Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
May 10, 2025, 7:55 AM
Before Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became pope, a social media account under his name shared criticisms of the Trump administration’s positions on immigration.
Months before Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the first American pope, a social media account under his name expressed criticism of Vice President JD Vance, sharing an article that called the vice president’s interpretation of Christian doctrine “wrong.”
The piece, published in The National Catholic Reporter, was a rebuttal to Mr. Vance’s interpretation of a Catholic teaching that he had used to defend the Trump administration’s deportation policies.
The post on X, which the account shared in February, was one of several that highlighted articles criticizing the Trump administration’s positions on immigration.
In April, the account under Cardinal Prevost’s name shared commentary from a Catholic writer who asked whether President Trump and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador saw “the suffering” caused by their immigration policies.
“Is your conscious not disturbed?” the writer, Rocco Palmo, wrote. “How can you stay quiet?”
In July 2015, the account reposted an article by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York that described Mr. Trump’s “anti-immigrant rhetoric” as “problematic.” Three years later, the account shared a post from Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, saying there was “nothing remotely Christian, American or morally defensible” about the administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents.
The criticism of Mr. Trump largely echoes the positions of Pope Francis, who also expressed his disagreement with the administration’s deportation policies. While Cardinal Prevost appeared to be relatively active on X, the account largely eschewed expression of his own opinions and instead reposted comments made by church leaders and articles from Catholic news outlets. It was unclear if he ran the account himself or it was operated by staff members.
At times, the account waded into other contentious areas of American politics. In 2020, it shared a statement signed by seven American bishops that said they were “broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged” by the killing of George Floyd, which they described as a “wake-up call.”
In 2017, the account shared a post from Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, criticizing fellow lawmakers for refusing to pass gun control legislation after the Mandalay Bay mass shooting in Las Vegas. Mr. Murphy has since emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration.
And several posts shared articles opposing abortion rights, including one from the Catholic News Agency that featured self-identified “pro-life Democrats” criticizing Hillary Clinton for adopting an “extreme pro-abortion platform.”
Only a small fraction of the posts referred to American politics. Many were in Spanish and shared announcements from the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican. Others addressed matters of faith and Catholic doctrine or marked special dates for the Order of Saint Augustine, a religious order of men and women who follow the teachings of the fourth-century saint, of which Cardinal Prevost is a member.
Some were even lighter fare: One post linked to an article by the Catholic News Service listing the best Christmas movies.
The first posts were shared in 2011 and appeared to be updates on the cardinal’s travel schedule.
“In Rome, Council meetings,” the account posted on Sept. 20, 2011.
So far, Mr. Trump doesn’t seem to be holding any grudges against the pope for any previous criticism. In his own post on X, the president said he looked forward to meeting the new pope.
Mr. Vance, a Catholic convert who met with Pope Francis shortly before his death, also sent well wishes on Thursday afternoon.
“Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election!” he wrote on social media. “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”
Not everyone in Mr. Trump’s orbit may be quite as pleased.
Even before the selection of the new pope, Steve Bannon, one of the president’s top allies, who has urged the church to adopt a more traditional stance, described Cardinal Prevost as “one of the dark horses” to become the next pontiff.
“Unfortunately, he’s one of the most progressive,” Mr. Bannon said in the interview last week.
Kate Conger contributed reporting.
Lisa Lerer is a national political reporter for The Times, based in New York. She has covered American politics for nearly two decades.
US President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday that he is seeking to “blow up” Iran’s nuclear centrifuges through an agreement with Tehran, but is also prepared to blow them up in an attack if necessary.
Asked during an interview on conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt’s radio show whether the US told Iran to choose either to turn over its nuclear centrifuges and uranium or to “get bombed,” US President Donald Trump responded, “It’s that simple.”
For their part, Iranian officials have asserted that they will never dismantle their nuclear centrifuges.
“I would much prefer a strong, verified deal where we actually blow them up… or just de-nuke them,” Trump said. “There are only two alternatives there, blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously.”
Earlier in the day, though, when Trump was asked by reporters whether the US position is to allow Iran to have a limited nuclear enrichment program, Trump responded, “We haven’t made that decision yet. We will.”
The separate comments further underscored the lack of clarity regarding the administration’s position on Iran, as some officials have said they are prepared to allow Iran to have limited enrichment capabilities, while others have said that they want the nuclear program completely destroyed.
On Sunday, Trump said that the aim of his administration’s nuclear talks with Iran is to achieve “total dismantlement” of Tehran’s nuclear program, but that he is open to letting the Islamic Republic pursue civilian nuclear energy.
Trump’s comments to Hewitt on Wednesday appeared to be closer to the position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also has said he would be willing to accept a deal in which Iran’s nuclear facilities are physically blown up and dismantled.
At the same time, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have expressed openness to allowing Iran to have a civilian nuclear program, so long as it does not include enrichment and if it imports the non-weapons grade uranium from abroad, as a number of countries do. Israel has not recently indicated whether it would accept such an outcome.
US Special Envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff, who is leading the talks with Iran, has indicated openness to even allowing Iran to have a uranium enrichment program, so long as it is capped at a certain level akin to the nuclear deal signed by former US president Barack Obama in 2015. Trump pulled the US out of that deal three years later, and Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear enrichment since.
The US and Iran are slated to hold their fourth round of talks this weekend in Rome.
The negotiations will come days after Oman brokered a separate deal between the US and the Houthis in which the US agreed to halt its strikes in Yemen in exchange for the Iran-backed rebel group halting its attacks on US ships in the Red Sea.
Reports on Wednesday claimed that Iran leaned on the Houthis to agree to the truce in order to advance the separate nuclear talks it’s holding with the US.
Speaking to reporters later Wednesday, Trump said he takes the Houthis at their word that they will honor the truce announced on Tuesday.
“We take their word for it… We hit them very hard. They had a great capacity to withstand punishment,” he said. “You could say there’s a lot of bravery there.”
Earlier Wednesday, Vance told the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington that talks on Iran’s nuclear program are heading in the right direction, stating that Tehran can have civil nuclear power but not enrichment that can lead to atomic weapons.
“We don’t care if people want nuclear power. We’re fine with that, but you can’t have the kind of enrichment program that allows you to get to a nuclear weapon, and that’s where we draw the line,” Vance added.
Iran and the US have been in nuclear talks since April 12, their highest-level contact since Washington withdrew from the landmark deal with Tehran in 2018 during Trump’s first term in office.
When asked about whether a prospective deal with Iran would bear any similarity to the previous agreement, Vance pointed to “a couple issues with the earlier agreement,” claiming its “inspections regime was incredibly weak” and allowed Iran to stay on the path to attaining a nuclear weapon.
“We think that there is a deal here that would really integrate Iran into the global economy, that would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they get a nuclear weapon — that’s what we’re negotiating towards,” Vance said.
The United States and other Western countries have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons — a claim Tehran denies, insisting that its atomic program is solely for civilian purposes. But Iran, which openly seeks Israel’s destruction, has ramped up its enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity, which has no peaceful application, and has obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities.
Jacob Magid, The Times of Israel
Minnesota has been in the news a lot in recent years, and not in a good way. This essay is a wistful look back at the decline of a once great state.
I moved to Minnesota in 1975, partially inspired by the famous Time Magazine cover featuring Governor Wendall Anderson holding up a caught walleye, touting the “Good Life in Minnesota.” I came for the good life and the in-state college summer school rates offered by the University of Minnesota.
I ended up getting a job in Minneapolis, putting down roots, getting married, having three kids, eventually owning three businesses and owning four Minneapolis houses.
The good life narrative was mostly true. Minnesota was a low-crime, high–quality of life state for most of that time. Yes, the state had liberal tendencies but mostly the do-good, community caring type of liberalism in keeping with the state’s Scandinavian founding population and embodied by politicians such as Hubert Humphrey and Paul Wellstone.
Over the first three decades of my life in MN, the political environment was mixed but acceptable. Interspersed with elected Democrats were Republicans such as senators Dave Durenberger, Rudy Boschwitz, and Rod Grahams. Even as recently as 2011, the state benefited from two-term Republican governor Tim Pawlenty.
But in the last several years, things have changed radically. Democrat Governor Mark Dayton was no friend of freedom-seekers during his reign from 2011 to 2019. But things were to turn far worse. The election of Tim Walz in 2019 brought in an unprecedented level of wokism and oppressive state control. Tax hikes increased in the already overtaxed state. Tampon Tim earned the nickname featured in his hopelessly failed V.P. candidacy for mandating that menstrual products be available in public school boys’ bathrooms as young as fourth grade. Walz was one of the most draconian COVID lockdown governors in the U.S. It was widely reported that he had patrol officers shoot paintballs at citizens sitting on their front porches during the lockdowns.
Walz presided over the genesis of the George Floyd riots. He, his family, and his administration deified this lifelong criminal into a racial martyr, triggering riots all over the country that led to at least 18 deaths and up to $2 billion in property damage. He egregiously let the Minneapolis third police precinct burn, saying it was “only” property. He, along with jejune Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, have blood on their hands for not quelling this riotous behavior before it metastasized.
null
Minnesota public schools have been a disaster. Governor Walz and the state Legislature have mandated racial equity education, starting in kindergarten in 2027. New and renewing Minnesota teachers must sign an LGBT affirmation pledge, starting in July of this year, to keep their licenses. Meanwhile, 68% of Minnesota public school fourth-graders are not proficient in reading according to the 2024 Data Book study.
During his ill fated V.P. campaign, Tim Walz and his stolen miliary valor scandals and other gross misrepresentations of his record came into public consciousness. His faux masculinity became a national joke.
Unfortunately, those of us residing here continue to live with his ongoing mal-governance. Minnesota may very well have the most criminal scandalous activity in the nation. For example, the recent Feeding Our Future scam revealed $250,000 in stolen money from needy families, with very little oversight, until a recent criminal conviction. The less said about Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, the better (spoiler alert: It involves alleged corruption and domestic abuse as well as his befriending Louis Farrakhan).
I look at our state and largest city with sadness and disgust. Minnesota has the sixth highest overall taxes in the country. Ilhan Omar, an America-hating ingrate, is a mainstream media Squad fixture as Minneapolis’s congressional district representative. She is credibly accused of marrying her brother to flout immigration tax laws and gain access to the U.S. Other quality-of-life metrics are negative as well. Violent crime is up, and graffiti in Minneapolis is ubiquitous.
null
Minnesota is one of only a few states with a death tax significantly under the federal $14-million threshold. As an investment banker, who helps company owners exit from their companies, I can tell you that almost all of these exiting owners set up their post-exit lives in other states (such as Florida and Arizona) so as to not be subject to Minnesota taxes during life and absolutely not upon death. This wealth and brain flight from Minnesota will be devastating for the state in the long term.
Just last month, Minnesota again was featured in the national news because our Soros-funded D.A., Mary Moriarty, decided not to punish a Tesla car vandal who caused $21,000’s worth of damage, keying multiple Tesla cars. A “diversion” program was granted to this criminal even though state guidelines state that this is available only for offenders committing property damage under $5,000. Conveniently, this individual was a mid-level staffer in the Walz administration.
So is there any reason for optimism? Maybe a little.
Minnesota is home to one of the best regional center-right think-tanks in the country, The Center of the American Experiment. The organization publishes outstanding original research and hosts some of the most prominent and thoughtful conservative voices for its events. I continue to support this outstanding organization and encourage all open-minded Minnesotans to do so as well. (The organization is so effective that of course its headquarters was firebombed last year in a “mostly peaceful” gesture.)
Alpha News has sprung up as a font of courageous journalism, doing the job that the moribund legacy newspaper, the Star Tribune, will not do. I commend readers to their outstanding documentary, The Fall of Minneapolis, which covers the corruption and mob rule surrounding the conviction of Derek Chauvin in the George Floyd death case.
Outstate Minnesota is Trump country. When one travels 30 miles outside the Twin Cities Metro area, you are met with a sea of Trump signs and flags. The problem is the concentration of liberal population and Democrat machine politics in the metro area.
I have seen friends and colleagues successfully run for Minnesota school boards and challenge the insane woke and disordered sexual indoctrination happening in Minnesota schools.
All of this is just a start, but I am hopeful that the fever will break and that Minnesota and Minneapolis can once again reclaim the Good Life for which they were for so long praised.
Jeffrey Wright is a Minneapolis-based investment banker, entrepreneur, and concerned citizen.
Image: Tim Walz. Credit: Lorie Shaull via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
h
h
Now more than ever, the ability to speak our minds is crucial to the republic we cherish. If what you see on American Thinker resonates with you, please consider supporting our work with a donation of as much or as little as you can give. Every dollar contributed helps us pay our staff and keep our ideas heard and our voices strong.
Thank you.$5$10$50Other
If You’re Over 65, Try This Instead of Gutter Cleaning (It’s Genius)LeafFilter Partner
This New AC Cooler Cools The Room In SecondsPubyfun
Here’s The Estimated Cost of a 1-day Walk-in Shower UpgradeHomeBuddy
People Born 1921-1979 Are Due a Large Surprise, Check if You QualifyThe Consumer Guide
If You’re Over 65, Try This Instead of Gutter Cleaning (It’s Genius)LeafFilter Partner
American Veteran – Honoring Glass: Salute Those Who Served The UsRibili
Neurologists: 1/2 Cup Each Morning Relieves Neurоpathy Quickly! (Watch Now)Health Headlines
This New AC Cooler Cools The Room In SecondsPubyfun
New Windows Available if You Own a Home in These Zip CodesSmart Lifestyle Trends
Discover The $59 Smartwatch Testing Blood Sugar Quickly and Painlessly in AshburnRibili
Must-have Mugs for Military Fansmiymo
8 Clever Ways to Pay Your BillsThe Penny Hoarder
6 Best Frugal Money HacksThe Penny Hoarder
Neurologist: 97% of People With Neuropathy Don’t Know This Crucial ThingNeuropathyGuide
If you experience technical problems, please write to helpdesk@americanthinker.com
Here’s The Estimated Cost of a 1-day Gutter Guards InstallationLeafFilter Partner
Here’s The Estimated Cost of a 1-day Walk-in Shower UpgradeHomeBuddy
American Veteran – Honoring Glass: Salute Those Who Served The UsRibili
Virginia New Windows Available if You Own a Home in These Zip CodesSmart Lifestyle Trends
24hr
48hr
7 Days
Indiana courthouse becomes the scene of a vigilante justice shootout
The Death of the Good Life in Minnesota
Houdini in a Robe: Judge Dugan’s Courthouse Escape Plan
nullAbout Us | Contact | Privacy Policy | RSS Syndication © American Thinker 2025https://js.stripe.com/v3/controller-with-preconnect-22a816b47f4ca88cf7d33b97dd1efb47.html#__shared_params__[version]=v3&apiKey=pk_live_ylKFAuZgL0gwhmJlAURCf48f&stripeJsId=3917f784-6504-469f-8124-f2be557f76a6&firstStripeInstanceCreatedLatency=34&controllerCount=1&isCheckout=false&stripeJsLoadTime=1746822874132&manualBrowserDeprecationRollout=false&mids[guid]=NA&mids[muid]=e1f5519f-e3eb-42e3-8b18-559887f0707b4f762d&mids[sid]=070aab40-4e8b-4979-a9a9-5097e0daa23f7ad252&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com%2Farticles%2F2025%2F05%2Fthe_death_of_the_good_life_in_minnesota.html&controllerId=__privateStripeController8821https://js.stripe.com/v3/controller-with-preconnect-22a816b47f4ca88cf7d33b97dd1efb47.html#__shared_params__[version]=v3&apiKey=pk_live_ylKFAuZgL0gwhmJlAURCf48f&apiVersion=2020-08-27&stripeJsId=3917f784-6504-469f-8124-f2be557f76a6&firstStripeInstanceCreatedLatency=34&controllerCount=2&isCheckout=false&stripeJsLoadTime=1746822874132&manualBrowserDeprecationRollout=false&mids[guid]=NA&mids[muid]=e1f5519f-e3eb-42e3-8b18-559887f0707b4f762d&mids[sid]=070aab40-4e8b-4979-a9a9-5097e0daa23f7ad252&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com%2Farticles%2F2025%2F05%2Fthe_death_of_the_good_life_in_minnesota.html&controllerId=__privateStripeController8824https://js.stripe.com/v3/payment-request-inner-google-pay-64be29737116b52e1d334c8f4a111182.html#authentication[apiKey]=pk_live_ylKFAuZgL0gwhmJlAURCf48f&mids[guid]=NA&mids[muid]=e1f5519f-e3eb-42e3-8b18-559887f0707b4f762d&mids[sid]=070aab40-4e8b-4979-a9a9-5097e0daa23f7ad252&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com%2Farticles%2F2025%2F05%2Fthe_death_of_the_good_life_in_minnesota.html&controllerId=__privateStripeController8824https://js.stripe.com/v3/payment-request-inner-browser-44e515800b30e8115f6d98bfe26d9dfe.html#authentication[apiKey]=pk_live_ylKFAuZgL0gwhmJlAURCf48f&mids[guid]=NA&mids[muid]=e1f5519f-e3eb-42e3-8b18-559887f0707b4f762d&mids[sid]=070aab40-4e8b-4979-a9a9-5097e0daa23f7ad252&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanthinker.com%2Farticles%2F2025%2F05%2Fthe_death_of_the_good_life_in_minnesota.html&controllerId=__privateStripeController8824
×
null
×
Republicans who hate Trump are usually even worse than Democrats. Democrats are either straightforward Communist thugs or confused, ignorant people brainwashed by a one-sided media, corporate Establishment and educational system. Republicans are usually smart enough to see through all the collectivist and woke BS. But then, as a Republican, to turn around and oppose Trump, the only official actually following through on overturning the BS, exposes the dishonesty of the faux Republican. Popes have no political power, but if you think this Pope might be less woke than Francis, you will likely be disappointed.
*******
President Trump and Congress should NOT allow the marginal income tax rate to go up from 37 to 39 percent. Three reasons:
1) You have an equal right to your earnings regardless of your income level; “progressive” taxes punish success and achievement;
2) The highest income earners disproportionately contribute to economic growth — whether through investment, spending on luxury items or job creation; without wealth creators, we have NO jobs, no economy;
3) We should be discussing ending the income tax and closing the IRS — not raising taxes on anyone.
It’s no time to go wobbly, President Trump.
*******
The Trump DOJ has opened a criminal investigation into New York Attorney General Leticia James for her fraud on a mortgage application. James is the AG responsible for convicting Trump of literally made-up crimes.
It’s a start. But we have to take this all the way, with all of them: Fauci, Merrick Garland, Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton, the Soros crime family — all of them. Anything less, and 3 years from now could be a nightmare in America.
Follow Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Charleston SC). Get up-to-the-minute postings, recommended articles and links, and engage in back-and-forth discussion with Dr. Hurd on topics of interest. Also follow Dr. Hurd on X at @MichaelJHurd1, drmichaelhurd on Instagram, @DrHurd on TruthSocial. Dr. Hurd is also now a Newsmax Insider!
Yes, the Immaculate conception is hard for people who don’t consider Christ as God IN the womb (which is why Mary is the “mother of God” and yet was created by Him).
The thing is to start with looking at the gospel of Luke – Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greets Mary, saying, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Greek: kecharitomene). The term kecharitomene is unique in Scripture, a perfect passive participle indicating that Mary has been filled with grace by God’s action, completed in the past, and enduring.
This is a singular, unmerited grace that God gave her, and why? Because she is the vessel that contained the might of God. No wonder the angel Gabriel was astounded.
For Mary to be “full of grace” implies she is free from sin, as sin and grace are opposed (Romans 6:14). If Mary were stained by original sin, she could not be described as perfectly graced. This grace, bestowed before her consent to bear Jesus, points to her conception, as God prepared her from the outset for her unique role.
If God chose Mary to bear His sinless Son, wouldn’t He ensure her purity from the start?
As the New Eve, Mary’s obedience undoes Eve’s fall —> If Eve was created sinless, wouldn’t God create the New Eve (Mary) similarly sinless to cooperate perfectly in redemption?
Jesus, being sinless (Hebrews 4:15), required a pure vessel to enter the world. Mary, as His mother, was chosen and prepared by God to be free from original sin, ensuring no taint of sin touched the Incarnation. The “overshadowing” of the Holy Spirit suggests God’s sanctifying action on Mary, extending to her conception to fit her for this role. Her unique election “in the fullness of time” implies a singular grace, distinct from others born under the law’s curse (Romans 3:23).
Consider the biblical evidence: Mary is “full of grace” (Luke 1:28), set in total enmity with Satan (Genesis 3:15), and chosen as the pure vessel for Christ (Luke 1:35). Scripture doesn’t say “Mary was conceived without sin,” but it paints a picture of her holiness that fits God’s redemptive plan. Just as you accept the Trinity or the canon of Scripture through biblical implications, consider Mary’s Immaculate Conception as a truth God reveals through His Word. Let’s honor Mary not as divine but as the sinless handmaid whose purity magnifies Christ’s glory.
Charlie Kirk
The deal will allow the United States to gain increased market access in the United Kingdom for billions of dollars worth of American exports.
President Donald Trump, joined by representatives from the United Kingdom in the Oval Office, announced on Thursday that the two countries will cut back on trade barriers in the first major trade deal for the president.
The agreement will allow the United States to gain increased market access in the United Kingdom — the sixth-largest economy in the world — for billions of dollars worth of American exports, according to Trump. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who spoke to the president over the phone, told Trump he is “really pleased” with the deal between the two allies. The final details are still being worked out, but Trump will keep some tariffs in place on British imports. The president emphasized that the deal would boost both countries’ industrial bases and help protect steel.
“Both countries have agreed that economic security is national security and will be working together as allies to ensure that we have a strong industrial base and appropriate export controls and protections for key technologies and industries like steel,” Trump said. “Steel was a big factor. Both countries will become stronger with steel.”
Shortly after announcing the deal, President Trump posted a chart on social media, showing that Britain’s tariffs on U.S. goods will drop to 1.8% while “reciprocal tariffs” on the United Kingdom will remain at 10%. Trump said other nations should not view the 10% tariff on Britain as a template for how the administration will negotiate future deals.
Asked by Daily Wire White House Reporter Mary Margaret Olohan if the trade deal includes any assurances from Britain to protect free speech and freedom of religion, Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the agreement is solely focused on the economy.
Lutnick added that the deal will also allow the United Kingdom to export up to 100,000 vehicles to the United States for a 10% tariff. Lutnick said the agreement will enable the U.K. to maintain access to the U.S. market while also protecting American jobs. The United States will be able to gain more access to U.K. markets to sell agricultural products such as “ethanol, beef, [and] machinery,” according to Lutnick. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the deal will “exponentially increase our beef exports” to the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom will also be allowed to export Rolls-Royce engines and airplane parts to the United States tariff-free, and Britain will purchase $10 billion worth of Boeing airplanes from the United States, Lutnick added.
Starmer praised Trump and his trade team for working out the trade deal.
“Really important deal,” Starmer said. “This is going to boost trade between and across our countries. It’s not only going to protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”
The deal is a significant step for the Trump administration as it seeks to negotiate new trade agreements with dozens of countries worldwide following the president’s “Liberation Day” tariffs rollout last month.
Zach Jewell, Daily Wire
James Woods on X:
How do Republicans hold all the power yet can’t bring criminals to justice, but Democrats push all these hoaxes through and hold hearings nonstop? Is there one single Republican with balls besides Trump? Just one?
My fears exactly. We cannot let Trump do all the heavy lifting. He won’t be around forever. Our opponents are radical, hateful, sociopaths. Unless we make them so afraid that they become nostalgic for the good old days of Trump, they will destroy us and America.
Will there ever be accountability for anything? Ever? If not, the criminals will rise again — worse than ever before.
Michael J. Hurd, Daily Dose of Reason
A new piece of legislation introduced in Delaware aims to offer expanded protections for people experiencing homelessness, focusing on their right to engage in life-sustaining activities such as resting and sleeping in public spaces. [TV Delmarva]
More sad news from tiny, beautiful but leftist-run Delaware: This is how they deliberately destroy nice areas. And the gullible people who vote for it think they’re being virtuous. I bet it will pass.
Delaware is a one-party state like California. Toxic ideas have consequences: toxic policies that ruin human life. Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that it’s actually beneficial for the homeless to spread the tragedy of their mental illness or substance abuse onto the property or into the mental space of others. Leftists put their own self-conscious need to appear morally superior above the well-being of those they claim to love. It’s a vicious con game.
The leftists who applaud this insanity are one of two types: Very rich, meaning none of this will affect or touch them; or extraordinarily naive and ignorant, meaning they have little to lose by ruining the material and spiritual integrity of society.
Follow Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Charleston SC). Get up-to-the-minute postings, recommended articles and links, and engage in back-and-forth discussion with Dr. Hurd on topics of interest. Also follow Dr. Hurd on X at @MichaelJHurd1, drmichaelhurd on Instagram, @DrHurd on TruthSocial. Dr. Hurd is also now a Newsmax Insider!
I love Ayn Rand’s ideas (she labeled them Objectivism) and they have been instrumental in my life, including my career in psychology. The people calling themselves spokespersons for Objectivism (primarily at the Ayn Rand Institute) today are sycophantic fraudsters, mostly obsessed, it now seems, with discrediting President Trump and advancing the openly Communist and fascist agenda of America’s Democratic Party. In that context, the following article by Sherwin Newman (along with his remarkable, uplifting photographic representation) is refreshing indeed.
Newman’s article follows:
Why Objectivists Should Support Donald Trump Despite Philosophical Imperfections
Ayn Rand’s Objectivism champions reason, individualism, and laissez-faire capitalism as the foundations of a free society. Yet, in the turbulent political landscape of 2025, some Objectivists hesitate to support Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, because his agenda doesn’t perfectly align with Rand’s principles. His nationalism, tariffs, and pragmatic approach clash with Objectivism’s universal ideals. However, I argue that Objectivists should back Trump—not because he’s a flawless embodiment of their philosophy, but because the consequences of his opponents’ victory would empower global ultra-collectivist organizations, threatening the very freedoms that allow Objectivism to thrive. These freedoms include free speech, deregulation, a pro-business ethic, reduced government waste, and skepticism toward institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO), World Economic Forum (WEF), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and European Union (EU). Failing to recognize this reality reflects a disintegration of Objectivist thinking, marked by deductive rigidity rather than Rand’s inductive, reality-based approach. Trump’s revocation of restrictive AI regulations, for instance, has preserved technological freedoms that Objectivists rely on, as evidenced by my ability to use tools like Grok 3. This pragmatic alignment, recognized by venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen, underscores why Objectivists must act in their rational self-interest and support Trump.
The Stakes: Global Collectivism vs. American Liberty
Objectivism holds that the supremacy of reason is primary, and any system subordinating it to collective goals is immoral. The WEF, WHO, IMF, World Bank, and EU embody an altruist-collectivist agenda that prioritizes global welfare over individual autonomy, threatening America’s pursuit of life and liberty.
Consider their actions in 2025:
– World Economic Forum (WEF): The WEF’s “stakeholder capitalism” and ESG criteria urge businesses to sacrifice profits for climate and social goals, undermining free markets. Its 2025 Davos meeting pushed “Global Cooperation,” subordinating national interests to collective agendas like digital governance.
– World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO’s $6.8 billion budget funds global health mandates, such as the 2025 Pandemic Treaty, which pressures nations to align with centralized protocols, eroding sovereignty.
– International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank: These institutions provide loans ($72.8 billion from the World Bank in 2024, $650 billion in IMF Special Drawing Rights) with conditions enforcing global economic alignment, limiting national autonomy.
– European Union (EU): The EU’s regulatory frameworks, including its artificial intelligence regulations, impose collectivist standards that stifle innovation and free speech, as seen in its push for “algorithmic equity.”
These organizations promote altruism—sacrificing individual or national interests for a nebulous “global good”—and collectivism, demanding conformity to shared goals. If Trump’s opponents, aligned with these institutions, had prevailed, their policies would have strengthened this agenda, dismantling the freedoms Objectivists depend on:
– Free Speech: Collectivist organizations often support censorship under guises like “combating misinformation.” The EU’s AI regulations mandate content moderation, threatening open discourse. A Biden-led administration would likely have mirrored these restrictions, stifling Objectivist advocacy.
– Deregulation and Pro-Business Ethic: Global institutions impose regulations (e.g., WEF’s ESG, IMF’s fiscal conditions) that hinder entrepreneurship. A collectivist U.S. government would amplify these, crushing the pro-business environment Objectivism requires.
– Reduced Government Waste: The Biden administration’s massive deficit spending fueled inflation and bloated bureaucracies, diverting resources from productive individuals. Global organizations like the UN encourage such spending through development programs, which a collectivist regime would expand.
– Skepticism of Global Institutions: A collectivist administration would embrace the WHO, WEF, and EU, ceding sovereignty to their agendas, unlike Trump’s critical stance.
These consequences aren’t hypothetical. The Biden administration’s 2023 AI Executive Order, which mandated “equity” and “safety” standards, restricted innovation and empowered regulatory overreach, threatening tools like Grok 3. Had Biden’s policies persisted, Objectivists might lack the technological freedom to engage in rational discourse today.
Trump’s Opposition: A Bulwark Against Collectivism
Trump’s 2025 actions demonstrate a practical resistance to global collectivism, aligning with Objectivist interests despite philosophical divergences:
– Withdrawal from WHO: Trump announced a one-year notice to cut U.S. funding (roughly 18% of WHO’s budget), rejecting its global health mandates as contrary to U.S. interests.
– Review of IMF and World Bank: Trump ordered a 180-day review of U.S. contributions, questioning their benefits amid claims they favor foreign nations, signaling skepticism of collectivist financial systems.
– WEF Engagement with Nationalist Rhetoric: At Davos 2025, Trump promoted “America First” policies—tax cuts, deregulation, and tariffs—prioritizing U.S. sovereignty over WEF’s global cooperation.
– EU Tariff Threats: Trump’s threats of tariffs on EU exports challenge its regulatory overreach, including AI regulations that stifle free speech and innovation.
– AI Deregulation: Trump revoked Biden’s AI Executive Order, freeing companies like xAI to innovate without restrictive mandates, preserving tools like Grok 3. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, a Trump supporter, cited this as critical for technological freedom.
These moves counter the collectivist tide. Trump’s deregulation and tax cuts foster a pro-business environment, aligning with Objectivism’s capitalist ethos.
His skepticism of global institutions echoes Rand’s rejection of any authority subordinating individual rights.
The Disintegration of Objectivist Thinking
Some Objectivists, particularly new leaders, fail to support Trump, burying their heads in the sand and neglecting their rational self-interest. This stems from a disintegration of Objectivism, shifting from Rand’s inductive, reality-based reasoning to deductive rigidity. Rand’s epistemology (Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Chapter 2: Concept Formation) emphasizes forming concepts by integrating sensory data with reason, adapting to new contexts. Trump’s opposition to collectivism is a concrete reality, yet some Objectivists cling to frozen abstractions, dismissing him for analytic deviations like tariffs.
This deductive approach—judging Trump solely by theoretical alignment—ignores the existential threat of global collectivism. If Biden’s administration had continued, its alignment with WEF, WHO, and EU policies would have eroded free speech, innovation, and economic freedom, stifling Objectivism’s ability to flourish. For example, Biden’s AI order empowered regulators to curb platforms like X, limiting Objectivist discourse. Trump’s revocation, conversely, ensures these platforms thrive, as Andreessen recognized in backing Trump for existential reasons.
Rand was an inductive thinker, observing reality to form principles. She supported imperfect allies (e.g., Barry Goldwater) when they advanced freedom against greater threats. Today’s Objectivist leaders, by contrast, risk irrelevance by failing to grapple with reality rationally, prioritizing frozen abstractions over practical consequences.
Consequences of Inaction
Objectivists who oppose or ignore Trump risk catastrophic outcomes. A collectivist victory would empower global institutions to:
– Censor Speech: EU-style AI regulations, embraced by Biden, would restrict platforms, silencing Objectivist voices.
– Stifle Innovation: WEF and IMF policies would burden businesses with regulations, crushing the entrepreneurial spirit Rand celebrated.
– Expand Government Waste: UN and World Bank programs would justify bloated spending, diverting resources from individuals.
– Erode Sovereignty: WHO and EU mandates would undermine U.S. autonomy, weakening the constitutional protections Objectivism relies on.
These outcomes would dismantle the conditions—free speech, deregulation, pro-business policies—that allow Objectivism to exist. My use of Grok 3, for instance, depends on Trump’s AI deregulation; under Biden, such tools might be restricted by “equity” mandates. Objectivists who fail to act in their self-interest are complicit in this erosion, contradicting Rand’s virtue of selfishness.
Conclusion
Objectivists should support Donald Trump because his opposition to global ultra-collectivist organizations like the WEF, WHO, IMF, World Bank, and EU protects the freedoms essential for Objectivism to thrive. His deregulation, pro-business policies, and skepticism of globalist agendas preserve free speech, innovation, and economic liberty, as seen in his AI policy reversals that enable tools like Grok 3. The alternative—allowing collectivist opponents to prevail—would empower institutions that threaten America’s liberty, stifling Objectivism’s voice. Some Objectivists’ refusal to support Trump reflects a deductive disintegration, ignoring Rand’s inductive, reality-based approach. As venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen recognize, existential threats demand pragmatic alliances. Objectivists must act in their rational self-interest, backing Trump to safeguard the conditions for a free, capitalist society where reason and individualism can flourish.
Michael J. Hurd, Daily Dose of Reason
THE ARTFUL DILETTANTE 
