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Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump is telling the truths Europe's leaders won't
The most important skill in European politics is the ability to pretend that all is well. In London, Paris, Berlin and a dozen other capitals, the order of the day is continuing the series of polite lies that exculpate a generation of politicians from bearing responsibility for their failures. Things that intrude on this bubble – videos of protests circulating online, the views of the electorate, writers who draw attention to the catastrophic consequences of a toxic combination of welfarism and open borders – are censored, ignored or threatened with legal action. Donald Trump's occasional forays into European affairs have much the same effect on the political class as a stick of dynamite chucked into a lake does on fish. His comments are followed by floundering, gasping, and goggle-eyed outrage. They are not met with actual rebuttal. With Europe engaged in a project of total self-delusion, it has fallen to the American president to tell us the truths we are unwilling to tell ourselves. For all Mr Trump's failings, he is rarely accused of being insufficiently blunt. And on Europe, he has a regrettable tendency to be correct. While our politicians wring their hands over vast numbers of economic migrants abusing an outdated asylum system, attempting to square the circle of an open borders approach to migration, generous welfare states, and hopelessly outdated laws and treaties, Mr Trump is free to state what he sees: 'You better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore.' It is a view that will resonate with voters across the continent. The great weakening of Europe's borders has been unfolding for a decade now, since German chancellor Angela Merkel crumpled when confronted with a crying child and attempted to reshape her country around the slogan 'wir schaffen das': 'we can do this'. Political will, however, was not sufficient to change reality on its own. The cultural costs have not been negligible. Nor have the economic consequences, particularly alongside other flawed policies. The costs of net zero continue to mount, with politicians seemingly eager to dismantle Europe's industrial base in a fit of moral fervour. When Mr Trump tells Sir Keir Starmer that Britain should go against this consensus and drill for the oil in the North Sea, or objects to the 'detrimental' effect of windfarms on the 'beauty of Scotland', he is articulating the views of millions of British voters. That they are unpopular in Westminster means that these criticisms are frequently ignored or overruled. It does not mean that they are untrue. Indeed, it is often the truth of Mr Trump's statements that triggers the most furious backlash against them. When he says Europeans risk 'losing their wonderful right to freedom of speech', or his vice-president J D Vance criticises 'digital censorship ', the criticisms sting because they are clearly correct, and all the more so contrasted against attempts to rebut them. When the French mission to the UN asserted that 'in Europe, one is free to speak, not free to spread illegal content' – a statement that would have been just as true of the Soviet Union – the official State Department account responded by pointing out the only true effect was to protect Europe's 'leaders from their own people'. It is hard to disagree with this sentiment. It is difficult, too, to disagree with Trump's blunt statement that recognising a Palestinian state 'doesn't matter '. French president Emmanuel Macron has declared that France will join Spain and Ireland in this policy. As Mr Trump says, however, it is a statement that 'doesn't carry weight', and is 'not going to change anything'. In this, it is a perfect summary of Europe's travails. Political leaders who have squandered the legacies they were handed still behave as if the world hangs upon their word, even as events overtake them. Gesture policies like state recognition are thrown out without any thought as to their actual effect or practicality. What does it mean to recognise a Palestinian state in an area controlled by Hamas? How is this policy meant to assist in quelling the fanatical opposition amongst Palestinian elites to any Jewish state in the Middle East, or for that matter the presence of any other minority? In what sense is rewarding Hamas's butchering and raping of Israeli civilians meant to have any effect other than prolonging this bloody conflict? Mr Trump is not always right. His protectionist trade policy is a catastrophic misstep. He was similarly disastrously wrong on Ukraine, and it is by good fortune rather than design that his ham-fisted attempts to force Kyiv into a terrible deal failed. There, Europe's leaders were for once in the right. The difference is that Mr Trump appears to have realised the error of his ways, and shifted his policies accordingly. To date, this has only once occurred in the other direction. It is clearly for the good that Europe is coming round to Mr Trump's views on defence, with Nato pledging to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP after pressure from the White House, implicitly affirming the truth of his statement that the continent had been 'freeloading'. This was not cheap but it was necessary. We must now hope that similar reversals will follow in other fields, before irreparable damage is done.
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Grieving mom testifies about Marine vet son's death at hands of violent illegal aliens
In testimony to Congress on Tuesday, a mother shared the heartbreaking details of how her son, a U.S. Marine veteran, was gunned down by illegal immigrants on their property in South Texas under the Obama administration. Marie Vega, a legal immigrant from Mexico, shared the harrowing experience in testimony in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee's hearing on "Biden's Border Betrayal" on Tuesday. According to Vega's testimony, her family was enjoying a barbecue on their property in La Feria, Texas, when two illegal immigrants "ambushed" them without any warning in July 2014. "Our beautiful day turned into a nightmare when two criminal illegal aliens decided to ambush us in an attempt to steal both four-wheel drive trucks. The two illegals jumped out of the stolen vehicle they were driving, and without hesitation or a warning, they began shooting at us," she shared. Her son and husband attempted to return fire. But in the attack, her son, Javier "Harvey" Vega Jr., a former Marine and Border Patrol officer, was killed. Her husband, meanwhile, suffers from permanent injuries from the incident. Besides the death and physical injuries her family sustained, she said that she, her daughter-in-law and young grandchildren were left traumatized. "Open borders have consequences," Vega said. "And you can see from what I have experienced because of the crimes committed by illegals, the pain lives with us for the rest of our lives." Vega said she attempted to protect her grandchildren and watched helplessly as her son was shot in the chest. Through tears, Vega asked, "Do you know what it is like to see your son go down after being shot? Do you know what it is like to hear the gunshots, bullets whizzing past you? Do you know what it's like when your mind is trying to process everything, telling your grandchildren to duck while thinking your son is on the ground with a bullet in his chest? "Do you know what it's like to hear your son's last words to his father? 'Keep shooting, Dad.' Keep shooting were his last words," she asked, adding, "That should never have happened." She called the ordeal a "nightmare," saying, "Had my husband and I not returned fire, the illegals would have killed everyone there, leaving no witnesses." According to Vega's testimony, the two illegals had prior criminal records, had menaced other neighbors in their community and had been previously deported. She said that she continues to live with "survivor's guilt" and struggles to sleep at night because of the trauma. "Open borders have consequences. And you can see from what I have experienced because of the crimes committed by illegals, the pain lives with us for the rest of our lives." "11 years is how much I have struggled to survive without my baby," she said. "11 years I have lived with flashbacks during every waking moment. 11 years we have celebrated the boys' birthdays, graduations, weddings, starting new families, new careers, and amazing accomplishments, without my baby. "Illegal aliens have impacted American lives in a very negative way," Vega went on. "They have no regard for human life. As I witnessed firsthand, the illegals that killed Harvey also shot my husband in the back and shot at innocent children and women. My grandbabies and their friend were only eight and 11 years old. Take a moment and imagine your child or grandchild witnessing this horror." She concluded that "had our immigration laws been enforced, our son would be here." "Barack Obama failed me, my family and our community and our nation," she said. Addressing the senators on the subcommittee, Vega said, "You took an oath to uphold the Constitution and work for we the people. That means working with your fellow politicians regardless of which side of the aisle you are on. You are supposed to work together, representing us, ensuring that those coming in are obeying our immigration laws. They need to be properly vetted, not only for their safety, but yours and ours."
Epoch Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Secretary of Labor Warns States Could Lose Federal Funding If Illegal Immigrants Get Unemployment Benefits
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer warned states of losing federal funding if they fail to comply with President Donald Trump's directives on rewarding illegal immigrants with tax dollars, according to an April 25 'Our nation's unemployment benefits exist solely for workers who are eligible to receive them,' Chavez-DeRemer wrote in a The secretary reminded all states that failing to fulfill existing legal obligations will result in the loss of federal funding through the Title III UI administrative grant. The warning is pursuant to presidential memorandum, 'Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits,' and executive order 14218, 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.' Chavez-DeRemer also reminded states of an earlier communication by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, based on which, states can access the DHS immigration This is a 'critical tool' to ensure 'illegal immigrants do not access our nation's unemployment benefits,' said the labor secretary. Related Stories 4/25/2025 4/25/2025 'As a result of this change, I instructed the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to send a letter to all State Unemployment Insurance Administrators urging them to immediately start using SAVE for every initial and continued claim filed by an individual who indicates that they are not a U.S. citizen,' he said. The SAVE database is aimed at helping agencies at federal, state, local, and tribal levels to confirm the immigration status and citizenship of individuals before issuing benefits. A presidential memorandum An executive According to a Department of Government Efficiency finding released The Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts have been met with challenges. State and local governments with sanctuary policies block or restrict local officials from enforcing federal laws such as those related to immigration. The lawsuit was filed by over a dozen cities that would be affected by the cancellation of federal funding for 'sanctuary' cities. In his order, the judge said the administration's attempt amounts to a violation of the Constitution's separation of powers principles and banned the government from any further funding cuts. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is On April 24, the Department of Agriculture asked states to take steps to this effect. States were asked to check the identities of people who apply for SNAP, collect their social security numbers, and verify their legal status in the United States.
Irish Daily Star
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
'Obsessed' Trump has mentioned Joe Biden a staggering 580 times since becoming president
U.S. President Donald Trump is known for his unique vernacular and tendency to repeat phrases, and though he says 'the most beautiful word' is 'tariffs,' experts counted and found that there's one thing he mentions most - his predecessor, Joe Biden . According to an analysis by NBC News , Donald Trump talks about Biden an average of 'six times' a day, adding up to 580 mentions of Biden since his January 20 inauguration. Meanwhile, a separate New York Times analysis found that Trump mentioned Biden's name more than he said the word "America" during his first 50 days. Liberal pundits have characterized Trump's constant invocation of his once-opponent "Biden Derangement Syndrome," cleverly named for Trump's insistence that the 'fake news media' has 'Trump Derangement Syndrome,' experts at NBC say. It has led to some accusing Trump of being "obsessed" with Biden in posts online. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'dumbest President ever' after six-word comment about Congo Read More Related Articles White House branded 'narcissistic' after brief 5-word tribute to Pope While Biden largely steered away from talking about Trump, Trump has done the opposite (Image: Getty Images) In contrast, Biden spoke about Trump just 29 times in the first 100 days of his presidency, according to the same report. Trump, who says, he's 'got the best words,' has taken every chance he can to slam Biden. Just two days ago in a speech, Trump once again railed against Biden , labeling him the 'worst president in history.' Prior to the White House Easter event, Trump went on a ranting rampage taking aim at his enemies, saving space for a special message for Joe Biden. "Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump made several quips about Biden during Easter (Image: Getty Images) He finished with more insults, stating that Biden was "by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing. But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!" But that wasn't it for the Easter celebratory Biden shout-outs. At the actual egg hunt, Trump, began to tell an anecdote. 'Do you remember the bunny with Joe Biden? Do you remember when the bunny took Joe Biden out? He's not taking Trump out," Trump joked. The person in the bunny costume standing next to him nodded along. President Trump's repetitive phrasing is part of his technique, say speech experts (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) For the final Biden dig of the weekend, the White House's official X account posted a video of the quip, captioned, 'The White House is no longer a nursing home.' The 47th US president had previously mentioned Biden an impressive 13 times during a speech to Congress last month. At his inauguration alone, Trump mentioned Biden a dozen times, which is about half of how many times the Biden administration mentioned Trump in his first 100 days. Trump's repetition is part of a speech pattern, however, as a Politico analysis noticed that there's a number of words Trump uses repeatedly, including, 'beautiful' (one of his most used), 'Witch hunt,' 'Fake news,' 'Tremendous,' 'Swamp,' and 'Huge.' The repetition of speech is a psychological maneuver that experts sounded the alarm on during the first Trump presidency. "It's effective when people hear things over and over, it sticks in their minds," said Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, in a 2017 interview with USA Today. She added, "Where did people come away with this idea that Hillary can't be trusted? We heard it over and over."
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump unloads on Judge Boasberg, 'radical left judges' for halting deportations of violent illegal aliens
President Donald Trump slammed U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg and other "radical left judges" for reportedly working to hamper his ability to serve as president through legal orders preventing the deportation of violent illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. "People are shocked by what is going on with the Court System. I was elected for many reasons, but a principal one was LAW AND ORDER, a big part of which is QUICKLY removing a vast Criminal Network of individuals, who came into our Country through the Crooked Joe Biden Open Borders Policy! These are dangerous and violent people, who kill, maim and, in many other ways, harm the people of our Country," Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday morning. "The Voters want them OUT, and said so in Record Numbers. If it was up to District Judge Boasberg and other Radical Left Judges, nobody would be removed, the President wouldn't be allowed to do his job, and people's lives would be devastated all throughout our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," he added. Judges Extend Orders Against Deportation Flights, Including Wartime Act On Violent Venezuelan Gang Members Trump's message comes after Boasberg, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., extended a restraining order on Friday against the use of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime immigration law, by the Trump administration to deport violent gang members with alleged ties to gangs, such as Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). Boasberg ruled the extension will run through April 12. Read On The Fox News App El Salvador Takes In Hundreds Of Venezuelan Gang Members From Us, Even As Judge Moves To Block Deportations A separate federal judge in Boston, U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, blocked the deportation of migrants to countries where they have no existing relationship without a chance to go to court to contest that move. The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 allows deportation of natives and citizens of an enemy nation without a hearing, and has been invoked three times before, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. On March 15, Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to halt its deportations of illegal immigrants under the wartime powers act. Planes carrying hundreds of suspected gang members, however, had already flown from the U.S. to El Salvador, where the nation's president had offered to take illegal immigrants of any nationality facing deportation in the U.S. in February, booking the illegal aliens in his country's notorious prison system. El Salvador Agrees To Accept Us Deportees Of Any Nationality Following Meeting With Rubio Appeals Court Blocks Trump Admin's Deportation Flights In Alien Enemies Act Immigration Suit The Trump administration filed an emergency request for the U.S. appeals court to intervene in the case, and called on the Supreme Court last week to lift the judge's block to deporting illegal aliens under the wartime act. "This case presents fundamental questions about who decides how to conduct sensitive national-security-related operations in this country – the President, through Article II, or the judiciary," acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris told the Supreme Court. "The Constitution supplies a clear answer: the president. The republic cannot afford a different choice." Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch, Breanne Deppisch and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump unloads on Judge Boasberg, 'radical left judges' for halting deportations of violent illegal aliens
