Donald Trump (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse)
Trump Mocks Biden, Reporters For Wearing Face Masks
Trump Retweets Lie About Armless ‘Veteran’ After It Was Debunked Years Ago
Donald Trump (photo: public domain/Flickr)
Radio personality Mark Simone also shared this image in May 2017 with the caption: “Here’s a powerful picture that no news outlet will publish. It took place at a Trump rally when the President met a severely wounded veteran. This soldier lost both of his arms. The feeling of a handshake is lost to him. President Trump realized this, and touched his face so he could feel the human connection.”
This is a genuine photograph of Trump briefly touching the cheek of a supporter with two prosthetic arms. However, the accompanying backstory about the supporter being a veteran is inaccurate.
While Trump did touch Stevenson’s face, Stevenson is not a wounded veteran.
According to Online Chester, Stevenson was born without arms. His right limb stops just above his elbow and on his left side he has “only a nub below his shoulder.” A GoFundMe set up in 2014 to raise money for two bionic arms also stated that he “was born without arms.” This post is not an attack on Mr. Stevenson, But Simone tweeting the photo and claim again, years after being called out by Snopes, is intellectually disingenuous in an attempt to help Trump in the middle of a political firestorm.
This gentleman is not a wounded veteran. He was born without arms, as Snopes has explained https://t.co/JQm1wQjRLC. The Trump campaign also wrongly depicted him as a veteran in a 2016 ad…using this photo to replace an image that showed Russian veterans instead of Americans. pic.twitter.com/iYf8pmwZrL
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 5, 2020
Trump Orders Stop To ‘Divisive’ Racial Sensitivity Training
Donald Trump has ordered the White House Office of Management and Budget to end anti-racism training programs in federal agencies calling them “un-American” and “divisive.” From the Washington Post:
In the two-page memo, OMB Director Russell Vought says Trump has asked him to prevent federal agencies from spending millions in taxpayer dollars on these training sessions. Vought says OMB will instruct federal agencies to come up with a list of all contracts related to training sessions involving “white privilege” or “critical race theory,” and do everything possible within the law to cancel those contracts, the memo states.
The memo, released on Friday, also tells all federal agencies to identify and if possible cancel contracts that involve teaching that America is an “inherently racist or evil country.”
“The President has directed me to ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions,” the memo states.
Trump is proudly declarin' he endin' racial sensitivity training in the U.S. government. Before the week's out, he's gonna tell us Rosa Parks shouldn't have been allowed on that bus in the first place.
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) September 5, 2020
I went to racial sensitivity training. It was very enlightening for me as a white woman. There were a few other white women in my class who were very defensive when POC described their experiences. I think they missed the entire point. Guarantee those women are MAGA supporters.
— nora j (@sasidechick) September 5, 2020
Fox News Confirms Key Details Of ‘Atlantic’ Report On Trump
Jennifer Griffin of Fox News Channel
🚨FOX News of all places🚨 #TrumpHatesOurMilitary #TrumpHatesVets #TrumpResignNow pic.twitter.com/g0La7oLvur
— Icculus The Brave (@FirenzeMike) September 4, 2020
Report: Trump Called Fallen US Soldiers ‘Losers’ And ‘Suckers’
Donald Trump (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”
In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.
The article goes on to say in a 2018 meeting about planning a military parade, Trump sought to exclude injured service members because parade attendees might feel uncomfortable in the presence of amputees. “Nobody wants to see that,” Trump reportedly said. The AP confirmed several aspects of the article: “A senior Defense Department official with firsthand knowledge of events and a senior U.S. Marine Corps officer who was told about Trump’s comments confirmed some of the remarks to The Associated Press, including the 2018 cemetery comments.” Alyssa Farah, a White House spokesperson, emailed this statement to the author of the article:
“This report is false. President Trump holds the military in the highest regard. He’s demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn: delivering on his promise to give our troops a much-needed pay raise, increasing military spending, signing critical veterans reforms, and supporting military spouses. This has no basis in fact.”
Trump followed up with a series of tweets, of course:
..Country, had to be approved by me, as President, & I did so without hesitation or complaint. Quite the contrary, I felt it was well deserved. I even sent Air Force One to bring his body, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to do so. Also, I never called..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
….John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES. This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2020
Yes he did. It’s in video. pic.twitter.com/cIzYPMtz70
— ✿♥ ƗŞŁΔŇĐ🏝ǤƗŘŁ ♥✿ 🇵🇷 (@IslandGirlPRV) September 4, 2020
It is on tape, Mr. Psychopath.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) September 4, 2020
“If the revelations in today’s Atlantic article are true, then they are yet another marker of how deeply President Trump and I disagree about the role of the President of the United States. I have long said that, as a nation, we have many obligations, but we only have one truly sacred obligation — to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families, both while they are deployed and after they return home. That’s the foundation of what Jill and I believe.
“It’s why we’ve always prioritized the health and well-being of our service members, veterans, and military families. We’ve visited troops coming home wounded in Walter Reed. We’ve hosted wounded veterans in our home to share a Thanksgiving meal. And, as the proud parents of a son who served in Iraq, we’ve made supporting military spouses, caregivers, and children a focus of our service.”
“Generations of American troops have shed blood around the world in defense of our freedoms and to protect U.S. vital interests. From the frontlines of our own Revolution to Belleau Wood to the Normandy beaches to the mountains of Afghanistan, the sacrifice and bravery of our troops and their willingness to serve our nation should be honored. Duty, honor, country — those are the values that drive our service members.
“Those are the values that have formed the core of America’s defense for centuries. And if I have the honor of serving as the next commander in chief, I will ensure that our American heroes know that I will have their back and honor their sacrifice — always.”
Mr. President, if you don’t respect our troops, you can’t lead them. pic.twitter.com/hcX9hGgdm5
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 4, 2020
Read Jeff Goldberg’s article in The Atlantic. How could anyone support Trump? pic.twitter.com/xqfnklmCBq
— Major General (ret) Paul Eaton (@PaulDEaton52) September 4, 2020
I just got through two years without my Dad a few days ago. The loss is still incredibly painful and raw. No one is more acutely aware of how vile and disgusting Trump has been to my family, it is still hard to understand – America knows who this man is…
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) September 4, 2020
There are no words for how disgusting and dishonorable this is. https://t.co/M8ki3GAT4M
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) September 3, 2020
I used to think I’d always prefer to GOP president, especially a GOP Commander-in-Chief. But as a veteran, I am nauseated by the thought that our troops have to serve under this man for another four years. Biden will be the first Democratic POTUS I vote for. He can be yours too.
— Chad Eslinger (@chadmeslinger) September 3, 2020
I recommend all veterans to use their Military pics as a profile pic to let Trump know how many people he has offended by calling fallen soldiers losers and suckers. #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/KPTDXVgoaX
— David Former Trump Supporter Weissman (@davidmweissman) September 4, 2020
Trump Tells His Followers To Vote Twice
While in North Carolina yesterday, Trump suggested his supporters should commit voter fraud by attempting to vote both by mail and in person. Speaking with a local reporter, Trump said, “Let them send it in and let them go vote, and if their system’s as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they’ll be able to vote… If it’s as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they’ll be able to vote. So that’s the way it is. And that’s what they should do.” Voting by mail and then voting in person is exactly the kind of fraud Trump keeps screaming about and yet he’s telling his supporters to do that. I see what he thinks he means in trying to ‘test the system,’ but if any of his followers were to vote by mail and then cast a vote in person, it would be a felony. The White House walked that back today saying Trump never said what he said. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News this morning a bold face lie when she said “Democrats want a fraudulent system of voting.” No Democrat has ever called for such thing.
Kayleigh McEnany on Trump urging his supporters in North Carolina to vote twice, which is a felony: “The president is not suggesting anyone do anything unlawful.” pic.twitter.com/e00aBy5RN4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 3, 2020
* NORTH CAROLINA ELECTIONS BOARD CHIEF SAYS VOTING TWICE IN AN ELECTION IN THE STATE IS A FELONY; SOLICITING SOMEONE TO VOTE TWICE ALSO VIOLATES STATE LAW@Reuters
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) September 3, 2020
News Round-Up: September 2, 2020
Paleontologist and Crossfit athlete Francesc Gascó (photo: Lee Faircloth)
ARIZONA – Joe Biden 49% Donald Trump 40%
NORTH CAROLINA – Joe Biden 50% Donald Trump 46%
WISCONSIN – Joe Biden 50% Donald Trump 42%
• Washington Blade: Openly gay Mayor Alex Morse of Holyoke fell short in his attempt to unseat longtime Congressman Richard Neal. In the weeks leading up to the primary, Morse became the target of an ugly, homophobic smear campaign. • New York Times: Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will travel Thursday to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to visit a city still reeling from the Aug. 23 police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. The Bidens will be meeting with Mr. Blake’s father and other family members during the trip. During Donald Trump’s recent visit, the president did not mention Mr. Blake, who was paralyzed in the shooting, or speak with his family. • New Music: Out artist Michael Fairman’s music video for “Other Side” depicts some of the biggest social issues of 2020 including the Covid-19 pandemic, the call to stomp out systemic racism, domestic violence, LGBTQ equality, and the rights of the disabled. A new artist to me, Fairman’s packing some serious vocals (and biceps) here.
Podcast: Cher Stumps For Biden, LGBTQ Icon Honored By Her State, New Music From NIKO
In this week’s podcast: • The Trump campaign claims the Donald is the “most pro-gay president in American history” – but don’t fall for that • A federal court rules in favor of a gay couple granting their daughter her legal US citizenship • Scientists discover an HIV strain resistant to PrEP • LGBTQ icon Marsha P Johnson gets honored in her home state • The one and only Cher raises $2 million for Joe Biden hosting an LGBTQ fund-raiser • Out singer/songwriter NIKO dropped his newest single “Try” dedicated to his partner All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
Trump Rants Over Alleged Mystery Medical Procedure
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump moaned about renewed speculation about his sudden visit last year to the Walter Reed Medical Center.
New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt reports in his new book that Vice President Mike Pence was put on standby in November 2019 when the president was rushed on a Saturday afternoon to the military hospital, which the White House later explained as routine testing, but others have speculated was more serious.
Schmidt’s book claims Pence was placed on standby if the president had to undergo a medical procedure that would require anesthesia, although he didn’t specify the sourcing of that claim.
In other Trump news, folks were gagging as Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham last night that there are people in black uniforms on planes controlling the streets and compared police officers who shoot civilians to a golfer who ‘chokes’ on a three-foot putt. Watch the clips below and make up your own mind.
The new book that Trump is alluding to does not in fact say that Trump suffered from “mini-strokes.” https://t.co/M45B9TMnKd
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 1, 2020
Then release your medical records to the American people, who deserve to know the exact condition of the President of the United States.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) September 1, 2020
Trump is claiming an airplane full of “thugs” in “black uniforms” is out “to do big damage.” Is he A. physically unwell (stroke)? B. nuts (full-scale paranoia)? Either way, this is a serious problem. He still controls the nuclear codes.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) September 1, 2020
Shooting an innocent, unarmed black man seven times in the back is like blowing a putt in a golf tournament, according to @realDonaldTrump. Goodnight everyone. Good luck. https://t.co/26TR5o16bt
— Bradley Whitford (@BradleyWhitford) September 1, 2020
Shooting people in the back is just like choking at golf.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/rKewGq66xN— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) September 1, 2020
Trump Ignored Warnings Of Rising Infections While Urging States To Reopen
Donald Trump
Even as President Trump spurred states to lift lockdown measures and resume normal economic activity in the early summer, reports from his own White House coronavirus task force were presenting regular evidence that infections were rising in many parts of the country.
Critics have maintained that by not acting on evidence that the virus was not in remission, Trump and his advisers only prolonged the nation’s battle with the pandemic, which has killed more than 180,000 Americans to date.
The task force reports are customarily not made public, but eight of them from June and July had been requested late last month by the coronavirus subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee.
The subcommittee is headed by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a leading House Democrat who is also a close ally of Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president. Biden has made the absence of a national plan to deal with the coronavirus a centerpiece of his campaign.
“Rather than being straight with the American people and creating a national plan to fix the problem,” Clyburn said in a statement on Monday morning, “the President and his enablers kept these alarming reports private while publicly downplaying the threat to millions of Americans.”