Latest news with #25thAmendment
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
Trump Confuses Alaska With Russia, Internet Reacts
Donald Trump got an important detail wrong about his upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin ― and, boy, did the internet let him have it. While fear-mongering about crime in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Trump told reporters: 'You know, I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday. I don't like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital was.' Trump: It's embarrassing. I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday. (Alaska) — Acyn (@Acyn) August 11, 2025 @Acyn/ Fox News To be clear: Trump is meeting Putin in Alaska, not Russia. The White House responded to HuffPost's request for comment with an insult about TDS, or 'Trump derangement syndrome,' but declined to mention the president's obvious error. Meanwhile, social media users let the snark flow over Trump's latest geographical blunder. Trump: "I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday." Trump is going to Alaska on Friday — which has not been part of Russia since 1867. — The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) August 11, 2025 @bulwarkonline Trump admits Alaska is part of Russia. And it's not clear whether it's dementia or just his policy. — Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) August 11, 2025 @darthputinkgb He's going to Russia? This doddering old man has no idea where he is or what he's talking about. — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 11, 2025 @repswalwell Just imagine if Biden had said this: Trump: "I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday." Trump is going to Alaska on Friday — which has not been part of Russia since 1867. Where the hell are you, @jaketapper? Enough is enough. — Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) August 11, 2025 @chrisdjackson The so-called president of the United States thinks that Alaska is in Russia. What an ongoing embarrassment! — 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐢 (@ChidiNwatu) August 11, 2025 @chidinwatu Does he think Alaska is in Russia?? Maybe he should talk to Sarah Palin and they can get their stories straight. — Tirah Att (@TirahAtt) August 11, 2025 @tirahatt Completely effing gone. Can you imagine a Fortune 500 chairman talking like this and not being relieved before he fell off the podium? — Bill Sweetman (@ValkStrategy) August 11, 2025 @valkstrategy If Biden had confused Alaska with Russia, Fox News would have cut to a seven-hour commercial-free meltdown, MAGA GOP lawmakers would be calling for the 25th Amendment before lunch, and Trump's Truth Social feed would be in ALL CAPS about 'SLEEPY JOE GIVING AWAY OUR GREAT STATE OF… — Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) August 11, 2025 @odinikaeze Alaskans: 😳 — SnarkTank (@TheSnarkTank99) August 11, 2025 @thesnarktank99 Some wondered if it was actually a blunder or a sign that Trump is planning to kowtow to Putin in some way... say, by giving Alaska back to Russia. So is he planing to give Alaska to Russia now. — Penney Driver (@rageinggranny) August 11, 2025 @rageinggranny Trump: 'It's embarrassing for me to be up here. I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday.' Guess Alaska's going back to Russia. — Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 11, 2025 @rpsagainsttrump Wow, we knew Trump would do anything to please Putin but gifting him Alaska seems a bit excessive. — Fellarina Bavovna (@Fellarina4Ua) August 11, 2025 @fellarina4ua I told you so. Trump calls Alaska 'russia'. Putin's propaganda will make a huge show out of this. — Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) August 11, 2025 @sumlenny
The Diplomat
2 days ago
- Business
- The Diplomat
Is Pakistan's Second Chance in the Tribal Areas Slipping Away?
In 2018, Pakistan overhauled the status and governance of FATAs. Yet the area remains socio-economically disadvantaged and violence is surging. The president of Pakistan enacted the 25th Amendment to the constitution on May 31, 2018, signalling a watershed moment in the country's constitutional landscape with expansive socio-political corollaries for the frontline populations of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA). Eight clauses of Pakistan's 1973 Constitution were modified by the 25th Amendment to reflect this legal change. FATAs' pre-existing 'discriminatory status' as a constitutionally suspended zone was abolished (Art. 1), leading to its territorial merger with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), while PATAs were incorporated into the provincial governments of Balochistan and KP (Art. 246). Over seven decades after Pakistan's independence, the 25th Amendment finally upgraded the status of FATA community members from 'subjects' to that of 'real citizens,' noted Muhammad Zubair. To counteract the longstanding dominance of oppressive colonialism under the tutelage of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), this legislation promised historically disadvantaged indigenous groups newly acquired constitutional rights and meaningful democratic influence in both the provincial legislature of KP and the National Assembly. Yet, the observable reality has fallen far short of the spirit of the changes. What we see in the merged districts (MDs) is a shallow governance architecture without grounding. Despite its redesignation and the semblance of a unified structure and leadership, there are limited substantive reforms, a lack of state accountability and inadequate strategic thinking – all of which hinder prospects for sustainable performance. A Lack of Functional Governance The federal government had committed to investing 100 billion Pakistani rupees annually for 10 years – equivalent to 3 percent of the Federal Divisible Pool – thereby supporting the development of the merged areas. This pledge remains unfulfilled. Development initiatives remain obstructed by the failings of the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab to deliver on their contributions. The merger had ambitious goals for rehabilitated social services and infrastructural development, but the ASPIRE KP Symposium Report (2024) laid bare that inappropriate fund allocation – and failures to allocate funds at all – have caused development processes to reach a standstill. Socio-economic progress and the standard of living in the MDs continue to be adversely affected by the insufficient provision of medical services, educational institutions, and transportation. With Pakistan's economic impediments, the World Bank's resident mission had warned in 2023 that anticipated reforms and service delivery enhancements would be tricky. Any failures would disproportionately impact the vulnerable within the tribal jurisdictions, predominantly women and children. There is therefore an increasing disconnect between official rhetoric on the MDs and the actual lived experiences there. Former legislator and National Democratic Movement (NDM) chief Mohsin Dawar ascribed the lagging advancement of the ex-FATA merger to a lack of prioritization by those in power, holding both federal and provincial governments liable. The provincial government, he asserts, has not made appropriate use of the funds allocated for the MDs' socioeconomic advancement, and the federal government is withholding the agreed-upon proportion for KP province's MDs. Administrative integration remains a distant prospect, despite FATA's political integration with KP having granted locals a voice in the provincial assembly. Stagnation persists in local government, legislative overhauls, and law enforcement mechanisms, where untenable imbalances in institutional and legal architectures cannot be readily disregarded. Under the terms of the merger, the district commissioner of neighboring municipalities/districts superseded the political agent. These federal government bureaucrats still perceive locals as subordinates rather than citizens qualified for public services. Also, certain regions saw violent clashes due to the protracted protocols for regulating land ownership, which endangered the government's mandate to enact the merger through holistic reforms. Progress in the MDs' legal system also stalled. After the abrogation of the FCR, the KP chief minister appointed session courts, together with the installation of judicial posts in seven districts across five divisions: Peshawar, Malakand, Kohat, Bannu, and D.I. Khan. All told, the MDs have seven district session judges, 14 additional district session judges, seven senior civil judges, and 24 civil judges, yet the judicial system remains in an unsustainable condition of dereliction. Naveed Ahmad Shinwari, an experienced regional development professional, observed that in certain districts, judicial complexes are either nonexistent or commissioned in neighboring jurisdictions, forcing people to travel to these areas for justice and legal services, which introduces additional barriers to access. The lack of a functioning judicial system nurtures an overwhelming sense of insecurity, hence diminishing trust among tribal communities in the legal process. Moreover, police reforms linger as a patchy and partial effort. More than 26,000 ex-Khasadar and Levies personnel were absorbed into the KP police, but they are largely uneducated and inadequately prepared. Quite alarmingly, they regularly have to procure their own weaponry and purchase uniforms independently. Simply put, the police force in the MDs remains mired in an operational limbo, with no defined roadmap to oversee the complexities of post-merger governance. As Manzar Zaidi aptly put it, 'renaming an apple an orange' would not change its nature; likewise, simply recalibrating the nomenclature of the MDs' bureaucratic framework is unlikely to improve its performance without a deep institutional reckoning, capital infusion, and persistent organizational resolve toward overhauling the police force. Any reforms would have to reconcile tribal traditions with socioeconomic growth, securing baseline service delivery for the historically disadvantaged tribal community while also factoring in the region's competing jurisdictions and layered authority structures. Under the leadership of Malik Shah Mahmood and Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi, a delegation of tribal elders recently convened with KP Governor Faisal Karim Khan Kundi to relay serious reservations about the worsening security threats and lackluster development in the MDs. Far from improving residents' living standards, the tribal leaders asserted that the merger has resulted in additional constraints for locals. More seriously, escalating feelings of aggravation among the community and an alarming breakdown in law and order are pushing the area back toward structural marginality. The tribal leaders accused the government of pursuing the coercive implementation of externally driven policies devoid of local participation or consensus, and for failing to adhere to the promises made throughout the merger process. The elders called for reinstating the jirga institution to operationalize accessible and equitable justice delivery, reflective of culturally grounded mechanisms. This is already happening, albeit without any official approval. HUM News noted that 'the justice system remains inaccessible and ineffective,' and in its place, 'informal jirgas continue to operate without legal oversight.' Customary adjudication methods have resurged, reclaiming a foothold with little intervention from state legislators and amid weak legislative scrutiny. Without resilient legal and political frameworks, traditional power hegemonies will resurface, leveraging the structural vacuum induced by governmental inertia. The Rise (Again) of Violence Governance in the tribal territories before the 25th Amendment was predominantly security-oriented, which contributed to a state of ostracism and poor governance. The security-first mindset also impaired both administrative efficacy and sociopolitical vitality. Nevertheless, instead of pivoting toward viable civilian administration in the MDs, the system is still heavily securitized, with security governance and counterterrorism as the main focus. This is what the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) protests and activists have repeatedly pointed to. To this day, militarized mechanisms are engulfing meaningful political discourse and the establishment of resilient democratic institutions. When military intervention takes precedence, it inevitably blocks long-term sustainability and the well-being of the affected people. While the former FATAs have transitioned through constitutional integration, the state demonstrates rigid adherence to a traditional security-focused trajectory. It is well-established that Pashtun tribes have seen their way of life violently upended over the past 20-plus years. They have repeatedly been targets for both militant groups and the security apparatus. However, even after the merger, this dynamic remains constant. The predominant concern right now is the recurrence of militant violence that has rendered the affected regions exceedingly vulnerable. Lately, there has been an unsettling spike in lawlessness and violence. Despite calibrated military interventions, the adverse effects on people's daily lives and safety persist. Even women and children have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. Anti-militant marches and gatherings by tribal members show grassroots attempts to reject the violence. The Taliban's return to power in neighboring Afghanistan has further intensified this recurring pattern of militancy and the state's counteroffensives. The resiliency of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has yet again positioned the hinterland as a critical battlefield. The TTP seized the opportunity afforded by improved operational flexibility and connectivity to secure locations across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, further empowering the group to conduct attacks. While tribal communities are determinedly anti-militant, they simultaneously make serious allegations against intrusive state operations, such as the reinstatement of checkpoints, military surveillance via drones, raids, search operations, and arbitrary detentions. Many locals have voiced grievances about the repeated episodes of being systematically scrutinized and stereotyped 'as militants, based on their tribe, dress, appearance, or ancestral district of origin.' These punitive policing strategies targeting tribal members have proven to be largely ineffective and, yet they remain in place, feeding into a pervasive climate of anxiety and disillusionment. Meanwhile, the security campaign has not even had its intended effect of stopping militancy. TTP offensives continue without interruption, with terrorist attacks especially common in the southern districts of KP near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security Report 2024 recorded a clear pattern of decline in yearly casualties from 2015 through 2020, with a 33 percent drop. But recent years have been marked by a disturbing upward trend: terrorism in the country has intensified since the Taliban returned to power. Attacks surged by 38 percent in 2021, then a more modest 15 percent rise in 2022. The most recent years have been horrifying, with attacks up 56 percent in 2023 and 66 percent in 2024. The MDs contiguous with Afghanistan, particularly Kurram, North Waziristan, and Khyber, witnessed the most disturbing increase in casualties from 'violence and counter-violence.' Against this unsettling backdrop, there is focused scrutiny of the military's operations against the Pakistan Taliban. An ex-lawmaker declared: 'The military's seeming stance against the Taliban is merely cosmetic. The TTP is practically running a shadow government.' As the TTP consolidates its grip, its parallel governance system grows into an increasingly formidable entity, thereby exerting greater influence over local affairs and operations in the tribal region. The TTP's maturing shadow government points to a multilayered and deteriorating security situation affecting the entirety of KP and disturbingly even Balochistan, which foregrounds the urgent need for the federal government to urgently adopt a cohesive strategy for combating militants not only on the battlefield but also in the provision of governance. The Link Between Governance and Security Pakistan's counterterrorism approach remains fractured and ineffective. With this in mind, the relevance of local ownership and enfranchisement in decision-making cannot be overstated, argued Aarish Khan. Unless the state effectively integrates its institutions into the MDs, not merely in theory but in practice, power will continue to revert to clientelist structures – including certain armed non-state collaborators and proxies of militant factions. Tribes do not cling to indigenous juridical institutions and shadow governance structures out of rebellion, nor do they, as sometimes alleged, intrinsically reject state legitimacy or its bodies. This crisis has developed purely because the state lacked a meaningful presence in the MDs and the FATAs before them. Security and justice continue to be frustratingly elusive, whereas social services are either scarce or dysfunctional. These assertions are not new; even the KP governor has publicly expressed his dismay about abandoned promises made to the residents of the MDs, and also the complete indifference to infrastructure improvements. For any governance construct and counterterrorism plan to work and succeed, the government needs to seriously and actively involve local communities, appreciating their principal part as major constituents in ensuring peace and security. After reflecting on the past seven years, it quickly becomes clear that the former FATA region has not experienced tangible empowerment. Instead, it is still grappling with corrosive disenchantment and mounting socio-economic grievances as the government appears to revert to a familiar tradition of withdrawal. There is no doubt that the merger may have offered a fleeting illusion of optimism to many in the MDs. But local people's circumstances will remain unstable until the state takes actions to remedy long periods of stagnation and exclusion. Another botched attempt at governance could stall this critical opportunity for reform. Not only must the state recognize the transformative potential of integration, but it must also ensure that it delivers on its pledges and empowers the tribal communities to realize their aspirations and shape their collective identity. Pakistan's tribal peoples are not asking for preferential treatment or charity, nor are they seeking weapons. They are only asserting their constitutional rights: representation, economic resilience, security, equality, and inclusion in the formulation of relevant policymaking that directly impacts their daily realities and will determine their prospects. Simply put, tribal populations are asking for state ownership to which every Pakistani citizen is entitled. But suppose Pakistan persists with its strategic drift in national security policies – marginalizing the periphery, neutralizing dissent, and imposing centralized control. In that case, it risks distancing the tribal community further and renewing the latent vulnerabilities that mainstreaming FATA was expected to redress. Decisive action is needed now, before it is too late and this second chance becomes forever lost.
Jordan News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Trump Rambles on Air… If It Were Biden, He'd Be Facing Impeachment - Jordan News
Trump Rambles on Air… If It Were Biden, He'd Be Facing Impeachment Donald Trump appeared in a moment of clear mental vulnerability—slips of the tongue and incoherent claims that would have sunk any other president. But the Republican Party's indulgent tolerance reveals a collapse of standards, where mental competence has become an afterthought compared to loyalty. اضافة اعلان There was a time when even the smallest slip by a U.S. president—mispronouncing a word, forgetting a name, or freezing mid-speech—would spark media frenzy and be treated as a national emergency. Headlines would scream about 'cognitive decline!' and Republican campaign ads, like those targeting President Joe Biden, would ask: 'Who's really running the country?' implying that then–Vice President Kamala Harris was secretly pulling the strings. On Twitter (not "X"—it'll never be "X"), countless users would diagnose 'Poor Joe' with dementia, demanding invocation of the 25th Amendment, which allows for the removal of a president deemed unfit to perform their duties. Biden's critics—even some of his allies—have painted him as a scattered, checked-out man drifting toward a second term propelled only by his own hubris. But now Donald Trump is back. And the question arises: Have the standards actually changed, or are they simply being applied selectively? A Bizarre Display in Pittsburgh During Tuesday's speech at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, the 47th President of the United States delivered a full-on demonstration of his mental state. He began by boldly claiming he had already secured $16 trillion in investments to boost the American economy. For context, that figure is more than half of the United States' entire GDP, which is around $30 trillion. Of course, we know Trump. We're used to his exaggerations—every new idea, every project, every hairstyle is 'the greatest in history,' with 'some people' saying it's the best the world has ever seen. But this wasn't theatrical hyperbole. Trump was seriously asserting that he alone had financed half the global capitalist economy in just six months. Where's Dan? Moments later, while attempting to introduce Republican congressman Dan Meuser, Trump scanned the audience and asked, 'Where's Dan?' Dave McCormick, seated beside him, had to gently remind him that all the representatives had stayed back in Washington. 'Oh, they're in Washington working on the next bill? Great!' Trump replied. 'That means I don't have to name them—even though I'm sure they're watching on TV. No doubt.' Then came a nervous laugh—unusual for Trump—followed by a few muddled words and a sudden silence. It was strange and awkward to watch. Later, Trump struggled to pronounce the name of a White House aide before recovering with a vague, 'They tell me you're doing a great job.' And in an odd tangent, he referenced Ted Kaczynski—the infamous 'Unabomber'—calling him a 'brilliant student' before remarking, 'But things didn't turn out so well for him.' The comment lacked any logical point but was delivered with a sense of profound insight—as if only a select few could grasp its depth. Had Biden said any of this, Fox News would be running a live countdown to impeachment. Selective Outrage and the Problem of Old Men in Power Yet it's unlikely these gaffes will dominate headlines—even though Trump, supposedly the more energetic 79-year-old, is now clearly struggling to stay awake behind the mic. This highlights the broader issue of 'gerontocracy' in American politics. In the last election, it often felt like watching two bald grandfathers fighting over a comb—a satirical image that reflects a deeper problem: powerful figures in both parties (like the late Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein or GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who has visibly struggled with fatigue) cling to power instead of passing the torch to those with the mental and physical stamina required for leadership. Some argue Republicans are simply more disciplined—more willing to rally around their flawed candidates—while Democrats often eat their own at the first sign of weakness. Others suggest that habitual dishonesty can desensitize the public to absurdities, until one day the illusion crumbles: the emperor has no clothes. A Missed Opportunity for Strength Trump is currently in a position of weakness. On Truth Social, he expressed disappointment in his 'sons' and 'daughters' for not believing that the so-called 'Epstein list' was fake—referring to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison after being convicted of sex crimes. Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk is hinting at launching a new political party. Prominent conservative voices like Laura Loomer and Tucker Carlson are becoming more openly critical, and even Trump's running mate J.D. Vance is staying noticeably quiet as controversies grow. This moment should have been a chance for Trump to show focus and command. Instead, in just a few short remarks, he displayed a shaky grasp of U.S. economic reality, forgot the whereabouts of his own party's lawmakers, failed to recall an aide's name, and appeared too tired to remain alert during a midday event. It's hard to sell yourself as a 'disruptor' or 'powerhouse' when you're dozing off at the podium, mumbling half-formed names. But It Doesn't Matter Anymore Yet, as usual, this will all likely be folded into the mythology of MAGA—seen by supporters as just another lovable quirk of their unpredictable hero. Republicans will rally behind him, just as they always have, despite attacking Biden for far milder slips. Not because they believe Trump is particularly sharp or capable—but because, at this point, they don't see that as relevant anymore. -Holly Baxter Executive Editor and Senior Writer at The Independent, New York.
Buzz Feed
17-07-2025
- Business
- Buzz Feed
Trump Blames Biden For His Own Actions, Gets Checked
President Donald Trump 's critics on Wednesday were stunned after he appeared to forget who appointed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Hint: It was Trump himself. Trump has been attacking Powell for months for not cutting interest rates, and has toyed with the idea of trying to fire him, even though that's not a power the president has. He continued his verbal assault on Wednesday, saying Powell does a 'terrible job' and costs the nation 'a lot of money.' 'I was surprised he was appointed,' Trump said. 'Surprised frankly that Biden put him in and extended him.' But President Joe Biden didn't 'put him in.' Trump nominated Powell as Fed chair in 2017, praising him at the time for his 'steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.' Biden renominated Powell for a second term in 2021. In both cases, Powell was confirmed by the Senate with widespread bipartisan support. Critics offered the president a trip down memory lane on X: Not remembering he appointed Powell himself is kind of a perfect encapsulation of how poorly thought out and stupid this move is. — Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) July 16, 2025 @SenTinaSmith/ Fox News Dementia? And yes let's once again imagine the reaction not just from Fox but the entire DC media if Biden said this. — Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) July 16, 2025 @Lawrence/ Fox News I hear Biden had trouble recognizing George Clooney once — Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 16, 2025 @RadioFreeTom/ Fox News Appointing someone and being surprised they got appointed is a special kind of stupid that only Trump can trademark. — Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) July 16, 2025 @acnewsticits/ Fox News Trump surprised that Trump appointed Powell makes you wonder who has Administration car keys now . . . — Jonathan A. Parker (@ProfJAParker) July 16, 2025 @profjaparker/ Fox News Holy 25th Amendment, Batman! — chuckwestover (@chuckwestover) July 16, 2025 @chuckwestover/ Fox News — Comedy of Things (@ComedyOfThings) July 16, 2025 @comedyofthings Hey Jake Tapper, where's your book on Trump's brain turning to goo — I Smoked The Diddy Verdict (@BlackKnight10k) July 16, 2025 @blackknight10k/ Fox News Jake Tapper wrote a whole ass book about Biden's "decline" while this motherfucker is running the country with the IQ of a boiled carrot. — Patrick S. Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) July 16, 2025 @stealthygeek/ Fox News "Trump: I was surprised he was appointed— surprised frankly that Biden put him in and extended him." Holy crap. — Holly 🇺🇸🐊 (@CrossingUNStyle) July 16, 2025 @crossingunstyle/ Fox News Amazing. Truly amazing. To go on a 2 minute rant about a prominent official without even bothering to check to Wikipedia… … to find out YOU appointed him. — Stephen Richer (@stephen_richer) July 17, 2025 @stephen_richer/ Fox News ….Trump appointed Jerome Powell does he not remember that? — je ne sais quoi (@lonerzstoner) July 16, 2025 @lonerzstoner 25th Amendment. Now. — Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) July 16, 2025 @artcandee If Trump makes such big mistakes on details like this related to him, imagine how many other mistakes he makes on a day to day basis and what the implications are for major policy issues like tariffs. We're only half a year in to a four year term folks. — Rian Davis (@RianAuthor) July 17, 2025 @rianauthor Imagine if Biden etc, etc etc.... All the guys who hung on every single Biden word for sign of a flub have just completely gone missing. Strange. — Centrism Fan Acct 🔹 (@Wilson__Valdez) July 16, 2025 @wilson_valdez/ Fox News The list of people Trump hired, turned against then fired is extraordinary — Akash Maniam (@ManiamAkash) July 16, 2025 @maniamakash Whoever appointed him was obviously an incompetent fucking moron. — Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 16, 2025 @ronfilipkowski/ Fox News
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Trump just delivered a word salad speech that would've got Biden impeached
Once upon a time, if the president of the United States stumbled over a sentence, forgot a name, or momentarily glitched mid-speech, it was treated as a national emergency. 'Cognitive decline!' the headlines cried. 'Who's really running the country?' asked Republican attack ads on then-president Joe Biden, implying former vice president Kamala Harris was lurking just offstage with the strings of the puppet in her hands. Twitter (not X, never X) diagnosed poor Joe with dementia. There was talk about invoking the 25th Amendment. Biden's enemies — and then even some of his friends — painted him as a husk of a man: barely lucid, tragically unaware, propelled only by hubris toward a second term. But now Donald Trump is back, and aren't things different? Or wait, are they? During a speech in Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon for the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, the 47th president certainly had his faculties on full display. To start, the president claimed, without blinking, that he had already secured $16 trillion in investments into the U.S. economy. For reference, the entire GDP of the United States is under $30 trillion. Now, we all know that Donald is prone to exaggeration. We've all heard that his latest idea/bill/haircut is the greatest thing ever, and that some people are saying it's the most incredible idea/bill/haircut the world has ever seen. But this was clearly not delivered for melodramatic effect. This was the president of the United States claiming that he had single-handedly funded half of capitalism, in six months. Moments later, Trump attempted to introduce Republican Rep. Dan Meuser. 'Where's Dan?' he asked, scanning the crowd. Dave McCormick, seated beside him, had to quietly inform him that all the representatives had stayed in Washington. 'Oh, they're in Washington working on our next bill? Good!' Trump replied. 'Now I don't have to mention their names, although they're watching on television, I guarantee.' He laughed nervously as he said it, in quite an uncharacteristic way, and then trailed off while muttering, again, that it was 'good' that 'they' are working on something in D.C. It was oddly difficult to watch. The 79-year-old president then struggled to pronounce the name of one of his own White House aides, before saying, 'They tell me you're doing great.' And, as the spicy dressing on the word salad, he added a bizarre aside about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski being a great student ('It didn't work out too well for him' in the end, however, according to Trump, a conclusion that clearly demands intellectual rigor beyond the everyday man or woman.) If Biden had said any of this, Fox News would have launched a live countdown to impeachment. But it's unlikely we'll see these gaffes dominate the news cycle — even though President Donald J. Trump, supposedly the sparkiest 79-year-old who ever damn lived, began to visibly struggle to stay awake while seated behind the microphone. There's something to be said here about gerontocracy, and the fact that the last election felt like watching two bald grandpas fighting over a comb, and the awfulness of having people on both sides of the aisle (the late Dianne Feinstein and the clearly struggling Mitch McConnell as two examples) hold on to power rather than relinquish it to people who have the mental and physical capacity to wield it. There's something to be said about Republicans sticking together, even in the face of clear dereliction of duty, and Democrats routinely turning on their own. There's even, perhaps, something to be said about how one can sleepwalk (quite literally) into stupid-sounding lies if one is accustomed to just saying whatever one wants all the time, until eventually it becomes clear that the emperor has no clothes. Trump is vulnerable at this moment, writing as he has on Truth Social that he's disappointed in his 'boys' and 'gals' for not letting themselves be gaslit into believing there was no Epstein list after all. Elon Musk is calling for a new party, as Laura Loomer and Tucker Carlson are being periodically, and loudly, more disloyal. Vice President J.D. Vance isn't exactly coming to a resounding defense of his running mate each time controversy rears its head, either. So it really might've been a good idea for Trump to bring his A-game to events right now. Instead, he showed, in a few short remarks, that he has very little knowledge of the reality of the American economy; is incapable of remembering where his own representatives are, to the point that he'll invite one onstage who is literal states away; doesn't appear to have heard of his aide; and cannot stay awake during an early afternoon public appearance. It's hard to sell 'disruptor' and 'firebrand' when you're falling asleep at the table and muttering people's names semi-coherently. But of course, as we know, all of this will simply be absorbed into the MAGA mythos: just another quirk of the ever-evolving, benevolent Trumpian character. The Republicans will carry him, even if they saw ten times less from Biden and called it reprehensible. And they won't do it because they truly think he's sharp. They'll do it because, in the end, they no longer think that matters.
