U.S. presidency and politics thread

[sotos8]

He's putting out fires all over the place..

Trump: So what they are trying to do with the Epstein hoax is get people to talk about that instead of speaking about the tremendous success like ending seven wars pic.twitter.com/2JXEdM2eYw

— Acyn (@Acyn) September 3, 2025

[sotos8]

13 hours ago, promise to try said:

what happened with Venezuela? did they attack a ship?

A strike carried out by US forces on a boat in the Caribbean Sea - which the White House says killed 11 drug traffickers - may have violated international human rights and maritime law, legal experts have told BBC Verify.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that US forces destroyed a vessel which he said had departed from Venezuela. He said the boat was operated by the Tren de Aragua cartel and was carrying drugs bound for the US.

US defence officials have so far declined to offer details on the strike, footage of which Trump shared on Truth Social, including what legal authority they relied upon to justify it.

BBC Verify reached out to a range of experts in international and maritime law, with several saying that US may have acted illegally in attacking the vessel.

The US is not a signatory to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but the US military's legal advisors have previously said that the US should "act in a manner consistent with its provisions".

[svperstar]

The Epstein victims press conference happened today. Four republicans are now voting against him to release the files.

The bastard is so nervous he ordered a military flyover during the conference to drown them out.

[Cyber-Raga]

MTG for fuck‘s sake was with the victims at the press conference and is willing to vote to release the files. 
The survivors also said that if Congress doesn’t release the files, they will start telling tales out of school and dropping names. 

[SOON]

 

[SOON]

Still obsessed and bitter

 

[SOON]

 

[Nikki]

the strong resemblance to old propaganda posters 

 

[Cyber-Raga]

War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength

[Sanctuary1995]

On 9/5/2025 at 12:40 AM, SOON said:

 

Something out of some old utopia movie from 1930’s. That this dude is fucking crazy is already known, that people like him for all of this is something I still can’t get used to!

[SOON]

 

[Nikki]

so someone shot charlie kirk.. he’s basically a political debater, a trump guy whose whole thing is being super progun.

he's not as unhinged as matt walsh or alex jones, but yeah

the irony with the 2nd amendment thing is hard to miss.

even Netanyahu talked about it 

this is so scary

[pithy]

Interesting that this should happen with the microscope so intensely zeroed in on the relationship between Trump and Epstein. Another distraction. Deliberate? Who knows? I don't think anything is impossible with these people. Many would die in service of Trump. Whatever the case may be, this really doesn't help anyone.

[Kilt]

this will not lead to positive change...the maga will capitalize on this and not for the collective best

[runa]

The guy was a complete jerk, but it was not a reason to kill him. Sorry but this is disgusting.

And absolutely not positive for Democrats and leftists. 

[Michael.]

Violence is not the answer and I don’t support murdering people you disagree with politically. What is sad is that he was part of the reason for the rise in political violence and division, not just in the US but all around the world. He stoked so much hate and anger it’s no surprise this is becoming more common. It also gives Trump more justification to go after liberals/democrats/people who don’t agree with him.

[cardiganstarlet]

Yes, unfortunately some of his pro gun soundbites include something along the lines that “shootings are good for the US”.

At what point do people on their soap boxes like him need to take accountability for their words?

[Paul Wade]

I often wonder do these political pundits actually believe the rhetoric that they espouse? I get the vibe from the Conservative side that a lot of it is just performative,rage bating their audience because they know it'll cause controversy and earn them a platform,and ultimately money and power. 

Unfortunately people believe in what men like him say/said. He has paid the ultimate price. I hope whomever killed this man is found swiftly and punished accordingly.  Murdering someone is NEVER the answer,a wife is now without her husband and a child without their Father. May he rest in peace.  

[Raider of the lost Ark]

The whitewashing of one the whitest men in the USA has already begun. Watching Jake Tapper yesterday on CNN was like watching a different reality. It almost felt like they mourned someone who has achieved something great for his country and society and general. And of course, constantly "married father of two" to just gain sympathy. Sympathy for someone who was an extemely divisive figure. Someone who decided to be a divisive figure, made a business out of being a divisive figure, came to power by being a divisive figure. I don't mind being divisive if intends to bring positive change. But in his case it was all regressive. This man had no issue that civil rights were taken away from parts of society (women), that rights will be taken away from other parts (LGBTQ+). In fact, he was actively working on those things. He was an evil man. Period. Why should I be sorry for the death of someone who indoctrinated so many younger people with his lies and warped worldview. I think Charlie Kirk fell victim of his very own rethoric and alliances. Obviously, Trump and MAGA are already putting the blame on the "radical left" and the democrats. As always. And as always it will turn out the shooter was a MAGA nutjob or some kind of conspiracy believer. I think Chalie Kirk was killed by someone who felt betrayed by Charlie Kirk because of the Epstein files. Remember, Charlie Kirk was one of the first, a few weeks ago, to declare he is done with all of it, there is nothing further to investigate, it is all a nothing burger. In the end, Charlie Kirk became part of they call the "deep state". And this is the ultimate betrayal for people who believe in this nonsense. For them, fighting the "deep state", shooting someone being part of it, is the most logical consequence. For them it is a kind of self defense. And thanks to the 2nd amendment, they see themselves in the right and they have the weapons needed. In the end, Charlie Kirk may have lost his life because of the evil monster he partially created. And that is far from being a martyr, as many conservatives will start to describe him now. 

[Paul]

17 minutes ago, Raider of the lost Ark said:

The whitewashing of one the whitest men in the USA has already begun. Watching Jake Tapper yesterday on CNN was like watching a different reality. It almost felt like they mourned someone who has achieved something great for his country and society and general. And of course, constantly "married father of two" to just gain sympathy. Sympathy for someone who was an extemely divisive figure. Someone who decided to be a divisive figure, made a business out of being a divisive figure, came to power by being a divisive figure. I don't mind being divisive if intends to bring positive change. But in his case it was all regressive. This man had no issue that civil rights were taken away from parts of society (women), that rights will be taken away from other parts (LGBTQ+). In fact, he was actively working on those things. He was an evil man. Period. Why should I be sorry for the death of someone who indoctrinated so many younger people with his lies and warped worldview. I think Charlie Kirk fell victim of his very own rethoric and alliances. Obviously, Trump and MAGA are already putting the blame on the "radical left" and the democrats. As always. And as always it will turn out the shooter was a MAGA nutjob or some kind of conspiracy believer. I think Chalie Kirk was killed by someone who felt betrayed by Charlie Kirk because of the Epstein files. Remember, Charlie Kirk was one of the first, a few weeks ago, to declare he is done with all of it, there is nothing further to investigate, it is all a nothing burger. In the end, Charlie Kirk became part of they call the "deep state". And this is the ultimate betrayal for people who believe in this nonsense. For them, fighting the "deep state", shooting someone being part of it, is the most logical consequence. For them it is a kind of self defense. And thanks to the 2nd amendment, they see themselves in the right and they have the weapons needed. In the end, Charlie Kirk may have lost his life because of the evil monster he partially created. And that is far from being a martyr, as many conservatives will start to describe him now. 

it is perhaps premature to speculate on the motivation, and of course nobody ever deserves to be killed and killing in all forms is wrong, but its difficult to think about this without recognising the context. Kirk was part of a group who not only promoted division, but legitimised hate of others, political extremism, lack of respect and tolerance for different points of view, tolerance of violence against people you disagree with, didn't support proper gun control, and above all furthered this myth that someone can prove themselves 'right' about something by just being loudest and doing things for attention. This all contributes to making events like this more likely. It is a sad event, not for the loss of kirk, but because it reminds us how under Trump and MAGA it is no longer possible to have mature rationale discourse. It is sad because civil war is a real possibility and nobody seems to be leading the US away from that. One would hope the lesson learnt is to be less extreme, more civil, more tolerant and more united. But I dont think it will.

[VogueMusic]

Political violence is bad. Nobody should be killed. Blah, blah, blah....

Ok.

Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the obvious - Charlie Kirk was a vile, hateful, lying piece of shit who spent his entire young life being a vessel for the worst of humanity. That's it. He was blatantly and proudly sexist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, antisemitic, racist, and more. He was the poster child for the dubebro/alt-right/white boy right-wing MAGA base, who spread nothing but vile lies and hatred in order to divide, break down civil society, and brainwash a generation of young folks, particularly young men, to push this country further into fascism.

And now he unfortunately dies by the very rhetoric and ideology that he spent his life propagating to millions...
...while the right-wing base that now elevate him to saint/martyr are calling war on all Democrats/liberals/etc. saying we're terrorists...

And I'm supposed to feel bad... ?

[VogueMusic]

4 hours ago, Raider of the lost Ark said:

The whitewashing of one the whitest men in the USA has already begun. Watching Jake Tapper yesterday on CNN was like watching a different reality. It almost felt like they mourned someone who has achieved something great for his country and society and general. And of course, constantly "married father of two" to just gain sympathy. Sympathy for someone who was an extemely divisive figure. Someone who decided to be a divisive figure, made a business out of being a divisive figure, came to power by being a divisive figure. I don't mind being divisive if intends to bring positive change. But in his case it was all regressive. This man had no issue that civil rights were taken away from parts of society (women), that rights will be taken away from other parts (LGBTQ+). In fact, he was actively working on those things. He was an evil man. Period. Why should I be sorry for the death of someone who indoctrinated so many younger people with his lies and warped worldview. I think Charlie Kirk fell victim of his very own rethoric and alliances. Obviously, Trump and MAGA are already putting the blame on the "radical left" and the democrats. As always. And as always it will turn out the shooter was a MAGA nutjob or some kind of conspiracy believer. I think Chalie Kirk was killed by someone who felt betrayed by Charlie Kirk because of the Epstein files. Remember, Charlie Kirk was one of the first, a few weeks ago, to declare he is done with all of it, there is nothing further to investigate, it is all a nothing burger. In the end, Charlie Kirk became part of they call the "deep state". And this is the ultimate betrayal for people who believe in this nonsense. For them, fighting the "deep state", shooting someone being part of it, is the most logical consequence. For them it is a kind of self defense. And thanks to the 2nd amendment, they see themselves in the right and they have the weapons needed. In the end, Charlie Kirk may have lost his life because of the evil monster he partially created. And that is far from being a martyr, as many conservatives will start to describe him now. 

It's already begun. Everywhere. The bullshit Kumbaya lectures about 'coming together/unity' etc... come from both left and right... with hardly any of them actually pointing out that what Mr. Kirk espoused all his life is what got him killed...and created the landscape for political violence in the first place.

But near silence about the young kids also killed today while in school (of course).
Silence regarding the two democratic politicians who were assassinated in their homes a short while back.

The headlines of his killing be a "national tragedy" are utterly sick. This man, this man, is the one they now want to start that shit with....
Now American media and certain demographics want to talk tragedy and political divison... it fucking disgusts me.

Also, the timing is incredibly suspicious, with Trump needing anything to distract from the Epstein files, let alone needing any excuse to declare some form of martial law, crack down/violence on Dems, escalating military on civilians and blue cities, etc.

[Kilt]

Charlie didn't believe in empathy and wasn't afraid of the death threats he received.

https://youtu.be/4M5ii8A7CzQ?feature=shared

 

[runa]

They are going to make him a martyr. Mark my words.
Pretty sure Trump wanted a diversion so we stop talking of the Epstein files and about that letters her wrote. Would not be surprised if they made him kill. 

[svperstar]

3 hours ago, VogueMusic said:

Political violence is bad. Nobody should be killed. Blah, blah, blah....

Ok.

Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the obvious - Charlie Kirk was a vile, hateful, lying piece of shit who spent his entire young life being a vessel for the worst of humanity. That's it. He was blatantly and proudly sexist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, antisemitic, racist, and more. He was the poster child for the dubebro/alt-right/white boy right-wing MAGA base, who spread nothing but vile lies and hatred in order to divide, break down civil society, and brainwash a generation of young folks, particularly young men, to push this country further into fascism.

And now he unfortunately dies by the very rhetoric and ideology that he spent his life propagating to millions...
...while the right-wing base that now elevate him to saint/martyr are calling war on all Democrats/liberals/etc. saying we're terrorists...

And I'm supposed to feel bad... ?

You took the words right out of my mouth. 

[KalamazooJay]

The way the media is handling this confirms the fact that they're all collectively in this together. They're in this to make a profit, create division, and fan the flames that have already been burning white hot for the last decade. Trumpism makes these folks A LOT OF MONEY. From the anti Trump movement to the MAGA movement and a lot of folks in between, it's all about clicks and money and viral videos to inflame our society. 

NO ONE deserves to be brutally murdered the way Charlie Kirk was. It's horrific. Those poor kids without a father. Those poor kids who will be able to SEE their father be slaughtered in broad daylight when they're of the age. But let's not pretend he was this angelic saint. He was the worst of what MAGA created. He continued to feed the beast and the beast bit back. I'm not sure what it's going to take to get things back on the rails, but as I've said to friends for the past couple years, the Pandora's Box we opened by electing Trump will never be able to be shut. And Kirk was one of the slugs that crawled out of it and was unfortunately killed by what THEY created, and by what HE perpetuated. 

[Confessit]

Charlie Kirk was a horrible human being who made it his life’s work & mission to ridicule the less fortunate and less privileged than him, brutally attack people’s identities & non-religious beliefs and had a completely dogmatic and frightening approach to society and his fellow human beings.

He took his hate show on the road and it became almost like a Victorian freak show, as he so effortlessly attacked people who questioned him, used his platform to tear chunks out of whole groups of society and promote the active use of violence.

He manifested his own death, the manner of his death and will forever more be a living/dying example of You Live By The Sword You Die By The Sword.

[Cyber-Raga]

4 hours ago, VogueMusic said:

Political violence is bad. Nobody should be killed. Blah, blah, blah....

Ok.

Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the obvious - Charlie Kirk was a vile, hateful, lying piece of shit who spent his entire young life being a vessel for the worst of humanity. That's it. He was blatantly and proudly sexist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, antisemitic, racist, and more. He was the poster child for the dubebro/alt-right/white boy right-wing MAGA base, who spread nothing but vile lies and hatred in order to divide, break down civil society, and brainwash a generation of young folks, particularly young men, to push this country further into fascism.

And now he unfortunately dies by the very rhetoric and ideology that he spent his life propagating to millions...
...while the right-wing base that now elevate him to saint/martyr are calling war on all Democrats/liberals/etc. saying we're terrorists...

And I'm supposed to feel bad... ?

No lies detected…

[SOON]

Of course

 

 

[Jazzy Jan]

7 hours ago, VogueMusic said:

Political violence is bad. Nobody should be killed. Blah, blah, blah....

Ok.

Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the obvious - Charlie Kirk was a vile, hateful, lying piece of shit who spent his entire young life being a vessel for the worst of humanity. That's it. He was blatantly and proudly sexist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, antisemitic, racist, and more. He was the poster child for the dubebro/alt-right/white boy right-wing MAGA base, who spread nothing but vile lies and hatred in order to divide, break down civil society, and brainwash a generation of young folks, particularly young men, to push this country further into fascism.

And now he unfortunately dies by the very rhetoric and ideology that he spent his life propagating to millions...
...while the right-wing base that now elevate him to saint/martyr are calling war on all Democrats/liberals/etc. saying we're terrorists...

And I'm supposed to feel bad... ?

Agree 100 % 

I wish some of the people online crying and wanting death to all on the left etc gave an ounce of the same sympathy to the Minnesota congresswoman, her husband and pet dog who were killed in their own homes by a deranged Trump supporter.  Of course they don't even mention that.  Trump has never mentioned it.   Or had the same empathy and sympathy for the innocent children and people gunned down in schools, churches, picture theatres etc.  Again, they just casually mention thoughts and prayers.  O'h and blame it all on the liberal left etc.  I have seen so many American people today all declaring war on Democrats etc and praising Charlie Kirk as some great wonderful decent man.  Give me a break.   This man wanted to get rid of civil rights,  ridiculed Martin Luther King,  thought women should have no rights and should just aim to marry young and have kids.  Agreed that gays should be killed and hated transgendered people.   He thought black women did not have the mental capacity to be leaders.  The list goes on and on about how hateful and dangerous his views are. 

Plus he said that gun deaths were inevitable and that the people killed by guns was justified for the right to own guns etc. 

There is a great expression in life that you live by the sword, you die by the sword.  Well,  he lived preaching for gun rights and he dies by a gun.   Also, we don't know yet, who killed him or for what exact reason.  All we know is the person is a highly skilled shooter. 

I don't like that he was shot dead and I condemn murder completely.  It is wrong and horrible and yes, I feel very sorry for his children.  Public executions should never happen. 

I am not going to pretend though that he was a great person.  He was incredibly hateful and caused so many young men to embrace the extreme right.