Latest news with #TrumpAssassination
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Indiana teacher resigns over t-shirt she wore to White House
An Indiana teacher is under fire after she wore a t-shirt calling for Donald Trump's assassination on a school trip to the White House. Tonja Luken posted a now deleted Facebook photo of her and a colleague smiling in front of the Washington DC landmark while on a trip with Middlebury Community Schools. At first glance, the photo is seemingly innocent. However, eagle-eyed social media stalkers noticed the number '8647' printed on Luken's (left) flowery blue t-shirt. To '86' something means to eject, stop or kill it. The term originated in the restaurant scene of New York in the 1930s, according to The Independent. In this context, many people believe the number '47' refers to the United States' 47th president, Trump . The number '8647' is being used on social media by far left leaning individuals who are unhappy with the country's current administration. Protestors also carried signs reading '8645' during Trump's previous term. Most recently, Former FBI Chief James Comey found himself in hot water after posting a photo on Instagram of seashells arranged in the numerical code. Comey was then reprimanded by conservatives and the Secret Service. Luken was placed under an investigation by the school district following the June 4 stunt, but resigned in disgrace before its conclusion. In a statement, Middlebury Community Schools publicly condemned Luken's decision to openly express her political affiliation at a school event. 'Middlebury Community Schools owns policies that require teachers to refrain from using their position to promote partisan political views. 'This prohibition applies to all teachers regardless of their political leanings, and to every political message regardless of its content,' they wrote. 'Earlier this week, Middlebury Community Schools' administration learned of a social media post made by a teacher while serving as a chaperone on a student trip to our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. In the posted photograph, the teacher is wearing a T-shirt possessing a partisan political message while supervising students.' 'School administrators are actively investigating the situation. 'The student trip only returned to Middlebury on Wednesday, June 4, which unfortunately slowed the investigation process.' But just a day later, the district announced Luken's departure. 'Earlier today, Middlebury Community Schools completed its investigation into circumstances surrounding a teacher's social media post. 'After the conclusion of the school corporation's interview, when informed the school corporation would be commencing the cancellation of her contract, the teacher submitted her immediate resignation,' they said. 'The teacher is no longer employed by the school corporation' Luken, who is a married mother of five, has since archived all public social media profiles and has made no public statement about the incident or her exit. Daily Mail reached out to Luken and Middlebury Community Schools for comment.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Indiana teacher resigns in disgrace over 'dangerous' t-shirt she wore to White House on class trip
An Indiana teacher is under fire after she wore a t-shirt calling for Donald Trump's assassination on a school trip to the White House. Tonja Luken posted a now deleted Facebook photo of her and a colleague smiling in front of the Washington DC landmark while on a trip with Middlebury Community Schools. At first glance, the photo is seemingly innocent. However, eagle-eyed social media stalkers noticed the number '8647' printed on Luken's flowery blue t-shirt. To '86' something means to eject, stop or kill it. The term originated in the restaurant scene of New York in the 1930s, according to The Independent. In this context, many people believe the number '47' refers to the United States' 47th president, Trump. The number '8647' is being used on social media by far left leaning individuals who are unhappy with the country's current administration. Protestors also carried signs reading '8645' during Trump's previous term. Most recently, Former FBI Chief James Comey found himself in hot water after posting a photo on Instagram of seashells arranged in the numerical code. Comey was then reprimanded by conservatives and the Secret Service. Luken was placed under an investigation by the school district following the June 4 stunt, but resigned in disgrace before its conclusion. In a statement, Middlebury Community Schools publicly condemned Luken's decision to openly express her political affiliation at a school event Luken (pictured) was placed under an investigation by the school district following the June 4 stunt, but resigned in disgrace before its conclusion In a statement, Middlebury Community Schools publicly condemned Luken's decision to openly express her political affiliation at a school event. 'Middlebury Community Schools owns policies that require teachers to refrain from using their position to promote partisan political views. 'This prohibition applies to all teachers regardless of their political leanings, and to every political message regardless of its content,' they wrote. 'Earlier this week, Middlebury Community Schools' administration learned of a social media post made by a teacher while serving as a chaperone on a student trip to our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. In the posted photograph, the teacher is wearing a T-shirt possessing a partisan political message while supervising students.' 'School administrators are actively investigating the situation. 'The student trip only returned to Middlebury on Wednesday, June 4, which unfortunately slowed the investigation process.' But just a day later, the district announced Luken's departure. 'Earlier today, Middlebury Community Schools completed its investigation into circumstances surrounding a teacher's social media post. 'After the conclusion of the school corporation's interview, when informed the school corporation would be commencing the cancellation of her contract, the teacher submitted her immediate resignation,' they said. 'The teacher is no longer employed by the school corporation' Luken, who is a married mother of five, has since archived all public social media profiles and has made no public statement about the incident or her exit.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Elon Musk backed Donald Trump seconds after an assassination attempt. Now their relationship has turned ugly
On July 13, 2024, the world's richest man took to the social media platform he had bought himself and made a dramatic declaration. Seconds earlier, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump had been the victim of an attempted assassination. As Mr Trump — bleeding from the ear and raising a fist in the air — was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents, Tesla CEO Elon Musk officially endorsed him for president. "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," he wrote on X. The statement marked a controversial new era for both men. That age would come to an end just 10 months later — with Mr Musk, sporting a black baseball cap and a black eye to match, announcing his departure from the White House. This week, their partnership took its ugliest turn. This is far from the first time the two men have crossed paths or butted heads. During the 2016 election campaign, Mr Musk said in an interview he thought Mr Trump "was not the right guy". "He just doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States," the South African-born tech chief told CNBC. At the time he said Mr Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, had the "right" economic policies. But just a month later — following Mr Trump's shock win on election night — he would accept a position on a federal advisory council alongside other Silicon Valley elites. More than 580 tech industry employees had already signed an open letter condemning the Trump administration's planned policies to collect data on minority groups. Mr Musk was not among them. He stepped down from his position on the president's advisory councils less than six months after being appointed. Mr Trump had just announced the US would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement — a move he would repeat during his second term. He told followers on X — which he had yet to purchase at the time — he had done "all I can to advise directly to POTUS" and other White House officials. The decision, Mr Musk said, left him "no choice" but to walk away. By the end of Mr Trump's first term, he had again set his sights on rekindling the relationship with Mr Musk. The president marvelled at his SpaceX rockets in an 2020 interview with CNBC. "He likes rockets," Mr Trump told the outlet. "And he does good at rockets, too, by the way. "I never saw where the engines come down with no wings, no anything, and they're landing. I said, 'I've never seen that before.'" He dubbed Mr Musk one of the "great geniuses" of the modern age, "one of our very smart people". Two years later the relationship had soured again. Mr Musk, according to the then-presidential candidate, was "another bulls*** artist". Mr Trump, according to the Tesla CEO, needed to "hang up his hat and sail into the sunset". After ultimately being forced to follow through on his plan to buy Twitter — now X — Mr Musk reversed a ban on Mr Trump's account. As the campaign trail heated up, however, Mr Musk announced he would not be donating to any presidential candidate, and would not endorse the Republican or Democratic parties. The Pennsylvania assassination attempt appeared to change his mind. According to the Washington Post, Mr Musk would in just months become the biggest individual political donor of the 2024 election. Mr Musk made his first public appearance alongside the presidential candidate in August, jumping up on down on stage. "I'm not just MAGA," he told the crowd, referencing his black "Make America Great Again" cap. The number of public appearances and statements supporting the Trump campaign would only increase in the weeks leading up to election day. Mr Musk's America PAC launched a giveaway, giving away $US1 million ($1.54 million) a day to voters in swing states. The contest continued despite a legal challenge arguing it violated election laws. On election night, Mr Musk joined Mr Trump and other elite members of the campaign at the Mar-a-Lago resort. "Game, set and match," he wrote on X. Shortly after the sweeping win, Mr Trump announced a controversial new position for Mr Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The two tech industry leaders were set to run "DOGE", the Department of Government Efficiency, with the name being a reference to one of Mr Musk's favourite online memes. "Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies," Mr Trump said. "Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of DOGE for a very long time. "Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 trillion dollars of government spending." Mr Ramaswamy would walk away from the project within weeks. His departure left the president's new "first buddy" undeterred. Mr Trump did not always appear comfortable with the public scrutiny regarding their close relationship. Just a month before his second inauguration, Mr Trump referenced growing complaints about Mr Musk's role at a public appearance in Arizona. "No, he's not taking the presidency," he said in December. "No, no, that's not happening." Meanwhile reports by White House insiders and former campaigners swirled that the then president-elect had become "annoyed" with Mr Musk. The tech CEO had sparked a "civil war" between himself and high-profile MAGA allies over H1B visas, which are short-term visas given out to foreign workers, often by tech companies, for specialised US jobs. A controversial gesture made on stage at a post-inauguration event by Mr Musk also stole headlines internationally. His son, then-three-year-old X, appeared to shush the president in the Oval Office, seeming to tell him to "shush your mouth" in video taken by media. Mr Musk took to the stage again at a conservative conference wielding a bedazzled "chainsaw for democracy". The Trump administration was forced to argue in court that Mr Musk was not the "head" of DOGE, and US political media outlets reported on numerous behind-the-scenes clashes with White House officials. Mr Musk was simultaneously facing turmoil outside the White House — by March Tesla shares had lost more than 50 per cent of their market value. The company had hit its longest streak of losses since its debut on 2010, with the sharp decline linked to the Trump administration's rapidly changing tariff plans. In an apparent attempt to throw a lifeline to his "best buddy", Mr Trump turned the White House's South Lawn into a temporary Tesla showroom. He personally inspected five vehicles in front of media, declaring them "beautiful". "The one I like is that one, and I want the same colour," he said, pointing to a red car. Mr Trump declared on his Truth Social platform he would buy Tesla. Days later during a Fox News interview, Mr Musk became emotional when asked about the performance of his companies. Asked how he managed multiple businesses and his government role, he said: "With great difficulty." At the same time, DOGE was facing widespread criticism for a lack of transparency and failure to reach its stated savings goals. The advisory body has defunded multiple programs and made mass lay-offs, citing "fraud and abuse" and "woke" policies since it was first formed. By the end of May, Mr Musk would make a subdued departure. On May 30, Mr Musk arrived for a news conference at the Oval Office, sporting a black eye and a black DOGE cap. He told media the injury had occurred while playing rough with his youngest child. Arms crossed and head-down, he announced his time in the White House was over and accepted a golden key to the White House from the president. "Elon's really not leaving," Mr Trump said. The relationship between both men appeared to have fizzled out into quiet indifference — for a few days. Mr Musk then criticised Mr Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill", a sweeping budget reconciliation bill to fast-track spending policy. The more than 1,000-page document, which he labelled "pork-filled" and "outrageous", would scrap electric vehicle subsidies among other changes. On Thursday night, local time, the fallout intensified on each of their social media platforms. On X, Mr Musk appeared to take credit for the election outcome. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he said. Mr Trump then declared on Truth Social he had asked Mr Musk to leave the White House. "Elon was 'wearing thin'," he said. "I asked him to leave, I took away his [electric vehicle] mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY! "The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon's government subsidies and contracts. "I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!" Mr Musk labelled the accusations he went "crazy" as an "obvious lie", before hitting back with his own claims. "[Donald Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" The Trump administration has yet to respond to the allegation, which referred to documents relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who died in a prison cell. Being mentioned in the files does not necessarily mean any wrongdoing. Mr Trump told media on Thursday he was "very disappointed" in Mr Musk. "Look, Elon and I had a great relationship," he said. "I don't know if we will anymore.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
How Iran's Trump assassination plot would trigger full-scale invasion by the US and topple Ayatollah's evil regime
FURIOUS Iran would face a devastating invasion if it followed through on threats to assassinate Donald Trump, a former US advisor has warned. Dr Kenneth Katzman, a retired Middle East analyst for the US Congressional Research Service, even warned of a 'full-scale invasion' with special forces storming the streets of Tehran. 8 8 8 8 He spoke after Trump's former security advisor, John Bolton, said the US President is "at the top" of an 'assassination list' from the Middle East nation. Bolton, who claimed he is also on the hit list, said it would be revenge for a US airstrike in 2020 in Iraq that killed military leader Qasem Soleimani, ordered by Trump. But Dr Katzman warns Iran would face a response so dramatic it would overthrow its regime. Analysts have previously warned such a conflict would be a devastating quagmire. US historian Max Boot predicted would take up to 1.6million troops for the US to fully invade and occupy Iran. The US forces would face a war that spill across the Middle East as they tried to battle Iran's wide-ranging proxy forces. Other forecasts have predicted smaller attacks - such as the long mulled joint-strike with Israel on Iran's nuclear sites. Dr Katzman told The Sun: 'If Trump were to be assassinated, there would be many targets in Tehran that would be attacked. 'Islamic Revolutionary Guard Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters is in Tehran, the besieged headquarters, all the security forces I'm sure would be attacked. 'If they assassinated the US president you could even see, conceivably, US ground operations in Iran if that happens. 'It would be just so dramatic. You could even see US special forces operations in Iran and infantry operations in Iran, the marketplace is wide open. 'The objective of troops in Iran? To take the regime out. He added: "If they assassinated a US president, a full-scale invasion is very much an option." In November last year the Justice Department said it charged a man, Farhad Shakeri, 51, for his alleged role in a plot to assassinate Trump, tasked by the Iranian regime. Iran, where the suspect is now believed to be, denies this. Dr Katzman also warned that Bolton's comments may have been a cry for help over an "active plot" He continued: 'I think he's trying to highlight that he feels threatened. Trump withdrew the security protection for some of these guys that served in the first term that I mentioned, including Bolton. 'So I think Bolton, by bringing this up again, is trying to signal that he feels he needs security, there is still a threat, still an active plot.' 'Iran knows full well that that's the kind of thing that could bring a massive US intervention, on enough scale that the regime is gone." But Dr Katzman believes the extent of the retaliation will deter Iran from following through with any threats. Instead, he believes the threats serve as leverage to intimidate the US. He added: 'What's always puzzled me and other experts like me: what is Iran hoping to achieve here? Because the retaliation presumably would be so dramatic. 8 8 8 Trump on Iran 'hit list' by James Moules, Foreign News Reporter DONALD Trump is right "at the top" of Iran's chilling assassination hit list, a former White House official has claimed. John Bolton, who served in Trump's first administration, made the ominous warning that Iran has an "assassination list" on Sky News' The World. The ex-National Security Adviser warned: "I think Iran's terror network is really quite extensive in Europe and in the United States." He claimed that a number of US government officials were being targeted in relation to the assassination of top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Soleimani, who was designated as a terrorist by the United States, had been a highly powerful figure in the brutal Iranian regime. He commanded the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's security forces that is responsible for operations outside Iranian territory. Bolton claimed he is himself on Iran's hit list, although he made clear that Trump is the number one target. "President Trump is at the top of their list of their targets," he said. The Iranian regime would target people using "Eastern European criminal gangs and others", Bolton further claimed 'No one could quite figure out what the percentage is for Iran in actually going ahead with these types of operations. 'The retaliation is sure to be dramatic, but I think the sense is that Iran feels that these operations do give it a certain leverage and ability to intimidate, an ability to exert leverage. 'That's the way Iran sees it. I don't think anybody here necessarily sees it that way, but that's how Iran sees it. 'There have been no policy changes by the threat of Iranian assassination attempts in the United States. 'These threats have not caused any change in policy more favorable to the regime, so it's a mystery what Iran is really thinking with these plots.' Dr Katzman served his role – specialising in Iran, the Persian Gulf States, Afghanistan, Iran back groups in Iran and South Asia – from 1991 to 2022. His job was to provide reports and briefings to Members of Congress on US policy, analysing legislative proposals. 8
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What does ‘8647' really mean? Not what Trump's supporters are saying
The former FBI director James Comey has said it did not occur to him that that the numbers 8647 – which he spotted spelled out in seashells on a beach, and posted on social media – could be interpreted as a call to assassinate the president, as many supporters of Donald Trump have claimed. The controversy revolves around the meaning of 86, which is common slang for stopping or getting rid of something, typically old equipment; not serving someone, for example in a restaurant; being ejected from somewhere, such as a bar; or, in a military context, stopping a plan or mission. (The number 47 could be understood to indicate Trump, the 47th president.) Merriam-Webster notes that 86 has very occasionally been used to mean 'to kill' but said it did not endorse that meaning 'due to its relative recency and sparseness of use'. There are differing etymologies of where the term '86' or to be '86'd' originates. The most common origin story involves Chumley's, a prohibition-era bar at 86 Barrow Street in New York's West Village. The bar had two entrances, one on Barrow and another via Bedford, and '86' referred to the address of the door from which intoxicated or unruly guests would be ejected. A different version of the story, narrated by the author Jef Klein in The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York, says that when 'the cops would very kindly call ahead before a [Prohibition-era] raid, they'd tell the bartender to '86' his customers, meaning they should exit via the 86 Bedford door' while cops came in through the Barrow Street entrance. Related: James Comey investigated over seashell photo branded 'threat' against Trump But there are other origin stories for being '86'd', according to Merriam-Webster, including lunch-counter slang for being all out of a dish. Newspaper scribe Walter Winchell used it in a column in 1933, where it was presented as part of a 'glossary of soda-fountain lingo'. Other theories revolve around a US navy logistical coding system for materials in stock, designated by allowance type (AT). Equipment on a warship set to be upgraded or disposed of was given the code AT-6, or phonetically 'eighty-six'. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first use of '86' dates to a 1944 book about the movie star and notorious drinker, John Barrymore. 'There was a bar in the Belasco building … but Barrymore was known in that cubby as an 'eighty-six'. An 'eighty-six', in the patois of western dispensers, means: 'Don't serve him.'' Newsweek also claimed that the term '86' was used by some in the mafia to mean taking someone 'eight miles out of town' and putting them 'six feet under'. That concurs with Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, which says that, among many other readings, 'to 86' can also means 'to kill, to murder; to execute judicially', probably referring to the size of a standard grave being '8 feet long and 6 feet deep'. The number 86 has also been used by Republicans calling for the impeachment of Joe Biden – for example, T-shirts sold on Amazon reading '8646', indicating a call to impeach Biden (the 46th president) – with some liberals accusing the right of deliberately misunderstanding Comey's intent to score political points.
