Video showing the difference between U.S. and China's subways goes viral
— Suzierizzo1 (@Suzierizzo1)
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A video highlighting the stark differences between the subway systems of the United States and China is going viral on X (formerly Twitter).X user Suzie Rizzio shared the TikTok clip, captioning it: "China is posting the difference between the U.S. and China's subway system." Since being posted on April 28, the 18-second video has garnered over 7 million views.The clip alternates between scenes of rodent-infested and flooded U.S. subway stations and China's clean, aesthetically designed metro systems.Reactions on X were mixed. One user noted it was unfair to compare the two, pointing out, "The New York subway is over 100 years old. Of course it's not going to look as sleek as newly-built Asian metros. Berlin's U-Bahn and the London Underground don't, either."Another user blamed political factors for the state of U.S. public transport, claiming, "It's Democrats vs. Republicans, really. Put Republicans in charge of New York for 10 years and watch that subway turn around."Some defended the U.S., emphasizing cultural and political differences. "I would actually expect a communist country to have a better subway than us. In freedom-loving countries, we value our freedom. Communists value centralization for ultimate control of their people," one commenter wrote.Another added, "Americans don't really use public transport outside of larger cities. Now let's compare living conditions, national parks, and farms. Or maybe show us a few outdoor shooting ranges in China."The video surfaced amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly during an ongoing tariff war. Previously, another viral Chinese meme targeted the American manufacturing sector, showing overweight and exhausted American textile workers stitching garments in a factory.
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Jeffrey Epstein's friends sent him bawdy letters for a 50th birthday album. One was from Donald Trump.
It was Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday, and Ghislaine Maxwell was preparing a special gift to mark the occasion. She turned to Epstein's family and friends. One of them was Donald Trump. Maxwell collected letters from Trump and dozens of Epstein's other associates for a 2003 birthday album, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Pages from the leather-bound album—assembled before Epstein was first arrested in 2006—are among the documents examined by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein and Maxwell years ago, according to people who have reviewed the pages. It's unclear if any of the pages are part of the Trump administration's recent review. The president's past relationship with Epstein is at a sensitive moment. The Justice Department documents, the so-called Epstein files, and who or what is in them are at the center of a storm consuming the Trump administration. On Wednesday, after angry comments about how the files are a hoax created by Democrats, President Trump lashed out at his own supporters for refusing to let the matter go. The letter bearing Trump's name, which was reviewed by the Journal, is bawdy—like others in the album. It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald" below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. The letter concludes: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." In an interview with the Journal on Tuesday evening, Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the picture. 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story," he said. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women," he said. 'It's not my language. It's not my words." He told the Journal he was preparing to file a lawsuit if it published an article. 'I'm gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else," he said. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 and he was arrested that year. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex trafficking conspiracy. Justice Department officials didn't respond to requests for comment or address questions about whether the Trump page and other pages of the birthday album were part of the agency's recent documents review. The FBI declined to comment. The existence of the album and the contents of the birthday letters haven't previously been reported. The album had poems, photos and greetings from businesspeople, academics, Epstein's former girlfriends and childhood pals, according to the documents reviewed by the Journal and people familiar with them. Among those who submitted letters were billionaire Leslie Wexner and attorney Alan Dershowitz. The album also contained a letter from a now-deceased Harvard economist, one of Epstein's report cards from Mark Twain junior high school in Brooklyn and a note from a former assistant that included an acrostic with Epstein's name: 'Jeffrey, oh Jeffrey!/ Everyone loves you!/ Fun in the sun!/ Fun just for fun!/ Remember…don't forget me soon!/ Epstein…you rock!/ You are the best!" Epstein was Wexner's money manager at the time. The longtime leader of Victoria's Secret wrote a short message that said: 'I wanted to get you what you want… so here it is…." After the text was a line drawing of what appeared to be a woman's breasts. Wexner declined to comment through a spokesman. Wexner's spokesman previously told the Journal that the retail mogul 'severed all ties with Epstein in 2007 and never spoke with him again." 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Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret. President Trump at the White House on Wednesday. When he turned 50, Epstein was already wealthy from managing Wexner's fortune and was socializing with Trump, Clinton and other powerful people at his Manhattan townhouse, Palm Beach, Fla., home and private Caribbean island. A spokesman for Clinton referred to a 2019 statement that former President Clinton had cut off ties more than a decade before Epstein's second arrest and didn't know about Epstein's alleged crimes. Epstein and Trump spent time together in the 1990s and early 2000s and were photographed at social events, including with Maxwell and Melania Trump. A 1992 tape from the NBC archives shows Trump partying with Epstein at his Mar-a-Lago estate; Trump is seen pulling a woman toward him and patting her behind. Trump, along with others including Clinton, also appeared several times on flight logs for Epstein's private jet. A 2002 New York magazine profile of Epstein quoted Trump. 'I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Trump said. 'He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life." Both men said that they subsequently had a falling-out. Trump has said their friendship ended before Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008, served time in a Florida jail and registered as a sex offender. When Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Trump said he hadn't talked to Epstein for about 15 years. 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Earlier Tuesday, after the Journal sought comment from the president about the letter, Trump told reporters at the White House that he believed some Epstein files were 'made up" by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former FBI Director James Comey. He said that releasing any more Epstein files would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi. 'Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release," Trump said. Allegations that bureaucrats covered up Epstein's connections with participants in his trafficking scheme were fanned by people now in top roles in the Trump administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino. In June 2024, Trump was asked in a Fox News interview whether he would release the Epstein case files. The Republican presidential candidate initially responded, 'Yeah, I would." But he also expressed some reservations. 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