the pope attack demonstrated Trump’s weaponization of faith rhetoric to delegitimize moral opposition to his authoritarian actions.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-jesus-like-picture-of-himself-performing-miracle-on-sick-man-minutes-after-ramping-up-feud-with-pope-leo/)

Trump Blasts Pope Leo XIV for Iran War Stance

President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday, calling the first American pontiff “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy” while criticizing his opposition to nuclear weapons in Iran. Trump’s posts escalated a feud with the Catholic Church leader that began after Pope Leo XIV denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and called for political leaders to negotiate peace instead of pursuing military action.

Speaking to reporters after landing near Washington from Florida, Trump stated he was “not a fan of Pope Leo” and claimed the pontiff is “a very liberal person” who wrongly supports Iran possessing nuclear capabilities. Trump’s criticism followed the Pope’s evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica, which coincided with the start of U.S.-Iran face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan during a ceasefire, though Leo did not mention the United States or Trump by name.

Pope Leo XIV’s remarks appeared directed at Trump and U.S. officials who have justified the Iran war using religious arguments and touted American military superiority. The Pope’s position reflects longstanding Catholic doctrine emphasizing peaceful diplomacy over military conflict, contrasting sharply with Trump’s hawkish stance on Iran and nuclear weapons policy.

This clash between Trump and the pontiff represents a significant breach between the Republican president and a major global religious institution at a critical moment in Middle East diplomacy. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to depart Monday for an 11-day trip to Africa, continuing his international engagement separate from the escalating U.S. political controversy.

(Source: https://abc7.com/post/president-donald-trump-lambasts-pope-leo-xiv-extending-feud-iran-war-first-american-pontiff/18877162/)

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