Meanwhile, opposition to the release of Justice Department files on pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein is being ramped up by none other than former President Donald Trump. He refers to the continued focus on the case a “Democrat’s Hoax.” In fact, Trump is preparing to fly south to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida at 6 PM ET. He might as well have said that he expects congressional Republicans to completely unite against the full disclosure of these documents.
In a recent social media post, Trump railed against Democratic lawmakers. He mocked their efforts to restore the Epstein story as an indication of their “withered power” and blamed the other party on the opposition. He made a point of noting that Epstein was a Democrat, trying to establish the issue as one that ought to be a priority for Democrats—not Republicans.
“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem! Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers about Epstein, they know all about him, don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a country to run!” – Donald Trump
Trump’s public statements come at the same time as his push to win over Republican representatives, such as his reported outreach to Rep. Nancy Mace. Unfortunately, the two were unable to find each other.
The former president’s remarks come amid intense scrutiny over his administration’s policies and actions this year. Trump has more decidedly waged a war on immigrants. He has additionally ordered military air strikes against suspected Caribbean and Pacific drug trafficking vessels. These actions have received widespread condemnation from all angles, including from a strong majority of the American public. According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 29% of Americans support using military force to kill suspected drug traffickers without judicial review. By contrast, a whopping 51% of respondents say they’re against such measures.
Trump’s foreign policy moves have garnered the loudest uproar. At the same time, U.S. Catholic bishops have denounced his expanded immigration enforcement plans. This week, the bishops are sounding the alarm on threats to houses of worship. Most notably, they are pushing for an immigration system that recognizes the dignity of those who cross our borders.
“We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools,” – U.S. Catholic Bishops
Despite these challenges, Trump continues to criticize both Democrats and what he terms “weak” Republicans who have not aligned with his agenda. He did not exclusively return to lambasting the party’s membership though, expressing his irritation towards them bent to the will of Democratic opposition lawmakers.
“Some Weak [Republicans] have fallen into their clutches because they are soft and foolish,” – Donald Trump
The Trump administration has positioned itself against California’s newly drawn congressional map by joining a lawsuit initiated by state Republicans. This action is just the latest piece of a larger campaign to reshape congressional politics as we head into the election year and beyond.
Even as Trump wades into these political minefields, he continues to tend to his core political constituency. He shared a Fox News segment on Truth Social. The caption, “THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN HOAX,” exemplifies his commitment to organizing excitement and capital around this story line.
Besides domestic impacts, the consequences of Trump’s military interventions have been grave. WATA reports that at least 20 military strikes have killed a total of 79 people in recent months. Critics argue that these operations are “deliberately calculated” and “aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure,” according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Firstly, spurious claims aside, Trump wants you to believe that he is committed to America’s long-term success. Interestingly, public opinion on his long term policies is sharply divided. The growing discontent regarding military strikes and immigration policies presents hurdles for the former president as he attempts to solidify his influence within the Republican Party and appeal to undecided voters.