Category: Pocket Padding

‘Some homework to do’: Trump appointees vote to address gaps in arch plan in heated meeting – ABC News

Trump’s National Capital Planning Commission, stacked with his appointees, voted Thursday to conditionally advance a 250-foot “triumphal arch” project near Arlington National Cemetery, but only after staff identified significant gaps requiring the administration to provide additional details before final approval. Commission Chair Will Scharf, Trump’s White House staff secretary, acknowledged the project team has “homework to do,” requesting more renderings and technical information on lighting, stormwater management, materials, and height justification under the Height of Buildings Act. Despite Trump immediately claiming approval on social media, Scharf clarified the vote was not final and will return for further review.

The commission received 1,696 public comments before the hearing, nearly all opposing the project as a vanity structure inconsistent with American values. Veterans including Gary Langston and Marine Jimi Shaughnessy testified that the arch would obstruct views of Arlington National Cemetery and cast literal and figurative shadows over sacred ground where their families rest. Langston warned the design contains “elements that I fear won’t stand the test of time,” while Shaughnessy called the 250-foot structure “a profound disruption and insult at the entrance to sacred ground” and “a momentous symbol of selfishness.”

Commission staff, though outnumbered by Trump loyalists, raised critical unresolved issues including pedestrian safety, potential interference with Reagan National Airport flight paths, and obstruction of cemetery views. Jamie Herr, the commission’s urban planner, stated the submission lacks essential information and noted the administration must provide “necessary elements for the commission to review as the design advances.” Jessica Bowron, representing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, supported the staff recommendations and pledged to provide the requested additional information.

The vote to accept staff concerns passed 9-1, with only Evan Cash, representing D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, voting no on grounds that the administration cannot answer the “fundamental question about why this project belongs in this place.” Cash’s dissent highlighted the threshold issue: whether Trump’s triumphal arch near Arlington serves any purpose beyond personal aggrandizement, part of a broader pattern of Trump spending millions to gild and renovate Washington monuments while bypassing normal oversight processes.(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/homework-trump-appointees-vote-address-gaps-arch-plan/story?id=133600719)

Trump Posts Request for Pardon for Controversial Lawmaker

President Trump posted a pardon request for former Indiana Congressman Stephen Buyer, who was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for insider trading schemes in 2018 and 2019. According to the Department of Justice, Buyer "engaged in two separate, but interrelated insider trading schemes to steal material non-public information that he obtained through consulting work and to place timely, profitable securities trades based on that stolen information." Trump distributed letters on Truth Social from former Republican National Committee Chairman Robert James Nicholson and multiple Republican lawmakers, both making appeals for Buyer's pardon without offering his own comment.

The Nicholson letter characterizes Buyer's prosecution as political retaliation, claiming "the SEC and DOJ were weaponized against Congressman Buyer as political retribution." This framing mirrors language used by Trump allies to describe prosecutions of Trump himself, despite documented criminal conduct in both cases. The letter references Buyer's past Republican loyalty, including his role prosecuting President Clinton during impeachment proceedings and seeking indictment against Hillary Clinton.

A second letter signed by Republican politicians echoed the weaponization narrative, stating "The Clintons, the Bidens, their surrogates and Democrats in the deep state never forgot Steve's contributions that were an affront to their beliefs and objectives." Trump posted both letters without commentary, effectively amplifying claims that federal prosecutors acted from partisan motives rather than in response to evidence of criminal conduct.

Trump's promotion of Buyer's pardon request occurs as he uses control of the Justice Department to advance personal and corporate interests, including overseeing antitrust reviews affecting major media companies. Trump himself faces scrutiny for stock trades made while serving as commander in chief, creating direct parallel circumstances to Buyer's insider trading convictions.

The pardon push demonstrates Trump's pattern of using executive clemency to reward political allies while weaponizing the Justice Department against perceived enemies. By distributing unsigned pardon appeals without commentary, Trump signals approval while maintaining plausible deniability, a characteristic strategy employed throughout his administration to bypass accountability mechanisms and consolidate loyalty among Republican officeholders.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-posts-appeal-for-a-pardon-by-ex-congressman-slapped-with-insider-trading-charges/)

Trump’s Pentagon hires Jan 6 rioter for highly sensitive counterterrorism role | The Independent

The Trump administration hired Elias Irizarry, a convicted January 6 Capitol rioter, to serve in the Pentagon's Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, which oversees counterterrorism, hostage rescues, and embassy security operations. Irizarry, who was 19 years old during the insurrection, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for entering the Capitol through a broken window while holding a metal pole and now holds a sensitive position influencing military strategy in dangerous environments.

Pentagon officials defended the appointment, with a spokesman calling Irizarry "a qualified, patriotic young professional," and DOJ official Ernie Sampera attesting to his character and loyalty. However, an anonymous Pentagon insider told the Washington Post that placing someone "so junior and new to DOD, and with such a checkered background, into such a sensitive portfolio" for rescue and extraction missions operating in complex combat zones contradicts basic security protocols for positions handling classified counterterrorism information.

Irizarry had previously apologized to the court for his January 6 involvement, stating his participation "brought great shame upon myself, my family, and, unfortunately, my country." He later reframed his Capitol riot participation as evidence of commitment to the "America First movement" during an unsuccessful campaign for South Carolina state legislature, characterizing prosecution of rioters as targeting "nonviolent activities."

Trump pardoned Irizarry alongside more than 1,500 others convicted or accused of January 6 participation. The administration has systematically hired multiple individuals connected to the insurrection, including another accused rioter prosecutors say urged violence against law enforcement, now employed at the Justice Department.

Congressional Democrats have initiated investigations into whether the Department of Homeland Security is hiring former January 6 participants. Trump's proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of alleged DOJ "weaponization" has triggered concern among lawmakers that federal money could be redirected to compensate insurrectionists.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-elias-irizarry-january-6-pentagon-b2988374.html)

More than 10,000 lawyers have left the Trump administration leaving multiple agencies understaffed, report says | The Independent

More than 10,000 government lawyers have departed the Trump administration since his inauguration, with approximately one in five federal attorneys who worked at the end of 2024 gone by March 2026, according to a New York Times analysis. Trump systematically removed lawyers across multiple agencies to reduce the federal workforce, eliminate entire departments, and pressure remaining attorneys to implement his agenda without regard to constitutional legality. The Department of Education, which Trump seeks to dismantle permanently, lost over 50 percent of its legal staff, while the Justice Department experienced a 21 percent reduction in attorneys.

The Justice Department purged lawyers working on cases misaligned with Trump's priorities, firing prosecutors assigned to January 6 investigations and cases against Trump himself, and removing career prosecutors who refused to indict Trump's political opponents. Attorneys voluntarily departed after witnessing unprecedented pressure from officials demanding they execute Trump's personal agenda. The administration now offers $25,000 signing bonuses and lowered hiring standards to fill vacancies, yet prospective lawyers remain reluctant to accept positions, fearing association with the administration damages their future employability and legal careers.

The Department of Homeland Security was the only agency to gain lawyers, necessitated by litigation stemming from Trump's mass deportation plan and resulting immigration cases. The Department of Education is attempting to rehire lawyers it previously terminated, with Secretary Linda McMahon telling senators in April that she was bringing back dismissed staff to address a backlog of civil rights complaints. The mass exodus has left multiple government agencies understaffed and struggling to recruit qualified legal talent.

Within his first year, Trump directed government lawyers to defend policies lacking constitutional foundation, including attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship, expand executive power, and deploy the National Guard into U.S. cities during protests. The Treasury Department's top lawyer recently resigned following the DOJ's announcement of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" that would compensate individuals claiming unfair prosecution, including January 6 rioters pardoned by Trump. This fund effectively uses taxpayer money to indemnify those convicted of crimes connected to Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-administration-lawyers-jobs-staff-b2986740.html)

Trump Posts AI Sweaty Dunk Pic of Him in Knicks Uniform

President Donald Trump posted a series of artificial intelligence-generated images on Truth Social on Saturday, including a fabricated image of himself dunking in a New York Knicks uniform against Governor Kathy Hochul and another depicting him alongside Tom Brady in a Patriots uniform. Trump confirmed he will attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden and used the posts to attack Hochul as a "failed Governor" while promoting Republican Bruce Blakeman. The president also posted an AI image of a trash can labeled as former President Barack Obama's presidential library.

Trump posted additional AI-generated images depicting 1950s or 1960s-era American street celebrations with the caption "America is back," timed to his promotion of a "Freedom 250" concert series billed as part of the Great American State Fair celebrating the country's 250th anniversary. The images were part of a sustained effort by Trump to dominate media attention during the event week.

Multiple musicians originally scheduled for the Freedom 250 lineup, including Martina McBride and Bret Michaels, withdrew from the event following public backlash. Trump responded by proposing to replace the performers entirely with himself, suggesting he would deliver a major speech instead of allowing the artists to perform. Trump claimed he draws larger audiences than Elvis and styled himself as "the Greatest President in History" while denigrating the scheduled musicians as "highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists.'"

The image postings reflect Trump's continued reliance on fabricated AI content to construct false narratives of popularity and accomplishment. The AI-generated street celebration scenes bore no connection to actual events, while the basketball imagery served as a vehicle for attacking a Democratic governor and promoting Republican alternatives during a period when Trump's administration was scheduling major public events.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-unleashes-barrage-of-ai-fantasy-slop-including-sweaty-dunk-in-knicks-uni-and-much-more/)

Trump promotes $55 America’s 250th birthday hats during Cabinet meeting | The Independent

During a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump distributed $55 hats celebrating America's 250th anniversary to officials seated at the table, each accompanied by a presidential challenge coin that Trump signed. The hats, sold through the Trump Store, feature Mount Rushmore, a bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Bell, and represent the latest instance of Trump converting his office into a direct profit engine for his family business.

Since taking office, the Trump Store has launched over 600 products, generating unprecedented revenue streams for the president. According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, this level of monetization of the presidency exceeds even Trump's first term. Forbes reports Trump has accumulated at least $1.4 billion since taking office, with his net worth reaching approximately $6.5 billion as of March 2026, nearly triple his 2024 valuation, largely driven by his family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture.

At the same meeting, Trump dismissed concerns about the unpopularity of his Iran war affecting midterm elections, stating "I don't care about the midterms" while asserting the military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin characterized a protest and hunger strike at an ICE detention facility, where Democratic Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed Monday, as evidence of "radical left Democrats' priorities," claiming detainees were demanding "ethnic right food" rather than addressing substantive conditions.

The Cabinet meeting merchandise display exemplifies Trump's systematic conversion of government functions into commercial opportunities. Each official received items directly from Trump's profit-generating enterprises, blurring the constitutional separation between executive duties and personal business interests in a manner that normalizes using official government events for private commercial gain.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-america-250-birthday-hats-cabinet-b2985330.html?fbclid=IwVERFWASGeLdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHxeBE3qOEc8SgB1D0fRIsOq7l6JAyqWgPxJLrL7tSHS9JFVfAxuukdABwQc_aem_nPU8D61r8JwIu17qXpj_3w)

Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr. Got a Deal After White House Intervened — ProPublica

White House adviser Peter Navarro initiated a request for the Pentagon to issue a $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina startup in which Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm 1789 Capital holds an undisclosed stake, according to Defense Department records and interviews reviewed by ProPublica. Defense officials accelerated the loan process at Navarro's direction, with Pentagon staff working nights and under compressed timelines to complete the deal in weeks rather than the months typically required for vetting such companies.

Vulcan was one of dozens of companies the Pentagon was considering for funding, but it was the only deal initiated directly by a White House aide to the president, according to a Pentagon official. Trump Jr.'s firm invested approximately $65 million in Vulcan in August 2025, three months before the Pentagon announced the loan. Following the announcement, estimates of Vulcan's valuation jumped tenfold, from roughly $200 million to approximately $2 billion, directly benefiting Trump Jr.'s investment.

Navarro and Trump Jr. maintain a close personal relationship, with the president's son visiting Navarro in prison and later featuring him on his streaming show just a week before the Vulcan deal was announced. A Trump Jr. spokesperson claimed the president's son has no knowledge of how the deal came together and did not discuss Vulcan with Navarro, though the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital operates under new leadership appointed by the Trump administration that prioritizes rapid deal-making through personal networks rather than competitive application processes.

The Pentagon and White House have denied preferential treatment, with a Pentagon spokesperson stating that outside affiliations and political connections play no role in funding decisions. However, Richard Painter, the chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, stated that presidential aides should not intervene in agency contracting or lending decisions that financially benefit the president's family, calling such actions "corruption we pay for."

The Office of Strategic Capital is expected to deploy billions more in coming months to critical mineral and military technology companies. Additional companies tied to Trump Jr., including Unusual Machines, a Florida drone parts manufacturer where he sits on the advisory board and holds millions in shares, are reportedly under Pentagon review for funding, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand investigations into potential self-dealing and conflicts of interest as the Trump administration deploys billions in government investments.

(Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-vulcan-deal-white-house)

Trump UFC Octagon White House June 14 Freedom

Construction of a UFC Octagon cage has begun on the White House South Lawn for a scheduled June 14 event billed as "UFC Freedom Fights 250," timed to coincide with President Trump's birthday and Flag Day during America's 250th anniversary celebrations. The event will feature a lightweight title matchup between champion Ilia Topuria and interim title holder Justin Gaethje, plus four additional fights, with prize money partially funded by Crypto.com.

Trump claims the venue will accommodate approximately 100,000 spectators across the South Lawn and Ellipse, with 75,000 to 100,000 additional viewers in surrounding parks watching on large screens. The president announced tickets would be free and told reporters he has "never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets," asserting broad public demand for the spectacle.

Visible scaffolding now frames the cage structure and rises above the West Wing and Oval Office, transforming the traditional seat of constitutional democracy into a fighting arena. The staging transforms the nation's symbolic center into a venue for combat sport, with the president positioned as the event's chief promoter and beneficiary of its association.

UFC released renderings showing the cage surrounded by stadium seating and a "UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest" setup in Ellipse Park. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called the event "one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history" and framed it as evidence of Trump's "vision to celebrate America's monumental 250th anniversary."

The event underscores the blending of personal presidential interests with official state ceremony. Trump's repeated public promotion of ticket demand, the direct involvement of UFC leadership close to the president, and the appropriation of White House grounds typically reserved for constitutional functions into a combat sports venue reflect a consolidation of entertainment, business, and political authority into a single masculine spectacle centered on executive power.

(Source: https://abcnews.com/Politics/construction-underway-ufc-octagon-white-house-flag-day/story?id=133316489)

Trump Mobile Leaks 30,000 Customer Records Data Breach

President Trump’s Trump Mobile cell phone provider is leaking customer personal information including mailing addresses and email addresses, according to YouTubers Coffeezilla and penguinz0 who ordered the company’s T1 smartphone. A researcher discovered the exposed data online and alerted the content creators, who confirmed their own information was accessible. Trump Mobile did not respond to requests for comment and the company has maintained radio silence with affected customers about fixing the breach.

The data leak reveals a significant discrepancy between Trump Mobile’s claimed sales figures and actual orders. According to unique identifiers in the exposed database, only approximately 30,000 phones were actually ordered, contradicting last year’s estimate of 590,000 preorders at $100 each. This represents a massive gap between promised and delivered sales for a company that has struggled with fundamental operational failures since its launch.

Trump Mobile has faced consistent problems from its inception. The device itself contains manufacturing errors, including an American flag graphic with only 11 stripes instead of 13, and security researchers found the phone resembles a two-year-old HTC model, suggesting it may be a rebranded device rather than original technology. The company’s order system failed at launch, charging customers incorrectly, and delivery timelines have slipped repeatedly since the phone was announced with promises of “Made in the USA” production.

The security vulnerability allowing customer data exposure was described as “very easy” to exploit by researchers, yet remains unfixed despite being reported to the company. YouTubers emphasized the severity of the breach, with Coffeezilla warning potential customers that their complete personal information short of credit card numbers is accessible online. The ease of access combined with Trump Mobile’s complete lack of response demonstrates negligent handling of customer data security.

Trump’s involvement in selling smartphones while serving as president represents a direct conflict of interest and raises corruption concerns. Rather than focusing on presidential duties, Trump has promoted and profited from a commercial phone venture that has failed to deliver on basic promises regarding manufacturing, security, and customer service. The combination of inflated sales claims, security breaches, and operational incompetence underscores the problematic nature of a sitting president running a business that exposes customers to data theft.

(Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/20/customers-say-trump-mobile-is-leaking-their-personal-information/)

Donald Trump as James Bond: White House Posts Image of President as 007

The White House posted an AI-generated image on social media Saturday depicting President Trump as James Bond, complete with a silhouetted 007 figure and “Make America Great Again” text overlaid on a faux movie poster. The post responded to news that Amazon MGM Studios had begun casting for Daniel Craig’s successor in the Bond franchise, with casting director Nina Gold leading the process.

The image immediately drew mockery from internet users, who created counter-memes highlighting Trump’s documented ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his physical appearance, and his recent dismissal of Americans’ financial concerns during the Iran conflict. One user captioned an AI image of an obese Trump holding a Big Mac as “I Don’t Care About Your Finances,” directly referencing Trump’s stated indifference to taxpayers’ economic hardship.

Trump has engaged in serial mythologizing through AI-generated imagery, previously sharing pictures of himself dressed as the Pope and as a Christ-like healer. These posts reflect a pattern of self-aggrandizing content designed to burnish his image while actual governance deteriorates under his administration’s authoritarian directives.

Amazon MGM Studios secured creative control of the Bond franchise in February 2025 under a deal with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, setting the stage for the studio’s casting search. Actor Tom Francis, known for a revival of Andr(Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/donald-trump-james-bond-white-house-image-1236751477/?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e231_tv4_tp1_a1demo0htc1t2h&fbclid=IwY2xjawR2rklleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyN0RJbHNadkwzZXVZZHg4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlxaHRFjaX2tMB8mhHmXUTpP3GazG2IP7h5J3BON121vYBnEYFFelo__QPUV_aem_HJTXhS0NlsCQcnLkTNtawQ)ew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard,” was among those who auditioned for the role.

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