All posts tagged "donald trump jr."

FBI tracked ex-director James Comey after 'silly' social media post: report

Former FBI Director James Comey was given the Secret Service treatment usually reserved for "serious threats" after posting a seashell photo to Instagram with the numbers "86 47."

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the post captioned, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk," led to federal law enforcement surreptitiously tailing his car while agents tracked his cellphone.

Comey described the post as "silly" and said he was unaware of the meaning that MAGA ascribed to the numbers.

"86" is slang for throwing someone out, getting rid of them, or refusing them service, according to Merriam-Webster. Forty-seven was interpreted by some as Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States.

Donald Trump Jr. left no doubt about his interpretation.

"Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!" he posted to X.

Comey later deleted the post and issued a statement on Instagram saying, "I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn't realize some folks associated those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."

Trump famously fired Comey over the "Russiagate probe" during his first administration.

Read The New York Times article here.

'Not good ganja!' Ex-RNC chair warns against Eric Trump presidency

Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and current MSNBC host, referenced marijuana when asked about Eric Trump's political ambitions.

Chris Jansing began Monday, "So, Michael, there is so much confidence in the power of Trump and the Trump name, his son Eric's interview with the Financial Times ignited talk of a potential Trump dynasty."

Jansing read a portion of the report where Eric Trump claimed that "the political path" for a family dynasty "would be an easy one," opening the door for another Trump to seek office after his father leaves the White House.

"'I think I could do it," Jansing read Eric's words. "And by the way, I think other members of our family could do it, too."

Eric Trump's wife, Lara, who hosts a show on Fox News after a brief stint as head of the RNC, could make that dynasty a reality. Rumors have swirled that she'll run for Sen. (R-NC) Tom Tillis's seat in next year's midtermelections, since he announced he won't run again.

Eric Trump "also said he's wholly unimpressed by half the politicians I see," Jansing read, with Eric adding, "I could do it very effectively."

"You know, if Americans are drunk on stupid, yeah, Eric Trump is your next president," Steele said. "Put that one in your pipe and smoke it. That's not some good ganja, let me tell you!"

Steele continued, sarcastically, "Sure, why not? You know, let's expand the grift. Let's widen the opportunity!"

He then got serious.

"Look, this is all unserious stuff," Steele remarked before talking about the impact a Trump dynasty would have on "real people."

"It's on the members of my party, the Republican Party, that have agreed to cut programs that they told the American people they would not cut, to expand the reach and the depth and breadth of dollars for to the benefit of those who are much, far wealthier than those red districts that they that they represent. And they will have to now look those voters in the eye, and they'll either continue to lie to them, and the voters will buy it, or they won't, and they'll unelect them. That's the politics of this."

Read the Financial Times article here.

Trump official rakes in $280M tax free with 'ethics agreement': report

President Donald Trump's commerce secretary Howard Lutnick is emulating his boss by transferring away "his ownership interests in multiple affiliated companies" to trusts that will benefit his adult children, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Lutnick, a billionaire, served as chairman and chief executive of financial-services firm Cantor Fitzgerald until he was appointed to Trump's cabinet in February.

In keeping with "a government ethics agreement," Lutnick created the trusts to benefit sons Brandon Lutnick and Kyle Lutnick, "as well as Lutnick’s other adult children."

In addition, former Cantor Fitzgerald affiliates "agreed to buy back more than 16.4 million shares of its stock from Lutnick," leaving him $151.5 million richer.

Add to that $127 million from real-estate adviser Newmark Group, which agreed to buy back 11 million shares from Lutnick, the company's former executive chairman.

EXCLUSIVE: Trump accused of new grift that puts Qatari plane in shade

"Lutnick won’t have to pay capital gains taxes on the sales as long as he puts the proceeds into Treasuries or a broadly based mutual fund — assets that don’t pose a conflict of interest," Bloomberg reported.

Brandon Lutnick, who serves as chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald said in a statement, “Kyle and I are honored to continue building on our father’s legacy, leading Cantor Fitzgerald alongside the exceptional executive team we have in place today."

Donald Trump has come under fire for remaining in charge of his businesses despite transferring his assets to "a trust managed by his children while he is working overtime to lead the country to economic prosperity," according to a White House spokesperson.

The New York Times reported this month that sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have raked in billions of dollars in recent deals that "directly benefit the president."

The deals include a luxury hotel in Dubai, a residential tower in Saudi Arabia, two cryptocurrency ventures, a new golf course complex in Qatar, and a new private club in Washington that "will personally benefit not only Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., but also President Trump himself," the Times reported.

Read The Wall Street Journal story here.

Trump's favorite newspaper fears he may be neck-deep in 'Hunter Biden-style scandal'

President Donald Trump's once favorite daily tabloid, The New York Post, set off alarm bells Monday over his "questionable" cryptocurrency dealings that threaten a "Hunter Biden-style scandal at the White House."

Reporters Thomas Barrabi and Isabel Vincent cited experts who concluded "Donald Trump risks undercutting his presidency with a Hunter Biden-style influence-peddling scandal unless he clamps down on questionable crypto deals."

The story took aim at Trump's "latest apparent conflict of interest" involving a Chinese e-commerce firm pledging to buy up to $300 million of $TRUMP meme coins. The Post also cited another case of a Chinese billionaire investing $75 million in Trump's World Liberty Financial that lists Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump as top executives.

Trump is currently considering plans to allow Chinese-run TikTok "to stay online in the US despite Congress’s ban," the story said.

EXCLUSIVE: Trump accused of new grift that puts Qatari plane in shade

“I think that the president’s involvement in crypto ventures creates a very easy opportunity for the president to engage in pay to play politics using crypto and vice versa for foreign actors," the paper quoted cryptocurrency expert Mark Hays with Americans for Financial Reform. "There are many ways to move money quickly and opaquely that will not show up on a balance sheet.”

Former lawmaker Charlie Dent (R-PA), who served as chairman of the House Ethics Committee, told the Post, “There’s certainly a parallel to Hunter Biden, who traded off his father’s name while he was vice president."

Dent continued, “You have to start with the president telling his family what they can and cannot do and what lines cannot be crossed. It has to come from him. If the shoe were on the other foot, Republicans would be screaming bloody murder over this stuff.”

The Post article cited a report in Fortune saying that "nearly 40% of Trump’s overall net worth, or the equivalent of $2.9 billion," are due to his crypto holdings.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told the Post, “President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children. There are no conflicts of interest.”

Read The New York Post story here.

'Man up!' MAGA in panic mode after GOP senator tanks key Trump nominee's chances

Word that President Donald Trump's troublesome nominee for D.C.'s top prosecutor may fail to get enough support among Senate Republicans has MAGA in full panic mode that's led them to ramp up the pressure campaign in person and on social media.

Tuesday night, the president reportedly made call after call to Republican senators urging them to support interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin's bid for the permanent position.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) may have hammered the nail in Martin's coffin on Tuesday.

“I’ve indicated to the White House I wouldn’t support his nomination,” Tillis said after meeting with Martin — a "Stop the Steal" organizer and J6 supporter — on Monday night.

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Joyce Vance, who served as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote in her Substack, "Before Martin goes to the floor of the Senate for a confirmation vote, he has to make it out of committee. And that’s unlikely to happen now. The Senate Judiciary Committee is made up of 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats. All of the Democrats oppose Martin. With Tillis abandoning him, the best Martin could do is 11-11, and a nominee who receives a tie vote doesn’t advance. For all practical purposes, the outcome of that vote will be a death knell for his nomination."

But MAGA isn't giving up yet.

Donald Trump Jr. posted to social media Wednesday morning, "How can any supposed 'Republican' justify voting to confirm leftist thug Merrick Garland, but oppose voting to confirm @EagleEdMartin? Drain the DC Swamp. Confirm Ed Martin for US Attorney in DC!"

J6 defendant John Strand took aim at Tillis, writing, "I was sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison—not for violence on J6, but for standing my ground and refusing to bow to a rigged political prosecution. Now Senator Thom Tillis wants to block Ed Martin—one of the few fighting for real justice. We see you, @SenThomTillis."

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) wrote, "77 million Americans voted for President Trump and his America First Agenda. Get on board, or get out of the way. CONFIRM ED MARTIN."

MAGA reporter Nick Sortor posted, "Sen. Thom Tillis has informed the White House he will NOT vote to confirm Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for DC What the hell are you doing, @SenThomTillis??! Ed Martin has been VITAL in fulfilling Trump’s goal to clean up DC. VOTE TO CONFIRM ED MARTIN!"

Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk called for Tillis's ouster following his revelation, writing, "If Thom Tillis wont vote Ed Martin out of committee then he needs to be REMOVED from the committee and replaced with someone that will vote to confirm. Its not that tough, @LeaderJohnThune. Man up and do what needs to be done."

CNN reported Wednesday that Martin "did not appear on the agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee’s meeting Thursday – a key deadline for him to be confirmed by May 20, when his interim position expires."

'Unprecedented': Report sounds warning over role of Truth Social in Trump world

President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform was slammed as an "unsuccessful and money-losing Twitter competitor" in a Mother Jones article Tuesday.

Yet to him, it remains a valuable tool keeping his cash flow moving and his administration in line, the report claimed.

According to senior reporter Anna Merlan, "The company that owns TruthSocial, Trump Media & Technology Group, has also been a way for the president to draw his political allies closer, through payments, board seats, and generous stock rewards."

The Trumps see the company as a sort of piggy bank, with Merlan writing, "TMTG paid Donald Trump Jr. $813,000, a quarter of TMTG’s 2024 annual revenue, 'just for showing up at board meetings,'" and "CEO Devin Nunes, a former California Republican congressman, has made at least $6.3 million running the company since 2022 — 'a stunning figure for a firm that is struggling to earn any money.'"

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Merlan writes that the publicly-traded TMTG "is unlikely to ever become a real success outside of the Trump universe," but it provides a valuable service to those seeking a window into Trump's transactional presidency and how he and his administration dabble in "unprecedented mingling of his corporate and political fiefdoms."

For example, Merlan writes that "three people who have held shares or served on the board of TMTG have been appointed to high-profile positions in the Trump administration: Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI director Kash Patel, and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon." Trump has appointed "at least four others with TMTG ties to federal roles," Merlan writes, but none has filed paperwork to divest from the company as they promised to.

Tony Carrk, the executive director of the government watchdog Accountable U.S., told Mother Jones, “The unprecedented situation of president Trump rewarding investors and executives in his media company with administration jobs sends a clear message to the wealthy, corporate lobbyists and foreign interests that the road to influence in the United States runs through Trump Media."

He continues, “No one should be surprised that president Trump’s first weeks in office have been about removing barriers to corruption and dismantling oversight, not about lowering costs for working families. Trump cares more about lining his own pockets and his wealthy friends’ than putting money back into yours.”

Read the Mother Jones article here.

'Feels more real': Granddaughter Kai may be Trump's secret weapon for next gen GOP

Donald Trump's teenaged granddaughter Kai Trump is being credited with "humanizing" the president she calls "just a normal grandpa," and acting as a White House conduit to the next generation of Republicans.

The 17-year-old social media influencer is the eldest child of Donald Trump Jr. and ex-wife Vanessa Trump. In a Washington Post profile, she is described as the "Gen Z White House vlogger" who gives an unprecedented look behind the political scenes to her more than six million followers.

"In her most-watched YouTube vlog, Kai recorded herself doing Trump’s signature dance aboard Trump Force One with her friend Emma on their way to a SpaceX rocket launch in November, where she later mingled with lawmakers and asked Musk whether he had ever played the popular video game 'Fortnite,'" according to the article.

ALSO READ: 'Not much I can do': GOP senator gives up fight against Trump's tariffs

Author Kate Andersen Brower told the Post, “Kai serves a unique role because she humanizes her grandfather in a way that feels very authentic. And frankly, because of his harsh stances on so many issues, he can use that softening.”

Brower added that "Kai is in many ways playing that role" of first lady, since Melania Trump has skirted the Washington spotlight.

“She’s not as guarded as Melania. And she’s clearly great on camera,” Brower said.

Kai built her initial social media following as a student athlete, who has already committed to play golf for the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. And, "thanks to endorsement deals and sponsorships, her personal brand or NIL — name, image and likeness — as a college athlete is already estimated at over $1.2 million."

After her "political debut" at the 2024 Republican National Convention, it's been full steam ahead for Kai's career in the public eye, whatever that may be.

The Post reported that Republican strategists are looking to influencers like Kai "as a new entry point for young women into the party." Her videos "reach very different corners of the internet than other types of Trump content, serving to create an online identity that, despite her fame and family, feels familiar to other young people — regardless of their politics."

Read The Washington Post article.

They gave him 'the finger!' Greenland lawmaker mocks Trump Jr.'s warm welcome claims

Donald Trump Jr.'s brief visit to Greenland on Wednesday wasn't all smiles and MAGA hats — some locals even gave the president's son the middle finger, according to a senior Greenlandic politician.

Pipaluk Lynge, an MP from Greenland’s largest party, told Politico on Thursday that journalists were kept away from the U.S. President-elect's son and were not allowed to ask him any questions.

"His welcome was not entirely warm," Lynge told the publication. “People were curious, but some took pictures giving him [the] finger at the airport … Some wrote on Facebook: yankee go home."

Still, President-elect Donald Trump's Truth Social feed showed smiling people wearing red MAGA hats, as he posted that his son's reception "has been great."

Lynge told Politico, “It was all staged to make it seem like we — the Greenlandic people — were MAGA and love to be a part of the USA."

ALSO READ: Trump intel advisor Devin Nunes still dismisses Russian election meddling as a 'hoax'

Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, on Wednesday on a "Trump" branded plane as part of a "personal" goodwill visit where he told the locals, "We're going to treat you well."

The elder Trump has seriously proposed acquiring the mineral-rich Danish territory in the interest of U.S. national security, but the reaction from local officials has been defiant.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called Trump's fixation on acquiring the Arctic nation "absurd," and reiterated this week that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."

She added, “There is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either."

Earlier this week, Trump declared he wouldn't exclude using economic or military force to take territory, prompting Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede to declare Trump's proposal was just a distraction.

“While others, including Danes and Americans, are entitled to their opinions, we should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures distract us from our path,” he said.

Lynge addressed Trump directly in the Politico article, saying, "We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska. Make that great before trying to invade us.”

Read the POLITICO article here.

'We have our limits': Danish lawmaker says Trump's Greenland threats wearing on goodwill

Rasmus Jarlov, a conservative member of Denmark's parliament, claimed Wednesday that his country wants to keep up relations with the United States, but "there are limits" to the country's goodwill over the Greenland controversy.

Donald Trump has long mused about annexing Greenland from Denmark, a founding member of NATO. On Tuesday, the president-elect upped his rhetoric during a press conference when he declined to rule out a hostile takeover of the Arctic nation.

According to Reuters, Greenland "has strategic significance for the U.S. military and for its ballistic missile early-warning system since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the Arctic island."

Jarlov told CNN's Jim Acosta that "everybody" in Denmark is talking about Trump's threats right now.

"We had a gathering yesterday and it's certainly the talk of the country right now. And everybody is kind of trying to find out how to take it down. We want to keep good relations with the United States. It's good for both of us, we think, and certainly crucial for Denmark. But also, on the other hand, there are limits to to what you can you can take. Even if we're a small country, we still have our limits, and this is too much."

ALSO READ: Trump intel advisor Devin Nunes still dismisses Russian election meddling as a 'hoax'

The president-elect's son, Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Greenland Tuesday, "to shoot video content for podcasting," according to the Associated Press.

Greenland’s government said in a statement that Trump Jr. was visiting “as a private individual” and not as an official. Thus, Greenlandic representatives did not meet with him.

The U.S. president-elect posted to social media, "Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

Earlier in the CNN interview, Jarlov said Denmark's parliament is "a bit shocked" by Trump's bluster.

"It's very unusual for a close ally to make threats about annexing another country's territory and not even wanting to rule out using force or economic coercion. So we're trying to find a balance here between, on one hand, not escalating the situation by responding too aggressively, but on the other hand, also making it very, very, very clear that nobody in Greenland wants this, nobody in Denmark wants it. And it's definitely and absolutely not going to happen."

Watch below or click the link.

Donald Trump Jr. dodges Ohio father's plea to keep dead son out of politics

Donald Trump Jr. has been subtly dodging a Ohio father's plea not to drag his dead son's story in the former president's campaign attacks on Haitian immigrants.

Trump Jr. this week has published at least three posts on X that make subtle reference to Aiden Clark — the 11-year-old Springfield boy killed in 2023 when a Haitian driver hit his school bus — since Tuesday, the same day his father Nathan asked former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance to stop.

"They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members," Clark said Tuesday evening. "Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible for any political purpose."

ALSO READ: 'I want Vance to apologize': We went to Springfield and found community hurt — and divided

The same day, Trump Jr. shared a post — that still remains on X — that includes a screenshot of the Daily Mail's report on the immigration status of the Haitian driver, Hermanio Joseph, that mentions Clark's son by name.

"Border Czar Kamala Harris imported nearly 4.5% of the total population of Haiti with zero vetting into our country and these are the results," Trump Jr. wrote.

On Sept. 12, Trump Jr. shared the story of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray whose death her mother and prosecutors contend was the work of two men who entered this country illegally.

"Nungaray was murdered by two illegal aliens," Trump Jr. wrote. "Let's make it go viral."

While Trump Jr. did not mention Clark, several followers noted the similarity to the two narratives.

"Please remember Rachel Morin and Laken Riley and Aiden Clark and the many others murdered by illegal immigrants," replied Angela O'Regan. "Avoidable deaths every single one."

"Like Aiden clark was?" asked X user Phyllis. "Leave these poor families alone."

Then, on Thursday, hours after two schools in Springfield were evacuated over a threat warning from police, Trump Jr. shared a post from his aggregation app MXM News that claims Haitians are responsible for up to 10 car accidents in Springfield every day.

This is based, not off of data, but a hyperbolic quote an anonymous resident told the New York Post in an article that highlights Aiden Clark's death.

"This is why people w perfect driving records are still seeing insane insurance premium increases," wrote Trump Jr. "Haitian migrants are responsible for eight to ten car accidents daily in Springfield, Ohio, leading to safety concerns among residents."

Aiden Clark's death became a national talking point this week when Sen. J.D. Vance sought to justify his debunked claim that Haitian immigrants had been eating local pets.

"Do you know what's confirmed?" Vance wrote. "That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here."

Despite Nathan Clark's request that Aiden Clark's story not be used as a talking point — and reporting that shows Joseph was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide not murder — the post remained on X as of Friday afternoon.

"This tragedy is felt all over this community, this state and even the nation — but don’t spin this towards hate," Nathan Clark said. "In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone, choose to shine, make the difference, lead the way and be the inspiration."