THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
That's how bad his ambush was: We didn't see the presentation by Jacqui Heinrich on last night's Special Report.
Heinrich is the Fox news Channel's senior White House correspondent. This afternoon, Mediate has posted the bulk of the presentation she made to Bret Baier last night.
Sure enough! There she was, rather plainly accusing President Trump of promulgating "propaganda" through his [false / unfounded / baseless] claims about that "genocide" in South Africa.
Headline included, here's the start of Mediaite's report:
Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich Calls Out Trump White Genocide Video as ‘Political Propaganda’
Fox News Senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich called out President Donald Trump’s “White Genocide” video presentation as “political propaganda” in a report from the North Lawn of the White House.
President Trump and Elon Musk have been pushing the absurd claim that White South African “Afrikaners” are victims of “genocide” as a way to justify accepting them as refugees while turning away other groups.
During a chaotic bilateral meeting in the Oval Office between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, Trump forced Ramaphosa to watch a White Genocide propaganda video and then bitterly argued with him about it.
That's the way the report began. As you can see in the accompanying videotape, here's the basic nugget of what Heinrich told Bret Baier:
HEINRICH (5/21/25): President Trump has...embraced claims of White genocide and [yesterday's] meeting turned tense.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa aimed to reset relations after President Trump cut off all foreign assistance to his country, expelled his ambassador and imposed sweeping tariffs. But Trump wanted answers to claims of genocide against White farmers.
RAMAPHOSA (videotape): I would say if there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three [white South African] gentlemen would not be here.
TRUMP (videotape): We have thousands of stories talking about it. And we have documentaries, we have news stories. Is Natalie here? Is somebody here to turn that [video] on?
HEINRICH: Trump forcing Ramaphosa to sit through a video purporting to substantiate the disputed genocide claims. A source with knowledge of the video’s origins tells Fox it is political propaganda created by one of Ramaphosa’s opponents, Julius Malema.
TRUMP (videotape): These are burial sites right here. Burial sites, over a thousand, of white farmers.
HEINRICH: According to the Washington Post, the crosses shown are not graves, but part of a protest years ago against violence to White landowners, which South African leaders say is exaggerated.
So said Heinrich, seeming to walk away from the president's presentation.
How bad was yesterday's performance by President Trump? So bad that even the Fox News Channel's news division, thanks to Heinrich, seems to be warning viewers about what the president said.
(The channel's highly Potemkin purveyors of opinion and "analysis" will almost surely adopt a different stance.)
With respect to President Trump, this sort of thing has gone on and on and on. It's gone on and on for many years. Major news orgs have displayed an unfortunate tendency to suggest that there's nothing to look at as these behaviors roll on.
Does President Trump believe the various things he says? Does he simply say the things he says in order to drive his political agendas?
Whatever the answer to that may be, even the Fox News Channel is walking away from his latest inflammatory claim. Over at CNN, in a truly amazing display, a different approach was voiced last night.
There is a balm in Gilead, or at least so we've been told. Is there a genocide in South Africa? Does the current sitting president really believe there is?
Over at CNN: Last night, over at CNN, Scott Jennings started like this:
ABBY PHILLIP (5/21/25): This [claim of genocide] is straight out of the conspiracy land of the far right, and it is not based in fact. And it’s amazing that this has actually become the foreign policy of the United States based on just straight up—
I mean, we have the numbers. It is completely unsubstantiated. I mean, Scott—
JENNINGS: You’re saying it’s not true that some White farmers have been murdered?
PHILLIP: No, it’s not true that there is a genocide against White farmers.
JENNINGS: Okay, whatever you call it, have White farmers been murdered?
PHILLIP: Actually, how many white—
JENNINGS: Has violence been committed against White farmers?
PHILLIP: How many White farmers— Hold on a second. How many White farmers have been murdered in South Africa?
JENNINGS: I don’t know, several...
(To watch the tape of this exchange, click here.)
Just that quickly, Jennings moved from a claim of genocide to the fact that "several" white farmers have been murdered. (According to Wikipedia, there were more than 27,272 homicides in South Africa in 2022, the most recent year the site listed.)
Jennings seemed to move from a claim of "genocide" to a claim of "several murders!" Last week, Homeland Security's Tricia McLaughlin started with the thrilling claim that a female federal agent had been "body-slammed" by two members of Congress. A few days later, she moved on to the less thrilling claim that someone had been "shoved!"
"Whatever you call it," Jennings said. That was McLaughlin's dismount too! It's a type of sophistry straight out of Pilate, one that leads a failing society straight toward the edge of the earth.
A silent secession is involved in such acts of sophistry. It involves a secret decision that the other tribe no longer needs to be spoken to.
The other tribe no longer matters, no longer counts, only barely exists. Does a hint of Rwanda lurk in such slippery behavior?
It seems that a simple way of settling this dispute would be to ask the 60 or white refugees from South Africa who were just admitted into the country if they were escaping a genocide.
ReplyDeleteSimple solutions for simple people.
DeleteMaybe we should ask the Central Park 5 whether Trump is a devout racist.
DeleteThere's no dispute. It's performative nonsense by a bigot and his clown posse.
DeleteBut, but, I thought “ FoxNews showed an actual video of South African leaders calling for the murder of whites.”
ReplyDeleteThere were people leading a chant. Presto! South African "leaders."
Delete
ReplyDeleteWhoa, propaganda!
A message advocating a point of view! How horrible!..
A point of view based on non-factual, made-up information...is, drum roll, please -- propaganda!
Delete"A message advocating a point of view! How horrible!"
DeleteMight want to invest in a better dictionary.
Propaganda:
"Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view."
"Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view."
DeleteAnd anyone with any critical thinking skills would know that, even without looking it up in the dictionary.
"information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions"
DeleteDavidinCal can settle this. He falls for it every time, so he ought to know what it is.
Delete
DeleteLike I said, Soros-bots: propaganda is simply a message advocating a point of view.
Your own definition declares that it may or may not be "of a biased or misleading nature".
"Anyone who isn't a bigot, or isn't perfectly fine with bigotry, left the Republican Party over a quarter of a century ago", is not just a message advocating a point of view. It's a 100% fact.
DeleteThat must be why Somerby disappears it, when I post it.
Somerby continues to be troubled by words like “propaganda” when applied to Trump. Somerby’s reason is that Trump might really believe what he is saying. That’s why he puts it in quotes in his heading. (I see no evidence that Somerby believes Trump’s contentions).
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure how Somerby feels about the fact that Musk is also purveying this stuff. Does musk really believe it?
Many of Trump’s supporters undoubtedly know it’s false, yet support Trump anyway. Rubio comes to mind. That shows that something is wrong with Rubio, but not because he believes the propaganda. The lies serve to ensure that Republican policy is enacted. This might arguably be worse than simply believing the lies.
At any rate, it’s fruitless, it seems to me, to wonder which of these is true about trump, because no one will ever really know: “Does President Trump believe the various things he says? Does he simply say the things he says in order to drive his political agendas?”
Both are bad, so we are left chronicling the cruel effects of this behavior.
(And, for the record, either scenario shows that something is wrong with Trump. )
Mao knows that all Republican voters are bigots, so that isn't propaganda.
Delete"Does President Trump believe the various things he says? Does he simply say the things he says in order to drive his political agendas?"
ReplyDeleteBelieve. Don't believe. True. False.
These are foreign concepts to Trump. Whatever will help him, he will say
When he says it, it becomes real
Quaker - -These are foreign concepts to most pols. A great many Dems must have known about Biden's mental deterioration, but every single one kept the secret.
DeleteWorse, these seem to be foreign concepts to most in the media. It must have been clear to to the media, but only conservatives mentioned Biden's mental deterioration. Even now, few media people admit how far back the problem goes.
Biden was not a demented old fool with orange face acting as the cult figurehead of an authoritarian movement. He actually did a ton of good and loved the American dream. None of that applies to the orange. Punch down on poors , kill lots of poors, transfer wealth to the top 1%; and destroy America's standing as the leader of the free world, and its economic anchor. This is the least patriotic president since Jefferson Davis. And a fucking idiot. 50 tariff announcements in a hundred days. Come on man.
DeleteAnonymouse 11:17pm, Biden did nothing. He was sundowning in 2020.
Delete“It was terrible to admit, but Biden's own aides would say that while the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the worst things to happen to the world, it was one of the best things to happen to Biden's presidential hopes. They doubted Biden could have otherwise kept up the pace of campaigning through November."
“As pandemic lockdowns became widespread in March 2020, Biden could avoid that grueling travel and campaign remotely from Wilmington. He could rest. Close aides pushed for events to start in the afternoon, if possible."
“Remarkable that, even with the low-energy basement campaign, Biden still couldn't manage morning and evening events.”
Original Sin -Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
12:00 You either don't know what the word "sundowning" means, or do know its meaning and are purposely applying it to Biden without offering any evidence that it applies.
DeleteReminder Cecelalala, Biden is not the current demented old resident being held up by drugs. Focus man.
Delete
DeleteWho was running the country from 2021 to 2024?
Was it run by anonymous retarded clowns? It sure feel that way.
I don't see why Democrats should beat themselves up over Biden. And I don't see why some of the party's most talented politicians should be told they don't deserve the presidential nomination because of their association with Biden. It's self-destructive.
DeleteIt's not propaganda, if you believe it, says Somerby.
DeleteThat's how you know "Every Republican voter is a bigot" isn't propaganda, because Cecelia believes it.
There is something wrong with the entire Republican Party, and everyone who voted for Trump.
ReplyDeleteUsing loaded terms like secession is unhelpful on Somerby's part. We do not know who is seceding or from what. It is Civil War language at a time when people do not need to be encouraged toward violence or intolerance. I wish Somerby would stop using this histrionic language.
ReplyDeleteHere is the quote: "A silent secession is involved in such acts of sophistry. It involves a secret decision that the other tribe no longer needs to be spoken to."
DeleteIt's still a bullshit conclusion.
DeleteNo, shit is stranger than usual this time with the Project 2025 goons. Obviously hosting and visiting Europe's gross autocrats by CPAC were training sessions. Fascists gonna fascist just like the felon is gonna grift. Bunch of sick pricks, but they are mean to brown people and make the libs pissed so yay! for them.
Delete"Using loaded terms like secession is unhelpful" You do know the man already attempted an autogolpe? Seriously, what is the question?
DeleteDemocrats love genocide and make heroes of genocidal and murderous maniacs.
ReplyDeleteOn scene, MPD officers were able to review surveillance video from immediately
before and during the shooting that captured the exterior of the Museum. In summary, the video
shows a slim build person, wearing a blue jacket with a hood, a large dark-colored backpack, blue
pants, and light-colored shoes, consistent with the clothing worn by RODRIGUEZ, walking across F Street, Northwest, in the direction of the Museum, and where the decedents were standing,
preparing to enter the crosswalk. Once RODRIGUEZ walked past the decedents and two
witnesses, he turned to face their backs and brandished a firearm from the area of his waistband.
RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video extending both his arms in the direction of the decedents and firing several times, as indicated by the muzzle flashes. Once the decedents fell to the ground,
RODRIGUEZ is captured on the video advancing closer to the decedents, leaning over with them with his arm extended, and firing several more times. As Decedent-1 attempted to crawl away
from RODRIGUEZ, he followed behind her and fired again. After a brief moment, RODRIGUEZ appeared to reload his firearm. At the same time, Decedent-1 sat up. Once he reloaded, RODRIGUEZ fired several times at Decedent-1. RODRIGUEZ is then captured jogging
Ruh-Roh, dat sound so very serialous. Not.
Delete10:30,
DeleteFind the photo of Hunter Biden's penis on the internet. That'll put a spring back in your step.
The squeals of 10:30 is music to my ears.
DeleteKeep it up, Soros-bot.
Here’s that vaunted anonymouse “empathy”. THEY are giggling and shrugging over a couple being gunned down for being Jewish, but don’t YOU dare suggest that that being male or female is genetic. It’s not about people, it’s about their need to control. They’d throw their kids into a volcano for power.
DeleteSo sad about your victimhood, Cece.
DeleteIM me your physical address, and I'll send you some kleenex to wipe your tears.
Squeal louder, Cecelia-bot.
DeleteWith all due respect, 9:35 AM, how do you know that couple was gunned down "for being Jewish"? Haven't they, in fact, been identified as Israeli officials, which seems like a far more likely motivation? And how certain are you that they practice Judaism?
DeleteI need to see proof that they were ethnically cleansing entire populations, before I believe they practice Judaism.
DeleteHat tip, David in Cal.
Anonymices, I’m not a victim in the slightest. Have never claimed to be. That status alone alone will bring down the wrath of anonymices.
DeleteAnonymouse 9:45am, you arent a citizen of country that is at war (cold or hot) with Israel. That was true when Biden was president too.You aren’t living in a country that condones the murder of business executives either. I understand that you’re gearing up for a long hot summer of love again and you’re doing your usual dissembling, we get that. We expect it. However, take the pretense of generosity toward mankind and shove it.
Delete@10:05 AM
DeleteYour comment has nothing whatsoever to do with anything I said @9:45am.
Anonymouse 10:52am, well, then allow me to clarify. There is no ideological difference between killing Israelis from targeting those who work for the Jewish state of Israel. Both stem from the same aspirations for genocide from the river to the sea.
Delete
DeleteI disagree, 11:29 AM. Murdering government officials is much more likely (especially in this case) to be linked to the anger at the government actions than your "aspirations for genocide" fantasy.
Anonymouse 12:09pm, this conflict has a long history. It didn’t start 15 years ago.
DeleteWhich conflict? Between Elias Rodriguez and two Israeli officials in DC? I don't think so.
DeleteWhen the thing that calls itself Cecelia comments about them giggling and shrugging over a double murder you know that the thing that calls itself Cecelia is arguing in the best faith that the thing that calls itself Cecelia can muster up, which is no good faith at all.
DeleteMost research concludes that the average person "fanny-burps" 14 per day.
ReplyDeleteThe world population currently sits round 8.2 billion humans.
This equates to an average of 114.8 billion fanny-burps per day, globally.
Fanny Passmore-Gass
We shouldn't allow immigrants into the USA, until they learn how to speak gibberish.
ReplyDeleteA stadium overflowing with people who live in the baby rape capital of the world chanting KILL THE BOER is just intentional hyperbole designed to make a point that white people should be hated for the greater good. We should keep working to bring the same sentiment here. Democrats are succeeding with assassinations, riots, and burning down businesses but much work to do. So far there is only a mass movement to kill the Jews, facilitated by institutions like Columbia and Democrats on cable news.
ReplyDeleteSqueal louder, Soros-bot.
Delete9:23,
DeleteI'm not going to get too excited about your complement.
You probably say that about everyone who wants to treat black people as equals to whites.
I've been to South Africa many times out of necessity. There are 6 layers of electric fence, barbed wire, spiked wrought iron at every home of every value, and for those who can afford it armed security on duty. There are "your'e going to be carjacked and murdered" symbols for tourists and white people to heed on signs on public streets. It is a shithole and its government is a racist, hateful, incompetent disaster.
ReplyDeleteDo they have a 2nd Amendment, for people to hide under their beds shaking in fear, instead of fighting government tyranny, like the USA does?
Delete"...for tourists and white people..." shows your hand here. You think only tourists and white people are crime victims in South Africa? I've been there before and after the government went under black rule and those signs and barricaded homes were there under apartheid. Your comment is blatantly racist by omitting this simple fact.
DeleteTrump Rattles Markets With Fresh Tariff Threats on EU, Apple
ReplyDeleteSomebody needs to throw a net over this lunatic.