Latest news with #DailyBeast
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump Shows Signs of ‘Cognitive Decline' Says Speech Expert
Donald Trump's rambling speeches and stream-of-consciousness press briefings could be symptoms of his 'cognitive decline,' according to one of America's top rhetoric experts. The warning comes as Trump and his aides are seeking a congressional probe into Joe Biden's mental state during his one-term presidency. The extent to which Biden, now 82, hid his capability has led to major questions over whether he was fit to lead the country. Now, Trump, who was the oldest president to be inaugurated at the age of 78 and seven months in January, is facing scrutiny over his position as the most powerful man on the planet. His father, Fred, was reportedly diagnosed with dementia in the early 1990s and died of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease at age 93 in 1999. Dr. Jennifer R. Mercieca, professor of Communication and Journalism at Texas A&M University, told the Daily Beast that the president's communication patterns could be a cause for concern. 'His lack of focus makes it seem as though he's experiencing cognitive decline, that his brain is not well-disciplined, and he's unable to maintain a thought and carry it through to a logical conclusion,' she said. Dr. Mercieca, the author of Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump, is an expert on speeches and rhetorical strategy. She said that while she's not a speech pathologist or an expert on ageing, she understands how an audience might easily become confused by the way he talks. 'Trump sees himself as someone who is unscripted and not teleprompter,' she added. 'He likes to brand himself as a 'truthteller' who can and will say anything that comes to mind. 'Unfortunately, that makes his speeches difficult to follow as he digresses from thought to thought—seemingly connecting ideas at random.' The president's April 11 annual physical, carried out by his physician Sean Barbabella, found him to be in 'excellent health.' 'President Trump's days include participation in multiple meetings, public appearances, press availability, and frequent victories in golf events,' Barbabella said in his report. 'President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.' The physician also gave Trump a perfect score for his mental health, claiming: 'Cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), was normal with a score of 30 out of 30.' But in recent public appearances, Trump has shocked audiences with sudden changes of subject and repeated topics and claims. He continually brings up Biden's alleged cognitive decline while in the Oval Office, blames the previous administration for the nation's ills, and goes back to his favorite issues like the price of eggs, the dangers represented by undocumented immigrants, and DEI time and time again. In a speech on Saturday at the prestigious West Point military academy, the president took credit for boosting recruitment and thanked parents for attending, which would be in line with most expectations. But during the nearly hour-long speech, Trump also strayed to say the forces should not 'host drag shows', there would be no teaching of critical race theory, he insisted that men playing women's sports would no longer be permitted, and claimed he was investigated 'more than the great, late Alphonse Capone.' Going off on a tangent, he continued: 'Alphonse Capone was a monster, he was a very hardened criminal. I went through more investigations than Alphonse Capone, and now I'm talking to you as president, can you believe this?' (This isn't true—Trump was indicted four times, and Capone was indicted six times). Even more bizarrely, the president told graduates not to marry 'trophy wives.' In December, Trump said that while his ramblings may appear incoherent, they were 'genius.' 'I do the weave,' he explained. 'You know what the weave is? I'll talk about, like, nine different things that they all come back brilliantly together. And it's like friends of mine that are like English professors, they say: 'It's the most brilliant thing I've ever seen.'' 'But the fake news, you know what they say, 'He rambled.' It's not rambling. What you do is you get off a subject to mention another little titbit, then you get back on to the subject, and you go through this and you do it for two hours, and you don't even mispronounce one word.' His explanation came after his 'weave' involved linking the cannibal serial killer Hannibal Lecter with his immigration policies. At one rally, reported The Guardian, he described the 'late, great Hannibal Lecter' as 'a wonderful man.' While the price of eggs coming down has been a recent topic, before his inauguration, he claimed that the price of wind power had driven up inflation so that people weren't buying bacon. 'You make a speech, and my speeches last a long time because of the weave, you know, I mean, I weave stories into it,' Trump told podcaster Joe Rogan. 'If you don't, if you just read a teleprompter, nobody's going to be very excited. You've got to weave it out. So you, but you always have to, as you say, you always have to get right back to work. Otherwise, it's no good. But the weave is very, very important. Very few weavers around. But it's a big strain on your, you know, it's a big, it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work.' Dr. Mercieca said the idea of the 'weave' was an attempt to deflect criticism. 'In order to counter the perception that these digressions are actually a strategy, Trump has branded his speaking style 'the weave' and claims that experts in rhetoric believe it's a good way to communicate,' she told the Beast. 'It's not a good or effective way to communicate. It shows a lack of discipline and control,' added the award-winning historian of American political rhetoric and rhetorical analyst. A White House spokesperson claimed the university professor suffered from 'Trump derangement syndrome' and insisted: 'President Trump is the most accessible and transparent president in history–constantly showing off his impeccable mental and physical health." However, the American public doesn't appear to be convinced by Trump's assurances about his robust health. A YouGov/Economist poll, conducted last week, found that 45 percent felt Trump had been 'not at all' or 'not very' transparent about his health. The poll also found that 31 percent believed Trump's age and health severely affected his ability as president.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump Reveals Pardon Plan for New Set of Violent MAGA Thugs
President Donald Trump is entertaining the idea of pardoning those convicted of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. Trump said Wednesday he 'will take a look' at pardoning four men convicted on federal charges. That escalates a suggestion from the DOJ's new pardon attorney, Ed Martin, who recently described the case as a 'fed-napping' plot. 'I will take a look at it,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. 'It's been brought to my attention.' Trump, 78, said he watched the group's criminal trial and that 'it looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job.' 'You know, they were drinking, and I think they said stupid things, but I'll take a look at that,' Trump added. The suggestion that those involved merely spoke of kidnapping Whitmer during a drunken bender is misleading. Fourteen people were arrested in an October 2020 sting that included the use of informants and undercover FBI agents, who testified that the group planned to capture the governor at her vacation home, blow up a bridge to distract responding cops, and provoke a civil war ahead of the 2020 election. Whitmer—a Democrat who has been criticized by her own party for cozying up to Trump since his return to the White House—had previously said her targeting was the result of violent and divisive political rhetoric in America, suggesting the men were inspired by Trump. Her office did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. 'When our leaders meet with, encourage, or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions and they are complicit,' she said in 2020, referring to Trump. Nine suspects were convicted in total, but only four on federal charges. A presidential pardon would only apply to those convicted in federal court, meaning those serving time on state charges in Michigan would not be home free. Barry Croft Jr., 49, and Adam Fox, 42, were the ringleaders of the scheme. Croft was sentenced to spend nearly 20 years in a federal prison, the longest sentence of the group. Trump has been on a pardon spree since returning to office. He said on Tuesday he would pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million through fraudulent loans. The day before, he said he would pardon Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff convicted of corruption-related charges who was set to start a 10-year sentence this week. The president also pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters on his first day back in office, including some who were convicted of harming law enforcement. He pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who had been serving a life sentence for running a crypto-based market for drugs like heroin and meth, the following day. Granting clemency to those who intimately planned to kidnap Whitmer, who is widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, would likely be considered among Trump's most controversial pardons. Martin, who became a MAGA figure for his support of Trump's 2020 'stop the steal' movement, said this month he is taking a 'hard look' at the case. He suggested on his podcast that, if it were up to him, he would wipe away the men's federal charges. 'On the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind,' Martin said. 'In my opinion, these are victims, just like January 6.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump going after Harvard because his son was rejected? Melania says Barron did not apply to the Ivy League school
Melania Trump stated that her son Barron never submitted an application to Harvard. She said anyone saying he applied or someone applied for him is lying. People online started a conspiracy theory saying Trump's attacks on Harvard are because Barron didn't get in, as per reports. Trump has been going after Harvard for months, saying the university is not doing enough to stop antisemitism on campus. Because of that, Trump froze Harvard's funding and took away their right to bring in international students, unless they follow his demands, as per the report by Daily Beast. This made people wonder if it was personal revenge for Barron not getting in. Even a US Senator talked about it. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, questioned on X how many members of the Trump family were rejected by Harvard, as reported by the New York Post. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chuck Norris Begs Seniors: Avoid These 3 Foods Like The Plague Roundhouse Provisions Learn More Undo Barron is actually studying at New York University, in the Stern School of Business. He just finished his first year there, and Trump said he got into 'a lot of schools' but didn't say which ones. Trump also said Barron is a 'smart guy' and that he didn't want to go to Wharton, as mentioned in the reports. Harvard was started in 1636, even before America was a country. It's also the richest university in the US with a $50 billion endowment, and only accepts about 4% of applicants, as stated by the reports. None of Trump's children have gone to Harvard. But Jared Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law, did go to Harvard. His dad donated $2.5 million the same year Jared got in. Live Events FAQs Q1. Did Barron Trump apply to Harvard? No, Melania Trump said he never applied. Q2. Why is Donald Trump targeting Harvard? He says the university hasn't done enough to fight antisemitism.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Birthday Military Parade Is Offering Top Donors ‘VIP Experience'
Donors can secure a 'dedicated VIP experience' at upcoming military events for President Donald Trump, including a proposed large-scale parade on his birthday. Supporters who contribute to America250, a nonprofit planning events to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, are being offered exclusive access to Trump-backed events this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported. That includes a massive parade to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary featuring dozens of tanks, thousands of marching troops, and military aircraft flying over Washington, D.C., planned for June 14, the day the president turns 79. The VIP treatment will also extend to a 'readiness demonstration' involving thousands of troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on June 10, as well as a July 4 Independence Day bash in Washington, D.C. Details such as how much donors will need to fork over to take part in the 'VIP experience' are unclear. A source close to the planning told the Daily Beast that donors and special guests will be greeted upon arrival at the events and provided preferred seating. Trump is facing criticism over the planned military parade. One issue is the major expense such an event would cost—reported to be between $25 million and $45 million—which taxpayers will have to stump for. That doesn't include extras like fixing tank-damaged roads or the hefty post-event cleanup. Critics have also questioned the motivation behind the show of force. 'As an Army veteran myself, I'm proud of the Army's birthday,' Naveed Shah, political director of veterans group Common Defense, told The Washington Post. 'But this parade seems like it's all about the president's ego rather than the troops who sacrifice everything to serve our country.' The White House defended the military parade in a statement to the Daily Beast. 'There is no event grand enough to adequately capture our gratitude for the millions of heroes who laid down their lives defending our freedom, but this parade will be a fitting tribute to the service, sacrifice, and selflessness of all who have worn the uniform,' said White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. 'The cost will be shared by the Department of the Army and the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.' Trump has denied that the parade is linked to his birthday and defended the cost as 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it,' Trump said on NBC's Meet the Press. Trump's fixation with a military display dates back to his first term, reportedly inspired by a Bastille Day parade he witnessed in Paris in July 2017. John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser and now a vocal critic of the president, said officials tried to explain that the U.S. doesn't stage military parades 'unless there is a reason.' 'The arguments that finally convinced him not to was that if you run tanks down the streets of Washington, you're going to rip the streets up,' Bolton told the Journal. 'The cost and the repair and the discombobulation will irritate people, and it'll be more trouble than it's worth.' Trump attempted a similar parade in 2018 but faced strong resistance from D.C. officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Buyers for Trump's Eyebrow-Raising Memecoin Dinner to Be Revealed
Investors who have dumped potentially millions of dollars in Donald Trump's memecoin for a chance to dine with the president will soon discover if they are the lucky winners. A furious bidding process involving holders of the $TRUMP digital currency ends Monday, with the top 220 buyers being invited to a 'gala dinner' with the president at his members' clubs in D.C. on May 22, The New York Times reported. The top 25 investors in the $TRUMP coin will also be invited to an 'exclusive reception' and VIP tour of the White House before the dinner. The promotion has been met with skepticism and scrutiny that Trump is seeking to use his name for profit while in office by encouraging investors and supporters to purchase his memecoin and sharply increase its value. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed suggestions there is anything untoward about Trump's dinner promotion or that it amounts to giving the opportunity to buy influence. 'President Trump is compliant with all conflict-of-interest rules, and only acts in the best interests of the American public—which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media,' Leavitt told the Daily Beast on Monday. Kain Warwick, a Sydney-based founder of the crypto firm Infinex, is among the coin's top investors and is in line to be among the 220 invited to the dinner with Trump. If Warwick invests around half a million dollars more in $TRUMP, he believes he could break into the top 25 and be rewarded with the chance to speak to the president more closely. 'It's definitely on my mind,' Warwick told the Times. 'Obviously that would be a much better opportunity to have a conversation with Trump.' The president launched $TRUMP on Jan. 17, three days before his return to the White House. The coin's value quickly rose to a peak of nearly $74 but has since plummeted to under $14, according to Trump has repeatedly promoted the cryptocurrency while in office, including posting, 'I LOVE $TRUMP — SO COOL!!! The Greatest of them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' on Truth Social in March. Analysis of trading records by the Times suggests a spike in purchases of the president's memecoin one day before the dinner promotion was officially announced. This spike occurred after plans to award large token holders of $TRUMP with a private dinner leaked on social media. However, one expert dismissed any suggestion that Trump or those connected to the memecoin will face an official probe under the Trump administration. 'This absolutely would have triggered an initial investigation,' John Reed Stark, the former head of the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement, told the Times. 'Or at least it certainly would have under norms from prior Republican and Democratic eras.' Sen. Chris Murphy had harsh words about Trump's move into cryptocurrency ahead of his second term in office, telling Reuters the Trump memecoin is the 'single most corrupt act ever committed by a president.' 'Donald Trump is essentially posting his Venmo for any billionaire CEO or foreign oligarch to cash in some favors by secretly sending him millions of dollars,' the Connecticut Democrat added. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board, which is becoming increasingly critical of Trump, also raised concern that many of those hoping to win a dinner with the president are overseas buyers. 'Foreigners are prohibited from contributing to U.S. political campaigns, but there's no bar on them buying stock in a politician's business. That's effectively what foreign buyers of Mr. Trump's tokens are doing,' the board wrote Sunday. 'Might some be trying to buy goodwill with the Trump Administration?' Freight Technologies, a small logistics company, said it was seeking to buy $20 million of $TRUMP in order to secure a chance to speak to the president about free trade between the U.S. and Mexico, CoinDesk reported.
