There’s a scandal brewing that under any other president would have a “….gate” at the end of it. Here’s everything you need to know. Try to keep up
Things are moving fast in Donald Trump’s America.
But, according to a deliciously unhinged message from him to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which may or may not have been published accidentally, not quickly enough for Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is effectively banning journalists from doing any actual reporting on the US military.
And Trump’s border czar is in a spot of bother. Or, at least, he should be, but probably won’t be.
Anyway, here’s a roundup of the madness going down in Trump World in the last 24 hours. Try to keep up.
1. Trump told the Attorney General to go after his enemies
In the kind of he move that under any other administration would have a “…gate” after it, Trump posted…possibly accidentally…a message to Attorney General Pam Bondi, ordering her to use the department of justice to go after his enemies.
In the message, which it’s entirely possible was supposed to be a DM, the President said he had “reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action, Nothing is being done.”
He then listed a string his political opponents, saying they are all “guilty as hell”.
“What about [former FBI director James] Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff [the congressman who led one of his impeachments], Letitia [James, the Attorney General of New York, who filed a succcessful civil fraud case against the president, which led to a $355 million fine]??? They’re all guilty as hell but nothing is going to be done.”
To be clear, there is no evidence that any of the people listed have done anything wrong, other than legally hold Donald Trump to account.
He added: “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
To be clear again, the impeachments and indictments were not over nothing.
Trump deleted the post on his Truth Social platform. And a little over an hour later, posted a gushing message praising Pam Bondi as doing a “GREAT job”.
“She is very careful, very smart, loves our Country…” he wrote.
Asked later by reporters if he had threatened Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership if they didn’t prosecute James, Trump said today: “No, I don’t do that. I mean, I look at the facts like everybody else. You read the facts, and to me she looks terrible, she looks like she’s very guilty. But that’s going to be up to the DOJ.”
So much yikes.
2. His border czar was caught on camera taking a bribe. Guess what happened next…
According to MSNBC, Tom Homen, Trump’s border czar, was filmed taking a $50,000 cash bribe from undercover FBI agents.
He indicated to the agents, posing as business executives, he would be able to help them get government contracts during a second Trump administration.
So what happened next? Well, obviously, as soon as Donald Trump became president again, the investigation stalled. Trump appointed officials closed the investigation, after FBI director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case…
3. The Pentagon expelled anyone doing the job of journalism
The Pentagon have issued some new terms and conditions to reporters covering the US military HQ.
To get a Pentagon pass, you now have to promise not to gather or report on any information that hasn’t been expressly authorised for release. Even if that information is unauthorised.
Anyone who refuses to take that pledge will have their credentials revoked.
Now, I don’t know what job you’d be doing if you agreed to that, but it’s not journalism.
I don’t know a single reporter who would agree to those terms in exchange for a pass to get into a building. Particularly one that doesn’t even hold press conferences any more.
Find a cafe to file from, guys. The news will find you.
For what it’s worth, even the President doesn’t seem too thrilled about this move by (sigh) WAR Secretary Pete Hegseth (who is increasingly frustrated about leaks from his department).
Asked if the Pentagon should play a role in deciding what reporters can report on, he said no.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Nothing stops reporters. You know that.”
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
4. Murdoch is going to be on the board of TikTok USA
Trump let slip some details of the new, US operated TikTok in an interview with (who else?) Fox News.
And there will be some familiar faces on the board.
“A man named Lachlan is involved. Lachlan Murdoch…” he said. “Rupert is probably gonna be in the group.”
None of which bodes well for the US incarnation of TikTok, given the last social network the Murdochs had any hand in running was…MySpace.
5. Trump heads to Charlie Kirk’s memorial service
Trump is heading to Arizona this evening to attend – and take part in – a memorial service for slain right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
It will take place at the truly enormous State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Around 100,000 people were expected to turn up, with capacity for around 73,000 inside the cavernous venue.