By Ben Meiselas
An increasingly unwell Donald Trump fled the White House early Friday morning, avoiding reporters as his motorcade sped toward his golf course, where he once again spent the day out of public view. This is now Trump’s second weekend of golfing during the ongoing government shutdown comes as millions of Americans face financial strain, uncertainty, and layoffs.
While Trump hides behind Secret Service gates, his official White House social media account paints a surreal alternate reality, filled with vanity projects, health cover-ups, and delusional displays of grandeur. This morning, he posted a digitally rendered “Triumphal Arch,” an architectural concept eerily reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s vision for Germania. Trump reportedly wants to construct his own version of the arch in Washington, D.C., alongside a 90,000-square-foot gold-plated ballroom for White House events, complete with UFC fights on the lawn.
Meanwhile, the nation reels. Four thousand federal employees have been fired as part of Trump’s so-called “reduction in force,” a purge that gutted the CDC, forcing out disease detectives and top scientists in what one staffer described as a “Friday night massacre.” Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times summed it up succinctly: “Why does the Trump administration side with viruses over people?” The answer, as I said on my show, is simple: “Donald Trump is a virus.” To top it off, this is all happening as measles cases climb to record levels in the country.
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OK, back to today’s news.
Trump’s bizarre posts this morning also included a North Korea-style “physician’s report” claiming he is in “excellent overall health,” a curious statement given his visible swelling, discoloration, and erratic behavior. Reports suggest he had to rush to Walter Reed Hospital last week for advanced imaging, possibly related to cardiovascular or neurological concerns. His press secretary has offered conflicting explanations, alternately calling it an annual checkup, a semiannual visit, and a “routine” follow-up, none of which add up.
While Trump obsesses over vanity projects and conceals his health, his reckless decisions continue to devastate the economy. His impulsive announcement of new 100% tariffs on China caused the Dow to drop nearly 2% and the Nasdaq 3.5%. In retaliation to Trump’s trade war, China has restricted exports of rare earth minerals and stopped buying from U.S. soybean farmers, moves that will continue to hammer American workers in the weeks ahead.
Through all of this, Trump continues to distract his base with cultural wedge issues. His latest move? Declaring Columbus Day a celebration of the “original American hero,” a move designed to inflame division rather than govern. “Just save people’s health care,” I said. “Stop performing. Start leading.”
But that’s the through line of the Trump regime: performance over policy, power over people. The result is a nation in crisis, led by a man hiding behind golf carts, golden arches, and a crumbling facade of strength, as he desperately ramps up his attacks on his political enemies like a tinpot dictator.
Through it all, we fight on, for truth, for accountability, and for democracy itself. If you have a moment, I hope you have a chance to read the profile The Guardian released about me and MeidasTouch this morning. You can read it here. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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