Category Archives: Donald Trump

Former US President Donald Trump on Friday said that America has been put in the worst position it could possibly be put in, slamming his successor Joe Biden on his Afghan policy.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.

The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the US and its allies melted away.

We have been put in the worst position we could possibly be put in, a position that nobody would have even thought possible, even two weeks ago. Nobody would have thought this would be possible, that we could be in a position like this, where the Taliban and others are dictating and they are the ones saying get out on the 31st, Trump told Fox News in an interview.

I think Biden wanted to stay, but they said, we will not have you come and get out, there will be consequences. You heard that. That was said by the leader of the Taliban. We want you out by the 31st, there will be consequences. What kind of stuff is this? he asked.

Trump said that from the standpoint of military tactics and just embarrassment, this is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to the United States.

We look like fools all over the world. We are weak. We are pathetic, he said.

We are being led by people that have no idea what they are doing. They take the military out, and then they say, now we will bring out the people. And, all of a sudden, the Taliban walks in, Trump said.

The former president said that under his administration, the Taliban were under control. They wouldnt have moved without getting our approval. We had an incredible agreement. They werent killing our soldiers. You know that. And it was part of their in fact, Biden actually said that (in a press conference). He said they werent killing them because of the agreement that we had, that we did, he added.

These (the Taliban) are the people that we had at bay to a level that you wouldnt believe. There was no way that they never even fired on our troops. They didnt again, we didnt lose any troops for and just, like long, extended period of time. Nobody was even fired, frankly, until today, when we had a tragedy take place, and thats because of this agreement, he said.

Unfortunately, Biden didnt follow it because he took the military out first and left everybody open, and I feel very, very badly for the people. They were very loyal to our country, whether its interpreters or others, and they were very loyal to our country, but we certainly are in a bad position. There are always alternatives. You can do things, there are things to do, Trump added.

August 31 is the cut-off date set by both the US and the Taliban for Americas pullout from the war-torn country.

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America put in the worst position: Donald Trump on Afghan crisis - The Indian Express

In his letter of displeasure with Joe Biden's presidency, Robert Hebert, economist, demonstrates that he remains true to his profession. Like most economists, he begins by making an assumption. In his case, he has assumed former President Donald Trump could do no wrong and President Joe Biden can do no right.

Maybe we would all be better served if the world wasn't viewed through Hebert's lens of absolutism or its antithesis that Trump could do no good and Biden can do no wrong. I can say this because I do not belong to either tribe.

I must confess I do not miss the Trump presidency. A president is elected to serve his country. By his pandemic performances on TV and his erratic tweets, Trump left me with the feeling he was less concerned about serving his country and more concerned with serving himself. I will decide in the 2024 election how I feel about the Biden presidency.

DENNIS C. FOLTZ

retired, food processing

Gretna

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Letters: The assumption of critics is that Donald Trump is correct and Joe Biden isn't - The Advocate

The House of Representatives select committee is moving forward to seek answers in the Jan. 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill. They have already made their list of people from the Trump administration whom they would like to speak to and theres only one adult child from the Trump family who didnt make the list: Tiffany Trump.

That means that all documents and communications within the White House involving Donald Trump Jr. (and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle), Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump will be a part of the investigation, per Politico. For Tiffany, being an outsider in her family suddenly has its benefits. Its well-documented that the now 27-year-old was raised on the opposite coast of her half-siblings by her mother (and Donald Trumps second wife), Marla Maples.

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Maples has always said she raised her daughter as a single mother and that Donald had very little involvement with his youngest daughter. Her daddy is a good provider with education and such, but as far as time, it was just me, she explained to People. Her father wasnt able to be there with day-to-day skills as a parent. He loves his kids. Theres no doubt. But everything was a bit of a negotiation.

Click here to read the full article.

Even though Tiffany moved back East to attend college and law school, her involvement with Donalds administration was limited to a few public appearances and some help on the campaign trail. In the end, this distance might save her from any possible legal trouble involving not only the insurrection, but the ongoing investigation into the Trump Organization. Tiffany has always downplayed any rumored tense relationship with her father. We see each other as much as possible and of course we speak on the phone, she shared with the media outlet. I think regardless of distance, I dont think that dictates any relationship strains.

But with the ongoing look into what happened on Jan. 6, Tiffany might be thanking her lucky stars that she stayed away from the family business. Because Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric will likely feel some heat regarding what they knew about the mental stability of Donald Trump or his fitness for office on that fateful day.

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Click here to see Melanias quotes about Donald Trump, from their marriage to the presidential race.

Donald Trump, Melania Trump

Launch Gallery: See Donald Trump & More of the Trump Family in This Photo Album

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Tiffany Trump Is the Only Adult Child of Donald Trump Not Being Investigated About January 6 - Yahoo Entertainment

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The Danity Kane member reignited her feud with ex Donald Trump Jr. on Twitter after she called out the former presidents son for poking fun at the horrific events happening with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

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"Reliable sources tell me that [Joe] Biden & our woke Generals will DEMAND that the Taliban rename themselves the LGBTaliban+ to be more inclusive & diverse, or else no more American weapons for them!," ex-President Donald Trumps son tweeted on August 24, 2021.

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His ex was quick to put him in place, saying: You r so much more interesting than this petty nonsense, she subtweeted him on the same day. Hurts to see u playing to your weakest self all the time.

ODay and Don Jr. had an affair that lasted a little over a year while the singer was a contestant on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, OK! reported. The Making the Band alum called the businessman her soulmate during an episode of MTVs Ex on the Beach in 2019.

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The Damaged songstress put her ex and the entire Trump family on blast after he attacked Joe Bidens son, Hunter, in a series of now-deleted tweets. ODay accused Trump Jr. of hating his father, claimed Ivanka, who is married to Jared Kushner, is a lesbian and that Eric had sex with a former Miss Universe contestant while he was dating his now-wife, Lara.

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Her most shocking claim came after she showed a video on Don Jr. in which social media users claimed he was on cocaine. She retweeted one of the clips, saying, we did drugs together, adding: cocaine was never one of them, he never showed any interest. so I cant say that.

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Her most recent shot fired at the Triggered author comes after OK! learned the blonde bombshell up and sold her Los Angeles home and started a new life abroad last month.

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For those of you who are friends, or have spent enough time on my Twitter over the years to get into my mind, you know Ive been wanting to leave out of the country for a while now, so.. I have 🙂 ! I sold my place in America and just boarded my flight to a new life, she wrote via Instagram on Saturday, July 10, as she teased her new single.

I need a more profound purpose at this stage of my life than what Ive learned so far, she added. So.. Im writing this to anyone who may be relating to any of these feelings expressed.. JUST JUMP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR! love you all!

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Aubrey O'Day Reignites Feud With 'Petty' Ex Donald Trump Jr. After Fleeing The States - OK!

Six years to the day after a stadium rally in Mobile gave an early glimpse of Donald Trumps ability to generate the excitement that would propel him to the White House, the former president is back in Alabama today to fire up his supporters again.

Trump will hold a Save America outdoor rally at York Family Farms in Cullman, which is in the heart of a Congressional district where four out of five voters supported him in 2016 and 2020.

Its his first speaking event in Alabama since campaigning for Luther Strange during the special election for the Senate in 2017.

Admission starts at 2 p.m. today live music, food and beverage concessions, and guest speakers.

The rally starts at 5 p.m. Alabama Republican Party Chair John Wahl said nine speakers are lined up to precede Trump. The former president takes the stage at 7 p.m.

Other speakers include Wahl; columnist and commentator Todd Starnes; state Sen. Garlan Gudger of Cullman; Congressman Robert Aderholt of Haleyville; state Rep. Andrew Sorrell of Muscle Shoals; Attorney General Steve Marshall; Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth; Sen. Tommy Tuberville; and Congressman Mo Brooks, who carries Trumps endorsement in the U.S. Senate race.

Wahl said he started working to bring Trump back to Alabama as soon as he was elected state party chair in February. He said the 45th presidents appearance will help build momentum for Alabama Republicans for next years elections.

Alabama is Trump Country, and the president has such a special bond with its people, Wahl said in a press release. We are delighted he is coming to the heart of the Fourth Congressional District, where he received his highest vote percentages in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

The Alabama Democratic Party has denounced Trumps return to Alabama as a bad idea. Democratic Party Executive Director Wade Perry said it had the potential to be a super-spreader of COVID-19 at a time when the coronavirus has filled up Alabama hospitals.

In fundraising emails to members and supporters, the Alabama Democratic Party has said it would greet Trump with billboards carrying messages such as Welcome to Alabama, Liar.

Since leaving office, Trump has regularly repeated his unsubstantiated claims that President Biden won the election because of fraud and irregularities.

Tickets to tonights event are free but are required. Register for tickets.

The U.S. Secret Service will prohibit chairs, coolers, alcoholic beverages, signs and placards, guns, knives, umbrellas, selfie sticks, tripods, and other items.

Things you cant bring to the Trump rally in Cullman include guns, aerosols, balloons

York Family Farms is the venue that hosted the Rock the South music festival last week.

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Donald Trump speaking in Alabama for the first time in 4 ...

Trump sues Facebook, Twitter over 'blacklisting and canceling'

Claims that tech companies are biased against conservatives have emerged as a top issue to rally the GOP base ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Associated Press, USA TODAY

Twitter blocked and labeled some Donald Trump's claims ofelection fraud in the run-up and aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

The tweetsspread on and off Twitter anyway.

Thats according to a new study from New York University researchers published Tuesday in Harvard Kennedy's School Misinformation Review and shared exclusively with USA TODAY.

The study is raisingnew questions about the ability of social media companies to halt the flood of falsehoods on mainstream social media platforms during election cycles.

NYU researchers say Trump tweets withfact-check labels spread further on Twitter than those without. And when Twitter blocked engagement with the former presidents tweets, they leapedto Facebook, Instagram and Reddit where they were more popular than tweets that Twitter labeled or did not flag at all.

Do Facebook and Google censor conservatives?Trump, Republicans bet claims they do will rally GOP base in 2022

Banning Trump from Facebook: Why Justice Clarence Thomas and other conservatives say it is First Amendment issue

It's not clear if Twitter intervened on social media posts that were more likely to spread or if it was the intervention itself that gave the tweets a boost, the researchers said.

But they say their studyunderscores how harmful misinformation can hopfrom platform to platform with too little coordination among social media companies to curb its spread.

Misinformation halted on one platform does not halt it on another, said Megan Brown, research engineer with NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics.

Blocked on Twitter, Trumps tweets turned up on Facebook in the form of links, quotes andscreenshots, where they garnered an average engagement of more than 300,000, said Zeve Sanderson, executive director of the NYU center.

That phenomenon shows that political actors seeking to advance a narrative online are not limited to working within a single platform, said Joshua Tucker, co-director of the center.

We are in a world where people who are trying to control information environments and who are trying to push political information environments are in a multiplatform world, Tucker said. Right now, the only way we have to deal with content is on a platform-by-platform basis.

In a statement, Twitter saidit took a number of steps to limit engagement on tweets that violated its rules.

"As election conversation reached record-highs, it was critical that we took swift enforcement action on misleading content that could contribute to offline harm," the company said.

From Oct. 27 to Nov. 11, Twitter labeled some 300,000 tweets as disputed or potentially misleading and saw an estimated 29% decrease in quote tweets.

"We continue to research, question, and alter features that could incentivize or encourage behaviors on Twitter that negatively affect the health of the conversation online or could lead to offline harm," the company said.

Twitter'smost significant intervention waspermanently banningTrump in the final days of his presidency after the Jan. 6Capitol attack, a move that raisedthorny questions of free speech and censorship on social media.

At the time, Trumphad 88.7 million followers who retweeted him at an astonishing rate, giving him near unprecedented power to shape the national conversation.

After his followers stormed the Capitol building to block Congress from certifying Joe Bidens presidential win, all three of the nations top social media platforms Facebook, Googles YouTube and Twitter banned Trump over concerns he would incite more violence.

YouTube said it would lift the suspension after the "risk of violence" decreases. In June, Facebook said the earliest Trump would regain access to his accounts would be 2023. Even if Trump runs for president and wins in 2024, Twitter said it will not reinstate him.

Trump attacked social media companies forlabeling, restrictingorremoving his poststhat spread falsehoods about the outcome of the presidential election.

In July, Trump filed suit against Facebook, Google and Twitter and their CEOs, claiming the companies violated his First Amendment rights.

In a backlash from conservatives, dozens of states are considering legislation that targets how social media platforms regulate speech. One bill passed in Florida but was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Another in Texas had the votes it needed in a special session of the Republican-controlled legislature but has beenin limbo after Democrats left the state for Washington to protest a GOP effort to overhaul the state election system.

NYU researchers say they focused on Trump's tweets because of evidence that he acted as a central vector for spreading election-relation misinformation.

They examined tweets from Nov. 1, 2020, through Jan. 8, 2021, that were flagged by Twitter.

Blocking engagement with Trumps tweets limited their spread on Twitter but not elsewhere, researchersfound. The tweets were posted more often and were more popular on other social media platforms.

When Twitter slapped a warning label on Trumps tweets, they were more popular than his tweets that had no label, researchers said.

The finding does not necessarily mean that warning labels were ineffective or had the Streisand effect, when an attempt to hide or remove information draws even more attention to it,Sanderson said.It may be that the types of tweets that Twitter labeled were also the type that would be more likely to spread.

In the future, especially with respect to the ongoing pandemic and the 2022 midterms coming up, it will be really important for the platforms to coordinate in some way, if they can, to halt the spread of misinformation, Brown said.

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Twitter blocked and labeled Donald Trump's tweets on election fraud. They spread anyway. - USA TODAY

Birmingham Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, who is exploring a Republican campaign for Michigan governor, says he would accept Donald Trump's endorsement if offered but he wants to be defined as himself, not the former president.

Craig, who is expected to pursue the GOP nomination for governor, made his first extended remarks on Trump Monday during a press conference in Birmingham that focused on law enforcement policy.

If the president gives me his endorsement, Ill accept it," Craig told reporters. "But I want to be defined as James Craig, not Donald Trump. I am looking ahead to 2022.

Craig is one of nine Michigan Republicans who have formed fundraising committees to run for governor next year. The winner of the August 2022 primary will take on Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her reelection bid.

Trump, who remains popular within the Michigan GOP, is expected to be a potentially influential figure in the battleground state's primary race. The former president has maintained that he lost his 2020 campaign to Democrat Joe Biden because of election fraud, claims that remain unproven.

Asked if he believed the election was stolen from Trump, Craig said he didn't have information on whether there was evidence to back up the assertions.

I am a cop. … If there was evidence, if there was a proper investigation that the election was stolen … I dont have that information," the former police chief said.

But what I do certainly support is election integrity," he continued.

Craig said he supports a requirement that people show identification in order to vote. Currently, under Michigan law, in-person voters can sign an affidavit saying they don't have their ID with them and still cast a ballot.

He made the comments Monday afternoon after a meeting with law enforcement officials and GOP lawmakers in downtown Birmingham. The group had a policy discussion in private for about an hour inside a room with glass walls.

Reporters sat outside the meeting room and could watch but weren't able to hear the discussion. The Michigan Democratic Party said in a statement that Craig had shown a "brazen disregard forlocal press."

Asked about the closed-off talks, Craig said he's for transparency.

"There's no secrets in that room," he said.

After the meeting, Craig addressed the media and took questions for about 25 minutes, his first formal question-and-answer session with a group of reporters since retiring as Detroit police chief on June 1 to pursue his potential campaign.

Participants in Craig's law enforcement meeting Monday included House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard and state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte.

Craig said the group talked about the idea that defendants are being treated more like victims now. The voice of "real victims" is not being heard, the former chief said.

Former House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, who many expect to run for attorney general in 2022, and former U.S. House candidate Lena Epstein, who has been floated as a potential GOP secretary of state nominee, were also present at the event.

"Today is about standing with our law enforcement, standing with Chief Craig and this task force," Leonard said when asked about his potential campaign.

Leonard lost to Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2018 by 3 percentage points.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

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Craig says he wants 'to be defined as James Craig, not Donald Trump' - The Detroit News

When Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015 by saying Nobody builds walls better than me, it was to say the least a questionable claim.

Trump insisted the great wall he planned for the southern US border, to keep out unwanted migrants, would be impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful.

Like other pronouncements by the former president, who made his name in construction, the assertion did not hold water.

Neither, it seems, did the wall.

Photographs published by the website Gizmodo appear to show sections of the partially constructed wall in southern Arizona in severe disrepair, torn apart by summer monsoon rains that the site said literally blew floodgates off their hinges.

At least six gates were washed out in a single location near Douglas, according to a quote on the website from Jos Manuel Prez Cant, director of an environmental nonprofit, Cuenca de Los Ojos.

Other sections of the wall were also hit by last weeks powerful monsoon, according to the Tucson Sentinel, which said a US Customs and Immigration Services official confirmed damage had been done.

Experts estimated the storm surge at one section of the wall, at Silver Creek, at up to 7.6m, or 25ft.

In 2020, when Trump was still in power, experts warned that floodgates in some places along the 701-mile, $21bn wall would need to be left open during heavy rains and flooding, to avoid collapse amid surges of tons of water carrying rocks, sediment, tree limbs and other debris.

Because of their remote locations, many of the gates would have to be manually opened and left unattended for months at a time, the Washington Post reported potentially allowing for the easy entry into the US of smugglers and migrants.

It appears the gates were open during last weeks storms, but the wall was still no match for historic flooding after months of drought. According to climate experts at the University of Arizona, the Douglas area has this year received almost twice its average annual amount of monsoon rainfall.

Gizmodo blamed the failure at least partly on rushed construction and an alleged bypassing of environmental regulations.

Who could have predicted this? Ah yes, just about everyone, author Brian Kahn wrote, linking to an article highlighting environmental threats the wall would encounter.

In January, Joe Biden froze construction on the border wall and ordered a review of costs. In April, the Department of Defense announced it was canceling contracts paid for from military funds appropriated by the Trump administration.

Trump always insisted that Mexico would pay for the wall a claim proven false.

Construction began in 2017 but the wall was beset by problems, including lawsuits and cost overruns.

Earlier this year, the Guardian reported that sections costing $27m a mile could be easily scaled using a $5 ladder.

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Trumps border wall reportedly in severe disrepair in Arizona - The Guardian

I forget exactly how we got here, but I did go there a little bit and discussed Donald Trump with Bob Arum during a chat a couple days ago, and this is how it came up.

For a bunch of years, weve conversed about the state of the nation, and the ramifications of having a leader like Trump holding so much sway over the populace.

Heres a sampling:

Before the 2016 election, Arum said he wanted to do a debate against Trump.

Arum felt disgusted seeing and hearing Trump doing daily briefings on coronavirus.

The promoter exulted when Biden downed Trump.

Arum was not pleased that Trump got so much love in the last election, versus Joseph Biden.

That was thenIve dialed almost all the way back on the paying attention to the political narratives being pitched and run with and misused effectively. I was telling Arum that, and he interrupted me. Thats OK, I am that same way, I get excited and blurt.

Bullshit, Arum said. You stopped because you were addicted to Trump!

Bob, I said, you didnt let me finish! I was going to say, I realized I stepped away not because I wised up. Its because, I said, when Trump slithered down to Mar-a-lago to plot his next moves, and stopped having the same sort of coverage and platforms, he was now out of site and largely out of mind.

At the end of January, I really did cut back hard on my intake of political news and the commentary comprises 80% of the coverage done by an MSNBC, for example.I was addicted to Trump, I confessed to Arum.

We all were, Arum said. Same for him, he said, hes now not so inclined to keep track of the latest indignities, buffooning, blustering and stirring of the drama pot. It was the best reality television ever, because he was capable of doing any kind of crazy thing. I hardly watch the news now.

A Commander in Chief who isnt such a magnetic attraction, because of his loose cannon personality, is to many of us a gift.

There is now more room, arguably, for focus on all these moving parts, from the Bobfather, who turns 90 on Dec. 8. He admitted to me that hes whittled his consumption of news way down since Donald Trump left office, and so hes enjoying watching some programs that are not so much going to affect ones blood pressure. Arum liked Hacks on HBO Max very much, and also White Lotus, on the same platform. I turned him on to Flacks, starring Anna Paquin, on Amazon Prime.

I then pivoted to this fight game, from the political arena fight game. Covid uncertainty is still impacting the fight game, cementing the adage that if you wanna make God laugh, make plans for the future and assume they are immutable. Arum and Top Rank are proceeding full steam ahead, as fast as is prudent.

Top Rank has a show in Tucson, Arizona, topped by Mexican native and Arizona resident Oscar Valdez, on Friday, Sept 10, Arum told me. Valdez defends his junior lightweight crown against Robson Conceicao, a 16-0 Brazilian who is stepping up 1.5 levels, maybe, from previous tests. In his last outing, the 30 year old Valdez (29-0) impressed mightily in stopping out Miguel Berchelt, in February.

Then theres that Oct. 9 Tyson Fury ring return, against old pal Deontay Wilder, at T-Mobile in Las Vegas. My fingers and two toes are crossed that this fight gets off the runway, takes flight, and reaches a destination, of resolution.

Arum also mentioned the Oct. 23 Top Rank show, headlined by a Shakur Stevenson-Jamel Herring faceoff. Thats a very interesting fight, Arum said.

Herring is a Marine, who was in Afghanistan. Shakur is managed by James Prince. I straight up told Bob that Shakurs last fight, on June 12 against stinker Jeremiah Nakathila, was a sleeper, not in a good way.I think that Shakur could well be in a mode to shut up critics like me, and that could make for a bout that possesses more spark and fire than some assume. Shakur did apologize, basically, and say hed do better next time, so well see, I said to Bob.

Thats what hes saying, the promoter replied.

We also touched on the pro debut of Nico Ali Walsh, a son of Muhammad Alis daughter Rasheeda, on the Aug. 14 show, topped by a Joshua Franco-Andrew Moloney battle, which screened on ESPN. I wondered, is that deal considered sort of a novelty, or does this Ali Walsh kid have real promise? I know the family very well, they are nice people. Hes serious about it. He has very little background in boxing, he was working with trainer Sugar Hill, who likes how hes developing. And did I see any mannerisms or anything which reminded me of Ali? Hes like a middle class kid, hes very intelligent. He went to one of the best high schools in Nevada, Bishop Gorman, a private prep school, Catholic. Dena (his step-daughter) went there. Then he went on to UNLV.

Arum noted that the Today Show did a hit on Nico, and yep, he liked that buzz. Those morning shows used to do more stories from the boxing space, now and again, understanding that select stories about resilient and charismatic pugilists can and do resonate with regular Joes and Janes. Well take stories like that, period, Arum said. That sort of story hadnt appeared on there in years!

Specifics on the whens and wheres for a Joe Smith light heavy title defense against Umar Salamov will be firmed up soon, Arum said. Thats an October/November proposition. If things align, and this is boxing, its a big if, if the Long Islander Smith could win, he then maybe would fight Danny Jacobs, the Brooklyn native in the first quarter of 2022.

Then, looking further down the near line, Top Rank will be back in NYC, in a big way, with Vasiliy Lomachenko at MSG. Thats December 11, the big room, and as per usual, TR will segue from the Heisman presentation, into the boxing, with ESPN.

I will presume no softball will be scheduled for that time frame.

The rest is here:

Bob Arum On Being Addicted To Donald Trump - NYFights

The most terrifying thing Ruby Wax ever did was climb aboard a private jet with Donald Trump. Her body language is that of a deer caught in the headlights of a monster truck as Trump folds into a seat beside her and declines to laugh at her jokes. The interview that ensues is a systems failure so bruising that, 25 years later, Wax is still getting over it.

This is one of the most excruciating moments of my career, she says during When Ruby Wax Met (BBC Two, 9pm). Its an absorbing look back at her life and times as interviewer of celebrities such as Tom Hanks and OJ Simpson. And it begins with a rendevous with the Tango Titan, back when he was a famous mogul with the crazy dream of one day being US president.

Trump scared the s*** out of me, says Wax, re-watching footage of their tte--tte from 1996 (and which also includes a drive-by handshake with Trumps bagman Roger Stone).

Wax in the 1990s was an acquired taste. She had one setting, which was abrasively on. She laughed at her own jokes. And she often seemed to find her shtick a word that had recently entered the vernacular and which captured her essence perfectly more interesting than whatever her interviewees had to say.

Being a force of nature is tiring for both audience and performer. And so it is no surprise Wax eventually moved on. Today, she is an advocate for mental health and an academic of distinction (she was appointed Chancellor of the University of Southampton in 2019).

But back in the day, in her capacity as a sort of proto-Louis Theroux, she landed some big fish. Having jetted with Trump to his Taj Mahal casino she meets his girlfriend Melania. The Slovenian model looks to be about seven feet tall and full of life. What an innocent, says Wax in 2021, shaking her head. And what a great tragedy.

There are also run-ins with Goldie Hawn, who is delightful, and the late Carrie Fisher, who wisecracks like Katherine Hepburn opposite Spencer Tracy and becomes a life-long friend of Wax.

The episode is bookended by her encounters with Trump and OJ Simpson (in 1998). Trump, who has a hole in his soul where his sense of humour should be, finds her objectionable on every level. Simpson, by contrast, tries to charm.

Back in the present, Wax is asked about the morality of giving exposure to someone many suspected of killing his ex-wife.

Waxs reply is that she wanted to have him confess on camera. He didnt of course. But there is a unsettling sequence in which he pretends to stab Wax with a banana. Its chilling: even more unsettling than Donald Trumps conviction that he was fated to win the White House.

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25 years after interviewing Donald Trump, Ruby Wax is still getting over it - The Irish Times