#donald-trump

#donald-trump

For nearly a decade, there has been a recurring debate in center-left intellectual circles about whether you could properly describe Donald Trump, his MAGA movement, and the administrations he has led as "fascist." Such discussions have accelerated since Trump returned to the White House in 2025 and began stretching the powers of his office to target his many enemies, real and imagined.

In an interview with the New York Post published on Sunday, the president chastised the Super Bowl performers as poor choices that would be divisive. I'm anti-them. I think it's a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible, Trump told the New York Post on Jan. 24. It's just too far away. I would. I've (gotten) great hands (at) the Super Bowl I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.

The French president Emmanuel Macron borrowed some lines from Hugh Grant about bullies at the World Economic Forum in Davos. His target was Donald Trump, who had leaked a conciliatory text message from Macron who, evidently, was trying to get the US president to the table to shore up the rapidly disintegrating global order. In the love-it-or-hate-it Christmas film, Love Actually, Grant playing the foppish British prime minister of the day confronts the US president, saying: A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend, and since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Trump opened the briefing with a lengthy, rambling weave that included attacking Don Lemon, raging about migrants, riffing on the killing of Renee Good, and narrowly escaping the clutches of a nasty binder clip. He spoke for almost an hour-and-a-half before finally taking questions. The presser encompassed several editions of CNN News Central, during which anchors tossed to Dale no less than three times as he racked up a tally of over 17 falsehoods:

Remember at the beginning of the term it was Greenland and then it was like, okay, you know, sometimes the brain farts pass. But this week, the past week it was all, we're going to take it by force, by force. Pete Hegseth, got so excited, he droned a dog sled. (LAUGHTER). But Okay, but then, three days ago, Trump goes to Davos, Switzerland, you know, this is where the people who run the world have the big meeting every year.

a week that began with a US threat to seize a European territory, whether by force or extortion, has ended with the promise of negotiation and therefore a return to normality. But that is a dangerous delusion. There can be no return to normality. The world we thought we knew has gone. The only question now is what takes its place a question that will affect us all, that is full of danger and that, perhaps unexpectedly, also carries a whisper of hope.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.

Something has to be done about Fake Polls! They are truly OUT OF CONTROL. We have the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country, we have the Strongest Border in History, nobody has ever done a job like I have done, and they have me in the low 40s. The Democrats destroyed Healthcare, I'm trying to fix it, and they give me FAKE low numbers.

Why does the president keep doing things that are against his political self-interest? Why has he ignored the reality that the midterms will be decided not only by how much his base is energized but by whether Republicans carry independents and soft partisans? Mr. Trump is missing chances to draw critical swing voters the GOP's way. He could be driving some to vote Democratic.

Attorney General Pam Bondi responded with a deafening silence when asked about whether the FBI found compromising photos of Donald Trump in Jeffrey Epstein's safe. During an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bondi attempted to evade the question from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), but he asked it again and made clear he was simply asking her to respond with a simple "yes" or "no."

The second interpretation purports to be more hardheaded and sensible, wiser and world-weary after so many years of watching Trump at work. Isn't this always how he negotiates? Stake out an absurd-sounding position, freak out all the institutionalists and keepers of consensus, rattle the markets and then use the madman's leverage to induce other countries to accept an advantageous-for-America deal?