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)

Trump Threatens Last GOP President If Voter ID Bill Stalls

President Donald Trump threatened Senate Republicans that he will be the “last Republican president” if they do not eliminate the filibuster and immediately pass his SAVE America Act, which mandates voter identification requirements. Trump posted the ultimatum on Truth Social, using inflammatory language and calling Republicans who oppose filibuster removal “fools” and “very stupid ones.” He claimed that without the bill’s passage, Democrats will destroy the country by adding states, senators, and expanding the Supreme Court, ultimately making Republican electoral victory impossible.

The SAVE America Act passed the House in February but has stalled in the Senate facing Democratic opposition through filibuster. Democrats argue the bill functionally suppresses voting access by targeting married women who change their names and others without immediate access to identification documents like birth certificates. The legislation represents Trump’s demand for absolute party loyalty on his priorities, with no tolerance for procedural or policy disagreements.

Trump previously directed Republicans to advance a $350 billion Reconciliation Bill that would incorporate the SAVE America Act alongside military spending provisions. He explicitly demanded Republicans pass it “ASAP” with “no games, no delays, and no weak compromises,” signaling that dissent from his agenda will be treated as disloyalty. Trump’s promotion of “Four more years” merchandise and rhetoric about extended presidencies reflects his broader pattern of conditioning Republican survival on unconditional obedience to his legislative demands.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Republicans face Trump’s implicit threat that opposition to his priorities will be classified as betrayal worthy of historical condemnation. Trump has previously attacked Thune and other Senate leadership, demanding the removal of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough for blocking his fiscal initiatives, establishing a pattern of purging institutional independence when it obstructs his will. Sen. John Kennedy warned that passing a third reconciliation bill would require Republicans to act urgently given time constraints, but Trump’s ultimatum attempts to override procedural concerns with existential pressure on the party’s future.

Trump’s warning operationalizes a model of permanent executive dominance where legislative branches exist to execute his directives rather than exercise independent judgment. His framing positions the Republican Party’s existence itself as contingent on rubber-stamping voter suppression measures, transforming institutional authority into personal loyalty infrastructure and explicitly conditioning democratic participation rules on submission to his control.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-warns-he-will-be-the-last-republican-president-if-his-voter-id-bill-doesnt-pass/)

Trump Struggles Fastening Medal Of Honor, Ties Crude Knot

During a Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony on Thursday, Trump struggled for nearly a minute to fasten the medal around Army Major Nicholas Dockery’s neck, eventually tying it in a crude knot that drew jeers from attendees. Video footage captured Trump patting Dockery on the back, fiddling with the medal’s clasp, and appearing to make an inaudible remark to the serviceman while the crowd laughed.

Before the presentation, Trump made a self-aggrandizing joke, stating he wanted to award the medal to himself but was “informed I couldn’t do it” and claimed he “couldn’t find anything where I was actually worthy.” The remark underscored his characteristic tendency to center himself during ceremonies honoring military service.

Critics on social media mocked both the duration of Trump’s fumbling and his clumsy technique in handling the nation’s highest military honor. The botched presentation became a focal point for public ridicule regarding his competence and dignity in executing basic ceremonial duties.



(Source: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/trump-struggles-drape-medal-honor-022159247.html)

Two months after Hegseth’s regressive move, Air Force base faces major flu outbreak

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth eliminated the Pentagon’s mandatory flu vaccination requirement for service members in April 2026, reversing a longstanding military policy. Hegseth justified the change by invoking “medical autonomy,” despite the military’s historical practice of requiring up to 17 vaccinations depending on deployment location.

Less than two months after Hegseth’s policy reversal, a major flu outbreak sickened nearly 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, with one trainee in basic training dying after falling ill. The outbreak spread rapidly through a basic military training wing where recruits sleep in open bays and share communal dining facilities, creating ideal conditions for disease transmission.

Only approximately 40% of Air Force trainees at Lackland opted to receive the flu vaccine following Hegseth’s change, compared to the previous 100% compliance rate under the mandatory policy. In response to the outbreak, Lackland received an exception from Hegseth’s directive and reinstated the flu vaccine requirement for its recruits.

Military readiness has depended on disease prevention for centuries. General George Washington mandated smallpox inoculation for all troops in 1777, a decision that historian Craig Bruce Smith credited with saving countless lives and helping ensure American survival. The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer noted that disease has killed more soldiers throughout human history than any other cause.

Despite the outbreak at Lackland, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman stated the department stands by Hegseth’s decision to end the universal flu vaccine mandate across all military bases. The contradiction between revoking the policy and then reinstating it at a single base reveals the incoherence of an approach that prioritizes ideological framing over military health and operational readiness.



(Source: https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseth-vaccines-air-force-base-flu-outbreak?cid=sm_fb_maddow&fbclid=IwdGRjcAShbURleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeL1WX56j9Hl6vJjx4fJIoH6eujjAQJaCRwTXs_bVGbG2BkkjAtjSxmHL_Nsk_aem_S_8AggQzLGIGLQ18Eg7R2w)of an approach that prioritizes ideological framing over military health and operational readiness.

Trump Threatens Unemployment Benefits Cuts in All States

Donald Trump’s administration is threatening to withdraw federal funding for unemployment insurance administration from all 50 states, marking the first time in history the federal government has wielded this weapon against state programs. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling warned governors in a letter that the administration would withhold administrative funds to combat what it characterizes as “waste, fraud and abuse” in state unemployment systems, despite nearly 2 million Americans currently receiving those benefits and roughly 229,000 filing initial jobless claims weekly.

The threat targets the federal government’s financial support for state administrative costs, which could force state-run unemployment systems to shut down if implemented. Most states provide approximately six months of unemployment payments to qualified workers, funded primarily through state unemployment taxes paid by employers, with federal support covering administrative operations. Without federal backing, the loss of funding would directly harm the delivery of benefits to unemployed Americans who depend on those payments to survive.

Vice President JD Vance leads a task force ostensibly designed to eliminate fraud but operates as part of the administration’s politically motivated assault on Democratic-led states. The same task force already withheld $1.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding after what the White House called “sweeping crackdowns on fraud operations” in California, Minnesota, and other states. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley directly accused the government’s anti-fraud campaign of targeting vulnerable populations rather than actual fraudsters, cutting “vital funding for services that seniors, people with disabilities, and children rely on to survive.”

The unemployment benefit threat builds on the administration’s broader assault on social programs across multiple agencies. The Department of Agriculture recently threatened to withhold funding from states that fail to provide participant data for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including immigration status information, and the Trump administration attempted to freeze the entire program during last year’s government shutdown by declaring “the well has run dry.” The timing of the unemployment fraud focus follows the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of Americans relied on government assistance during economic upheaval in Trump’s first term.

The administration’s weaponization of federal funding against state programs systematically dismantles the social safety net while disguising cuts as anti-fraud enforcement. By threatening to eliminate federal support for unemployment administration, the Trump administration denies due process and survival resources to millions of working Americans, compounding the authoritarian consolidation of power through institutional capture and the strategic defunding of programs that protect vulnerable populations from destitution.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-unemployment-benefits-fraud-b2997881.html?fbclid=IwdGRjcASgSCxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeEMg5UYetR6T_iIYA4AjoE95C5qIIO670RPk_-O8bvIX-sQs7stGHX-Ah5rU_aem_mhSSR11XtDAVg3hK7mDvqQ)

Trump Drops Stunning Quote on Letting Iran Have Missiles

At the G7 Summit in Evian-le-Bains, France on Wednesday, Trump defended allowing Iran to retain missile capability during a press conference closing the summit. Trump stated that missiles "hurt a little location, but they don't blow up the planet," dismissing concerns about Iranian conventional ballistic weapons as part of broader negotiations tied to a leaked 14-point Iran Memorandum of Understanding that includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Trump's comments contradicted established nonproliferation policy by normalizing Iranian missile development. He argued that preventing Iran from possessing missiles while permitting Saudi Arabia to retain them would be inconsistent, claiming "it doesn't work that way," and positioned missile capability as inevitable given that other regional actors possess such weapons.

The statement represents Trump's continued pattern of claiming imminent Iran deal breakthroughs while simultaneously conceding major concessions to Iranian demands. Trump's acknowledgment that Iran would retain missiles—a core non-nuclear component of the disputed agreement—signals capitulation on a key security concern that regional allies and defense analysts have identified as destabilizing.

Trump framed the position through false equivalence, suggesting that allowing a state designated as a terrorism sponsor to develop missiles mirrors regional arms balancing. His dismissal of missile threats as affecting only "a little location" contradicts U.S. military assessments of Iranian ballistic capability and previous rhetoric in which Trump threatened Iran with unspecified consequences following military escalations tied to Iranian missile systems.

The remarks underscore Trump's willingness to abandon longstanding security positions to secure a deal that he has declared imminent repeatedly over recent months, prioritizing a negotiated agreement over substantive limits on Iranian weapons development.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-drops-stunning-quote-in-riff-on-letting-iran-have-missiles-they-hurt-a-little-location-but/)

Patel Announces UFC Plot Before All Arrests

FBI Director Kash Patel announced details of an ongoing investigation into an alleged drone attack plot targeting the White House UFC event on Sunday before roughly 10 suspects had been arrested, angering Secret Service and FBI officials who were coordinating the case. The investigation began when a relative of one suspect contacted Cincinnati-area police reporting that their family member was discussing a vague plot involving Washington. Secret Service advanced threat interdiction teams, working with the FBI, obtained a subpoena for encrypted Signal messages, identified the plot’s details, and arrested 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio on June 13, immediately sealing the case to continue identifying additional suspects.

Patel’s Tuesday social media post disclosed the investigation while the case remained sealed in court and before law enforcement could apprehend and detain the remaining suspects. Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn addressed the premature disclosure without naming Patel, stating that the agency made a deliberate choice not to leak the investigation’s existence to maintain its integrity and security planning. Quinn referenced a principle from his early career: “Don’t choke on your own smoke,” emphasizing that the Secret Service led the investigation and that ongoing charges remained sealed.

This incident reflects a pattern of rushed announcements by Patel. In September 2025, he posted that the FBI had a subject in custody for the shooting death of conservative Trump ally Charlie Kirk, then retracted the claim 90 minutes later when the suspect was released. Senior investigators viewed the premature post as foolish; Trump privately complained it was inappropriate. In December 2025, Patel again prematurely announced a person of interest in custody for a Brown University shooting, later correcting the statement when the individual was released with no connection to the crime.

The Justice Department announced arrests of five men, including Proper, on Tuesday afternoon for an alleged plot to attack the event with drones and snipers. The Secret Service had increased security measures and alerted law enforcement partners to watch for drones and related threats in downtown Washington. Patel defended his past announcements as motivated by transparency, telling critics he does not regret publicizing incomplete information despite acknowledging he could have worded his statements better.



(Source: https://www.ms.now/news/kash-patel-white-house-ufc-attack-secret-service)

UFC Pays Fighters in Trump Crypto at White House

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will compensate fighters with stablecoins issued by World Liberty Financial, a Trump family cryptocurrency venture, at a UFC event scheduled for the White House lawn on June 14, Trump's birthday. World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons alongside the Witkoff family in 2024, is now listed as an official sponsor and presenting partner of a $250,000 performance bonus pool for the competition. Trump's financial disclosure forms list his holdings in World Liberty Financial at over $50 million, and Reuters reported this month that Trump family crypto ventures have generated billions in paper gains.

The stablecoin payments, called USD1, are pegged to the US dollar and are separate from a governance token the company previously sold. World Liberty Financial has faced legal disputes, including litigation with crypto investor Justin Sun over allegedly frozen tokens, and is currently seeking a banking license from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The company's involvement in the UFC event raises significant transparency concerns, as World Liberty only announced its sponsorship status on June 10, the UFC announced separate cryptocurrency bonuses on June 11, and only on Friday evening disclosed that World Liberty would be issuing the fighter payments in USD1.

A White House spokesman denied any conflict of interest, stating Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children and dismissing concerns as "fabricated" by "Fake News." However, cryptocurrency expert Todd Phillips told the Guardian that announcing fighter payments in USD1 functions as advertising for the Trump-backed stablecoin while maintaining the appearance of legitimate compensation. The arrangement directly links the Trump family's financial interests to a high-profile sporting event being promoted on government property, blending presidential endorsement with commercial cryptocurrency promotion.

World Liberty Financial has positioned itself as a major financial venture under the Trump administration, with Trump previously listed publicly as the company's "Chief Crypto Advocate." The use of USD1 at a federally-hosted event appears designed to legitimize the stablecoin and accelerate its broader adoption in the financial sector, leveraging the White House platform and the UFC's visibility to promote a family business product.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/14/white-house-ufc-fighters-crypto)

Trump’s Ignores Russia And China Helped Iran, Thanks Them

Trump claimed to the New York Times that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin helped secure a peace deal with Iran, crediting both authoritarian leaders for their cooperation. Trump stated Xi “was a total gentleman” for not interfering with a U.S. blockade of the Strait, while praising Putin’s restraint in the conflict. The White House declined to clarify what Trump meant by their assistance, and neither the Chinese nor Russian embassies responded to requests for comment.

Trump’s praise for Russia and China directly contradicts documented intelligence showing both nations actively aided Iran during the war. The State Department imposed sanctions on companies for sending Chinese arms to Iran, and Russia provided Iran with intelligence on U.S. troop locations and movements using satellite imagery, enabling Iranian targeting of American forces. CNN reported in early March that Russia shared this military intelligence to help Iran locate U.S. troops for retaliation strikes.

The conflict resulted in 13 U.S. service members killed and approximately 370 injured, primarily from Iranian missile strikes on American military bases throughout the Middle East. New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong highlighted the contradiction, noting that Trump “didn’t mention” Russia’s intelligence aid to Iran or China’s weapon transfers to the regime. Wong documented that the State Department had imposed sanctions specifically for companies sending Chinese military equipment to Iran during the hostilities.

Trump initiated the call from the White House residence on his 80th birthday as family gathered for a celebratory dinner, where he framed the Iran conflict as having “remade the Middle East in America’s favor.” He characterized the deal as a success warranting praise for two authoritarian regimes, despite their documented military support for his stated adversary. The White House and State Department declined to provide substantive responses when pressed on Trump’s claims about Russian and Chinese assistance in brokering the agreement.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-thanks-russia-and-china-for-helping-with-iran-deal-ignores-they-helped-iran-target-us-troops/)The White House and State Department declined to provide substantive responses when pressed on Trump’s claims about Russian and Chinese assistance in brokering the agreement.

Trump 4 a.m. Attack Conditions FISA Renewal on Voter

Donald Trump posted a 4 a.m. attack on Democrats on Truth Social hours after his UFC birthday celebration at the White House ended after 1 a.m. on June 15th, 2026. Trump used the derogatory term "Dumocrats" and attacked the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), falsely claiming Democrats used it to target him during his first term, though the law predates his presidency and was enacted for national security purposes.

Trump conditioned his support for FISA renewal on passage of his "Save America Act," which includes voter ID requirements, citizenship proof mandates, elimination of mail-in voting except for military and disability exceptions, bans on transgender medical care for minors, and prohibitions on transgender athletes in women's sports. This bundling of unrelated provisions demonstrates Trump's use of legislative leverage to advance his political agenda beyond surveillance authority.

Section 702 of FISA, a key surveillance provision, expired after Congress rejected a short-term extension bill in a 218-198 vote, with 19 Republicans joining nearly all Democrats in opposition. The expiration followed Trump's installation of Bill Pulte, his pick for acting Director of National Intelligence, who opposed the renewal, replacing Tulsi Gabbard who resigned last month. This shift reflects Trump's consolidation of intelligence apparatus loyalty, consistent with his pattern of dismantling oversight mechanisms.

Trump's late-night outburst mirrors his documented pattern of late-night social media attacks on political opponents and institutions, often triggered by media coverage or legal developments. His false characterization of FISA as a tool used against him personally contradicts the law's stated national security function and his administration's own use of surveillance authorities.

The incident exemplifies Trump's weaponization of legislative processes to punish perceived enemies while advancing authoritarian priorities, using control over intelligence leadership and congressional Republicans to obstruct standard oversight mechanisms. His historical pattern of using executive power to investigate his investigators continues through his current domination of national security infrastructure.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-blurts-dead-of-night-rant-at-dumocrats-after-ufc-birthday-bash/)

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