What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Richard Hakluyt]

Maybe we should have a poll..."How many cognitive tests have you aced?".

I regret to say that the answer is zero in my case; my brain just cannot compete with the mighty intellect of the Orange one 

[Syt]

I did one as a 5-year-old so I could skip pre-school.

And I guess it's part of the assessment for military service, so I did one then, too?

[grumbler]

"Show such signs of cognitive decline that doctors feel repeatedly compelled to test cognitive function."

[The Minsky Moment]

In addition to the weirdness of Trump apparently not knowing what these tests are for, is the weirdness that no one on his medical team, his media team or inner circle seems to have the courage to tell him.

[HVC]

He keeps bragging about these tests. The first time i recall he was going on about how he did great on an IQ test but the questions he mentioned were for a Alzheimer's test.

[Valmy]

He keeps bragging about these tests. The first time i recall he was going on about how he did great on an IQ test but the questions he mentioned were for a Alzheimer's test.

That was during his first term as well. 

[Duque de Bragança]

Mixing up OmAN and IrAN counts as acing a test I guess. 

[viper37]

Trump team is 'drawing up' plans to stop international flights to some Democratic cities

The Trump administration is "drawing up" plans to stop international flights to some Democratic "sanctuary cities," Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

Mullin said the administration was looking at halting the processing of international travelers at major U.S. airports in response to Democratic leaders who have not cooperated with President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown in their cities.

The Homeland Security chief singled out Democrats in Newark, New Jersey, due to recent clashes between law enforcement and protesters at Delaney Hall, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. Other sanctuary cities—which limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities— whose airports could be impacted by the plans include Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle and San Francisco.
"They're barricading our employees from coming in and out of the facility," Mullin told Sean Hannity Tuesday on Fox News. "Why are we processing international flights into the airport there?"
"We are currently, which we're not initiating it yet, but we're currently drawing up plans to say, listen, in these sanctuary cities where the local, radical left Democrats aren't allowing us to do our job and enforce federal laws, then we shouldn't be processing international flights into their cities either because they don't want us to enforce immigration," Mullin said.

The announcement comes just before tens of millions of tourists are expected to pour into the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup next month, with some games to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The travel industry last week warned of "devastating consequences" after Mullin threatened to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in sanctuary cities. He discussed the potential withdrawal during a meeting where the U.S. Travel Association was addressing other proposals by the Trump administration that could hinder travel, the association said.

"U.S. Travel believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation," the industry group said in a statement.

Mullin also floated the idea in April amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown as lawmakers were deadlocked over funding.
"If cities are going to sit there and say that ⁠they're not going to enforce immigration policies, then I'll repeat myself and say it doesn't make any sense for us to process international travelers through that city," Mullin said. 

Mullin spoke out Tuesday after a weekend of heightened tension at the Newark detention facility, where hundreds of detainees went on hunger strike over what they described as inhumane conditions.

In an open letter last week, hundreds of detainees said they were being subjected to inadequate food and medical care at the facility, in addition to allegations of physical and psychological torture.

Several Democrats have visited the facility recently and railed against the conditions inside, which Homeland Security dismissed as a "smear campaign."
"This is nothing more than a political stunt by New Jersey sanctuary politicians for fundraising clicks. There is NO hunger strike at Delaney Hall. There are NO subprime conditions or abuse at the facility," acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.

[Valmy]

They are already working hard to destroy the tourism industry. Might as well.

[The Minsky Moment]

Always encouraging to see Article II officers of the federal government talking publicly about exactly how they intend to violate Article II.

The answer to ""Why are we processing international flights into the airport there?" is: that is your job.  It is what the law requires.  If you find that unpalatable, then resign and let someone else do the job who is willing to follow the law.

[Duque de Bragança]

They are already working hard to destroy the tourism industry. Might as well.

Just in time for the World Cup, just in case people were still contemplating to go to the US?

[HVC]

They can't even get authoritarian sports washing right.

[Valmy]

They can't even get authoritarian sports washing right.

They are really good at the corruption stuff at least. So they have that going for them.

[HVC]

They can't even get authoritarian sports washing right.

They are really good at the corruption stuff at least. So they have that going for them.

I guess there truly always is a silver lining

[Syt]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/29/pentagon-recruiting-troops-watch-white-house-ufc-fights-memos-show

Pentagon recruiting troops to watch White House UFC fights, memos show
Internal messages reviewed by The Post stipulate that military personnel must pay their own way and meet strict physical requirements to be eligible.

The Pentagon is moving to recruit hundreds of troops to appear as spectators at President Donald Trump's UFC cage-fighting event at the White House, and requiring those who attend to pay their own way and meet height and weight requirements, according to people familiar with the matter and internal memos reviewed by The Washington Post.

The Defense Department in recent days has solicited troops across the services to attend the June 14 event in uniform. Officials are seeking junior enlisted personnel and junior officers specifically, according to internal messages that make clear travel costs will be "member-procured," meaning neither the Defense Department nor the UFC intends to pay for their arrangements or accommodations.

Junior troops make up the military's lowest pay grades.

One memo, circulated within the Air Force, stipulates that to be eligible, personnel "MUST MEET CURRENT WAIST-HEIGHT RATIO and current physical fitness standard." Troops will be required to wear their short-sleeve dress uniforms, the memo adds.

Another message posted on a social media page popular with troops touched on similar themes, calling the effort to identify troops to attend the White House event a "quick-turn tasking."

"Tickets must be distributed to genuine UFC fans, not solely to high-ranking DVs," the message said, referring to distinguished visitors.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle did not dispute the search for interested service members exists.

"This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America's monumental 250th anniversary," he said in a statement.

Joel Valdez, a Pentagon spokesman, declined to comment.

Officials with the UFC could not immediately be reached for comment.

The mixed-martial-arts fights, billed as UFC Freedom 250, is scheduled to occur on the White House South Lawn and are part of a series of events the president has planned for America's 250th-birthday celebration. The White House event coincides with Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

Last year, he presided over a multimillion-dollar military parade in D.C. that coincided with his birthday and that of the U.S. Army.

On Friday, construction crews continued work on a temporary octagon-shaped arena. Trump has said the spectacle promises to be "the greatest show on Earth."

The UFC has long been popular with rank-and-file troops, with numerous active-duty personnel and veterans competing in its cage fights. Dana White, UFC's chief executive, has said in recent interviews that about 4,000 people will be on the South Lawn, with "most of them" serving in the military. Thousands more people are expected nearby for a viewing party of the fights on the Ellipse, he said.

White, speaking to Time magazine recently, said the event will cost his company $30 million to stage and defended it as an act of patriotism.

"You can make anything political if you want to," White told Time. "I love this country like anybody on the left loves this country. I love this country like anybody on the right loves this country. This is basically me spending a �s---�load of money to celebrate the 250th birthday of America, with America and the rest of the world."

Trump has attended numerous UFC events in the past, and touted the White House competition in the Oval Office a few weeks ago while flanked by UFC fighters.

It's going to be the biggest event we ever had," Trump said at the time. "... The White House doesn't really do athletic events for the most part."

The event has drawn a range of reactions.

Joe Rogan, a podcaster, comedian and UFC commentator who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, has called the decision to hold the event outside "odd," and the event a "security nightmare" and "kind of a gimmick."

"I just don't think that you should compete in a world championship fight in a noncontrolled environment," Rogan said on his podcast Wednesday. "I think it should be inside an air-conditioned arena ... you wouldn't ask them to play a world championship basketball game outside in the sun."

Trump told Time magazine that he initially did not think Rogan's comments were "nice" but then agreed the event is a gimmick.

"Life is a gimmick, if you think about it, right? But it's a good gimmick," Trump told Time. "It's something that will never happen again. Nobody will ever have the privilege of doing something like this in front of the White House. It's going to be very unique. It's going to be amazing. I think it's great for America, frankly."

Also, noticed this for the first time on a news site:

529 comments
Automatically generated from recent comments

The comments express strong disapproval and ridicule of an event organized by President Trump, involving mixed-martial-arts fights on the White House lawn. Many commenters criticize the use of military personnel as audience members, suggesting they are being used as props and questioning the legality and ethics of requiring them to pay their own way. The event is described as a spectacle lacking dignity, with comparisons to ancient Roman practices and reality TV, reflecting a broader dissatisfaction with the administration's actions and priorities.