At 2:21 this afternoon, the White House press pool traveling with Donald Trump while he vacationed at his private golf club in Bedminster was told they would not be seeing the president today after all. Instead, they would be heading straight to the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, where they would wait for him to arrive before making their way back to the White House.
At 4:00 p.m., the president finally arrived at Morristown Airport aboard Marine One. As he walked across the tarmac toward Air Force One, he waved to the press gathered nearby and told them he had a “great” weekend and had “lots of meetings” while he was at Bedminster. He continued walking towards the plane, never stopping to talk to them, and ignoring the rest of the questions reporters shouted at him.
At 5:03 p.m., Trump stepped off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. Once again, he ignored the press and immediately boarded Marine One. At 5:04 p.m., one minute after stepping off the plane, Donald Trump sent the post heard around the world:
Thank you for this eloquent essay. You have captured the concern and the dismay that so many of us Americans feel at the demented antics of this so-called American leader. As you stated, trumpet doesn't care about this country. His antics are aimed at keeping the world's attention on him and him alone. All the other errors of the unnecessary war with Iran, and his kissing up to Kim and Putin and Xi and other dictators only shed light on his obsession with being the big man to whom everyone kowtows. We must stand up against his ignorant, dangerous, and potentially deadly foreign pronouncements.
Parts of your article we're very uplifting. Hearing you tell the story of the man in Jamaica and what he thought of America made me smile. And then I thought about what Trump has done to our country, which you so eloquently described. It is hard for me to convey the sorrow, embarrassment, and humiliation I feel about this country right now. Ever since he was elected president and for the last too many months I find myself feeling more and more helpless and hopeless. I truly cannot comprehend what people saw and still see in him after all he's put us through. I am doing my best to support Democrat candidates, participating in activities like No Kings, and that helps some but not enough to lift my mood. I have relatives that are MAGA and it has become excruciatingly difficult to talk to these people. With Trump turning his back on South Korea, that just takes the cake. The ironic thing is when Trump started this illegal "excursion" as he likes to call it, he told our allies he didn't want their help; we could do it on our own. Then when things got tough he changed his tune and wanted help .He's ostracized and turned against the nations that rightly did not want to get involved. 2028 can't come soon enough. Thank you very much for your excellent insights to this quagmire he's he's keeping us in.
Great post, and relevant to my experience today. I am having trouble dealing with all the daily horrors that the trump regime imposes on my beloved nation. My brother in law made the case that I should permanently look away from all of the disturbing daily news, and only attend to my personal life. I told him that low information voters and those that didn’t care got us into this, and I would not join their ranks. I consider it to be my sacred civic duty to be informed. Granted, I do need some better guardrails placed on my online life, but ignoring what is happening in this country is not an option for me. So it will continue to be my practice to stay informed, and to participate in whatever resistance I can.
I was told to put the kibosh on my online political journeys as well. Good advice, nothing is going to change my vote and I’m not going to change any MAGA mind (oxymoron).
I don’t think we should give up. I have a genuine interest in how people change their principles based on the politician they support. I am unaffiliated, so I see this happen with both parties, but no president has come anywhere near being as dangerous as Trump. By asking whether the same behavior would be acceptable from a Democratic president—it can help people recognize when Trump’s actions conflict with their own principles. Instead of stating what is wrong, I question why what he does is right. It makes people question their own thought processes. We may not change someone’s mind immediately, but we can plant a seed that leads them to question how they judge right and wrong.
Congressional Republicans are riding Trump’s feces-soaked coattails because they are getting what they want - more power and more money for themselves and the Christofascists.
But average Americans not tuning into the news anymore because it’s been a non-stop parade of horrifically depressing news day in and day out the last 19 months is also important.
We should be protesting on the streets on the daily.
Thanks for the glass half-full take Heather.
But I think things are going to get even worse even before November. This just cannot stand.👍🙏😡🌊
I agree with you. There is no reason to believe, and every reason to doubt that he and his completely complicit partisans in Congress will respect the outcome of the midterms, no matter how soundly they may be defeated.
We have entered a new era in America. We are being ruled by a tyrant who views himself a king and a demigod, and we have so far proven ourselves powerless to stop him.
Stephen, you are right: we need to be resisting every day, either in the streets or by organizing the voters. Because the only permanent resistance is winning elections! And the news here in red SW Florida isn't great. At the end of Early Voting yesterday, our county had a total of only 17% turnout, counting mail-in and in-person ballots for our primary tomorrow! There's still in-person voting tomorrow which will raise the percentage turnout, but not by much. This is pathetic -- where are our voters? We have worked so hard to get them to the polls! Why aren't they coming to do the *most important thing* that will end this misery? Apparently our messages have fallen on deaf ears. I'm crushed. But today I'm still fighting for more turnout. Onward!
Thank you Heather for this piece. Anyone else recall back in the fall of 2025 when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gifted Trump that gold-plated replica of an ancient royal Silla dynasty crown, during a ceremony in Gyeongju. Guess that crown didn’t have enough gold all the through it, just gold plated…Plus it wasn’t an airplane..
Funny he failed to mention that Ukrainian and international intelligence agencies suspect that North Korea is planning to send an additional 30,000-50,000 troops to Russia. Ukrainian officials have also stated that North Korean ballistic missiles are being fired from Russia.
Zelenskyy has raised concerns that North Korea's improved combat and weapons experience could pose a security threat to Ukraine, as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
In late 2024, North Korea sent troops to help defend the Kursk region of Russia from Ukraine.
International officials estimate that 14,000-15,000
North Korean troops were initially deployed to assist Russia in its war in Ukraine.
Experts say Kim likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase his chances for wrestling more concessions from the U.S. in future negotiations. North Korea just on Friday threatened unspecified stern steps against the U.S. and South Korea, describing their military drills as a "a rehearsal for an aggressive war" that are triggering greater instability in the region. It’s normal that North Korea often deploys ahead of major U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Experts say North Korea has often used its rivals' drills as a pretext to ramp up testing activities to modernize weapons and promote public support for himself as the North Korean leader.
Now recently there have been talks between North and South Korea, mending the fences you might say. Maybe the Felon wants to get in on this to be able to boastfully proclaim another peace agreement has been accomplished “by just him, only him” as he sees himself so delusional. Probably it’s sparked that reoccurring “Nobel Peace Prize” in his dementia riddled mind that he should be given that honor without it being a hand me down…
Yet we do have about 28,500 American military personnel that are still stationed in South Korea. But the Felon would never leave any of our military out to dry, right?!?
Or maybe it’s just as simple for him to help out his special buddy President Kim. Possibly he admires the way Kim governs his country. Any critics of Kim and in his way in which he leads North Korea are sent to camps or executed outright in any town or place that they are uncovered. No need to pay for transportation, that way. Only the elite have sufficient access to food, medical care, and amenities. The leader, Kim is idolized —and is frenetically cheered at his appearances, and anyone who doesn't go along with it is in trouble. North Korea is a hereditary dynasty. There’s no doubt the Felon has the same goals, for his new Amerikkka…
Organize your plan for casting your vote, execute your plan.. Make it be heard loudly… Stay safe and healthy..
Another observation about Trump aligning himself with Kim against our ally South Korea: this is how you would expect him to behave if he were a Russian asset.
I was so depressed when I heard the news this morning. Trump is like a toddler running riot in a play park. He needs controlling and silencing so real governing can take place. For gods sake politicians stand up to this man and keep your country safe. 2 more months stand up and be counted.
What does Donald Trump value? Money, of course, and fame and power — and perhaps that’s why the MAGA crowd loves him so. But has he ever spoken of ideas or ideals that he loves — the idea of democracy, the idea of equality, the idea of community where we care for each other?
Of course not! He does not make great speeches or talk about great books or praise great leaders. He speaks strictly in terms of transactions — the “art” of the “deal.” He is truly a one-dimensional man.
Thank you, Heather, for regularly reminding us that America is better than this man. We are better than Donald J. Trump and his “vision” of who we are. He does not represent who we are.
And that is why, in the words of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We shall overcome.”
Your headline says it all. Your writing is splendid, thankyou. I’m an Aussie, so yes, we used to be allies. I don’t know anybody here who is not appalled by what this creature is doing. If I were religious I’d be saying I’m praying hard for America. I still have a tiny hope that the midterms will change everything. Surely, by now, the most fervent of the MAGA cult are realising he doesn’t give a stuff about them. Every day he is showing more openly what an unfeeling, greedy and corrupt person he really is. I can only hope!
Thank you, Heather, for describing the back story of how duplicitous DJT is - by isolating himself from the press he was putting together an oath of allegiance to the madman dictator of North Korea and justifying it with a throwaway line that South Korea somehow deserves to be alienated because they chose to be non-supportive of Trump’s Iranian crusade.
He does this action within 5 weeks of the passing of Lindsey Graham - who Trump knows all too well, would have been hyper critical of these actions.
For all his faults, Senator Graham 10 years ago, called Trump a “kook” a “con man” and a “jackass.”
He also said, “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… and we will deserve it.”
We don’t know if Trump’s cabinet members, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our allies in the Pacific Theatre, etc., were consulted in the lead up to this disastrous decision of his, while he was spending hours in isolation from the press and the public.
We also do not know if this will be the death knell that finally cripples the Support by Silence he has enjoyed from the GOP majority, the military, and certain members of the Judiciary.
This move by Trump not only causes destabilization and chaos in the Pacific, he is, by default, siding with Russia and China, continuing his distancing of American support for Ukraine - I agree with you, Heather, when you say how the respect America has had in the World is vanishing before our eyes.
Oh please, spare us the sanctification of Graham. He was a spineless sycophantic weasel with no principles other than a devotion to kissing any ass necessary to get him closer to power.
Of note: South Korea also impeached and drove from office a president who tried to be a dictator. #47's running scared the same will happen to him here.
The guy who is so determined to scare Americans from democratic influence by labeling them "communists" has no problem praising and aligning himself with the world's most notorious communist dictators.
The coward couldn’t SAY this to the faces of the reporters waiting for him..he knew the response would be overwhelming and he’s not able to handle the barrage of questions this would have unleashed.
He resorted to his normal chicken shit method of hiding behind a keypad and dropping his grenade then stuffing his fat hideous face.
The press and all the pundits and every Democrat in the House and Senate need to jump on this ASAP..this is one of the most dangerous things he’s done up to this point.
He’s been destroying the stability in the Middle East with no end in sight.he’s destroyed our relationship with our European allies..with Canada..with Greenland.
Now South Korea,Japan and Taiwan are in the crosshairs of his destruction.
He is coming closer and closer each day to making Hilary’s dire description/ prediction of the dangers that would befall us with his presidency…he will start a WORLD WAR with a tweet.
THIS is WHO HE IS…a malignant narcissist with not only a king- complex but a God- complex who cares for nothing or nobody but himself and amassing as much gold and money and “things” that he can and to hell with everyone else and to hell with any consequences.
He has no morals..no scruples..no shame..no compassion..no conscience..no heart..no soul…no remorse…no regrets…N O T H I N G.
He hinted in his interview with Root that he might declare a National Emergency before the midterms..I said after that interview he has to have an ignition point..he may be setting the stage now with this …put nothing past him he will do anything to get what he wants.
Our job is to fight him ..to make the calls ..send the emails all over Washington to ask Congress where the hell are THEY on ALL of his shit and most especially this latest grenade..what the hell are they going to DO ..they work for US not him and they’re going to lose their jobs because they stuck with this maniac.
Spread Heather’s word to all that you can…this is a Paul Revere moment..start shouting from wherever to whomever ….we have to SAVE our Republic in November or there will be hell to pay.
Thank you for this eloquent essay. You have captured the concern and the dismay that so many of us Americans feel at the demented antics of this so-called American leader. As you stated, trumpet doesn't care about this country. His antics are aimed at keeping the world's attention on him and him alone. All the other errors of the unnecessary war with Iran, and his kissing up to Kim and Putin and Xi and other dictators only shed light on his obsession with being the big man to whom everyone kowtows. We must stand up against his ignorant, dangerous, and potentially deadly foreign pronouncements.
Parts of your article we're very uplifting. Hearing you tell the story of the man in Jamaica and what he thought of America made me smile. And then I thought about what Trump has done to our country, which you so eloquently described. It is hard for me to convey the sorrow, embarrassment, and humiliation I feel about this country right now. Ever since he was elected president and for the last too many months I find myself feeling more and more helpless and hopeless. I truly cannot comprehend what people saw and still see in him after all he's put us through. I am doing my best to support Democrat candidates, participating in activities like No Kings, and that helps some but not enough to lift my mood. I have relatives that are MAGA and it has become excruciatingly difficult to talk to these people. With Trump turning his back on South Korea, that just takes the cake. The ironic thing is when Trump started this illegal "excursion" as he likes to call it, he told our allies he didn't want their help; we could do it on our own. Then when things got tough he changed his tune and wanted help .He's ostracized and turned against the nations that rightly did not want to get involved. 2028 can't come soon enough. Thank you very much for your excellent insights to this quagmire he's he's keeping us in.
What she said!!!
Great post, and relevant to my experience today. I am having trouble dealing with all the daily horrors that the trump regime imposes on my beloved nation. My brother in law made the case that I should permanently look away from all of the disturbing daily news, and only attend to my personal life. I told him that low information voters and those that didn’t care got us into this, and I would not join their ranks. I consider it to be my sacred civic duty to be informed. Granted, I do need some better guardrails placed on my online life, but ignoring what is happening in this country is not an option for me. So it will continue to be my practice to stay informed, and to participate in whatever resistance I can.
I was told to put the kibosh on my online political journeys as well. Good advice, nothing is going to change my vote and I’m not going to change any MAGA mind (oxymoron).
I don’t think we should give up. I have a genuine interest in how people change their principles based on the politician they support. I am unaffiliated, so I see this happen with both parties, but no president has come anywhere near being as dangerous as Trump. By asking whether the same behavior would be acceptable from a Democratic president—it can help people recognize when Trump’s actions conflict with their own principles. Instead of stating what is wrong, I question why what he does is right. It makes people question their own thought processes. We may not change someone’s mind immediately, but we can plant a seed that leads them to question how they judge right and wrong.
This regime makes me literally sick to my stomach. Why, why doesn’t Congress react?
Congressional Republicans are riding Trump’s feces-soaked coattails because they are getting what they want - more power and more money for themselves and the Christofascists.
I ask myself this every single day.
The elections are important.
But average Americans not tuning into the news anymore because it’s been a non-stop parade of horrifically depressing news day in and day out the last 19 months is also important.
We should be protesting on the streets on the daily.
Thanks for the glass half-full take Heather.
But I think things are going to get even worse even before November. This just cannot stand.👍🙏😡🌊
I agree with you. There is no reason to believe, and every reason to doubt that he and his completely complicit partisans in Congress will respect the outcome of the midterms, no matter how soundly they may be defeated.
We have entered a new era in America. We are being ruled by a tyrant who views himself a king and a demigod, and we have so far proven ourselves powerless to stop him.
Stephen, you are right: we need to be resisting every day, either in the streets or by organizing the voters. Because the only permanent resistance is winning elections! And the news here in red SW Florida isn't great. At the end of Early Voting yesterday, our county had a total of only 17% turnout, counting mail-in and in-person ballots for our primary tomorrow! There's still in-person voting tomorrow which will raise the percentage turnout, but not by much. This is pathetic -- where are our voters? We have worked so hard to get them to the polls! Why aren't they coming to do the *most important thing* that will end this misery? Apparently our messages have fallen on deaf ears. I'm crushed. But today I'm still fighting for more turnout. Onward!
Thank you Heather for this piece. Anyone else recall back in the fall of 2025 when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gifted Trump that gold-plated replica of an ancient royal Silla dynasty crown, during a ceremony in Gyeongju. Guess that crown didn’t have enough gold all the through it, just gold plated…Plus it wasn’t an airplane..
Funny he failed to mention that Ukrainian and international intelligence agencies suspect that North Korea is planning to send an additional 30,000-50,000 troops to Russia. Ukrainian officials have also stated that North Korean ballistic missiles are being fired from Russia.
Zelenskyy has raised concerns that North Korea's improved combat and weapons experience could pose a security threat to Ukraine, as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
In late 2024, North Korea sent troops to help defend the Kursk region of Russia from Ukraine.
International officials estimate that 14,000-15,000
North Korean troops were initially deployed to assist Russia in its war in Ukraine.
https://amp.dw.com/en/troops-from-north-korea-to-boost-russias-ukraine-forces/a-78385524
Experts say Kim likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase his chances for wrestling more concessions from the U.S. in future negotiations. North Korea just on Friday threatened unspecified stern steps against the U.S. and South Korea, describing their military drills as a "a rehearsal for an aggressive war" that are triggering greater instability in the region. It’s normal that North Korea often deploys ahead of major U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Experts say North Korea has often used its rivals' drills as a pretext to ramp up testing activities to modernize weapons and promote public support for himself as the North Korean leader.
Now recently there have been talks between North and South Korea, mending the fences you might say. Maybe the Felon wants to get in on this to be able to boastfully proclaim another peace agreement has been accomplished “by just him, only him” as he sees himself so delusional. Probably it’s sparked that reoccurring “Nobel Peace Prize” in his dementia riddled mind that he should be given that honor without it being a hand me down…
Yet we do have about 28,500 American military personnel that are still stationed in South Korea. But the Felon would never leave any of our military out to dry, right?!?
Or maybe it’s just as simple for him to help out his special buddy President Kim. Possibly he admires the way Kim governs his country. Any critics of Kim and in his way in which he leads North Korea are sent to camps or executed outright in any town or place that they are uncovered. No need to pay for transportation, that way. Only the elite have sufficient access to food, medical care, and amenities. The leader, Kim is idolized —and is frenetically cheered at his appearances, and anyone who doesn't go along with it is in trouble. North Korea is a hereditary dynasty. There’s no doubt the Felon has the same goals, for his new Amerikkka…
Organize your plan for casting your vote, execute your plan.. Make it be heard loudly… Stay safe and healthy..
Another observation about Trump aligning himself with Kim against our ally South Korea: this is how you would expect him to behave if he were a Russian asset.
Thank you Heather
I was so depressed when I heard the news this morning. Trump is like a toddler running riot in a play park. He needs controlling and silencing so real governing can take place. For gods sake politicians stand up to this man and keep your country safe. 2 more months stand up and be counted.
What does Donald Trump value? Money, of course, and fame and power — and perhaps that’s why the MAGA crowd loves him so. But has he ever spoken of ideas or ideals that he loves — the idea of democracy, the idea of equality, the idea of community where we care for each other?
Of course not! He does not make great speeches or talk about great books or praise great leaders. He speaks strictly in terms of transactions — the “art” of the “deal.” He is truly a one-dimensional man.
Thank you, Heather, for regularly reminding us that America is better than this man. We are better than Donald J. Trump and his “vision” of who we are. He does not represent who we are.
And that is why, in the words of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We shall overcome.”
I hope that our nation will someday overcome. But if you’re over 50, I fear it won’t be “we” who do it. This will take decades to recover and rebuild.
Your article has made me cry today. God help us. Thank you, Heather.
Your headline says it all. Your writing is splendid, thankyou. I’m an Aussie, so yes, we used to be allies. I don’t know anybody here who is not appalled by what this creature is doing. If I were religious I’d be saying I’m praying hard for America. I still have a tiny hope that the midterms will change everything. Surely, by now, the most fervent of the MAGA cult are realising he doesn’t give a stuff about them. Every day he is showing more openly what an unfeeling, greedy and corrupt person he really is. I can only hope!
Thank you, Heather, for describing the back story of how duplicitous DJT is - by isolating himself from the press he was putting together an oath of allegiance to the madman dictator of North Korea and justifying it with a throwaway line that South Korea somehow deserves to be alienated because they chose to be non-supportive of Trump’s Iranian crusade.
He does this action within 5 weeks of the passing of Lindsey Graham - who Trump knows all too well, would have been hyper critical of these actions.
For all his faults, Senator Graham 10 years ago, called Trump a “kook” a “con man” and a “jackass.”
He also said, “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… and we will deserve it.”
We don’t know if Trump’s cabinet members, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our allies in the Pacific Theatre, etc., were consulted in the lead up to this disastrous decision of his, while he was spending hours in isolation from the press and the public.
We also do not know if this will be the death knell that finally cripples the Support by Silence he has enjoyed from the GOP majority, the military, and certain members of the Judiciary.
This move by Trump not only causes destabilization and chaos in the Pacific, he is, by default, siding with Russia and China, continuing his distancing of American support for Ukraine - I agree with you, Heather, when you say how the respect America has had in the World is vanishing before our eyes.
Oh please, spare us the sanctification of Graham. He was a spineless sycophantic weasel with no principles other than a devotion to kissing any ass necessary to get him closer to power.
Of note: South Korea also impeached and drove from office a president who tried to be a dictator. #47's running scared the same will happen to him here.
Brilliant compilation Heather, but much more is your unrelenting optimism in the face of such devastation.
The guy who is so determined to scare Americans from democratic influence by labeling them "communists" has no problem praising and aligning himself with the world's most notorious communist dictators.
The coward couldn’t SAY this to the faces of the reporters waiting for him..he knew the response would be overwhelming and he’s not able to handle the barrage of questions this would have unleashed.
He resorted to his normal chicken shit method of hiding behind a keypad and dropping his grenade then stuffing his fat hideous face.
The press and all the pundits and every Democrat in the House and Senate need to jump on this ASAP..this is one of the most dangerous things he’s done up to this point.
He’s been destroying the stability in the Middle East with no end in sight.he’s destroyed our relationship with our European allies..with Canada..with Greenland.
Now South Korea,Japan and Taiwan are in the crosshairs of his destruction.
He is coming closer and closer each day to making Hilary’s dire description/ prediction of the dangers that would befall us with his presidency…he will start a WORLD WAR with a tweet.
THIS is WHO HE IS…a malignant narcissist with not only a king- complex but a God- complex who cares for nothing or nobody but himself and amassing as much gold and money and “things” that he can and to hell with everyone else and to hell with any consequences.
He has no morals..no scruples..no shame..no compassion..no conscience..no heart..no soul…no remorse…no regrets…N O T H I N G.
He hinted in his interview with Root that he might declare a National Emergency before the midterms..I said after that interview he has to have an ignition point..he may be setting the stage now with this …put nothing past him he will do anything to get what he wants.
Our job is to fight him ..to make the calls ..send the emails all over Washington to ask Congress where the hell are THEY on ALL of his shit and most especially this latest grenade..what the hell are they going to DO ..they work for US not him and they’re going to lose their jobs because they stuck with this maniac.
Spread Heather’s word to all that you can…this is a Paul Revere moment..start shouting from wherever to whomever ….we have to SAVE our Republic in November or there will be hell to pay.