MAGA ‘Mean Girls' are Trump's loyal foot soldiers
Donald Trump 2.0 is the first 'I can do anything' president. To facilitate that governing philosophy, his squad of four powerful female enablers mirror his cocky, bullying leadership style of never backing down and never admitting mistakes.
These fine-looking ladies are always camera-ready for their frequent Fox News and social media appearances. They have the 'MAGA look' with long hair, perfect makeup and stylish wardrobes, so pleasing to the president to whom they owe their jobs and influence.
But for anyone suffering from, or negatively affected by, the president's policies, these foot soldiers in designer heels might be called the 'MAGA Mean Girls.'
Although Trump declared April 2 'Liberation Day,' the women discussed below have been 'liberating' America from its Constitution every day since Jan. 20. At the behest of their boss, they are bullying into submission two of the three co-equal branches of government, resulting in the most powerful executive branch since President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Several Mean Girls have issued on-camera finger-wagging threats, scolding and lecturing noncitizens, the media or anyone with alternative views concerned about Trump governing through executive orders and overreaching with his 'dare to stop me' modus operandi.
We begin with the most prominent MAGA woman, whose job traditionally has been administering the rule of law, balancing the scales of justice and upholding the Constitution.
Attorney General Pam Bondi: Age 59, Florida's attorney general from 2011to 2019, served on Trump's first impeachment defense team in 2020, actively supported Trump's false claims of victory in 2020.
Attorney General Bondi's long and friendly relationship with the president included some controversy while serving as Florida's AG. Overnight, she has turned the Department of Justice into Trump's weapon of mass retribution. Bondi is rebranding DOJ as the president's law firm, fighting for his all-encompassing MAGA agenda. Even Trump's former private criminal defense attorneys are Bondi's top deputies!
Most consequentially, gone is the critical post-Watergate divide between the White House and the sprawling Justice Department, which oversees the FBI and numerous sub-agencies.
On every front and issue, the president expects no pushback from Bondi. She mirrors Trump's 'fight fight fight' persona, denigrating judges and persecuting the president's 'enemies.' That long-growing list includes former officials, the media, and institutions, organizations and businesses that don't toe the line. Watch as Bondi relentlessly accommodates her boss's goal of testing the limits of executive-branch power before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Bondi's Justice Department is ground zero for immigration and deportation controversies, along with tariff challenges, trade wars, deregulation and fighting against rights enshrined in constitutional amendments. However, less court time will be needed after Trump's retreat from white-collar criminal enforcement.
By design, our attorney general is among the most high-profile in history, spending an inordinate amount of time on Fox News. Bondi appears to enjoy her powerful hot seat, which is careening toward a scalding constitutional crisis.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: Age 53, governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, House of Representatives 2011to 2019, an ardent campaign surrogate for Trump in 2024.
Homeland Security Secretary Noem is best known for her time in front of cameras. She keeps America safe with heavy stage make-up and false eyelashes, no matter how dire the setting. Noem's long flowing locks are often topped with 'tough girl' headgear, complementing border patrol battle garb.
For her now infamous public service 'announcement' at the high-security El Salvador prison in front of tattooed, bare-chested, shaven-headed inmates inhumanely stuffed into cages, the perfectly coiffed DHS Secretary wore skin-tight jeans, a clinging white jersey and a $50,000 Rolex watch. The universally slammed stunt will long be remembered as the most unprofessional and sadistic media performance by a Cabinet official.
This incident illustrates why the president hired Noem to be the beautiful Mean Girl face for self-deportation, including a slick ad campaign which could double as a Trump campaign video, which reportedly cost $200 million. But this week, Noem saved $2.7 million by canceling two grants to Harvard.
Trump tapped Noem for DHS secretary as her consolation prize. She lost out on being named his 2024 vice presidential nominee after she earlier had said that 'in a heartbeat,' she would take the job.
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal criticized Noem for her publicity-seeking management of DHS, with its $172 billion budget for numerous sub-agencies. Immigration policy gets messier by the day, but riding horses and ATVs, announcing arrests and joining 'surprise' dawn raids always make for better photo ops.
Sadly, a series of circumstances and threatening statements from the Mean Girls duo of Noem and Bondi could prompt one to recall this famous 1940s quote from German Pastor Martin Niemöller: 'First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist.' It ends, 'Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: Age 27, served as national press secretary for the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. Ran for a New Hampshire congressional seat in 2022, losing to the Democratic incumbent.
Displaying prideful Mean Girl confidence well beyond her years, Leavitt disseminates whatever the White House 'Department of Propaganda' has prepared, likely from the all-powerful Stephen Miller.
Comically, Leavitt is the Trump administration's version of 'Baghdad Bob,' boldly declaring alternative facts to fit the narrative or crisis du jour. Her 'boys will be boys' comment about top Trump advisors attacking each other could be the new euphemism for White House infighting. Leavitt is the tip of the spear for the daily media battle, heavily favoring Trump-friendly new media.
Laura Loomer: Age 31, right-wing conspiracist, rabble rouser, attention seeker, two-time failed congressional candidate.
Loomer, a Trump friend, recently convinced the president to purge the four-star general who led the National Security Agency, along with his deputy. The NSA was 'loomered,' likely leaving the U.S. more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Now that Loomer has proved her presidential influence, she is trolling for clients. Politico reported that 'Loomer launched a firm last month, Loomered Strategies, which she says offers personnel vetting, opposition research, and rapid response.'
After nearly 100 days, Trump's loyal Mean Girls are just warming up their 'don't mess with us,' in-your-face bravado, so effective and pleasing to their man.
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Hamilton Spectator
8 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Marines take over some security in LA while cities across US prep for ‘No Kings' rallies
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They finished training on civil disturbance and have started to replace Guard members protecting the federal building west of downtown, so the Guard soldiers can be assigned to protect law enforcement officers on raids, the commander in charge of 4,700 troops deployed to the LA protests said. The Marines moved into Los Angeles before Saturday's planned 'No Kings' demonstrations nationally against Trump's policies, which will also happen the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., when troops will march and tanks will rumble through the streets of the nation's capital. The Marines' arrival also came a day after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that had directed Trump to return control of Guard troops to California. The judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal, violated the Tenth Amendment, which defines the power between state and federal governments, and exceeded Trump's statutory authority. 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No Kings The 'No Kings' demonstrations are planned in nearly 2,000 locations around the country , according to the movement's website. A flagship march and rally is planned for Philadelphia, but no protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will be held. Participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation, organizers say. In Florida, state Attorney General James Uthmeier warned that any protesters who become violent will be dealt with harshly. States face questions on deploying troops Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5,000 National Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops. A group of Democratic governors in a statement called Trump's deployments 'an alarming abuse of power.' Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson took to social media Friday to call for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure the military is not sent to the state. 'Don't give him an excuse to try and federalize the National Guard like he did in California,' he said. Military parade The military parade in Washington which Trump had unsuccessfully pushed for during his first term — will also feature concerts, fireworks, NFL players, fitness competitions and displays all over the National Mall for daylong festivities. The celebration Saturday also happens to be Trump's birthday. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend and says putting on the celebration will cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million . ___ Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California. Baldor contributed from Washington. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . 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The Hill
8 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump clears path for Nippon Steel investment in US Steel, so long as it fits the government's terms
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Miami Herald
13 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Why the US is stronger than you think – and what that means for a world on edge
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The U.S. is in by far the most stable part of it geographically." Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter In fact, he noted that, currently, only two countries are technologically dominant: China in post-carbon energy (nuclear, solar, EVs, supply chains, critical minerals) and the U.S. in artificial intelligence (hyperscalers, chips, compute). At present, the primary driver of global uncertainty and geopolitical volatility that "feels so dangerous to people is that the most powerful country in the world has decided that they, we, do not want to play the leadership role by the old rules." From Bremmer's perspective, that means saying "no" to U.S.-led collective security, a global trade system shaped by Washington, and American-backed international law and democratic values. And this change, he said, "profoundly impacts U.S.-aligned democracies that relied on this leadership." Image source: Eric Tompkins on Unsplash Before reports emerged of Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites, Bremmer said the U.S. was strategically using leverage to push Iran toward a nuclear enrichment deal – a key priority for President Trump. Bremmer noted Iran's weakened position, citing setbacks involving Hezbollah, Bashar al-Assad, and Hamas, along with Gulf States' support for a deal, as factors making an agreement more likely. He acknowledged the possibility of Israeli military action if Iran delays but maintained that a deal remains the expected outcome. Trump's recent warning of "even more brutal" attacks if Iran refuses a deal may further increase pressure on Tehran. According to Bremmer, Trump's success stems from identifying "exactly what the pain points are for the bulk of the American population: ending wars, achieving fair trade, and securing borders. "His positions on these issues," Bremmer said, "are more popular than the Democrats." To be fair, Bremmer said Trump has "almost no interest in the specifics of policy." And unlike in his first term, President Trump now appoints individuals fiercely loyal to him, not necessarily to the Republican party or establishment, Bremmer said. "They may be great, really smart, they may not, but they are going to be fiercely first and foremost loyal to [Trump]," said Bremmer. Related: These are the most tax-friendly states if you work in retirement The president also relies heavily on his own judgment, believes he is always right, externalizes blame, and is less concerned about market reactions. "He's completely convinced that he's right on these issues," said Bremmer. "If things go wrong, it is someone else. It is not him." What's more, his top advisers are much less likely to tell him when they disagree, leading to a lack of critical feedback. "Trump is less concerned about market reaction to what he is doing than he was [in his] first term," said Bremmer. "So, he's more willing to see a longer period of economic impact." And "he's much less aware that anything he's doing might be problematic because he's not hearing it from his top advisers." The new global driver is the U.S., the most powerful country, willing to use its leverage, not lead historically, and unconcerned about whether it causes pain in other parts of the world. That same approach is also reshaping global trade dynamics. Bremmer noted, for instance, that the International Trade Court's ruling against Trump's broad use of emergency tariff powers under AIPA will prolong uncertainty in global trade – something "markets hate" - as the case likely heads to the Supreme Court, with a decision expected by late fall or early winter. Regardless of court rulings, Bremmer predicted that blended U.S. global tariffs will rise to 12-15% (1940s levels), a cost not yet priced into markets. He said this would lead to supply chain disruptions, potentially resulting in empty shelves at retailers over the summer, causing panic and increasing trade tensions. "Most of the things out there that we buy are not yet affected by the supply chain challenge you're about to see," said Bremmer. "They will over the course of the summer. You won't get stuff on Amazon Prime. You'll go to Walmart. A lot of shelves will be empty. That will cause a level of panic and unease and anxiety." Bremmer also noted that Mexico is capitulating to U.S. demands on issues like fentanyl and illegal immigration due to its heavy reliance on the U.S. economy (over 80% of exports to the U.S.). And Canada, despite a new politically consequential prime minister, is structurally built for North-South trade with the U.S., making a significant pivot away difficult due to its infrastructure and provincial power. Bremmer said Trump has realized "he's not getting a deal" with Putin. As a result, he's now prepared to continue supplying intelligence and weapons to Ukraine. Related: How the IRS taxes Social Security income in retirement Meanwhile, European allies are ramping up defense spending – NATO targeting 5% of GDP, the UK at 3.5%, and Canada at 2% - largely under pressure from Trump. "NATO will be stronger," Bremmer said. The downside: the war isn't ending anytime soon. Sanctions on Russia will remain, and Bremmer warned that Moscow is likely to escalate its attacks, "killing more Ukrainians." According to Bremmer, recent interactions, including a call between Trump and Xi Jinping, are stabilizing but do not represent a breakthrough. "I wouldn't call it positive," said Bremmer. "I would call it stabilizing. It's less negative than what we've seen for the last few months." The U.S., he said, remains focused on export controls for semiconductors and pressuring allies to choose the U.S. over China in advanced technology. But China is in a "wait and see" mode, believing that U.S. actions (undermining allies, making itself less attractive for high-skilled immigration) will ultimately benefit China long-term. "They know that this is going to cause more economic pain to China than the U.S.," said Bremmer. "But they also feel like they are politically stronger. They're more patient. They can wait the Americans out." So Bremmer's bottom line: "I do not believe that we are set for a U.S.-China breakthrough." While not a bond market expert, Bremmer said Trump's quick reversal on firing Fed Chair Powell shows that the bond market remains a "clear red line" for Trump, given the potential for severe fallout. "The one area where Trump was hit in the face hard by everyone and backed off completely was when he said, 'I'm thinking about firing Fed chair Powell,'" said Bremmer. "I think that that does say something – that even in this environment, where Trump is more willing to push and is getting less information, there still are some clear red lines. And this is a clear red line." Despite high debt, Bremmer said the U.S. benefits from its reserve currency status, technological dominance, and military umbrella, making it difficult for other countries to "derisk" from the U.S. Bremmer suggested that in the age of exploding AI, short-term spending as much as humanly possible might be market and geopolitically positive for the U.S., provided it's spent wisely (e.g., chips, education). While historically overdue for a recession (averaging every seven years post-WWII), the massive Covid stimulus and the unprecedented growth of AI capabilities (doubling every six months) could fundamentally alter economic cycles, making traditional definitions of recession less applicable, said Bremmer. It is "inconceivable," said Bremmer, for the U.S. to return to being a manufacturing economy as it once was. "The U.S. is not a manufacturing economy anymore," he said. Any new manufacturing will be driven by robotics, automation, and AI, requiring far fewer workers, which could ironically put more pressure on existing manufacturing labor. This shift is part of broader "incoherent, angry, anxious" movements that will focus on economic displacement. Bremmer suggested that likelihood of war in the near term is "very low." China aims to appear "more responsible and more stable" while the U.S. undermines its own allies. However, China will continue to squeeze Taiwan's leadership with military exercises and economic sanctions, said Bremmer. This remains a long-term concern, but not for the immediate future. Bremmer stated definitively that Trump has never said he will run again and is not running again, despite media questions. Bremmer also believes Elon Musk understands he "damaged his interests" by fighting with Trump, and "that getting into a long-term fight with Trump was unsustainable." And Musk, according to Bremmer, is expected to support Trump's political goals and candidates in the midterms. The Democratic Party is not expected to settle on a coherent platform until closer to 2028 due to a broad range of views among potential leaders, according to Bremmer. And the midterm elections will be a decision about Trump. While Trump is currently doing well on immigration and the economy, his economic standing is expected to weaken over the summer due to trade issues, said Bremmer. What's more, a much stronger push to the economic populist left is anticipated, a phenomenon not seen since the post-Gilded Age. According to Bremmer, current populism from the right is driven by disaffected industrial working-class men in former industrialized places like Appalachia, the Rust Belt, and former East Germany, focusing on manufacturing and anti-immigrant sentiment. Bremmer predicts an enormous spike of populism from the left in the next electoral cycle, driven by college-educated, urban, white-collar professionals losing jobs due to AI. This movement, he said, will be more progressive on cultural issues but strongly opposed to the "deep state," major corporations, banks, and technology companies. Got questions about retirement, email Stagflation Risks: Shield Your Retirement Portfolio The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
