Trump Attacks: He Compares Current Administration to Gestapo

Biden Gestapo Administation

Donald Trump has accused the White House leader of being incompetent and corrupt and has compared President Joe Biden's administration to the secret police of Nazi Germany - Gestapo, NBC News reports.

The former president made these comments while discussing his legal troubles, attacking the prosecutors in these cases and lamenting the recent indictments in Arizona of several of his top advisers, along with 11 so-called fake electors from the 2020 election.

"These people are running a Gestapo administration," Trump said, according to the audio recording of the event. "And that's all they have. And that's the only way they think they're going to win, in their opinion."

"Once I was indicted, I said, 'Well, now we have to take the gloves off,'" added Trump, saying Biden is "the worst president in the country's history." "He's extremely incompetent. He's corrupt as hell. He's the Manchurian candidate."

The former president added that he is not too bothered by his legal issues.

"If you care too much, you tend to suffocate. And, in a way, I don't care. It's just that, you know, that's life," he said.

However, he admitted that he was surprised when he was indicted. "Once I was indicted, I said, 'I've just been indicted.' Me. I've been indicted," Trump said.

He also called Jack Smith, the special counsel handling two federal cases against him, a "scumbag" and "nutcase."

Trump made the remarks at his Mar-a-Lago club during a private event attended by hundreds of donors.

Campus protest: Tensions and Violence against pro-Palestinian students protesting ai UCLA(II)

campus protest

(Continuation of the post from here)

This Thursday morning, the police began to dismantle the barricades of pro-Palestinian students on campus protest, according to images broadcast by the American channel CNN. Before daybreak, the police, in riot gear, positioned themselves in front of the students carrying umbrellas or white helmets and forming a line, clinging to each other's arms. The demonstrators, one by one, were then arrested and handcuffed. The police also methodically dismantled the wooden pallets and plywood panels from a barricade surrounding the campus protest and dismantled the tents.

Officers warned protesters that they would be subject to arrest and possible harm if they remained in the encampment, but many of them refused to leave, CNN reported. “Hold the line, hold the line!” “, some shouted from inside the camp. Several people also gathered on the Janss steps, emblematic of UCLA, appearing to try to prevent the police from advancing.

Around fifty UCLA professors denounced the management's responsibility on Wednesday. “The university has created a dangerous situation which reached a crescendo last night,” said Graeme Blair, a political science professor. “They allow counter-protesters to be within 20 feet (6 meters) of this encampment,” he lamented, estimating that counter-demonstrations could be authorized elsewhere on campus.

Are the anti-protesters pro-Israeli?

According to several witnesses, some of the counter-protesters carried Israeli flags, but did not appear to be students. They add that many of them have visited campus several times.

“From the first evening, (those present at the camp) were harassed by increasingly large groups of counter-protesters,” Dylan Winward, a journalist with the Daily Bruin, the campus newspaper, told the BBC.

The hooded and masked attackers appeared to be “between 20 and 35 years old and did not look like students or people with the slightest connection to the university,” Daniel Harris, a 23-year-old jazz student, told AFP. , adding that he did not recognize any of the “Jewish students who support Israel” that he knows.

According to Professor Elizabeth O’Brien, “provocateurs from outside” chanting slogans such as “USA!” USA! » or “Fake News” are at the origin of the violence. The clashes appear to have lasted several hours. According to paramedics, a man in his twenties was taken to hospital with head trauma.

The day after a restless night, relative calm reigned on campus on Wednesday, with a strong police presence. Inside the camp, around a hundred tents, pro-Palestinian students are still gathered. Classes were canceled and management issued a statement saying it had opened “a thorough investigation that could lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals.” »

Famous Figures: The tears of Hope Hicks, the faithful communicator in Trump trial in New York

trial testimony

The youngest communications director at the White House, who was also the former president's confidante, gave trial  testimony that was sometimes damning, sometimes useful for her ex-boss.

The young woman stops, leans over, grabs a handkerchief, bursts into tears while dabbing her eyes. "Miss Hicks, do you want to take a break?" » asks Judge Merchan. “Yes,” she whispers, and the jury is escorted out of the courtroom while she regains her senses.

Hope Hicks was a key witness in Donald Trump's trial over cover-ups to hide payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels. She said she had a sexual relationship with him in 2006 and, ten years later, when Trump was running for presidential election, she threatened to write about it in the newspapers.

At the Trump trial, account of a political “crisis” linked to his vulgar comments about women

The first ex-member of his bodyguard to testify at Donald Trump's criminal trial, his former adviser Hope Hicks recounted on Friday how the revelations about his vulgar and outrageous remarks towards women had plunged his presidential campaign into "crisis " in 2016.

“Very nervous” in her own words, even bursting into tears during her trial testimony, Hope Hicks, who was White House communications director from 2017 to 2018, described a candidate “very involved” in all aspects of his presidential election campaign , to whom she reported directly.

In this trial with enormous political stakes, the former President of the United States, who dreams of returning to the White House, is being prosecuted for 34 falsifications of accounting documents linked to a payment to avoid a sex scandal a few days before the won election on the wire against Hillary Clinton, in November 2016.

“It was going to hurt.”

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo questions him especially about an episode which precedes the payment to Stormy Daniels. A month before the election in 2016, the Washington Post broadcast a video where we hear Donald Trump bragging in crude terms about having offensive behavior with women, such as "grabbing them by the pussy".

“I was worried, very worried,” she remembers, when the prosecution produces the email sent to her, on October 7, 2016, by the Washington Post journalist. And when she heard the extracts for the first time, "I was a little stunned (...) there was a consensus on the fact that it was going to hurt and that we were facing a crisis", adds -She.

For the prosecution, this episode encouraged Donald Trump to do everything to avoid a new scandal before the November 2016 election, even if it meant buying the silence of Stormy Daniels.

On October 28, 2016, a confidentiality contract was signed with the former pornographic film star.

The $130,000 was paid by Michael Cohen, via a shell company. He was reimbursed in 2017 by the billionaire's holding company, the Trump Organization, for expenses disguised as "legal fees", hence the prosecution for falsification of accounting documents.

“Break to repair”

Former US President Donald Trump (c) attends his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 3, 2024 in New York

Hope Hicks trial testimony painted an unflattering portrait of Michael Cohen, the prosecution's key witness, who has yet to take the stand to say that he acted at the candidate's request.

“He liked to call himself a ‘repairer’”, but first “he broke things in order to be able to repair”, she says. “I didn't know Michael to be a charitable or selfless person,” she adds, of the idea that he could have made the payment to Stormy Daniels out of his own pocket.

As for Donald Trump, she describes him as worrying about the reaction of his wife, Melania, when the Wall Street Journal reported a first payment to buy the silence of a Playboy model, Karen McDougal.

In this case, the whole issue will be to determine what Donald Trump knew about the behind-the-scenes dealings with Stormy Daniels and the concealment of the payment.

Three years after leaving the White House in chaos, the Republican enters the presidential election campaign being indicted in four cases, including that before federal justice in Washington for accusations of illegal attempts to reverse the results of the presidential election won by Joe Biden in 2020.

But due to appeals and procedural questions, the trial in New York, of a smaller scale, could be the only one tried before the November 5 presidential election.

If he were elected again, Donald Trump could, once inaugurated in January 2025, order the abandonment of the two federal proceedings against him, in Washington but also in Florida (southeast), where he is being prosecuted for allegedly managing casual access to classified documents after leaving the White House.

The debates in New York will resume on Monday.

Campus protest: Tensions and Violence against pro-Palestinian students protesting ai UCLA(I)

 Police officers in riot gear intervened during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday to separate the two camps at UCLA University and repel the counter-protesters who had come to the university campus to fight. The police began dismantling barricades this Thursday.

campus protest

Clashes broke out overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday at UCLA University, after counter-protesters attacked pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied parts of the campus for several days. On Thursday, the police removed grilles and boards and several demonstrators were arrested.

What happened ?

A largely peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment set up at UCLA last week was attacked by counter-protesters shortly before midnight local time. Videos show the camp besieged by dozens of masked and hooded people appearing to want to break the barricades.

Several of them brandished long sticks: at least one person in the camp was hit in the head before falling to the ground.

“Pepper spray, tear gas, boards, bricks, fireworks - not firecrackers - were fired directly at the students,” Vincent Doehr, a doctoral student in political science at UCLA, told CNN and responsible for media relations for the demonstrators.

“They threw paving stones, pipes at us, they tore up wooden slabs to throw them at us,” Kaia Shah, another spokesperson, told AFP. “Every time those who tried to hold them had their heads exposed, they slapped us, hit us. » According to her, 25 students were hospitalized.

Did the police intervene?

UCLA security forces arrived about two hours after the clashes began, but did not initially intervene, an AFP journalist noted. Police in riot gear separated the two camps around 3 a.m. local time, pushing back counter-protesters.

“The limited and delayed response from campus law enforcement at UCLA last night is unacceptable and demands answers,” California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom responded on Wednesday. A California State Police unit had to be deployed due to the incapacity of officers on campus, he added.

(to be continued here)

Donald Trump accused opponent Biden of inaction in the face of the pro-Palestinian college protests

trump accused opponent

Joe Biden said Thursday that “order must prevail” in the face of a wave of demonstrations in American universities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, which puts him in a politically delicate position six months before the presidential election. “Anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish students have no place on campus or in America,” the American president said.

“We are not an authoritarian country that silences people,” Joe Biden nevertheless assured during a short speech. “As president, I will always defend freedom of expression and I will defend the law just as forcefully,” he said.

“Vandalism, forceful intrusion, breaking windows, blocking campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes or graduation ceremonies, none of this falls within the scope of peaceful demonstration,” however listed the Democrat 81 years old. “It’s against the law.”

Accused of inaction

In the morning, his opponent and Republican predecessor Donald Trump accused him of inaction in the face of the pro-Palestinian college protests. “They are radical left-wing weirdos and we must stop them now because it will last and get worse,” he said upon his arrival at the New York court where he is being tried in an unprecedented trial for a former American president.

Joe Biden also said that he was not in favor of sending the National Guard, an army corps that depends on the states on the front line, to campuses.

A delicate political position vs presidential election

The American president, who will seek a second term against Republican Donald Trump in November, has until now remained silent in the face of the wave of mobilization and the police interventions to dislodge demonstrators, at Columbia University in New York or at the University of California (UCLA) for example.

Six months before the presidential election, in a polarized United States, the Democratic president finally committed to this issue likely to undermine his campaign.

This mobilization places the democrat in an extremely delicate political position. His policy of support for Israel has earned him strong criticism from young, progressive voters of Arab-American origin, while Republicans accuse him of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on campuses. Joe Biden also assured that “no”, this protest movement would not change his strategy in the Middle East.

United States Presidential Election: in the middle of campaign, pro-Gaza campus protests divide universities and the country

campus protests - presidential election

Started more than two weeks ago, campus protests in favor of Palestine are now violently repressed by the American police. 

Joe Biden was forced to step in and toughen his stance for fear of appearing as the President of domestic chaos. Presidential election seems to be a second target.

The grass suffered a lot, but it will soon green again, protected by the dozens of New York police officers who, on Broadway, block the entrances to Columbia University, closed until the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 17. Some agents still wear the helmets and ninja outfits of the NYPD shock battalions, the same ones who stormed Tuesday, April 30 in the evening on the campus of the prestigious university to dislodge the tent camp of 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators installed for two weeks on the central lawn of the university.

Close to presidential election, American universities in turmoil,noted the press this morning related to campus protests. Student anger in support of the Palestinians has been spreading in the United States for two weeks now. And with them, the images of clashes between barricaded demonstrators dislodged by riot police.

The newspapers' editorials speak this morning of “the healthy rebellion of American students”. They draw a parallel between this student mobilization and those against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa. 

It doesn't matter, "if the students leave the auditoriums, if they abandon their classes, it is a last resort, desperate by the inaction and the powerlessness of politicians to put an end to the horror in Gaza ."

Joe Biden as a tightrope walker

 What impact this mobilization will have on the American election?. Should Joe Biden fear student anger? General opinion is Joe Biden is in a bad situation and this mobilization could cost him his re-election, noting that he has completely lost the youth vote.

Opposite, the Republicans are unleashing themselves against what they describe as “campus chaos”. Under the pretext of denouncing anti-Semitism, Republican elected officials are in reality attacking Democrats and the Biden administration. “It’s all Joe Biden’s fault,” they explain, accusing the American president of “blowing on the embers of anti-Semitism.”

While Joe Biden seeks a position of balance, defending freedom of expression while denouncing hateful acts and remarks, the Republicans do not bother with nuances. According to them, campuses have simply fallen into “tyranny and anarchy”.

Biden says 'order must prevail' on campuses

Joe Biden said Thursday that “order must prevail” in the face of a wave of demonstrations in American universities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

“Violent demonstrations are not protected, peaceful demonstrations are,” said the American president, who will seek a second term against Republican Donald Trump in November.

“Vandalism, forceful intrusion, breaking windows, blocking campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes or graduation ceremonies, none of this falls within the scope of peaceful demonstration,” listed the Democrat from 81 years old. “It’s against the law.”

“As president, I will always defend freedom of expression and I will defend the law just as forcefully,” he said. “But anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish students have no place

Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan - Major Aid Package Adopted in the American Congress

aid package

Ukraine: $61 billion in aid approved

The House of Representatives adopted this Saturday a vast aid plan for the allies of the United States, from Ukraine to Taiwan via Israel. The Senate could validate it as early as next week.

The American House of Representatives approved on Saturday April 20 a major aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as a possible ban on the social network TikTok.

This $95 billion envelope could be adopted by senators as early as next week. The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives where negotiations have been intense, is dominated by Democrats.

· Long-awaited aid to Ukraine

Nearly $61 billion, the majority of approved funds, is dedicated to the war in Ukraine. This money has been requested for months by Volodymyr Zelensky. American aid “will save thousands and thousands of lives,” the Ukrainian president said after the vote.

The United States is kyiv's main military backer, but Congress has not passed a large package for its ally since December 2022, mainly due to partisan squabbling. This aid was distributed during 2023, but the taps are now dry.

The text presented Wednesday provides nearly 14 billion dollars to train, equip and pay the Ukrainian army. Around $10 billion in economic assistance dedicated to the energy and infrastructure sectors will be sent in the form of a loan. The idea was suggested by Donald Trump, who believes that the United States should “stop giving money without expecting to be reimbursed”. This debt may, however, be erased.

A large part of the envelope will also be used to replenish the stocks of the American army and will return to arms factories in the United States.

The aid plan also authorizes President Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets, so that they can be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine - an idea that is also gaining ground with other G7 countries.

· Funds for Israel and Gaza

The plan debated in Congress provides for $13 billion in military assistance to Israel, a historic ally of the United States, at war with Hamas. These funds will be used in particular to strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield, the “Iron Dome”.

More than $9 billion is also planned to “respond to the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world,” according to a summary of the text.

The project, however, prohibits any direct funding from the United States to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Israel accuses some of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas.

As Joe Biden had demanded, this text devotes more than 8 billion dollars to stand up to China on the military level by investing in submarines, and on the economic level by competing with major Chinese projects in developing countries. development. Several billion dollars are allocated to Taiwan, an island of 23 million inhabitants that China considers one of its provinces.

The bill also provides for the ban on TikTok in the United States if the social network does not cut ties with its parent company ByteDance, and more broadly with China.

TikTok has been in the crosshairs of American authorities for several months, with many officials believing that the short and entertaining video platform allows Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million users in the United States