Trump names former adviser Flynn to West Point board of visitors
WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday named Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who challenged the 2020 election results and pushed baseless conspiracy claims, to be on the board of visitors for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The retired three-star Army general, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI before recanting and being pardoned by Trump, has remained a loyal Trump supporter and high-profile speaker on right-wing podcasts and conservative events.
Trump, on his Truth Social platform, also announced that Maureen Bannon, daughter of his former adviser Steve Bannon, would be on the board.
While the roles are largely ceremonial, it puts Flynn in a position where he can at least discuss issues like curriculum, discipline and academic methods at the elite military academy.
Flynn served as Trump's first national security adviser but the president fired him after only 24 days for lying to Vice President Mike Pence as controversy broke over the former general's contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.
In recent years, he has become a strong proponent of multiple conspiracy claims.
"With a history of anti-Muslim rhetoric, Flynn has become a spreader of multiple anti-democratic conspiracy theories," the Southern Poverty Law Center said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Police deploy tear gas as ‘No Kings' protesters rally against Trump
Tensions escalated during "No Kings" protests against Donald Trump on the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, 14 June, as police sought to disperse demonstrators with abrupt orders to leave. Protesters were pushed back by officers on horseback, and law enforcement also fired flash bangs and canisters of tear gas to clear out demonstrators after the formal event ended. Millions of people were estimated to have joined the protests in more than 2,000 communities, which took place the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., for the Army's 250th anniversary, which coincided with the president's birthday. Demonstrations protested what organisers described as Mr Trump's authoritarian agenda, including recent immigration raids that have rattled communities across the country, including in LA.
Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
All we know on Minnesota shooting as FBI hunts suspect who killed politician
The FBI has named Vance Boelter, 57, as the suspect who used a false badge and police uniform to trick his way into Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband's home in Minnesota, before gunning them down A huge manhunt is underway for a gunman who impersonated a police officer and gunned down lawmakers in a "politically motivated assassination." Democrat Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband were shot dead at their home early on Saturday morning in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis. John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot at their home just nine miles away in a related attack, according to police. John and Yvette Hoffman each underwent surgery, according to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 'We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,' he said at a news conference. A massive search is underway for suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, who was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that "looked exactly like an SUV squad car, as it was equipped with lights, emergency lights, and looked exactly like a police vehicle," Police Chief Mark Bruley said. A chilling image of a man believed to Boelter wearing a horror movie-style latex mask was issued. Cops exchanged gunfire with him at Hortman's home, but he managed to flee on foot. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for any information relating to the suspect. Mr Bruley said police are undergoing an "extensive manhunt" alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundreds of police officers to find Boelter, who remains at large. Cops have warned people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer, unless there are two together. President Donald Trump issued a statement on the shooting, saying, "such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America," and authorities would be "prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law". Are the shootings 'politically motivated'? Minnesota Governor Tim Walz believes the suspect targeted the politicians in their home in a "politically motivated assassination." According to the New York Times, Boelter stated his political affiliation as "none or other" and had "no party preference." However, he had a list of around 70 lawmakers, including Democrat Tina Smith, and community leaders, doctors, and IVF clinics. His roommate, David Carlson, said Boelter was anti-abortion and a devout Christian. He also claimed the suspect was a big supporter of Donald Trump. Authorities said the suspect had anti-Donald Trump "No Kings" flyers in his car, raising fears he could have intended to attack those rallies. The military parade was held on Trump's birthday and timed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. He warned that any protests at the parade would be met with "heavy force". Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said: "When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary." Bob Jacobson, the state's commissioner of public safety, called the shootings a "dark day" for Minnesota and said politicians have been "targeted in a violent and cowardly way." Who is the suspect? The FBI named Vance Boelter, 57, as the main suspect, who remains at large. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2am on Saturday and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman's home. There, they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. 'When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home' and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The suspect drove a vehicle that looked remarkably similar to an SUV police car, he added. Boelter texted friends at a Minneapolis residence, where he had rented a room and would stay one or two nights a week, to say he had 'made some choices,' the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. In the messages read to reporters, Boelter did not specify what he had done but said: 'I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way. … I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused.' Why has the FBI released a creepy image of a masked man? The FBI, which is offering a $50,000 reward for Boelter, has released new images of a masked man with a flashlight as part of its search for the suspect. The new pictures display an individual wearing what seems to be a rubber or silicone disguise resembling a white man, outfitted in gear similar to that worn by police officers. The guise featured in the photos divulged by the FBI also bears a resemblance to a mask sported by Ryan Gosling in the 2011 movie "Drive." These photos were released as part of an appeal to trace Boelter, 57, who now finds his name on the FBI's "Most Wanted" register. The latest political shooting in a string of 'evil' attacks Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican, called the attack 'evil' and said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' by the killings. The shootings are the latest in a series of attacks against lawmakers across parties. In April a suspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The suspect said he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he found him, according to court documents. In July 2024, Trump was grazed on the ear by one of a hail of bullets that killed a Trump supporter. Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered near the president's Florida golf course and arrested. Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and start a civil war.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘No Kings' protests span 2,000 locations across the US
Nationwide 'No Kings' demonstrations spanned 2,000 locations, protesting against President Trump and his administration. Protests were largely peaceful, but clashes with police were reported in some areas, including downtown Los Angeles, where tear gas was used to disperse crowds. In San Francisco and Virginia, drivers struck protesters, with police investigating the incidents as possible intentional acts. Law enforcement officials in Texas evacuated the state capitol in Austin following a 'credible threat' to lawmakers attending the protests. Demonstrations took place in numerous cities, including West Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and New York, with speakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin and Martin Luther King Jr's eldest son addressing crowds.
