How stupid is Trump?

(...)

Nonetheless, as the COVID Crisis Group noted in 2023, “one key predictor of infections and total COVID deaths” in each state during the pandemic “was the share of people that voted for President Trump in the 2020 presidential election.” Or, as a member of the group remarked in an overview of the pandemic’s course and the American lives lost, “Trump was a comorbidity.”

(...)

A federal judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Elon Musk‘s X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, ruling it was “evident” the litigation was intended “to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp.”

X, the Musk-owned social network formerly known as Twitter, in July 2023 sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an independent nonprofit research group, over the organization’s findings that since the multibillionaire had acquired the company in October 2022, hate, racism and disinformation on the social platform had substantially increased.

Musk has not commented on X about the decision. A Twitter rep didn’t respond to a request for comment.

In its lawsuit, filed July 31, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, X sought to blame CCDH for “tens of millions of dollars” in lost advertising revenue after the nonprofit group reported on hate speech and misinformation on X/Twitter.

Lawyers for CCDH in November filed a motion to strike X’s claims under California’s law against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) as well as a motion to dismiss the case in its entirety.

In his ruling Monday, District Court Judge Charles Breyer denied Musk and X Corp.’s request to re-plead the case. In addition to granting CCDH’s motion to strike and dismiss, Breyer also granted a motion by Stichting European Climate Foundation (which was named as a defendant) to have X’s claims against it dismissed.

“Sometimes it is unclear what is driving a litigation, and only by reading between the lines of a complaint can one attempt to surmise a plaintiff’s true purpose,” Breyer wrote. “Other times, a complaint is so unabashedly and vociferously about one thing that there can be no mistaking that purpose. This case represents the latter circumstance. This case is about punishing the Defendants for their speech.”

The judge continued, “It is also just not true that the complaint is only about data collection… It is impossible to read the complaint and not conclude that X Corp. is far more concerned about CCDH’s speech than it is its data collection methods.”

Per the order, “The Court notes, too, that X Corp.’s motivation in bringing this case is evident. X Corp. has brought this case in order to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp. — and perhaps in order to dissuade others who might wish to engage in such criticism… If CCDH’s publications were defamatory, that would be one thing, but X Corp. has carefully avoided saying that they are.”

A copy of the judge’s order is at this link.

X Corp.’s lawsuit against CCDH had accused CCDH of breach of contract, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, intentional interference with contractual relations and inducing breach of contract. According to X, social media analytics firm Brandwatch “made X aware that the CCDH gained access to X’s data without Brandwatch’s authorization, and that the purported CCDH ‘research’ cited in a Bloomberg article ‘contained metrics used out of context to make unsubstantiated assertions about X (formerly Twitter).’ Additionally, the CCDH has recently scraped X’s platform, which is a violation of our terms of service.” The suit sought unspecified monetary damages and an injunction barring CCDH from accessing, using or disclosing data provided by X to Brandwatch.

The lawsuit came after the Center for Countering Digital Hate published findings that Twitter failed to take action against 99 of 100 accounts verified via X Premium (formerly called Twitter Blue) which the organization reported for hate-speech violations. The group’s research into X/Twitter found that the volume of tweets containing slurs had risen by up to 202% since Musk’s takeover of Twitter; the number of tweets linking LGBTQ+ people to “grooming” have more than doubled over that time; and that paid-for verification is “helping spread disinformation.”

X called the CCDH’s research “false, misleading or both” and said it had “reason to believe” the CCDH is “supported by funding from X Corp.’s commercial competitors, as well as government entities and their affiliates.”

In a statement, Imran Ahmed, CEO and founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said: “Throughout Elon Musk’s loud, hypocritical campaign of harassment, abuse and lawfare designed to avoid taking responsibility for his own decisions, CCDH has remained quietly confident in the quality and integrity of our research and advocacy. Our aim has always been to alert the world to corporate failures that undermine human rights and civil liberties.”

Separately, last November, X and Musk sued Media Matters, alleging the liberal watchdog group “knowingly and maliciously manufactured” research depicting neo-Nazi and white-nationalist posts on X next to ads for Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle and Comcast’s Xfinity. Following the Media Matters report and Musk’s endorsement of an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, several large advertisers said they were halting their spending on X — either because of the Media Matters reports, Musk’s post or a combination of both.

At a conference last fall, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the company’s decision to halt ad spending on X. citing Musk’s comment “You have said the actual truth” in reply to a post pushing an anti-Semitic “replacement theory.” Musk has apologized for the post. He also had a message for Iger and other execs pulling ad spending from X: “If somebody’s going to try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go **** yourself. Go. ****. Yourself. Is that clear?”

On Monday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Media Matters seeking to force the nonprofit to turn over documents related to the AG’s investigation “into its fraudulent business practices.” Replying to Bailey on X, Musk wrote, “Much appreciated! Media Matters is doing everything it can to undermine the First Amendment. Truly an evil organization.”

Patriotic, prayerful and rightwing Americans are being offered the chance to purchase – for a mere $59.99 – a Bible endorsed by Donald Trump, in the latest example of the former US president touting wares to the American public.

In a post to his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, the current presumptive Republican nominee and 88-times charged criminal defendant said: “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible.”

In an accompanying video message, Trump said: “I’m proud to be partnering with my very good friend Lee Greenwood – who doesn’t love his song God Bless the USA? – in connection with promoting the God Bless the USA Bible.”

[...]

Given Trump’s status as a thrice-married legally adjudicated rapist and billionaire New York property magnate nonetheless dependent on evangelical Christian support, his true relationship with and knowledge of the Bible has long been a subject of speculation.

[...]

In his video on Tuesday, Trump said: “Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country and I truly believe that we need to bring them back and we have to bring them back fast. I think it’s one of the biggest problems we have. That’s why our country is going haywire. We’ve lost religion in our country. All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many.”

In response, Gregory Minchak, of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, commented: “There’s not a cross nor a picture of Jesus on the page, but plenty of photos of Trump. Who do you think this $60 Bible is for? It sure isn’t for Jesus.”

The bible includes not only the standard books but a few additions including the Constitution (“which I’m fighting for every single day very hard,” Trump says in a video attached to the post), the Pledge of Allegiance and, as the webpage touts, the "[h]andwritten chorus to ‘God Bless The USA’ by Lee Greenwood.” It was originally slated for release in 2021, but an outcry from a number of prominent Christians derailed the roll-out.

That was then. The current website for the book includes an F.A.Q. that addresses the question of how Trump benefits from the partnership. It assures visitors that no money from the sale of the Bibles will go to Trump’s political campaign. Instead, “GodBlessTheUSABible.com uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”

CIC Ventures, though, is a conduit to Trump — personally, if not politically. In his financial disclosure released last year, he's identified as the company's “manager, president, secretary and treasurer” and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust is identified as a 100 percent owner of the business. The same entity also receives royalties from his book “A MAGA Journey” and speaking engagements. The Associated Press asked how much Trump was making on the deal without receiving a response.
[...]
The pairing of foundational documents like the Constitution with the Bible has appeal to the conservative Christians Trump embraces but would unquestionably be viewed skeptically by the Constitution’s writers. And, again, even his supporters understand that he’s not really religious. If religion is as essential to America as he claims, why doesn’t that apply to him and his family? (In 2015, his putative church released a statement noting that he wasn’t an “active member.”)

More to the point, why is he plugging this bible now? The answers are obvious: now because he needs money and this bible because he to some extent benefits financially.

Perhaps you think that I am also being cynical. After all, Trump offers that he’s pitching the book now because Easter is on Sunday. Perhaps he simply wants Americans to have a Bible in-hand on the most sacred of Christian holidays.

We turn again to that F.A.Q.

“The God Bless The USA Bible is printed in limited-edition quantities,” it reads. “Most orders ship within 4-6 weeks of the time ordered. Your order will ship as it becomes available, and we will make reasonable efforts to ship your order as quickly as possible.”

You pay the cost of the bible, shipping and taxes up front, of course. First things first.

The man who helped broker the deal for Donald Trump's first Scottish golf resort says the country was "hoodwinked" by the ex-president's claim it would be a £1bn project.

Neil Hobday was the project director for Mr Trump's controversial course in Aberdeenshire, which opened in 2012.

Mr Trump said he would spend £1bn on the scheme - but this did not happen.

Trump International Scotland said it had invested "hundreds of millions of pounds" into the economy.

And the company added it had "delivered on its promise to build one of the greatest modern links golf courses of all time".

But Mr Hobday told BBC News he felt "hoodwinked and ashamed that I fell for it and Scotland fell for it".

Mr Hobday, who was a consultant project director for the Trump Organization, has spoken to Trumped, a new BBC Sounds podcast which revisits the controversy surrounding the approval for the course.

"I don't think even if he could raise the money to build the whole thing out, he wanted the golf course and that was it," he said.

"He was willing to fight the environmental battle and create this impression that this was a $1bn project and Scotland absolutely needed it. But I think he never really had the money or the intention of finishing it."

He added: "I feel very hoodwinked and ashamed that I fell for it and Scotland fell for it. We all fell for it. He was never going to do it."

Situated eight miles north of Aberdeen, the Menie Estate was a windswept stretch of sand dunes, meadows and woodlands before Donald Trump unveiled plans in 2006 to transform it into what he promised would be the world's greatest golf course.

The first official announcement by Trump International Golf Links anticipated that costs would be "in excess of $500m" - but by the time Mr Trump landed in Scotland and got in front of the TV cameras it had become a £1bn development.

The plans got the backing of a sizable chunk of the local business community, won over by the scale of promised investment that would attract major golf tournaments.

But those who had chosen this quiet spot by the North Sea to live were dismayed from the outset.

Menie residents refused to sell up to Mr Trump and he famously accused local farmer and salmon fisherman Michael Forbes of living in a "pig-like atmosphere".

Environmentalists were also concerned about the impact of the development.

The northern part of the course covered part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest regarded as one of Britain's best examples of a mobile sand dune system.

After the course was built, Scotland's countryside watchdog ruled they had lost their special status as a nationally-important protected environment.

Planning permission was granted by Scottish ministers - who controversially overruled the local council's decision to throw out the application - on the basis that the potential economic benefit would outweigh environmental harm.

The Trump Organization has previously said it spent around £100m on the Aberdeenshire golf resort but its latest accounts show the facility has a net book value of £33.2m and 81 employees.

In addition to the golf course, the original proposal also included approval for a 450-room hotel, 950 holiday apartments, 36 golf villas and 500 houses for sale.

None of these elements, and the thousands of new jobs promised, have materialised so far - and the golf resort has yet to turn a profit, racking up £13.3m in losses since it opened.

Trump International Golf Links course was last year included in a New York civil court ruling that the former president and his company had misrepresented his wealth, including a "false valuation" of the Aberdeenshire course. Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing in this case.

Mr Hobday, who has managed golf stars such as Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance, was instrumental in persuading Mr Tump to build the new course in Scotland.

Leafing through a Sunday newspaper in 2005, his eyes had lit up at an article suggesting Donald Trump was considering expanding his business empire in Europe.

"I thought, oh well, he's into golf and he's into property and development and he's half Scottish - maybe I should give him a call," he explained.

Within months he was standing in Mr Trump's office in New York, flanked by Scottish government officials, making the case for investing in a golf course capable of hosting The Open in Aberdeenshire.

Mr Hobday then spent five years helping to develop the Aberdeenshire golf project before quitting in 2010.

'Steadfast commitment'
Trump International Scotland has previously said that the 2008 financial crash and the Covid pandemic had slowed the pace of its development plans in Aberdeenshire.

A statement from the firm said it had invested "hundreds of millions of pounds into the Scottish economy" and that both the Menie course and Trump Turnberry are "globally acclaimed and responsible for driving thousands of international visitors into the country each year".

It added: "There are very few, if any, investors in the sport that have done more for Scottish golf in the past decade than Trump.

"In spite of the many global economic challenges, where other investors walked away - and despite spiteful opposition, the Trump Organization has remained steadfast in its commitment and delivered on its promise to build one of the greatest modern links golf courses of all time in Aberdeen."

Trump International Scotland also pointed to support for its golf courses from local firms and suppliers it does business with.