Latest news with #white
Los Angeles Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump finds a new way to taint the office of the presidency
Donald Trump has now thoroughly sullied the office of the presidency. I'm not talking about the Oval Office, with its new, gaudy gilt trappings that seem to spread by the day, as if the famously nocturnal president multitasks there while others sleep, tapping out his nasty late-night social media screeds between applying more layers of the gold leaf fit for a king. Those golden geegaws are simply Trump's literal stain on the Oval Office. I'm talking about the figurative taint: What Trump does and says there by day, in full view of the media cameras, reporters and fawning retainers invited for his performances. With that behavior he besmirches not just the actual Oval Office but the very idea of the office of the president of the United States. Who can forget, as much as one would like to, Trump's bullying humiliation of Ukraine's war-hero President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, and, in May, his premeditated attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, with false claims of that nation's genocide against white Afrikaner farmers? But Trump's performative power play on Tuesday arguably tops them all for shame. Alas, this time his target — President Obama — wasn't present to push back. The bully wouldn't dare get in Obama's face, knowing his predecessor's counterpunch against the lies could be a knockout. (In Obama's presence, in fact, Trump is all cringey banter and bonhomie, as at Jimmy Carter's funeral earlier this year, when the other former presidents snubbed him.) The word 'unprecedented' is used a lot, justifiably, to describe Trump's actions, but never was it more apt: The sitting president baselessly alleged that the former president was 'treasonous' — a crime punishable by death — and all but ordered his law-enforcement minions to arrest, prosecute and imprison the man. (Apparently Trump, convicted fraudster and adjudicated sexual abuser, forgot that last year — to avoid pre-election trials tied to his alleged crimes involving Jan. 6 and classified documents — he'd persuaded a deferential Supreme Court to give presidents virtual immunity from criminal prosecution. Narcissist that he is, perhaps Trump thinks the egregious ruling only applied to him, not to Obama and every other president past and future.) 'He's guilty. This was treason,' Trump pronounced of Obama, falsely reviving conspiracies that the then-president and his inner circle lied about Russia's pro-Trump meddling in the 2016 campaign as a way of undermining Trump's legitimacy. But for eight years, Vladimir Putin's 2016 election interference has been a well-established fact, documented by multiple investigations, including one led by then-Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who's now Trump's secretary of State. As Trump fulminated against Obama, seated beside him in the Oval Office's familiar wingback chairs was yet another foreign dignitary, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., making him just the latest witness to how fully Trump has extinguished the United States' beacon as a global exemplar of democratic norms and peaceful transfers of power. Yes, Trump's rant against Obama as well as Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats was yet another of his manic attempts over the past three weeks to distract from the morass of his handling of what's known as the Jeffrey Epstein files — files in which his name appears, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The administration's refusal to release federal records of the pedophilia and sex-trafficking investigation of the late billionaire and Trump friend — despite past promises from Trump, Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Patel deputy Dan Bongino — is a mess of their own making, and the first to draw condemnation from Trump's otherwise loyal base. That's what's so unnerved the president. And yes, we should avoid taking the bait of Trump's distractions. But… For a president in power to falsely allege that a former president is a traitor, and to suggest that his lickspittles at the Justice Department and FBI should act against that former president, is a distraction that must command Americans' attention. Certainly Obama, who's long frustrated Democrats by his reticence about criticizing Trump, thinks so. On Tuesday he had a spokesman issue a stinger of a statement. 'Out of respect for the office of the presidency,' it began, 'our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.' It pointedly alluded to Rubio's supportive and bipartisan 2020 report to mock the 'bizarre allegations' Trump is lodging. The basis of Trump's claims of Obama's treason is a report released Friday by his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the conspiracy-minded former Democratic congresswoman. Not coincidentally, Gabbard lately has been desperate to get back in Trump's good graces, having fallen from favor in recent months. Her report, along with her criminal referral to the Justice Department against Obama and others, seems to have done the trick, at least for now. Trump is singing her praises. Gabbard outlined what she calls a 'treasonous conspiracy' by Obama and Democrats to bury findings that Russia did nothing to alter the 2016 result — Trump's victory — and to promote the 'hoax' that Trump owed his election to Russia. But Obama and his aides repeatedly assured Americans that Russia did not manipulate the actual 2016 vote by hacking election machinery. Instead, Obama and his team consistently held, along with subsequent investigators, that Russia's interference was limited to an internet-based campaign of trolls and bots promoting Trump and denigrating Clinton to U.S. voters. They never claimed that meddling determined the election outcome. Here's the irony: Trump is building a false case against Obama to distract his restive base from the very real case involving his pal and fellow playboy Epstein, one in which he may or may not be implicated in wrongdoing, and from his failure to bring Epstein's elite accomplices to justice. Yet by doing so, Trump is again setting up his followers for disappointment and disillusionment. Because there is no Obama case, and so no 'justice' for the salivating base. It's a sordid quandary that Trump deserves. Too bad he's brought it into the presidency. Bluesky: @jackiecalmes Threads: @jkcalmes X: @Jackiekcalmes
CNA
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Singapore Hour
47:00 Min Visit a neighbourhood full of green, black and white surprises. Meet a butcher who's redefining what it means to be a meatsmith, and custodians of Singapore's oldest trees. Finally, hang out at the coolest new spot in town. Singapore Hour About the show: Welcome to Singapore Hour: your all-access pass to the city that never stops surprising. From iconic eats to cutting-edge tech, vibrant culture to hidden local gems – we bring you the best of Singapore through the eyes of those who know it best. Whether you're here to travel, work, or just soak up the vibe, Singapore Hour is your definitive guide to what's hot, what's next and what you absolutely can't miss.
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Mark Carney Cosies Up to South Africa After Trump Fallout
Canadian Prime Minister gave South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a warm welcome at the G7 summit in Calgary, less than a month after Ramaphosa's tense White House meeting with President Donald Trump. "It is a great honor," Carney told Ramaphosa on Sunday. "I've been a long admirer of your leadership of South Africa." In May, Trump alleged that a genocide against white Afrikaaner people is taking place in South Africa and has accepted more than 60 into the United States as refugees. During Ramaphosa's visit to the White House, Trump called for the lights to be dimmed and made the South African delegation and all the reporters in the Oval Office watch clips of Julius Malema, the head of the growing opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), chant "kill the Boer, kill the farmer." Newsweek has previously broken down the history the chant and South Africa's legal rulings on it. Ramaphosa has repeatedly made it clear that his priority is to smooth over relations with America in the hope of coming to an agreement on trade and getting Trump to attend the G20 summit, which will be hosted in South Africa in November. Meanwhile, America and Canada are still reeling from their trade war, temporarily halted by a 90-day pause on tariff implementation. Carney shook Ramaphosa's hand, welcoming him to Canada. "We've met a bit in the past," Carney said. "And I've been a long admirer of your leadership of South Africa and now your leadership of the G20." "And the world is very much in your hands at a crucial time," Carney continued. "And if I may say, from a Canadian perspective, the strength of the ties between our countries are great, including down to the level of assistance in natural disasters." Ramaphosa responded by praising "the continued wonderful bilateral relations between Canada and South Africa." "We've had a long, long relationship and we're very proud of the way that we deal with each other," he continued. Ramaphosa has said several times that he believes his meeting at the White House was a success. "Many people were very critical of our going there, and some were even saying we were going cap in hand and what-have-you," he told reporters on June 10. "We were not." He stressed that he was the one who asked to visit Trump because he wanted "serious engagement" with America on trade and the G20 summit. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubioposting on X in February said: "I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg. South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote 'solidarity, equality, & sustainability.' In other words: DEI and climate change. My job is to advance America's national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism." When Trump was asked whether he would be going to the G20 summit at Ramaphosa's White House meeting, he answered: "It's important that the United States in involved, I think. Without the United States, I really believe it's not very important-it's not the same meeting." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's office said in a statement: "The Prime Minister and the President discussed the strong and growing partnership between Canada and South Africa, with increased co-operation in wildfire management, technology, and trade and investment. "The leaders discussed advancing shared priorities under their G7 and G20 presidencies, such as energy security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and climate resilience, including wildfires. They agreed to enhance economic co-operation between Canada and South Africa." South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told local reporters on June 10: "I'm hoping that when we meet the various other leaders of various countries who are part of the G7, we'll be able to interact meaningfully with them." Whether Canada and South Africa will develop a closer relationship in the midst of the tension with America is yet to be seen. All eyes are on the G7, which Trump has expressed optimism about. "I think we'll have a few new trade deals," Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday as he departed for the summit. The summit agenda encompasses a broad range of pressing issues, including fairness in global trade, critical minerals access, illegal migration, drug smuggling, and international security. Related Articles Donald Trump Eyeing New Trade Deals at Critical G7 SummitCarney Unveils Infrastructure Boost as Trump Targets Canada's EconomyDonald Trump Makes Canada a New Offer to Become 51st StateKing Charles Says Canada 'Strong and Free' Following Trump Row with Carney 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Malema should apologise for 'Kill the Boer' chant
Pastor Mark Burns said Malema singing the song is "hurting my white brothers and sister" in SA. An American pastor who is a fierce ally and supporter of US President Donald Trump believes the EFF and its leader Julius Malema should not be taken seriously and are attention-seekers for chanting the 'divisive' 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer'. Pastor Burns has defended his stance that there is no white genocide being perpetrated against white Afrikaners in South Africa After recently visiting South Africa and speaking to white farmers, Burns said he does not believe there is a genocide being perpetrated against White Afrikaners in the country, adding everyone he talked to was 'extremely shocked to discover that this was the narrative being played out in Washington, DC.' Ambush Last month, Trump ambushed President Cyril Ramaphosa by playing a video of Malema's speech to support his claims of an alleged white genocide against farmers. He also questioned why the EFF leader had not been arrested. WATCH Pastor Mark Burns speaking about Malema ALSO READ: 'There is no white genocide happening here,' says Trump's top pastor after SA visit Meeting Malema Burns said he believes 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' is a chant 'designed to pull people apart and not biblical'. 'The fact that we're talking about him [Malema] is not even good because, you know, that's spewing hate. Unless he wants to come and apologise and say, 'you know what, pastor, you're right, me singing that song is hurting my white brothers and sisters here in my beautiful nation, even though it is important, and it has historical evidence.' 'Yes, Mandela, whom President Trump spoke highly of, has great respect for him, and he spoke about him twice, did sing that song. Even your Constitutional [Court], I think, voted that it was his [Malema's] legal right to sing the song, it's still causing division in our nation, on a nation that is still pretty new from apartheid,' Burn said. Burns dismissed the EFF leader as 'just a character who is screaming, trying to garner attention for himself'. ALSO READ: 'There is doubt in Trump's head about genocide in SA,' Ramaphosa says [VIDEO] 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' In March, AfriForum suffered a final blow in its attempt to have the controversial chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' declared as hate speech. The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) delivered a brief ruling dismissing AfriForum's application for leave to appeal. Malema said he would never be intimidated by Trump. 'Well, I'm not fearful. As a revolutionary, part of being killed is one of those honours you must wear with pride, but I'm not going to be reckless. 'I will never stop singing a song that Winnie Mandela sang. That would be a betrayal to the struggle of our people'. 'False propaganda' Burns said he has been accused of spreading 'false propaganda' about no white genocide taking place in South Africa. 'To those accusing me of spreading false propaganda because I don't believe there is a white genocide happening among South African farmers, I say this: go speak to the White Afrikaans farmers and former apartheid leaders I met with. 'Some of them are strongly anti-ANC, yet they still shared serious concerns about safety in their communities. If that is considered false propaganda, then they are being accused of spreading it about their own people, which doesn't make sense,' Burns said. ALSO READ: WATCH: Donald Trump ambushes Cyril Ramaphosa in Oval Office Killing of white people Burns added that he is not denying that some white individuals may have been killed because of their race. 'But based on what I saw and what was shared with me, far more black South Africans are being killed by the same criminal elements that are thriving in a weak and struggling economy. 'Let's be clear. There is only one South Africa. The days of racial division under the apartheid government are over. South Africa is the Rainbow Nation, built on unity, diversity, and hope. 'White Afrikaans, Black Africans, and all others are South Africans together. The future of the country depends on people standing together, not apart,' Burns said. Who is Burns? Burns is the minister of Harvest Worship Centre in South Carolina and a Republican who ran for state governor. He served as a board member of pastors for Trump. An early supporter of Trump in 2016, Time magazine named Burns one of the US president's top advisors. ALSO READ: Piers Morgan slams Ramaphosa for defending 'Kill the Boer' chant [VIDEO]
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
More Afrikaners leave for the US
US President Donald Trump. Image: AFP US president Donald Trump was aware there was no white genocide in South Africa but wanted to use the claim to get his way. This was the view of International relations expert Rich Mashimbye who asserted that even if Trump was advised otherwise, it would not make a difference. This comes as Mark Burns, a close ally of Trump, returned from a visit to South Africa with a message contradicting claims of genocide against white farmers in the country. Burns, who is the founder and CEO of the NOW television network, met with white Afrikaner farmers and business owners during his trip and concluded that there was no evidence to support the claims of genocide. It also comes as a second, small batch of white Afrikaners quietly arrived in the US on Friday as part of Trump's offer to resettle them amidst false claims of white genocide and persecution in South Africa. While spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Chrispin Phiri said they are not aware of the second batch of Afrikaners landing in the US, trade union Solidarity said the group, smaller than the first to arrive in the US, included children. Last month the first group of more than 49 white South African Afrikaners landed in the US after a private plane was chartered for them. Trump in February had issued an executive order where Washington cited the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 as one that enables the persecution of Afrikaners. Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said the second group departed on a commercial flight on Thursday that landed in Atlanta in the US on Friday. 'Several more groups will fly to the USA over the next few weeks. 'The US Embassy in Pretoria, in collaboration with the State Department in Washington DC, is currently processing 8000 applications, and we expect many more Afrikaner refugees to travel to the USA over the next few months. "They are settling in states across the USA, but particularly southern states such as Texas, North and South Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska,' Kleynhans said. President Cyril Ramaphosa had attempted to fend off false claims of white genocide in South Africa when Trump ambushed him with videos and articles to prove his narrative that white farmers were being targeted for their land. The unexpected stunt turned the usually staid diplomatic setting of the Oval Office into a stage for Trump's contention that white South Africans are being persecuted. Reports indicate that the US embassy in South Africa is aware that 'refugees continue to arrive in the US from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement programme's ongoing operations'. Solidarity said it has helped some people understand the application process better and referred them to the right people at the US embassy. They have also assisted the US government in determining the criteria for Afrikaner refugee status. Kleynhans said he was campaigning in at least ten countries to increase international pressure on the SA government in the run-up to the G20 summit. Kallie Kriel, AfriForum's CEO, said he did not know the Afrikaners who were leaving because they applied directly to the US embassy. According to Mashimbye, for a while, the SA-US diplomatic tensions centred around the Trump-led government's accusations that the Ramaphosa government was persecuting white South Africans and confiscating land from Afrikaner farmers while remaining silent. He said it did not matter what people said because Trump was aware there was no white genocide in South Africa but wanted to use the claim to get his way. 'As president of a country with one the largest embassies that is fully staffed in South Africa, Trump has access to all the information he requires about South Africa's transformation project and he likely knows that the issues of land reform and crime dynamics are not as has been portrayed so far. 'He knows that there is no genocide happening nor confiscation of white-owned farms in South Africa. It is likely that the diplomatic attacks directed at South Africa are aimed at discouraging the Ramaphosa government from robustly executing the transformation project,' he said. Political analyst Sandile Swana said Burns' public statements were encouraging and showed that not everyone in Trump's camp agreed with him. 'To me they represent signs from the Trump's camp… that they have to tell a different story, which they are now doing…and a different story they are now telling is that whatever crime that is happening, is not a genocide but just crime that needs to be attended to." Cape Times
