Trump fingerprints are all voer America's unfolding disaster movie
From New York to Disneyland, its sweeping frontier plains to its grand canyons.
Everywhere you go are familiar sights and iconic landmarks from the big screen, a place where it's never been hard for fantasy to trump reality.
It's the home of Hollywood, where now even politics is just another arc in a grand plot.
And increasingly the American genre of choice is 'Disaster Movie'.
There's a scene in George Clooney's 2000 film where after days trapped inside the 'Perfect Storm', there is a chink in the angry clouds. A shaft of sunshine lights the faces of the exhausted fishermen.
But just as the Hollywood happy ending seems on, the storm clouds close over once more.
'It's not going to let us out,' says Clooney's boat captain Billy Tyne.
It's where America seems to now find itself. Trapped inside a perfect storm of ignorance with no way to avert disaster.
Donald Trump's supporters reacted with fury when links were drawn from last week's tragedy in Texas to his administration's attacks on science.
Over 100 people died in raging floodwaters, including 27 kids and counsellors attending Camp Mystic, a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalope river.
The kneejerk attempts to lay the deaths directly at the door of a lack of weather forecasters due to MAGA cuts were premature.
But only because they have not had time to fully bite. They will.
And Trump and his sycophancy of dunces will have their fingerprints all over each new disaster.
The Project 2025 blueprint for his second term spells it out.
THE US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one of the most respected and important authorities on climate and weather.
Project 2025 branded it the primary component 'of the climate change alarm industry' and called for it to be 'broken up.'
In just a few months, Trump and his backers from the oil industry have launched a blitzkrieg on American science, and its ability to react to the next inevitable Camp Mystic.
They have embraced a tenet of the most classic authoritarian playbook of them all - George Orwell's 1984 – in which the Ministry of Truth spreads the gospel: 'Ignorance is Strength.'
The Ministry of Trump is similarly trying to erase the evidence of the climate crimes of the fossil fuel industry.
It has fired hundreds of scientists and even removed any references to the crisis from websites.
Trump's Big Beautiful Bill passed last week was also an assault on tax incentives to transition to renewable energy – a key demand of Project 2025.
His loyal followers including press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted with fury to attempts to blame him for Camp Mystic.
They branded the 'politicisation of this natural disaster' disgusting.
You could remind them of how their boss ranted about diversity hires in air traffic control while the bodies of plane crash victims were still smouldering on the runway. But really what's the point? Better to be ignorant of facts.
In North Carolina they blamed Joe Biden for directing a storm at their state by cloud seeding. I suspect it wouldn't be too hard to find MAGA devotees who believe Trump can divert hurricanes with bolts of lightning from his arse.
Orwell also had this advice for a world of creeping authoritarianism: 'We have now sunk to a depth where restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.'
So here goes.
The conditions created for the Texas rain bomb to form over the Gulf of Mexico (it's probably ok not to call it the Gulf of America on this occasion) were made more extreme, likely and volatile by the fossil fuelled climate crisis.
The International Disaster Database estimates that human-caused climate change intensified all of the 10 most deadly extreme weather events of the past 20 years and contributed to more than 570,000 deaths.
That included three tropical cyclones, four heatwaves, one drought and two major floods.
In all cases they were made more intense, more likely, and more deadly by 250 years of atmospheric warming caused by burning oil, gas and coal.
"This study should be an eye-opener for political leaders,' said one leading expert.
"We have the knowledge to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and build a safer, healthier world. But we need political leaders to step up and make it happen."
Unfortunately, that's not a movie coming any time soon to America's theatre of ignorance.
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Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Trump fingerprints are all voer America's unfolding disaster movie
America has always felt as much like a movie set as a real country. From New York to Disneyland, its sweeping frontier plains to its grand canyons. Everywhere you go are familiar sights and iconic landmarks from the big screen, a place where it's never been hard for fantasy to trump reality. It's the home of Hollywood, where now even politics is just another arc in a grand plot. And increasingly the American genre of choice is 'Disaster Movie'. There's a scene in George Clooney's 2000 film where after days trapped inside the 'Perfect Storm', there is a chink in the angry clouds. A shaft of sunshine lights the faces of the exhausted fishermen. But just as the Hollywood happy ending seems on, the storm clouds close over once more. 'It's not going to let us out,' says Clooney's boat captain Billy Tyne. It's where America seems to now find itself. Trapped inside a perfect storm of ignorance with no way to avert disaster. Donald Trump's supporters reacted with fury when links were drawn from last week's tragedy in Texas to his administration's attacks on science. Over 100 people died in raging floodwaters, including 27 kids and counsellors attending Camp Mystic, a summer camp on the banks of the Guadalope river. The kneejerk attempts to lay the deaths directly at the door of a lack of weather forecasters due to MAGA cuts were premature. But only because they have not had time to fully bite. They will. And Trump and his sycophancy of dunces will have their fingerprints all over each new disaster. The Project 2025 blueprint for his second term spells it out. THE US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is one of the most respected and important authorities on climate and weather. Project 2025 branded it the primary component 'of the climate change alarm industry' and called for it to be 'broken up.' In just a few months, Trump and his backers from the oil industry have launched a blitzkrieg on American science, and its ability to react to the next inevitable Camp Mystic. They have embraced a tenet of the most classic authoritarian playbook of them all - George Orwell's 1984 – in which the Ministry of Truth spreads the gospel: 'Ignorance is Strength.' The Ministry of Trump is similarly trying to erase the evidence of the climate crimes of the fossil fuel industry. It has fired hundreds of scientists and even removed any references to the crisis from websites. Trump's Big Beautiful Bill passed last week was also an assault on tax incentives to transition to renewable energy – a key demand of Project 2025. His loyal followers including press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted with fury to attempts to blame him for Camp Mystic. They branded the 'politicisation of this natural disaster' disgusting. You could remind them of how their boss ranted about diversity hires in air traffic control while the bodies of plane crash victims were still smouldering on the runway. But really what's the point? Better to be ignorant of facts. In North Carolina they blamed Joe Biden for directing a storm at their state by cloud seeding. I suspect it wouldn't be too hard to find MAGA devotees who believe Trump can divert hurricanes with bolts of lightning from his arse. Orwell also had this advice for a world of creeping authoritarianism: 'We have now sunk to a depth where restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.' So here goes. The conditions created for the Texas rain bomb to form over the Gulf of Mexico (it's probably ok not to call it the Gulf of America on this occasion) were made more extreme, likely and volatile by the fossil fuelled climate crisis. The International Disaster Database estimates that human-caused climate change intensified all of the 10 most deadly extreme weather events of the past 20 years and contributed to more than 570,000 deaths. That included three tropical cyclones, four heatwaves, one drought and two major floods. In all cases they were made more intense, more likely, and more deadly by 250 years of atmospheric warming caused by burning oil, gas and coal. "This study should be an eye-opener for political leaders,' said one leading expert. "We have the knowledge to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and build a safer, healthier world. But we need political leaders to step up and make it happen." Unfortunately, that's not a movie coming any time soon to America's theatre of ignorance.
Irish Daily Star
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Star
Melania in rare show of emotion as she receives gift from Camp Mystic victims
First Lady Melania Trump , who often remains stoic when out with her husband , showed a rare flash of emotion while revealing she received a gift from the survivors of Camp Mystic. Speaking in Texas on Friday, Melania, donning a tan coat and black baseball hat , sat by her husband while he engaged in a round table with several other officials, including Governor Greg Abbott. "My deepest sympathy to all the parents who lost beautiful young souls," said Melania. "Deepest sympathy from all of us to the community, to everybody who lost a loved one," she added. "We are grieving with you, our nation is grieving with you." Read More Related Articles Fresh Donald Trump health fear after huge bruise spotted on hand amid warning Read More Related Articles Trump slammed for 'hiding on golf course' as Texas flood death toll rises to 70 and 11 girls missing Speaking in Texas on Friday, Melania, donning a tan coat and black baseball hat, sat by her husband while he engaged in a round table with several other officials, including Governor Greg Abbot. (Image: The White House) Melania told the assembled group that she and her husband had "met with the families" of those who were directly affected by the flood. "We pray with them, we hug, we hold hands, they shared stories," stated the first lady. According to Melania, both she and Trump met "beautiful young ladies" who gave her a memento from the camp — a bracelet with several charms. "They gave me this special bracelet from the camp in honor of all of the little girls that lost their lives," the first lady added. Melania told the assembled group that she and her husband had "met with the families" of those who were directly affected by the flood. (Image: Getty Images) "So we are here to honor them and also give them support and help," she added. At the end of her comments, the first lady promised that "I will be back." "I just pray for them and give them my strength," the first lady finished. "Thank you, honey. That was very nice," Trump said. At the end of her comments, the first lady promised that "I will be back." (Image: Getty Images) Several people on Twitter. thought so as well. "Melania is once again so classy and beautiful. Jill Biden the mop doesn't compare," one person wrote. "Great having a real First Lady back. Jill Biden was an unlikable, incompetent, lunatic," A second person added. Other people took issue with the first lady's attire. The first lady's staments were met with mixed reactions (Image: AFP via Getty Images) "What's with the hat obscuring the eyes," one person wrote. "I don't understand it and I don't want to project my own belief that people who do that are ashamed to be seen. Can someone explain it, please?" "Did she watch Tomb Raider on the flight down," jeered a second person. "Why does she always look like she is hiding her face?" a third person said. Other people took issue with the first lady's attire. (Image: Getty Images) Another group of people took issue with Melania saying that she will be back to help the community. " She's never coming back and no reporter will dare ask her about it," a person sarcastically wrote. "She's never going back," a second person said. "Nothing like a photo op bracelet to make tragedy feel transactional," chided a third person. The display of emotion comes after a lip reader revealed the 7-words Trump said as he was stepping off Air Force One on Friday. Lip reader Nicola Hickling caught what Trump had to say when arriving in Texas. 'Look at how shaken up everyone is. I certainly want to work with them. We're a fair country," Trump said, according to Hickling. 'I'll formalize the check, they will finish their training.'
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Trump visits Texas flood zone, defends government's disaster response
US President Donald Trump has defended the state and federal response to deadly flash flooding in Texas as he visited the stricken Hill Country region, where at least 120 people, including dozens of children, perished a week ago. During a roundtable discussion after touring Kerr County, the epicenter of the disaster, Mr Trump praised both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for their response, saying they both did an "incredible job." The Trump administration, as well as local and state officials, has faced mounting questions over whether more could have been done to protect and warn residents ahead of the flooding, which struck with astonishing speed in the pre-dawn hours on 4 July, the US Independence Day holiday. Mr Trump reacted with anger when a reporter said some families affected by the floods had expressed frustration that warnings did not go out sooner. "I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances," he said. "I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that." Some critics have questioned whether the administration's spending cuts at the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates the US government's disaster response efforts, might have exacerbated the calamity. Mr Trump officials have said that cuts had no impact on the NWS's ability to forecast the storms, despite some vacancies in local offices. But the president has largely sidestepped questions about his plans to shrink or abolish FEMA and reassign many of its key functions to state and local governments. "I'll tell you some other time," Mr Trump said, when asked by a reporter about FEMA. Before the most recent flooding, Kerr County declined to install an early-warning system after failing to secure state money to cover the cost. The Texas state legislature will convene in a special session later this month to investigate the flooding and provide disaster relief funding. Mr Abbott has dismissed questions about whether anyone was to blame, calling that the "word choice of losers." Dozens still unaccounted for Search teams were still combing through muddy debris littering parts of the Hill Country in central Texas, looking for the dozens still listed as missing, but no survivors have been found since the day of the floods. Heavy rains sent a wall of water raging down the Guadalupe River early on 4 July, causing the deadliest disaster of the Republican president's nearly six-month term in office. Search crews in hard hats painstakingly walked inch-by-inch along the ruined banks of the river, marking damage and looking through wreckage. After the president arrived in Kerr County in the early afternoon, Mr Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott drove to an area near the river, where Mr Trump received a briefing from first responders amid debris left in the wake of the flood. The county is located in what is known as "flash flood alley," a region that has seen some of the country's deadliest floods. More than a foot of rain fell in less than an hour on 4 July. Flood gauges showed the river's height rose from about a foot to 10.4 meters in a matter of hours, cascading over its banks and sweeping away trees and structures in its path. Kerr County officials say more than 160 people remain unaccounted for, although experts say that the number of people reported missing in the wake of disasters is often inflated. The dead in the county include 67 adults and at least 36 children, many of whom were campers at the nearly century-old Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer retreat on the banks of the river.
