Category: Bullying

Donald Trump’s rhetorical style is straight out of middle school. He’s like an eighth-grade girl.

Trump Assails NATO as Cowards While Deepening Iran War

President Trump denounced NATO allies as “cowards” on Friday for refusing to deploy troops to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor through which one-fifth of global oil trades. Trump’s hostility toward allies coincides with his unilateral Iran war that has backfired diplomatically, as he initiated military strikes alongside Israel without coordinating with partners, then demanded their support managing the consequences. The Pentagon is deploying approximately 2,200 additional Marines and three warships to the Middle East, marking the second Marine expeditionary unit sent since the conflict began on February 28.

The war has devastated global energy markets and inflicted heavy casualties on U.S. forces. Brent crude oil surged to $112 per barrel, up from roughly $70 before the conflict, with gasoline prices approaching $4 per gallon. The Pentagon reported 232 American service members injured since the war started, with 10 in serious condition. The Treasury Department temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in an attempt to ease prices, marking a break from Trump’s stated “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Pentagon officials have prepared detailed plans for potential ground troop deployment into Iran, though Trump claims the U.S. is considering “winding down” operations while simultaneously retaining options to strike Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal.

Trump contradicted his own position by claiming the U.S. does not need the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously pressuring allies to defend it. He stated Iran’s leadership has been decimated, with “nobody to talk to” remaining, yet Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and military officials continue asserting they are producing ballistic missiles and threatening to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide. The International Atomic Energy Agency told CBS News that securing Iran’s enriched uranium will be “very challenging” even after fighting ends, undercutting Trump and Netanyahu’s stated nuclear prevention objectives.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized U.S. use of U.K. bases to strike Iranian missile sites, prompting Iran’s foreign minister to accuse Starmer of “putting British lives in danger.” NATO relocated its advisory mission from Iraq to Italy after Iranian attacks on allied bases. The humanitarian toll extends beyond military casualties; soaring oil prices are driving up costs across U.S. supply chains, affecting retail prices for consumers nationwide. Former Iran detainee Siamak Namazi warned that Americans held in Iranian prisons face heightened danger amid the escalating conflict.

Trump made a debunked claim about predicting the September 11 attacks while discussing the Strait of Hormuz, part of a pattern of disinformation throughout the conflict. The White House stated Trump “retains all options” militarily but claimed he has “no plans to send troops anywhere,” a contradiction given Pentagon preparations for ground deployment. As the war enters its fourth week with no diplomatic resolution, Trump’s contradictory statements and hostile treatment of allies underscore the absence of a coherent strategic plan.

(Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/live-updates/iran-war-us-israel-gas-and-oil-prices-trump-netanyahu-strait-hormuz/)

Trump Attacks Press For Questioning Iran War Duration

President Trump attacked journalists who questioned the duration of his Iran military campaign, falsing claiming media outlets report Iran is “doing wonderfully” when coverage has documented severe humanitarian costs. As the second week of Operation Epic Fury concluded, 13 U.S. service members had been killed, a preliminary military investigation determined the U.S. was responsible for a strike on an elementary school that killed at least 160 children, and attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz destabilized global energy markets and stock prices.

When asked directly how long the war would last, Trump refused to provide a timeline but stated it would continue “as long as it’s necessary” while claiming the U.S. was “way ahead of schedule.” He characterized media reporting as “fake news” for suggesting Iran was functioning normally, insisting instead that the country was “collapsing” and “doing as bad as you can have.”

Trump’s conflicting statements about the war’s progress—simultaneously declaring victory while justifying ongoing military operations—have drawn heavy criticism. His administration has issued contradictory messaging on the Iran war, stating both that the U.S. has already won and that operations must continue until conditions feel right.

The president’s dismissal of critical reporting exemplifies his pattern of attacking the press when coverage documents human costs or strategic ambiguity in his foreign military actions. Trump previously characterized the deaths of U.S. service members as components of a beneficial transaction, demonstrating indifference to casualty figures even as they mounted.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-confronted-by-reporter-on-when-war-will-end-claims-media-says-iran-doing-wonderfully/)

Trump Attacks Reporter for Citing Bill Barr’s Election Fraud Findings

President Donald Trump attacked PBS reporter Liz Landers as “rotten” on Wednesday after she confronted him with facts contradicting his false claims about the 2020 election. When Landers noted that his former attorney general Bill Barr found no widespread fraud in the 2020 election despite FBI seizures of Arizona and Georgia election records, Trump responded defensively and refused to acknowledge Barr’s documented conclusion.

Landers directly stated that Barr, Trump’s own attorney general in 2020, determined there was no measurable voter fraud capable of changing the election outcome. Trump rejected this fact, insisting the election was rigged while offering no evidence when pressed by the reporter. Rather than provide documentation or reasoning, Trump labeled Landers “rotten” for disagreeing with his false narrative.

Trump and Barr have a documented history of conflict over election fraud claims. Barr told NBC News in 2022 that he confronted Trump directly, calling his fraud allegations “bulls**t” and stating Trump’s team was wrong to promote them. Trump reacted with rage to this confrontation, according to Barr’s account.

When Barr endorsed Trump for president in 2024, Trump responded by mocking him publicly and attacking his record as attorney general. Trump posted on Truth Social that Barr “let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud,” despite having previously called Barr weak and gutless. Trump’s attack on a reporter for citing his own attorney general’s findings demonstrates his pattern of weaponizing language against those who contradict his false claims, whether journalists or former officials.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-blasts-rotten-reporter-after-she-reminds-him-his-own-ag-contradicted-his-election-claim/)

Tom Homan Lectures Pope on Immigration, Faces FBI Bribery Investigation

Border Czar Tom Homan, a Trump loyalist facing an FBI investigation into accepting a $50,000 bribe from undercover agents in 2024, publicly lectured Pope Leo XIV on Catholic doctrine regarding immigration. In a Wednesday interview with Letters from Leo Substack, Homan claimed the pontiff misunderstood Church teachings and declared that “Catholic faith is always in support of law enforcement,” asserting the pope should align with the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

Homan, citing his credentials as a “life-long Catholic,” dismissed the pope’s criticism of Trump’s immigration crackdown and told the Vicar of Christ to focus on “fixing the Catholic Church” instead. He then listed statistics about assaults on migrant women, sex trafficking, and fentanyl deaths as justification for the Trump administration’s enforcement operations, which have deployed federal agents across the country to round up and deport undocumented immigrants.

Homan further claimed that Vatican security protocols impose harsher penalties for unauthorized border crossing than the U.S. immigration system applies to undocumented migrants. This public rebuke of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, marks the latest instance of Trump administration officials dismissing the pontiff’s calls for compassionate immigration policy in direct contradiction to Church teachings on welcoming foreigners.

The incident follows House Speaker Mike Johnson’s similar lecture to the pope earlier this month, in which Johnson argued that the Bible mandates “assimilation” and defended his interpretation across social media in a post exceeding 1,300 words. Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, and multiple administration officials have now publicly attempted to reframe Catholic doctrine to align with Trump’s hardline stance on immigration.

Homan’s credibility is further compromised by allegations that he accepted a $50,000 cash bribe from FBI agents posing as businessmen seeking government contracts during the previous Trump administration. His lecture to the pope about law enforcement and Catholic values occurs while Trump’s mass deportation agenda operates through facilities designed to detain thousands of migrants, contradicting the humanitarian principles the pontiff has consistently articulated.

(Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/another-trump-goon-tom-homan-mansplains-religion-to-pope-leo-xiv/)

Trump Yanks Hurd Endorsement Over Tariff Opposition

President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of Representative Jim Hurd (R-CO) on Saturday via Truth Social, citing the congressman’s opposition to Trump’s tariff policies. Hurd voted for H.J.Res.72, which seeks to terminate Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian goods, an action Trump characterized as betrayal of the country.

Trump claimed this was only the second time he has yanked an endorsement, the first being ex-Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL) in 2022 after Brooks questioned Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. In his Saturday post, Trump stated Hurd “let me and our Country down” by prioritizing foreign interests over American ones, describing the congressman as more loyal to countries “ripping us off for decades” than to the United States.

Trump immediately endorsed Hope Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and nurse, as Hurd’s replacement in Colorado’s 3rd District. Trump praised Scheppelman as someone who “will never let you down,” contrasting her with what he called a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) in Hurd. This endorsement shift demonstrates Trump’s willingness to weaponize party support to enforce loyalty to his tariff agenda.

The withdrawal follows Trump’s earlier threats against six Republican members of Congress who opposed his tariff policies, with Trump declaring they would “seriously suffer the consequences come Election time.” The move underscores Trump’s pattern of using primary challenges and endorsement reversals to punish Republicans who defy his economic agenda, effectively demanding absolute loyalty over independent legislative judgment.

Trump’s action came one day after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that his tariff authority exceeded his statutory power under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump attacked the justices who ruled against him as “unpatriotic and disloyal,” demonstrating his broader campaign to punish any institution or individual who challenges his authority.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-yanks-endorsement-for-republican-lawmaker-for-second-time-ever-over-lack-of-support-for-tariffs/)

Trump Demands Netflix Fire Susan Rice Over Corporate

President Trump demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice, a board member since 2023, after Rice criticized corporations that capitulate to Trump’s agenda. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump called Rice a “racist, Trump Deranged” political hack with “no talent or skills,” threatening Netflix with unspecified consequences if the company did not comply immediately. Trump’s attack followed a video clip shared by Laura Loomer showing Rice warning that companies bowing to Trump will face accountability from Democrats if they return to power.

Rice, former National Security Adviser and U.N. Ambassador under President Obama, stated that corporations, law firms, universities, and media entities taking a knee to Trump will not fare well. She argued their capitulation represents short-term self-interest and predicted they will be held accountable by future Democratic administrations for firing employees and abandoning principles. Rice specifically challenged the assumption that Democrats would forgive such actions, saying corporations have “another thing coming” if they expect leniency.

The timing of Trump’s attack coincides with Netflix’s efforts to close a $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery while facing Department of Justice scrutiny over potential harm to consumers. Trump’s demand for Rice’s firing exploits regulatory vulnerability as competing bidders, including Paramount Skydance, attempt to block the merger and acquire WBD themselves. Rice has previously criticized Trump initiatives, including his dismantling of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and his defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth.

Trump’s demand weaponizes his presidential authority to pressure a major media company into firing a corporate board member for expressing political speech. This attack exemplifies Trump’s use of regulatory power and public threats to silence critics and enforce loyalty, directly targeting someone who warned corporations against capitulating to his administration.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-demands-netflix-fire-racist-susan-rice-after-ex-obama-ambassador-slammed-companies-that-take-a-knee-to-potus/)

Trump Praises Kavanaugh as Hero After Tariff Ruling Loss

President Donald Trump praised Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as his “new hero” on Saturday morning, along with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, after the Court voted 6-3 to strike down his emergency tariff authority on Friday. The decision included votes against Trump from Chief Justice John Roberts and two Trump-appointed justices, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, alongside the three Democratic-appointed justices. Trump’s public embrace of the three dissenters revealed his deliberate strategy to reward judicial loyalty and punish perceived disloyalty.

On Friday evening, Trump responded to the tariff ruling by attacking the majority justices, claiming their decision was “ridiculous” and that the justices who voted against him “should be ashamed of themselves.” He specifically targeted his own appointees Gorsuch and Barrett, claiming they violated an implicit obligation by ruling against him and complaining that “this never seems to happen with Democrats,” who he alleged vote as a bloc in their own interest regardless of the case merits.

Trump’s escalating posts throughout Friday night revealed his transactional view of judicial appointments. He complained that he did not appoint Chief Justice Roberts, blaming Roberts for allowing “foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years to continue to do so.” His final evening post urged Republicans to “Unite, stick together, and WIN,” framing judicial independence as party disloyalty rather than constitutional obligation.

By Saturday morning, Trump shifted to praising the three justices who sided with him, declaring Kavanaugh his “new hero” and asserting without evidence that all three dissenters wanted to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” This pattern of public reward and punishment for judicial decisions directly contradicts the principle of an independent judiciary, positioning judges as political operatives accountable to the executive.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-wakes-up-blurting-praise-for-my-new-hero-and-its-about-his-devastating-court-loss/)

Trump Claims He Screamed at Macron Over Drug Price Tariffs

President Donald Trump claimed during a campaign event in Rome, Georgia on Thursday that he screamed at French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone call, threatening him with 100% tariffs on wine and champagne until Macron agreed to raise drug prices in France. Trump stated he called multiple world leaders with similar ultimatums, describing Macron as capitulating to his demands after the tariff threat, though Trump provided no verification of these conversations occurring.

Trump used the alleged exchange to promote his second-term drug pricing claims, stating he has reduced American drug costs by “400, 500, even 600%” by forcing other nations to lower their prices. He characterized the situation as necessary because the United States had been paying the highest drug prices globally and his intervention allegedly brought American prices to match the world’s lowest rates.

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell directly contradicted Trump’s account, calling it “pure hallucination from start to finish” and noting that French presidents lack direct control over their country’s drug pricing, which is determined through regulatory and legislative processes. O’Donnell stated Trump fabricated the conversation entirely and that everyone in the cabinet room where Trump previously told the story knew it was false.

Trump has previously publicized private communications with Macron, including posting the French president’s text message to Truth Social in January 2026, where Macron explicitly rejected Trump’s Greenland annexation ambitions. This history of weaponizing communications with allies undermines credibility in his current claims about negotiating drug prices through coercion.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/youre-gonna-do-it-trump-says-he-screamed-at-macron-in-wild-phone-call/)

Trump Threatens GOP Tariff Dissenters With Primary Challenges

President Donald Trump threatened Republican members of Congress with primary challenges and electoral defeat if they vote against his tariff policies, declaring they will “seriously suffer the consequences come Election time.” Trump made the threat on Truth Social after six GOP representatives—Don Bacon of Nebraska, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Kevin Kiley of California, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Dan Newhouse of Washington—joined Democrats in voting to block his emergency tariffs on Canada.

Trump justified the tariffs by citing stock market gains and claimed they reduced the trade deficit by 78 percent, asserting that tariffs provide both economic and national security benefits. He stated that “no Republican should be responsible for destroying this privilege” and framed opposition as disloyalty to the party and the administration’s economic agenda.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, countered that the vote was straightforward: “stand with working families and lower costs, or keep prices high out of loyalty to Donald Trump.” Rep. Don Bacon defended his vote by writing that tariffs function as a tax on American consumers and that congressional debate should precede major trade policy decisions.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimated that Trump’s tariffs imposed an average tax increase of $1,000 per U.S. household in 2025 and warned costs could rise further if the policy continues. The tariffs have strained relations with major trading partners including Canada, Mexico, China, India, Brazil, and the European Union, triggering Canadian retaliatory boycotts of American goods.

Trump’s threat represents his pattern of weaponizing federal authority against officials and lawmakers who resist his demands, extending party discipline through electoral intimidation rather than policy persuasion.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-republicans-tariffs-threat-canada-b2918970.html)

Trump Attacks Oklahoma GOP Governor Stitt Over Governors Summit Dispute

President Donald Trump attacked Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling the Republican leader a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) for claiming Trump excluded all Democratic governors from an upcoming White House meeting scheduled for February 20. Stitt, who chairs the National Governors Association, stated the group was withdrawing from the annual summit because Trump had not invited Democratic members, who hold equal standing in the organization.

Trump denied Stitt’s assertion, posting that invitations went to all governors except two he deemed “not worthy of being there”: Colorado Governor Jared Polis, whom Trump accused of incarcerating a cancer patient in solitary confinement for contesting alleged voter fraud, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, whom Trump attacked for falsely claiming military medals and mishandling Baltimore’s recovery from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Moore serves as vice chair of the National Governors Association.

Trump stated he had extended invitations to two of his prominent Democratic critics—Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, whom he labeled a “SLOB,” and California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he called “horrendous” and used his derogatory nickname “Newscum”—despite what he characterized as their poor performance in office. The president concluded by expressing willingness to meet Republican governors and “some of the Democrats Governors who were worthy of being invited.”

In response to the dispute, Stitt wrote that because the NGA’s mission requires representing all 55 governors, the association would no longer facilitate the event or include it in its official program. Trump dismissed this decision as false, reiterating his intent to proceed with the meeting while excluding only Polis and Moore.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-attacks-rino-republican-governor-in-bomb-throwing-social-media-post/)

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