Category: Bullying

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

Trump posts a doctored photo portraying Obamas boarding Air Force One spray-painted with graffiti | PBS News

President Trump posted a doctored image on Truth Social Sunday depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama boarding Air Force One with the aircraft spray-painted with graffiti including the phrase "Yes We Can," "Obama," "BLM," and Arabic text reading "alhamdulillah" (praise be to God). The use of graffiti as a visual device carries a long history as a coded racist message associating Black people with crime and urban decay.

This fabricated image follows Trump's February post during Black History Month depicting the Obamas as primates in a jungle setting, which was deleted after bipartisan condemnation from civil rights leaders and Republican senators. Trump refused to apologize for that post and blamed staff for its creation. The new doctored photograph represents an escalation in Trump's pattern of sustained personal attacks on the former president and first lady using incendiary and racist rhetoric.

The timing of Sunday's post is particularly inflammatory given that Trump last week took his maiden voyage on a new Air Force One, a $400 million retrofitted Boeing 747-800 gifted by Qatar, redesigned with Trump's preferred navy-blue and red and gold color scheme replacing the aircraft's historic light blue hull. Trump posted the doctored image while at his Virginia golf club after spending Saturday celebrating Independence Day and the nation's 250th anniversary at the National Mall.

The post was one of multiple Sunday messages on Truth Social including a doctored image of Obama's presidential library in Chicago depicting it as surrounded by garbage and wasteland, which Trump posted twice last month with the caption "The Obama Library ten years from now will be a 'Mecca' for those who hate America!" Trump has consistently attacked the Obama library in public remarks.

Trump's Sunday posts also included a fabricated image of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni positioned beneath him with text reading "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED," falsely suggesting she pursued him for photographs during the recent Group of Seven summit. Meloni responded by calling Trump's account "completely fabricated," stating "Italy and I never beg," while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned trip to Washington. Trump departs Monday for Turkey to attend a NATO summit with allied leaders.

(Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-posts-a-doctored-photo-portraying-obamas-boarding-air-force-one-spray-painted-with-graffiti?fbclid=IwdGRjcAS42OlwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKC0BmgfJJiw6Gt0lOSLLuSnuhx2tGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4wM5o_UQRWJutaJAZWWl404hZoJ0kbaFOXKsob9042I3coDv_2sLgZv4aEZw_aem_c6YpIXQxJj_F6kzXPPQbGw)

Trump Posts AI Video of Himself Curing Critics of TDS

President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated video to Truth Social on July 1, 2026, depicting himself as a physician treating celebrities for “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a term he uses to dismiss criticism from political opponents and media figures. The roughly 90-second clip features deepfake versions of celebrities including Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Edward Norton, and John Leguizamo, all of whom have publicly criticized Trump.

The video frames these celebrities as “patients” suffering from an illness, with fabricated testimonials claiming they cannot eat, sleep, or function properly due to their opposition to Trump. The AI-generated Trump, dressed as a doctor, prescribes watching less news, prayer, and drinking Diet Coke as a remedy. All the individuals featured in the video have documented histories of opposing Trump’s presidency and policies.

De Niro has characterized Trump as an “existential threat to our freedoms and security,” while Goldberg stated during the 2024 campaign that Trump sought to become a “dictator for life.” Roberts narrated a pro-Kamala Harris voter outreach advertisement during the 2024 presidential race, and O’Donnell has engaged in a public feud with Trump spanning two decades.

Trump has invoked “Trump Derangement Syndrome” throughout his political career to characterize opposition to his leadership as a psychological disorder. Earlier in 2026, he suggested from the Oval Office that the phrase “actually is a disease,” framing legitimate political dissent and criticism as pathology rather than substantive objection to his governance.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/doctor-trump-cures-celebrity-critics-of-tds-in-bizarre-late-night-ai-video-post-by-prez/)

Donald Trump Talks About Giving His Sons the Medal of Honor

President Trump used a speech at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota on Wednesday to talk repeatedly about awarding himself and his sons the Congressional Medal of Honor. Trump referenced the historical father-son pairs of Theodore Roosevelt and General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and Arthur MacArthur and General Douglas MacArthur, who are among the only recipients of the award, then pivoted to himself. "As I see my two beautiful sons sitting there, I think, 'I'm going to give one to myself and one to them'. We'll have a threesome. I'll pick out one of the two," Trump stated, adding he would give the medals "for their genius at hunting" and claiming he deserves one "for taking on Russia, Russia, Russia, or something."

Trump acknowledged the routine nature of these comments, admitting "I have thought about this" while claiming to joke frequently on the topic. He also noted the risk of his remarks being misinterpreted, saying "this is dangerous to say because the fake news is up there." Trump has made similar Medal of Honor jokes at least twice within two weeks, including a recent appearance in Montana, establishing a pattern of returning to the idea throughout his second term.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military decoration, awarded exclusively for extraordinary heroism in combat. Trump's casual treatment of the award contradicts his stated reverence for it; he has previously struggled publicly with the ceremonial presentation of the medal, fumbling to fasten it around a recipient's neck at a formal Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony.

The remarks reflect Trump's pattern of conflating personal grievance with national honors and blurring the line between jest and actual policy inclination. Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were present during the speech but did not respond publicly to the comments about receiving military decorations neither has earned through military service.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-drops-wild-rant-about-giving-his-sons-medals/)

Trump Flips Out at Gas Companies Over ‘Illegal’ Gouging

President Donald Trump demanded that gasoline retailers immediately slash prices to approximately $2.50 per gallon, accusing them of “totally illegal” price gouging in a Monday Truth Social post. Trump claimed that with crude oil around $68-70 per barrel, significantly lower than the $100+ levels following his Iran war, gas stations were not passing savings to consumers, and warned of “big problems ahead” if retailers did not comply.

The national average gas price stood at $3.86 per gallon as of Monday, down from peaks near $4.50 in recent months. The U.S. and Israel initiated military action against Iran in February, prompting Iran to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global oil transits; a tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is currently in effect. Trump previously claimed his administration was conducting a “big investigation” into pricing practices by major oil companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP.

Last week, Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner stated that a lag exists between crude oil price declines and retail pump prices, with reductions expected as market conditions normalize. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the impact of his military actions on energy costs, telling reporters in May that gas prices represented “peanuts” and assuring the public the situation would not persist long.

Trump’s current demand contradicts his prior messaging and mischaracterizes how energy markets function. By framing market dynamics as criminal behavior and threatening retailers with unspecified consequences, he attempts to leverage presidential power to dictate prices without acknowledging his own foreign policy decisions that disrupted global oil supplies and contributed to price volatility.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-flips-out-at-gas-companies-over-totally-illegal-gouging-drop-your-price/)al oil supplies and contributed to price volatility.

Trump Threatens to Occupy Iran Over Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump threatened to occupy Iran entirely if Tehran does not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks he made to Fox News on Sunday. In an early morning phone call with Iranian officials, Trump stated, “You close the strait and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your f***** country. We’ll take over the rest of the country,” according to Fox’s Trey Yingst. The threat escalates Trump’s previous consideration of occupying Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil production facility, and marks a dramatic shift from his stated goal of negotiating a way out of the conflict he initiated in February.

Iran announced Saturday it would close the Strait of Hormuz in response to ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, just days after signing a 60-day ceasefire agreement with the Trump administration on Wednesday. The closure demonstrates the extreme fragility of the ceasefire arrangement and highlights the administration’s inability to restrain Israeli military actions, which have killed over 4,000 people in Lebanon since the war began. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Israeli forces to “burn all of Lebanon,” rhetoric that Iran’s foreign minister and others denounced, yet Trump has proven unable to curb such statements or halt the Israeli assault despite public criticism.

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland this weekend to lead renewed peace negotiations with Iranian officials, while the administration publicly rebuked Israeli policy decisions. Vance warned Israeli officials not to alienate the United States, their closest ally, and previously expressed frustration that Israel cannot “kill” its way out of every problem. Trump echoed similar sentiments, asserting Israel would not exist without his administration’s support, yet his direct threats to Iran reveal his administration will apply far greater pressure on Tehran than on its Israeli counterpart to enforce the ceasefire terms.

The 60-day ceasefire agreement extends existing ceasefires while offering sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian funds, provided Iran complies with terms including a commitment to forgo nuclear weapons development. The agreement mirrors language from the Obama-era nuclear deal Trump abandoned in 2018, dividing Republican support. Senator Bill Cassidy criticized the deal as a strategic defeat, stating Iran learned that threatening the Strait works and will repeat the tactic, while the administration’s tacit support for a $300 billion economic redevelopment fund for Iran drew opposition from both hawkish Republicans and Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who pledged his caucus would block votes if the fund reached Congress.

The administration indicated it could authorize many terms of the agreement, including sanctions relief, directly without congressional approval, circumventing legislative oversight. Trump’s volatile approach to negotiation, characterized by extreme threats followed by pursuit of agreements, underscores the instability surrounding U.S.-Iran relations and the ceasefire’s uncertain future as Israel continues operations Trump publicly opposes but cannot effectively control.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-threat-hormuz-ceasefire-b2999930.html)

Trump Attacks Meloni Over Iran War Refusal, Invents Photo Claim

President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday, attacking her in a Truth Social post without naming her directly while simultaneously condemning NATO for failing to support his Iran military campaign. Trump claimed he had denied Meloni a photograph at the Group of Seven summit in France because Italy would not permit U.S. military use of its landing strips and runways, and added that Meloni sought to “be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.'”

Meloni directly rejected Trump’s characterization of events, calling his attacks “unprovoked” and “senseless.” She stated that her popularity rests on defending Italy’s national interests and that her country remains a sovereign nation whose military base agreements cannot be violated. Meloni emphasized that Trump’s attempts to control her political standing are not her concern, and countered by suggesting he focus on his own popularity instead.

Trump’s repeated false claims about Meloni begging for a photograph represent a continuation of his pattern of fabricating details to demean allied leaders. His invocation of Italy’s refusal to support military action against Iran contradicts his earlier demands that NATO members fund defense spending, revealing inconsistency in how he applies pressure to allied nations.

The deterioration of Trump’s relationship with Meloni marks a significant rupture with what was previously one of his closest European political relationships. Trump had publicly praised Meloni as a “beautiful young woman” during a speech last year, framing the comment as politically risky but worth the exposure. Trump has threatened withdrawal of U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, citing both nations’ refusal to participate in military action against Iran.

Trump’s broader assault on NATO reflects his demand that allied nations comply with military objectives he deems necessary, regardless of their own strategic assessments or international law. The feud with Meloni demonstrates his willingness to weaponize military presence and personal relationships as leverage against leaders who assert their nation’s sovereignty and independent judgment.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/not-good-trump-ramps-up-feud-with-italys-prime-minister-in-scorching-new-post/)

Trump Blames Vandalism for Reflecting Pool Algae

President Trump blamed “vandalism” and ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Friday, claiming unknown actors used chemicals to harm the newly installed surface after the $13.1 million renovation project deteriorated within days of completion. Trump alleged Karl was “sticking his hand into the Pool” and “trying to rip the rubber off of the surface,” while asserting the algae bloom affecting the pool—which was supposed to display “American flag blue” water—is “75 percent gone” and will be repaired by early the following week. Law enforcement is investigating the alleged damage as the project, which Trump self-congratulated for completing in one month instead of the originally projected timeline, continues to face persistent algae growth and visible surface deterioration.

Trump used a lengthy Truth Social post to tout his administration’s work “cleaning, renovated, and beautified” dozens of sites across Washington, D.C., while claiming the pool damage stemmed from “real problems with vandalism” rather than acknowledging the project’s structural or maintenance failures. The president framed the algae bloom and peeling material as external sabotage, deflecting from questions about why the multimillion-dollar renovation produced substandard results immediately after completion. Trump stated that damage is “limited” and law enforcement is investigating the alleged vandalism.

Former George W. Bush adviser Scott Jennings defended Trump’s vandalism claims during a CNN appearance, stating it is “absolutely true” that someone vandalized the grass surrounding the pool. Jennings characterized Trump’s critics as “broken brained” for allegedly vandalizing national monuments out of hatred for the president, and expressed hope that perpetrators would face jail time. Jennings praised Trump’s efforts to clean up the nation’s capital, endorsing the president’s framing of the pool’s problems as deliberate destruction rather than project defects.

Trump previously promoted the Lincoln pool renovation at an Oval Office event focused on executive orders, characterizing the historic structure—which has operated since 1922 and required only routine maintenance until his administration’s intervention—as “filthy” and “dirty” to justify the expensive overhaul. The project’s rapid deterioration and persistent algae bloom have drawn public scrutiny, yet Trump continues to attribute visible problems to external sabotage and media interference rather than project execution.



(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-reflecting-pool-algae-vandalism-peeling-floor-12098491)

Trump Berates Vance for Not Repeating Iran Nuclear Line

President Donald Trump reportedly berated Vice President JD Vance for failing to repeat Trump’s specific phrase that a 2025 U.S. military strike had “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, according to a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan titled “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.” After the June attack, Vance had stated on ABC News that the strike “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear program rather than obliterated it, noting that intelligence at the time suggested the program had not been fully destroyed.

Trump’s anger escalated when Vance, a military veteran skeptical of foreign military interventions, suggested the president soften language in his speech about the Iran operation. According to the book, Trump dismissed the vice president’s concerns by declaring, “I know what I’m doing,” then turned his back on Vance without further response. The tension reflected broader friction between the two men over Iran policy, with aides noting Vance appeared anxious following the strike and concerned about potential escalation.

Despite these reported disagreements, Vance has served as a central figure in the administration’s Iran strategy, conducting negotiations and publicly defending a recent memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending the conflict. This week, Vance defended the agreement against criticism from Israeli leaders, cautioning Israel against attacking “the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.” The deal largely restores pre-war conditions without achieving a finalized peace settlement and defers nuclear negotiations indefinitely.

The book’s publication has sparked concerns within the Trump administration about classified information security. Administration officials believe the book may contain leaked secret recordings from the Situation Room, the highly secured area where the president addresses critical national security matters. An unnamed administration source told Axios, “We’re afraid some of our most sensitive conversations were being recorded, and we have no idea which ones.”

“Regime Change,” releasing Tuesday, also reportedly details internal conflict over handling the Epstein files, including a Situation Room meeting about the administration’s delayed release strategy. The book describes an incident in which then-FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino allegedly attacked then-Attorney General Pam Bondi over what he called the “dumb f***ing charade” of distributing early file batches to right-wing influencers while withholding broader releases for months.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-vance-jd-iran-maggie-haberman-book-b2999402.html)

Trump Invents False G7 Photo Claim to Attack Ally Meloni

President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by repeating and expanding false claims about her conduct at the Group of Seven summit in France. Trump initially claimed Meloni “begged” him to take a photograph together, stating he “felt sorry for her,” before later telling NBC News she “was a big fan” but was unhelpful regarding the Strait of Hormuz and NATO commitments.

Meloni directly refuted Trump’s fabricated account in a social media video, declaring “Neither I nor Italy ever beg” and calling his statements “completely made up.” She expressed astonishment at Trump’s behavior toward an ally, noting this was not the first instance of such conduct and contrasting it with his lenient treatment of adversarial leaders, as she had previously done when rejecting his fabrications about the G7 encounter.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Trump’s remarks as serious and offensive to all of Italy, announcing he would cancel his scheduled U.S. visit for June 21 and 22 in response. The diplomatic breach underscored the damage Trump’s unfounded accusations inflicted on U.S.-Italian relations and NATO cohesion.

The conflict reflects a broader pattern in Trump’s approach to allies. Earlier this year, Meloni criticized Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV as unacceptable, prompting Trump to retaliate by claiming he was “shocked by her” and that he had been wrong about her courage, demonstrating his tendency to turn on supporters who fail to align with him completely.

Trump’s false narrative about Meloni at the G7 summit exemplifies his pattern of inventing interactions to demean political figures. His claims lacked credible basis yet were deployed to undermine a key European partner, revealing how he weaponizes unsubstantiated stories to manage personal grievances regardless of diplomatic consequences.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-meloni-feud-iran-g7-b2999448.html)

Meloni Rejects Trump Fabrication About Begging for G7

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni directly contradicted President Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photograph at the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France on June 17. Trump told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni “begged me to take a photo with her” and that “she wanted a photo with me so badly,” adding he “felt sorry for her.” Meloni stated the account was “totally fabricated,” declaring “I and Italy never beg,” and expressed being “stunned” by Trump’s false characterization of their interaction.

Meloni used Trump’s fabricated claim to highlight his pattern of disrespecting longstanding Western allies while treating adversaries with greater deference. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way with his own allies. It’s not, after all, the first time this has happened,” she said, referencing an April interview where Trump attacked her refusal to support U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran. Video footage from the summit showed the two in an extended seated conversation, contradicting Trump’s framing that he granted her an audience she had desperately sought.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Trump’s statements as “serious” and “offensive” to Italy, announcing he would cancel a planned trip to the United States the following week. When Trump doubled down on his false claim in a subsequent phone call with NBC News, he again attacked Meloni for insufficient NATO support during U.S. military operations, conflating the photograph dispute with geopolitical disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran conflict.

The escalating conflict marks a sharp reversal between the two right-wing leaders, who were once considered close political allies. Meloni attended Trump’s January 2025 inauguration as the sole European leader present, and Trump previously praised her at his Mar-a-Lago resort as a “fantastic woman” reshaping Europe. Earlier tensions emerged when Meloni publicly defended Pope Leo XIV against Trump’s attacks, prompting Trump to accuse her of lacking courage.

The incident underscores Trump’s pattern of weaponizing false personal narratives against former allies who fail to demonstrate absolute loyalty, particularly when they decline to support his military ventures or defend institutions he attacks. Meloni’s refusal to validate Trump’s fabrication and her public criticism of his treatment of Western partners signal a definitive break in what was marketed as a unified alliance of right-wing populist leaders.



(Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/italy/trump-italy-meloni-begged-photo-fabricated-g7-summit-france-rcna350836)

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