Category: Pocket Padding

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/)

Draft-Dodging Trump Thirsts Over Awarding Himself Military Medal

During a Thursday speech in Georgia, Donald Trump disclosed his desire to award himself the Congressional Medal of Honor, claiming he considered doing so during his first term but was dissuaded by advisers. Trump, who avoided military service through draft deferments, stated he has awarded the medal to combat veterans with severe injuries and suggested changing the law to permit self-awarding the honor.

Trump acknowledged the apparent contradiction between his consideration of self-awarding the medal and the sacrifices of wounded soldiers he has honored. He described veterans who lost limbs in combat and framed his hesitation as recognizing the medal’s significance to those with documented battlefield injuries, yet he continued to express interest in obtaining one for himself.

The statement exemplifies Trump’s pattern of self-aggrandizement and disregard for institutional norms. His draft dodging during the Vietnam War, combined with his repeated efforts to claim military accomplishments and honors he did not earn, contradicts his public positioning as a defender of military service and sacrifice.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/draft-dodging-trump-thirsts-over-004234640.html)

Trump Pledges $10 Billion to ‘Board of Peace’ in First Meeting

President Trump announced a $10 billion transfer of taxpayer funds to his newly created “Board of Peace” during its inaugural meeting in Washington, D.C. on February 19, 2026. The board, which Trump controls as chairman without term limits or government oversight, includes nations with documented human rights abuses and corruption records such as Israel, El Salvador, Turkey, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia. Member states pay $1 billion each to join, with an additional $7 billion contributed by participating nations, though Congress has not authorized the U.S. spending and Trump provided no specification of where the $10 billion would originate.

Trump framed the board as overseeing implementation of a Gaza peace plan, but has previously stated his intention to redevelop Gaza as a “Trump Riviera” tourism destination. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who holds no official government position, presented plans to reshape the war-torn region into a coastal investment opportunity. Kushner denied that individuals were personally profiting from the arrangement, yet the board’s structure grants Trump unilateral financial control without U.S. government oversight or restrictions, enabling him to access organizational funds beyond constitutional accountability mechanisms.

Major U.S. allies and Western democracies rejected participation in Trump’s coalition. The Vatican, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and Ukraine all declined invitations, reflecting their assessment of the board as a mechanism for Trump to establish a controlled international alliance independent of established multilateral institutions. Putin received an invitation despite actively waging war against Ukraine, demonstrating Trump’s prioritization of personal relationships with authoritarian figures over democratic alignment.

At the Thursday gathering, Trump repeatedly appeared to fall asleep during speakers’ remarks, occurring throughout the more than two-hour meeting as foreign leaders addressed him. The event featured sycophantic praise from participating nations, including Egypt’s prime minister addressing Trump as “excellency,” a breach of protocol for U.S. presidents who historically reject monarchical titles. Kazakhstan’s autocratic President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a “President Trump award” to recognize Trump’s “outstanding efforts and achievements,” and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended without clear justification.

Trump also used the event to announce he would decide on military action against Iran within ten days, despite claiming last year that a previous strike “obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities. The announcement of potential renewed warfare contradicted the purported peace mission of the gathering. Trump characterized the $10 billion pledge as “a very small number” compared to war costs, equating it to two weeks of military spending, while maintaining that no congressional authorization for the expenditure existed.

(Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-pledges-10-billion-board-of-peace-meeting-1235519576/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQErkNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0VFQVzCo4RTtSQuznefPb57AtrlKN1M0W58uDN1ZVeUZ56Y6TStjQtA1BYM_aem_v8x_9FRA2dmfshMiH_8cyQ)

Trump family business files for trademark rights on any airports using the president’s name

The Trump Organization filed federal trademark applications seeking exclusive rights to use President Trump’s name on airports and related merchandise including buses, umbrellas, travel bags, and flight suits. The filings were triggered by a Florida state bill proposing to rename Palm Beach International Airport after Trump, and separate disputes over naming rights for a New York-New Jersey tunnel and Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

The Trump Organization stated it would not charge royalties or accept financial consideration for the Palm Beach airport renaming, claiming the applications were filed to protect against “bad actors” exploiting what it asserts is “the most infringed trademark in the world.” The company did not respond when asked whether it would charge royalties for using Trump’s name at other airports or on merchandise covered by the trademark filings.

Trademark lawyer Josh Gerben, who discovered the filings, called them “completely unprecedented,” noting that no sitting president’s private company has previously sought trademark rights in advance of airport naming proposals. He highlighted that presidents historically wait years—or must die—before airports are named after them: Bill Clinton waited 11 years, Ronald Reagan nine, and Gerald Ford 22 years, with JFK being the exception at one month following his assassination.

Recent months have seen multiple public venues and infrastructure renamed for Trump, including the Kennedy Center performing arts venue, a boulevard outside Mar-a-Lago, and a new class of battleships. The Trump Organization has also expanded its branding internationally, placing the Trump name on towers, golf resorts, and residential developments in Dubai, India, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, while simultaneously selling Trump-branded electric guitars, bibles, and sneakers through its DTTM Operations unit.

Trump has previously defended his family’s business activities by stating the company is held in trust by his sons and that he has no day-to-day involvement, a response to ongoing criticism that he and his family are profiting from his presidency. The company’s claim of having the world’s most infringed trademark could not be quickly verified against established luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Rolex, which have all battled extensive counterfeiting for decades.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-family-business-files-trademark-172427158.html)

Trump Blocks Bridge After Billionaire Competitor Meets Commerce Secretary

Donald Trump threatened to block Canada’s Gordie Howe International Bridge hours after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met privately with Detroit billionaire Matthew Moroun, who controls the competing Ambassador Bridge, according to The New York Times. Two officials briefed on the meeting confirmed Lutnick met with Moroun in Washington on Monday, and Lutnick subsequently spoke with Trump by phone about the matter.

The Moroun family has spent decades attempting to prevent the Gordie Howe bridge through litigation and lobbying, including a challenge that reached Canada’s Supreme Court. The family previously urged Trump to halt construction of the $4.7 billion publicly funded bridge, which will compete with the Ambassador Bridge for over $300 million in daily cross-border trade once operational.

Trump posted on Truth Social threatening to block the bridge unless Canada addressed “a long list of grievances,” according to the Times report published Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump’s position by claiming he was “putting America’s interest first,” objecting to Canadian control of the bridge and land on both sides, and criticizing insufficient use of American-made materials.

The timing coincides with escalating tension between the nations since Trump’s election, during which he has questioned Canadian sovereignty and imposed tariffs on steel, lumber, and automobiles. The Gordie Howe bridge is fully financed by Canada and will be jointly operated by Canada and Michigan, making Trump’s threat an intervention in a cross-border infrastructure project already under construction.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-canada-2675257271/)

Trump Demands Penn Station Rename for Tunnel Funding

President Donald Trump demanded that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agree to rename Penn Station in New York and Dulles International Airport in Washington after himself in exchange for unfreezing $16 billion in federal funding for a rail tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey, according to Punchbowl News. The Trump administration had frozen the funds during a government shutdown in the fall, and construction on the tunnel project faced potential shutdown as early as Friday due to lack of resources.

Schumer rejected Trump’s demand and told the president he lacked the legal authority to unfreeze the funds in exchange for renaming public infrastructure. A source close to Schumer stated that Trump could restart the funding unilaterally and that “there’s nothing to trade,” indicating the demand was a purely self-serving condition with no legitimate policy basis.

This episode reflects Trump’s pattern of using federal resources and public assets to promote his personal brand. In December, Trump announced the renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, though the venue’s official name is codified in law and cannot be changed without legislation; several artists subsequently canceled shows in protest, and Trump announced the Kennedy Center would close for “renovations” lasting approximately two years.

Additional recent examples include the State Department adding Trump’s name to the U.S. Institute of Peace and Trump unveiling a new “Trump-class” of battleships he claimed he would personally help design. These actions demonstrate Trump’s repeated attempt to repurpose federal institutions and taxpayer-funded infrastructure for self-aggrandizement.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding the Penn Station and Dulles renaming demand. The lawsuit filed by New York and New Jersey against the Trump administration remains ongoing in federal court in Manhattan.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-reportedly-demanded-his-name-on-penn-station-in-exchange-for-unfreezing-tunnel-project-funds/)

Trump Sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO for $5B, Alleging They ‘Debanked Him’ After Capitol Riot

Trump filed a $5 billion lawsuit in Florida against JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon on January 22, 2026, claiming the bank “debanked” him for political reasons following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. According to the suit, JPMorgan Chase notified Trump in February 2021 that his accounts would be closed within two months. Trump’s legal team, led by attorney Alejandro Brito, alleges the bank made this decision based on “political and social motivations” and “woke” beliefs rather than legitimate business concerns.

JPMorgan Chase rejected the allegations, with a spokesperson stating the bank “does not close accounts for political or religious reasons” and instead closes accounts that “create legal or regulatory risk.” The bank further stated it “regret[s] having to do so but often rules and regulatory expectations lead us to do so.” The bank’s official response to the lawsuit was direct: “While we regret President Trump has sued us, we believe the suit has no merit,” and affirmed its right to defend itself in court.

The lawsuit emerges two months after CEO Dimon publicly declined to fund Trump’s proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, estimated at $400 million. During a November 2025 CNN interview, Dimon explained that JPMorgan Chase maintains strict policies on government contracts and avoids appearances of “buying favors,” citing concerns about regulatory scrutiny from future administrations. The ballroom is being funded by Trump and other donors including Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and the Winklevoss twins, but not JPMorgan Chase.

Dimon has previously contradicted Trump’s claims about their relationship. During the 2024 election, Trump falsely claimed Dimon had endorsed him for president, a claim JPMorgan Chase publicly denied. On January 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dimon stated, “I don’t like what I’m seeing,” indicating continued skepticism of Trump’s policies and actions.

(Source: https://people.com/trump-sues-jpmorgan-chase-5-billion-11890840?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_content=photo&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=69729ffbffed3f00012671e0&fbclid=IwdGRjcAPgaTVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeLrOftBb_toUMg2YdBsQXRbIDpfcjXp5Npq52X3y9puC9kMJxCy86kH861ag_aem_b3_ScplyKwJuYqHYFrd_xQ)

Trump Pardons Puerto Rico Ex-Governor Vázquez in Campaign Finance Case

President Donald Trump intends to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, who pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a campaign finance violation involving acceptance of a promised campaign contribution from a foreign source that was never received. Vázquez was set for sentencing later in January, with federal prosecutors seeking one year in prison, though her attorneys argued the sentence violated a prior guilty plea agreement that had resulted in dismissal of bribery and fraud charges.

A White House official stated that Trump views the case as political prosecution, citing the timing of the investigation's initiation approximately ten days after Vázquez endorsed Trump in 2020. The official, speaking anonymously without authorization to disclose the pardon plan publicly, characterized the prosecution as retaliatory rather than justified. Vázquez is a Republican aligned with Puerto Rico's pro-statehood New Progressive Party.

According to authorities, Vázquez allegedly accepted a bribery offer from Venezuelan banker Julio Martín Herrera Velutini and former FBI agent Mark Rossini between December 2019 and June 2020 while serving as governor. In exchange, she demanded the resignation of Puerto Rico's financial institutions commissioner and appointed a new commissioner of Herrera's choosing, actions authorities documented as occurring after the alleged bribery agreement was made.

Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's congressional representative and member of the opposition Popular Democratic Party, condemned the planned pardon, stating that "impunity protects and fosters corruption" and that the pardon undermines public integrity and faith in justice. Vázquez was the first former Puerto Rico governor to plead guilty to a federal crime and served as the territory's second female governor before losing her party's 2020 primary.

The pardon decision demonstrates Trump's use of executive clemency to benefit political allies, circumventing sentencing for federal prosecutors' recommended penalty. Vázquez's case involved foreign-sourced campaign funding and an abuse of gubernatorial authority to benefit a foreign banker, violations Trump's administration has now chosen to erase through presidential pardon rather than allow judicial process to conclude.

(Source: https://abc7.com/post/trump-pardon-ex-puerto-rico-governor-vzquez-campaign-finance-case-official-says/18417246/)

Trump Says Venezuela Oil ‘Money Will Be Controlled by Me’

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would personally control revenues from Venezuelan oil sales following the U.S. invasion of Venezuela on Saturday, which resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated he would oversee the sale of 30 to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market price, declaring “that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America.” Trump instructed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute the plan immediately, with oil to be transported by storage ships to U.S. unloading docks.

Trump explicitly tied the military invasion to resource extraction and corporate profit, stating the day after the operation that the administration’s priority was to “fix up the oil” and “have total access” to Venezuela’s resources. He indicated that oil companies had been alerted to his plans prior to the invasion, saying “They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela and they’re going to represent us.” Trump acknowledged that major oil company investments would be required to rebuild Venezuelan infrastructure, positioning private corporations as the primary beneficiaries of military intervention. Trump has separately indicated that U.S. taxpayers may reimburse oil companies for reconstruction costs.

The announcement directly contradicts Trump’s stated rationale for the invasion—that military action was undertaken to benefit the Venezuelan people—by placing personal control of oil revenues in presidential hands rather than under Venezuelan governance or international oversight. Oil stocks surged immediately following Trump’s declaration that his administration would “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future, signaling market confidence in corporate access to Venezuelan resources.

The Trump administration has simultaneously expanded U.S. military presence across Latin America and the Caribbean through security agreements, enabling armed operations under the pretext of counternarcotics efforts while simultaneously conducting resource extraction operations.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-says-hes-selling-venezuelas-oil-and-that-the-money-will-be-controlled-by-me/)

TACO strikes again: Italian pasta becomes the latest product to have tariffs slashed by Trump

President Donald Trump’s administration slashed proposed tariffs on Italian pasta manufacturers in January 2025, reducing rates from 92 percent to between 2 and 14 percent for specific companies and 9 percent for others. The Department of Commerce had initially accused 13 Italian pasta makers of unfair trade practices and “dumping” products below market rates, with La Molisana and Garofalo cited for failing to cooperate with pricing investigations. Italy’s government contested these allegations through its embassy in Washington, D.C., and the companies’ cooperation prompted the dramatic reversal.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry characterized the tariff reduction as recognition of the companies’ “constructive willingness to cooperate,” according to Reuters. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had expected her alignment with Trump to shield Italian companies from steep levies, making the initial high tariff proposal a source of political embarrassment. Italy’s pasta exports totaled approximately $4.7 billion in 2024, with the United States accounting for roughly $800 million of that revenue.

The pasta tariff reversal represents another rollback in Trump’s tariff regime, following a pattern critics label “Trump Always Chickens Out” (TACO). The administration delayed furniture and kitchen cabinet tariffs for one year on New Year’s Eve, removed tariffs from over 200 agricultural products in November, and announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs affecting Canada and Mexico earlier in 2025.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the reversals to CNBC and ABC News in November, claiming the policy shifts do not indicate failure and attributing price increases to factors beyond tariffs. The Trump administration maintains its tariff strategy remains intact despite the recurring delays and rollbacks.

Polling data demonstrates widespread consumer concerns about pricing: more than one-third of Trump’s own voters reported the cost of living as the worst they have experienced, according to a November Politico survey. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether Trump’s claim of emergency powers to impose tariffs by executive order is constitutional, with Trump warning the court in November against “serving hostile foreign interests” ahead of its ruling.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tariffs-italy-pasta-taco-b2893225.html)

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