Another week with Donald Trump and his goon squad and democracy has taken a few more whacks from the immoral MAGA prophets. Not satisfied to deport people illegally, criminally destroy Congressional-funded agencies, terminate lifelong civil servants who dedicated their lives to making this country a better place to live, and ensure that our food, water, and air will be unhealthy for human and animal consumption.
No. They continue to harass and threaten other countries, peaceful protesters, and even members of Congress. This would be called a clown show, but no one is laughing except Donald Jr. with his Adderall-ridden brain. The threat to democracy fear has come and gone. Trump and his toadies are now pressing all of the buttons so that only the rich and powerful are safe and secure.
Sneaky Pete Hegseth is at it Again
Good old Sneaky Pete. You can’t keep a good man down. His latest accomplishment? At a Congressional hearing yesterday, Hegseth refused to deny that the Pentagon has plans for the invasions of Greenland and Panama. Trump has been quiet about these aspirations lately, but good old Sneaky Pete relit the flame. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) asked Hegseth whether the Department of Defense’s policy is to prepare to take Greenland and Panama by force if necessary. To which Hegseth replied.
“The Trump administration has concerns about China’s “malign influence in Panama and said that the country is “key terrain we are focused on. “Our job at the DOD is to have plans. Our job at the Department of Defense is to develop plans for any particular contingency. Any contingency we’ve got. We’ve got a building full of planners, and we’re prepared to give recommendations whenever needed. We believe the American people “would want the Pentagon to have plans for any particular contingency.”
Well, that was news to the people and leaders of both countries. In May, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, told the BBC. “We will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by anyone, and that’s the message I think is most important to understand.” And Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has consistently said. “I must fully reject the statements made by President Donald Trump regarding Panama and its Canal in his inaugural address. I reiterate what I said in my message to the nation on December 22: the Canal is and will remain Panamanian.”
Nice way to treat a couple of allies. While there appear to be no immediate plans for the U.S. to invade those countries, one should always be on the lookout when Trump creates a diversion to wipe away bad press coverage.
Trump Shows Force, Deter Peaceful Protesters
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump is planning a big celebration for Washington, D.C, commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary and Mr. Trump’s 79th birthday. To honor these two events, Trump has organized a military parade that would make Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un blush. The parade will feature 28 Abrams tanks, 6,700 soldiers, 50 helicopters, 34 horses, two mules, and a dog as it marches from the Pentagon to the National Mall, passing the president’s viewing stand on Constitution Avenue.
Estimated costs for the event are $45 million, excluding the road and infrastructure repairs that will be required after the tanks cause significant damage. The price of repairs alone could soar past $100 million. All of this while the Trump administration is cutting social programs and firing thousands of federal employees. Intimidation comes in many forms, and the president will use any tool at his disposal to strike fear in all but those closest to him.
Meanwhile, the organizers of the Anti-Trump “No Kings” marches scheduled worldwide for Saturday have not planned any events for the nation’s capital to avoid any interference with the military parade. Before that, Trump had promised that any protesters who interfered with the parade would be met with “very big force.” This from the man who cheered on the January 6 insurrectionists.
Kristi Noem is a Class Act
Then we have everyone’s favorite Trump administration lackey, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem. Yesterday, Ms. Noem was trying to explain to the good people of Los Angeles (LA) why Trump called in 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to quell a mostly peaceful demonstration of a couple of hundred people to protest the administration’s illegal deportations. And did I mention that Trump went awry of the law in bypassing California Gov. Gavin Newsom when he summoned the National Guardsmen to go to LA?
So, Ms. Noem was in Los Angeles yesterday conducting a press conference to try and articulate why the administration elected to send so many troops to their city. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) heard that the Secretary was conducting a press event, so he walked in to ask her a question. For the record, Senator Padilla not only represents the State of California but is also the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, which has oversight of federal agencies responsible for citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement duties.
After Mr. Padilla identified himself, he attempted to ask Ms. Noem a question. But before he could complete his sentence, he was wrestled to the ground by her security detail and placed in handcuffs. He was then forcibly removed from the room but was not detained or arrested. DHS claimed that the action was taken because Padilla lunged at the Secretary and chose to exhibit “disrespectful political theatre to interrupt the press event.” This despite the fact that a replay of the incident shows no such lunge attempt by Mr. Padilla.
Summary
So, we complete another week of Donald Trump’s and his quest to squash democracy and silence any dissenting voices. Where will the president and his henchmen turn up next? Watch out! They could be coming to a town near you.
