Category: Ill-Tempered

Trump Berates Netanyahu Over Israel Lebanon Escalation

President Trump engaged in an expletive-laden tirade against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Monday call over Israel's military escalation in Lebanon, according to two U.S. officials and a third source briefed on the exchange. Trump accused Netanyahu of ingratitude and invoked his role in shielding Netanyahu from corruption prosecution, saying "You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this." Trump also demanded Netanyahu halt plans to strike Beirut, telling him he was "fucking crazy" and demanding "What the fuck are you doing?"

Trump's fury stemmed from his assessment that Netanyahu was escalating disproportionately in Lebanon despite understanding Israel's legitimate need to defend itself against Hezbollah attacks. Trump objected specifically to the high civilian death toll and Israel's practice of demolishing buildings to eliminate single Hezbollah commanders. One official stated Trump was "pissed" throughout much of the call, which one source described as among the worst Trump has had with Netanyahu since returning to office. Following the call, Israel abandoned its plan to strike targets in Beirut, an Israeli official confirmed to Axios.

Trump's intervention directly targeted his broader strategic objective of negotiating an end to the conflict with Iran, which has conditioned talks on halting the fighting in Lebanon. Earlier Monday, Iran threatened to withdraw from negotiations over Israel's actions in Lebanon. The U.S. memorandum under negotiation with Iran explicitly calls for an end to the fighting in Lebanon, making Netanyahu's escalation a direct obstacle to Trump's diplomatic initiative.

Netanyahu responded with a defiant statement reaffirming his commitment to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut if attacks on Israel continue and to expand ground operations in southern Lebanon. A second U.S. official, however, claimed Trump had "steamrolled" Netanyahu on the call, with Netanyahu ultimately acquiescing by saying "OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of." Netanyahu's office did not respond to requests for further comment.

The confrontation underscores tension between Trump's objective of securing a negotiated settlement with Iran and Netanyahu's commitment to aggressive military operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Trump posted to Truth Social after the call that Iran talks were "continuing, at a rapid pace," signaling his determination to advance those negotiations despite the friction with Israel's leadership.

(Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call)

Trump Attacks Pope Leo, Calls Chicago Mayor Johnson ‘Useless’

President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on Saturday for meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling the mayor "useless" and renewing his assault on the pontiff's opposition to Trump's Iran military campaign. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon," responding to Johnson's photos from the Vatican showing him presenting the pope with a Chicago flag and Cubs hat. The attack marks an escalation in Trump's month-long feud with the American-born pontiff.

Trump's latest strike follows his April assault on Pope Leo for condemning Trump's threat to obliterate "a whole civilization" in Iran and for criticizing the administration's treatment of undocumented immigrants. At that time, Trump demanded the pope stop criticizing the president, declaring he was executing his "LANDSLIDE" mandate to achieve "Record Low Numbers in Crime" and the "Greatest Stock Market in History." Trump also claimed credit for Pope Leo becoming the first American pontiff, calling him "a shocking surprise" and declaring the pope should be "thankful."

Pope Leo rejected Trump's militarism directly, stating that "God does not bless any conflict" and calling Trump's Iran ultimatum "truly unacceptable." The pontiff previously condemned the Trump administration's "extremely disrespectful" treatment of immigrants. Trump responded by characterizing the pope's foreign policy views as "terrible" and branding him "WEAK" on crime and nuclear weapons.

Johnson, who met with Pope Leo on Friday, described the encounter as "one of the most awe-inspiring and humbling experiences of my life." The Chicago mayor shared images of himself with the pontiff, who was born in Chicago in 1955 and is a White Sox fan, making the Cubs hat in the photo particularly notable. Johnson's visit and positive remarks about the pope prompted Trump's hostile public rebuke.

This pattern of Trump attacking the pope over Iran policy decisions and diplomatic engagement demonstrates his intolerance for dissent from religious leaders on foreign military action. Trump's previous resort to posting AI-generated religious imagery depicting himself as Jesus after the Pope's Iran criticism underscores his demand for absolute loyalty and his conflation of personal grievance with matters of state.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-calls-out-pope-leo-for-hanging-with-useless-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson/)

Trump Rages Over $149B Tariff Refunds After Supreme Court Voids Regime

President Donald Trump remains angry three months after the Supreme Court invalidated his tariff regime in February, telling Fortune that he is furious about being forced to refund $149 billion to countries and entities he claims “hate us” and “ripped us off for years.” The 6-3 decision by the conservative-majority Court ruled that Trump lacked clear congressional authorization to unilaterally impose tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing that Trump’s assertion of “extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope” exceeded constitutional bounds.

Trump’s primary complaint centers not on the ruling itself but on the financial consequences: his administration must issue refunds exceeding $35.5 billion to importers who filed for tariff relief. However, economic research contradicts Trump’s framing that tariffs burden foreign nations. A January 2025 Kiel Institute for the World Economy report found U.S. consumers paid for “nearly all” tariffs, while a February Tax Foundation analysis estimated the levies cost the average American household approximately $1,300 annually. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s research indicates Trump’s tariffs have sustained elevated inflation levels.

Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump has pursued legal workarounds to reimpose tariffs, invoking Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose a 10 percent levy on all imports. Trump attacked the justices who ruled against him, including Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, whom he appointed, calling them “incorrect” and stating he was “absolutely ashamed” of their decision. His administration collected $195 billion in tariff revenue during the last fiscal year, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited as progress toward deficit reduction.

Public opposition to Trump’s tariff expansion has grown substantially. A February Pew Research Center survey found 60 percent of Americans disapprove of the administration’s expanded tariffs. Companies that directly paid tariffs will receive refunds through the administration’s ongoing process, but consumers are unlikely to see relief, according to reporting from The New York Times, as payments flow only to importers rather than end users.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-refunds-b2978803.html)

Trump Attacks Cassidy as ‘Disloyal’ Over 2021 Impeachment Vote

President Donald Trump attacked Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on Saturday, calling him a “disloyal disaster” and “sleazebag” while urging voters to support Cassidy’s primary challengers, Representative Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming. Trump posted on Truth Social that Cassidy campaigned on loyalty to Trump in 2020 but then voted to convict him during the 2021 impeachment trial, accusing the senator of betrayal and claiming Cassidy is “BAD FOR LOUISIANA.”

Cassidy is facing his first primary challenge since the impeachment vote, with Trump endorsing Letlow as “a winner who will NEVER let you down.” In the post, Trump emphasized his electoral dominance in Louisiana, stating he won the state three times and “got the most votes in its history, by far,” framing the primary as a test of loyalty to his political movement.

When CNN’s Manu Raju asked Cassidy last month about Trump’s repeated accusations of disloyalty, the senator deflected multiple times before stating he is “loyal to the United States of America” and committed to working with the president “whenever we’re working for the best of the U.S.” Cassidy’s careful distinction between loyalty to the country and loyalty to Trump reflects the tension between institutional duty and party demands for personal allegiance.

Saturday’s primary election in Louisiana determines whether Cassidy advances or faces a runoff in late June if no candidate secures a majority vote. Trump’s full-throated intervention exemplifies his pattern of targeting Republicans who defy his directives, using inflammatory language and endorsements to remove party members he views as insufficiently loyal to his leadership.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/disloyal-disaster-trump-trashes-sleazebag-republican-senator-battling-primary-challengers/)

Trump Slams Reporter Inches From His Face on Air Force One

During the return flight from Beijing on Air Force One, President Donald Trump attacked New York Times White House and National Security Correspondent David Sanger with a sustained barrage of personal insults while positioned inches from the reporter’s face. Trump called Sanger “fake,” “treasonous,” and accused him and The New York Times of writing false accounts of military operations in Iran, falsely claiming Trump achieved a “total military victory” that destroyed Iran’s Navy, Air Force, air defense systems, radar, and leadership across multiple command divisions.

Sanger had questioned Trump about the utility of repeating bombing campaigns in Iran after 38 days of strikes failed to produce the stated political changes. Trump responded by denying the basic facts reported by the Times and other outlets, insisting that New York Times coverage constituted “treason” because journalists described Iran as maintaining military capability when Trump asserted they had been completely dismantled. Trump threatened additional destruction, stating “Within two days, we can knock out the whole thing” and claimed he could destroy Iran’s bridges and electrical infrastructure at will.

Trump attributed the New York Times’ declining subscriber numbers to what he characterized as fake news coverage, weaponizing the encounter to attack press credibility while simultaneously making grandiose and unverified claims about military achievements. The confrontation exemplifies Trump’s documented pattern of threatening media outlets for unfavorable coverage and using presidential power to intimidate journalists who contradict his statements.

Sanger’s colleagues at the Times subsequently published a report documenting Iran’s capability restoration and the Trump administration’s exaggeration of military success, directly contradicting Trump’s claims aboard Air Force One. The incident occurred following Trump’s high-security visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping under conditions of secrecy and pageantry that limited independent press access.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-attacks-reporter-inches-from-his-face-on-air-force-one-treasonous-fake-guy/)

Trump Blurts Loaded Attack on Top Dem Hakeem Jeffries

President Donald Trump attacked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Truth Social Friday night, calling him a "THUG" and "Low IQ Democrat Minority Leader" who is "a danger to our Country," accompanying the post with a photo of Jeffries holding a baseball bat. This attack occurred less than a week after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday prompted widespread calls for reducing heated political rhetoric, with the White House itself urging Democrats to abandon violent language.

President Trump frequently targets African Americans with controversial language, often referring to them as "low IQ" or "thugs." Such terms have been consistently used against figures like Congresswoman Maxine Waters and TV host Don Lemon, focusing primarily on their intelligence. Despite using various insults for others, Trump's criticisms of black individuals often emphasize intelligence alone, making his racial appeals overt. This pattern reflects a troubling tactic in Trump's rhetoric. A Truthout examination revealed that 8 in 10 posts by Trump calling someone "Low IQ" target a person of color. Communications experts describe this term as “a racist dog whistle with a long history in the US.”

The loaded language Trump deployed violates the implicit agreement to moderate discourse that followed the shooting incident. Trump used the terms "thug" and "Low IQ," which carry specific racial and dehumanizing connotations, according to NewNation White House Correspondent Kellie Meyer, who publicly criticized both the characterization and the photo choice. Meyer noted that Trump was labeling Jeffries a "danger" to the country while simultaneously the White House had demanded Democrats cease violent rhetoric.

The Truth Social post came hours after Trump delivered a speech in Florida that included an attack on Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) based on the discredited claim that she married her brother, a conspiracy theory debunked by independent fact-checkers and journalists. Trump's pattern of inflammatory rhetoric directed at Democratic leaders demonstrates his refusal to acknowledge the connection between his own language and the climate of hostility that precipitated the WHCD shooting.

The incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner occurred when suspect Cole Tomas Allen rushed through the security perimeter and allegedly opened fire, causing chaos before being taken into custody. Initial reports that Allen had been shot or killed proved inaccurate, and Trump was not injured in the incident.

Following the shooting, Democrats pushed back against the White House's selective calls for toning down rhetoric, pointing out that Republican and Trump-affiliated language had been equally or more inflammatory. Trump's Friday attack on Jeffries directly contradicts any commitment to reducing heated political discourse and exposes the administration's selective application of civility standards.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-blurts-loaded-attack-on-top-dem-amid-post-shooting-rhetoric-discourse/)

Trump Demands Mic Volume Increase at Florida Seniors Speech

During a May 1st, 2026 speech to seniors at The Villages in Central Florida, Donald Trump interrupted his remarks on deportation policy to demand that staff increase microphone volume. Trump stated, “Tell them to turn up the microphone, will you please! Turn up the mic!” while complaining about the audio setup and refusing to pay staff he deemed underperforming.

Trump’s outburst revealed his pattern of using public appearances to air trivial grievances rather than substantive policy discussion. He declared, “I’m screaming my ass off because the mic is no good!” and spent multiple sentences berating the technical crew, stating he pays people early but refuses payment to those who “do a bad job,” demonstrating his use of financial coercion as a management tactic.

The incident occurred as Trump discussed his mass deportation agenda, claiming “twenty-five million illegal aliens pour into our country” and characterizing immigration as “an invasion.” His abandonment of this messaging to focus on personal complaint exemplifies how Trump centers himself rather than substantive governance in public forums.

Trump then returned to claiming he stands up for American seniors “like no president has ever stood up before,” contradicting his demonstrated priority of addressing technical inconveniences over policy substance. The crowd’s muted response, noted as “stirred,” suggests tepid reception to his performance.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/im-screaming-my-a-off-trump-demands-to-turn-up-the-mic-during-florida-speech/)

Trump Attacks CBS for Reading Shooter’s Manifesto in Interview

During a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, Trump responded aggressively to CBS News journalist Norah O’Donnell after she read excerpts from a manifesto allegedly written by Cole Tomas Allen, the 31-year-old suspect who opened fire at the White House press dinner on Saturday. The manifesto contained accusations that Trump was “a pedophile, rapist, and traitor,” and O’Donnell presented the document as potential evidence of motive. Trump immediately attacked the journalist, calling her “disgraceful” and “horrible people,” then denied the allegations: “I’m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.”

When pressed on whether the manifesto was referencing him, Trump escalated his denials and personal attacks on O’Donnell, declaring “I’m not a pedophile” and telling her she “should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things.” He criticized the network for airing the content on 60 Minutes, calling it inappropriate and demanding O’Donnell’s conduct be questioned. Trump’s defensive reaction came despite his public claims that he believed he was the target of Saturday’s attack.

Trump has faced renewed scrutiny following the release of the Epstein files, which contained FBI interviews documenting allegations that he assaulted a woman when she was a teenager. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. The president’s aggressive pushback during the interview reflected his pattern of dismissing accusations as fabricated or politically motivated.

Allen, arrested at the scene of the Saturday shooting at the Washington Hilton, allegedly wrote in his manifesto that he identified himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin” and planned to target Trump administration officials in order of rank, excluding FBI Director Kash Patel. The document also invoked Christian theology, claiming he was acting to protect those harmed by administration policies. Law enforcement officials confirmed the manifesto’s contents to media outlets, and Allen is scheduled for arraignment Monday.

The incident drew attention to security vulnerabilities at high-profile events, with the manifesto itself noting the “insane” lack of security measures at the hotel. Trump seized on the security concerns to promote his planned White House ballroom as a safer alternative venue for such gatherings, converting the attack into an opportunity to market his own facility.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-60-minutes-interview-manifesto-b2965411.html)

Trump Attacks CBS Correspondent for Reading Shooter’s Manifesto

During a 60 Minutes interview, correspondent Norah O’Donnell read excerpts from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter’s manifesto, which referenced targeting “administrative officials” and an unnamed “pedophile” and “rapist.” O’Donnell presented these as the gunman’s stated motives when asking Trump how the shooting would affect his relationship with the press.

Trump responded with hostility, calling O’Donnell and CBS News “horrible people” and a “disgrace” for reading the manifesto’s language on air. He denied being a rapist or pedophile, saying he was “totally exonerated,” and accused O’Donnell of associating him with unfounded claims.

Trump pivoted to attacking Democrats and the press, claiming they are “almost like one and the same” on issues like crime. He stated his associates were not involved with Epstein or related matters, redirecting blame toward unnamed figures on “the other side.”

O’Donnell clarified that she was reading the gunman’s own words from the manifesto, not making accusations against Trump. Trump continued to object to her reading the text on air, asserting she should be ashamed and demanding she stop.

The exchange occurred as Trump was being interviewed about Saturday’s shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Trump’s defensive response and attacks on O’Donnell’s journalism for simply citing the shooter’s publicly available manifesto demonstrated his intolerance for any reporting that presents unfavorable information without editorial protection.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-scolds-60-mins-for-reading-shooters-manifesto-calling-him-a-pedophile/)

Trump’s frantic posts on Truth Social overnight show just how little he slept | The Independent

Trump posted frequently on Truth Social between 12:05 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. Friday, then resumed at 7:33 a.m., indicating he slept fewer than five hours, according to the Daily Beast. The 79-year-old president either posted himself due to chronic sleep deprivation or had staff upload content he consumed the previous day, a White House official stated to The Independent.

Trump and his administration have long promoted his minimal sleep as a sign of strength and dedication. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News in November 2024 that Trump remains awake during entire 20-hour trips, while former Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed nobody can match his work ethic because of how little he sleeps. White House Spokesperson Davis Ingle called Trump “the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history.”

Trump has been repeatedly observed nodding off during Cabinet meetings, press conferences, and an Oval Office announcement Thursday afternoon, with his eyes closing periodically for several seconds. The president denies these observations, claiming he merely closes his eyes out of boredom rather than sleeping.

Trump’s overnight posting spree included sharing a New York Post article attacking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, congratulating Border Patrol union leadership, and reposting MAGA Senator Mike Lee’s criticism of Democrats alongside commentary from Lee and Elon Musk. He also shared a video promoting the conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton manufactured the Russia election interference investigation and posted negative comments about Clinton and former President Barack Obama.

After 1 a.m., Trump attacked the Southern Poverty Law Center as “one of the greatest political scams in American History” and a “Democrat Hoax,” falsely connecting it to the 2020 election and suggesting the election should be “permanently wiped from the books.” He also posted a screenshot of a fabricated quote falsely attributed to actor Clint Eastwood, which PolitiFact identified as actually belonging to former New Hampshire state Representative Fred Doucette.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-truth-social-posts-sleep-b2964644.html)

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