Trump takes on Hollywood, Alcatraz, calls AI pope picture a joke

[ad_1] President Donald Trump is preventing a number of new battles directly with a flurry of initiatives which might be inflicting consternation across the globe.

And that’s not even counting the commerce conflict he launched.

Hollywood is in a state of panic, and bewilderment, over Trump’s vow to slap 100% tariffs on any movie made outdoors the USA – even when they’re American-made films.

Some nations, such as Canada – not but the 51st state, although Trump made the pitch to visiting Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday earlier than they held their assembly – provide profitable incentives to lure American filmmakers, with shoots in Toronto made to seem like New York or L.A.

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From film tariffs to a push to reopen Alcatraz, this previous week has been something however uneventful for the Trump administration. (Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)

Gavin Newsom urged Trump to help a $7.5 billion federal tax incentive for the movie business, far bigger than California’s personal $330 million credit score.

Trump known as Newsom "grossly incompetent" for permitting the movie business "to be taken away from Hollywood."

I'd blame streaming providers most of all; individuals have gotten accustomed to watching films and TV exhibits on their telephones and laptops, whether or not it’s Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Max, Hulu or others.

And naturally, Trump and the blue-state governor, who clearly has presidential aspirations, would wind up in a blame sport.

Trump additionally needs to rebuild the notorious Alcatraz jail.

The San Francisco island, known as "the Rock," was used as a federal jail from 1934 till 1963, when it was shut down due to the large prices. Gangsters equivalent to "Machine Gun" Kelly and Al Capone, who Trump steadily likes to quote, have been held there.

"Once we have been a extra severe Nation, in instances previous, we didn't hesitate to lock up essentially the most harmful criminals, and hold them far-off from anybody they may hurt," Trump posted.

Since these breaking out needed to swim a mile in frigid waters to succeed in San Francisco, there has by no means been a profitable escape. Most have died.

TRUMP ORDERS FEDS TO REOPEN ALCATRAZ TO HOUSE 'AMERICA’S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT' CRIMINALS

However I view this transfer as largely symbolic. It’s laborious to think about that Trump will be capable of foot the invoice – although Pam Bondi insists it's going to get monetary savings – and the island will stay a vacationer attraction.

After which there’s the story of Pope Donald.

Trump is now attempting to dismiss the AI picture, which I’m positive you’ve seen.

"You imply they will’t take a joke? You don’t imply the Catholics, you imply the pretend information media? The Catholics liked it."

President Trump posted an AI-generated picture of himself because the pope on Reality Social final Friday – rapidly producing a media firestorm. (@realDonaldTrump/Reality Social)

"I had nothing to do with it," Trump stated. "Any person made up an image of me dressed just like the Pope, they usually put it out on the Web."

So he’s each minimizing the image and distancing himself from it – not a straightforward maneuver.

However Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich requested him why the controversial picture was later posted on the official White Home account. Trump retreated to saying he needed to have "some enjoyable."

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Many Catholics, particularly within the management, are furious over what they see as sacrilegious.

Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi posted: "That is a picture that offends believers, insults establishments and exhibits that the chief of the worldwide proper enjoys being a clown."

The New York State Catholic Convention, as famous by the Washington Publish, posted: "There's nothing intelligent or humorous about this picture, Mr. President. We simply buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a brand new successor of St. Peter. Don't mock us."

The bishop of Springfield, Unwell. wrote: "The Bible tells us, ‘Make no mistake: God shouldn't be mocked’ (Galatians 6:7). "The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. By publishing an image of himself masquerading because the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy…"

In the meantime, Trump did one thing else this week which will have shocked individuals.

He took the identical place on the abortion pill mifepristone because the Biden administration.

In a courtroom submitting, the Trump workforce requested a federal choose to throw out a lawsuit from three conservative attorneys common aimed toward significantly limiting entry to the tablet.

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And it was filed in Texas earlier than Decide Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a historical past of opposing abortion, as deputy counsel of a conservative, deeply spiritual regulation institute.

Doesn’t that mirror the accusation by the suitable in opposition to liberals, {that a} single choose can impose his or her will on the nation by cautious venue-shopping?

Trump, after all, takes credit score for the tip of Roe v. Wade by appointing the three Supreme Courtroom justices who comprised the 6-3 conservative majority.

In additional stunning information, the Trump administration seems to be taking the identical place on abortion-inducing mifepristone as its predecessor. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/Tribune Information Service through Getty Pictures)

The administration’s submitting doesn't take care of the deserves of the case. It makes a procedural argument that the swimsuit doesn't meet the authorized commonplace to be heard by a Texas courtroom.

Decide Kacsmaryk, relying partly on an 1873 regulation, dominated that the AGs of Idaho, Missouri and Kansas can proceed their lawsuit as a result of "plaintiffs are prone to undergo irreparable hurt if the movement shouldn't be granted. A minimum of two girls died from chemical abortion medicine simply final 12 months."

If the Trump administration succeeds on enchantment, it could in any case decelerate restrictions on a drug that the FDA first authorised in 2000.

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Abortion might have pale fairly a bit as a front-line political concern. However Trump nonetheless has the power to shock – and to drive the information agenda.

Howard Kurtz is the host of FOX Information Channel's MediaBuzz (Sundays 11 AM-12PM/ET). Primarily based in Washington, D.C., he joined the community in 2013 and frequently seems on Particular Report with Bret Baier and The Story with Martha MacCallum amongst different applications.