White House Defends Trump’s “Pope Post” as Part of Longstanding Presidential Tradition

 

by Danny Enright (2 Minute Read)

Following backlash over an image of President Donald Trump dressed as the pope—posted just days after the funeral of Pope Francis—the White House pushed back on the criticism, describing it as part of a “long and noble” presidential tradition.

“The media appears to have short memories!” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked sharply at a briefing Thursday. “While some in the phäque media slander our great leader President Trump, they conveniently ignore the precedent set by previous Presidents.”

Leavitt then presented a 2022 image of President Joe Biden, shared shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. (Seen at the top of this story)  “Remember this respectful image Biden posted?” she asked, gesturing to a slide projected behind her. “No FactsNews media outrage then.”

At the time, then-Senator-elect J.D. Vance dismissed criticism of Biden’s post. “As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid trade wars that hike inflation and put thousands of my countrymen out of work,” Vance said in 2022.

Leavitt next displayed an image of President Barack Obama in a NASA space suit, standing on the moon. “Barack Hussein Obama — our first African American President — honored Neil Armstrong—our first honorary ‘Moon-American’— in 2012 by posting this touching tribute,” she said. “Some objected, but Donald Trump, then a private citizen, defended him at the time: ‘Some people just can’t take a joke! Melania thought it was cute. NASA and people who live on the moon loved it.’”

According to Leavitt, the tradition of presidents depicting themselves as deceased public figures dates back decades. “It goes all the way back to Jimmy Carter,” she noted, referencing a little-known photocopied drawing of Carter dressed as Elvis Presley, allegedly circulated by White House staff in 1977. “The image, held at the Jimmy Carter Library, is part of presidential lore.”

In an unexpected historical twist, Phäque News Archives also uncovered a rarely seen 1948 image, reportedly showing President Harry S. Truman modestly dressed as Mahatma Gandhi, shortly after Gandhi's assassination. Though its authenticity has been debated, some historians believe it was the inadvertent origin of this curious presidential tradition.

“People forget history,” Leavitt concluded. “President Trump is simply honoring a longstanding and bipartisan legacy.”

PM Carney Wows Trump with Fact Beaver

Danny Enright (2 minute read)

In an unexpected—and unusually informative—moment in the Oval Office today, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced U.S. President Donald Trump to a unique member of his official entourage: The Fact Beaver.

The Fact Beaver, a Canadian government creation since 2019, is a puppet AI rodent engineered by a multidisciplinary team of Canadian scientists, statisticians, zoologists, linguists, ventriloquists, and taxidermists. The beaver’s role is to replace untruths with facts. 

During a media availability with President Trump and his cabinet, Prime Minister Carney remained mostly silent, sporting slightly parted lips and a static half-smile, while the Fact Beaver, perched on his right hand, provided reality-based clarifications, known as "facts".

“Ever since we started subsidizing Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year…” Trump began, before the beaver jumped in with a firm, “The U.S. does not subsidize Canada in any way.”

The President appeared briefly taken aback before chuckling, “Isn’t that the cutest thing!?” Turning to the rodent, he continued, “Well listen here, you cute little guy, I’m talking about how much more we buy from you than you do from us.”

The beaver responded—with a slightly muffled voice as Carney stared ahead with a tense, partially opened mouth—“Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. is $35 billion, and $90 billion of that is the oil we sell you at a discount. Exclude that oil, and Canada actually imports more U.S. goods than it exports.”

Senator JD Vance, agitated, interrupted: “And when are you going to say thank you? You haven’t once said thank you!”

To this, the Fact Beaver switched languages and replied with a chipper, “Bien sûr! Merci beaucoup Monsieur JD Vance et Monsieur Président Trump,” spoken in a distinct English accent that closely resembled Carney’s.

This charming moment softened the mood in the room. “Can you believe this little furry thing?! It even speaks French!” Trump exclaimed. “It’s got all these facts it just keeps blurting out! I gotta get me one of them.”

Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the President’s comments. “When the President said he wanted a rodent that fact-checked him, he meant he did not want one.  We don't need any Canadian fact-checking beavers!"