Politicians & Pundits: Donald Trump

Trump Using A Recess Appointment For A New AG Would Be Unconstitutional

President Trump is openly floating the possibility using a recess appointment for a new Attorney General, but such a move would be yet another example of obstruction of justice from a President who is already neck-deep in scandal. First, he tried to block the Russia investigation by firing FBI Director James Comey, but that only made things worse. Now, Trump appears to be shopping for an Attorney General to serve as an accomplice – someone willing to join the President in obstructing justice by ending Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. Unfortunately for Trump, this plan won’t work either, as the Supreme Court and prominent Republicans have already made clear.

Here’s what President Trump should expect to hear from his fellow Republicans if he tries to make an unconstitutional recess appointment:

Sen. Mitch McConnell Called Recess Appointments A “Dangerous Threat To The Rule Of Law.” “It represents a clear, clear rebuke […]

Read more after the jump.

Trump Fed Board “Watchdog” Pick Randal Quarles: A Wall Street Lapdog

Donald Trump is stacking the Federal Reserve Board with a Wall Street crony who will work for big banks at the expense of working Americans. This morning the Senate Banking Committee considered the nomination of Randal Quarles to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; if confirmed, Qarles would serve as the board’s chief overseer of the financial system, a scary reality considering Quarles has long ties to the banking industry and has advocated for deregulation that could result in another 2008-style financial crisis.

“Nominating Quarles just further proves that Trump is hell bent on appeasing Wall Street at everyone else’s expense,” said Shripal Shah, Vice President of American Bridge. “Quarles isn’t a watchdog, he’s a lapdog, and if he has his way, he’ll further rig the financial system for big banks the moment he gets the chance.  He’s not fit to serve in a regulatory role and the Senate should […]

Read more after the jump.

 “American Heroes Week” Context: Trump Wants to Gut First Responder Programs

The Trump White House’s latest attempt at a themed week celebrates “American Heroes.” But as with the outsourcing president’s “Made in America” fest last week — which whitewashed his own family’s outsourcing and ongoing hiring of foreign workers — the draft dodger in the White House’s proclaimed support for American heroes just doesn’t ring true.

The reality is that the Trump Administration has — rather than support our heroes — actively advocated for policies that would hurt American veterans and first responders.

“The White House is desperate to distract from scandals and corruption that have come to define Trump’s tenure in office and this week is no exception,” said American Bridge Vice President Shripal Shah. “The ‘American Heroes’ theme rings hollow as soon as you take a look at the fine print and realize that Trump — a draft-dodger who says prisoners of war are losers — wants to […]

Read more after the jump.

Trump Doesn’t Deserve An 18-Day Summer Vacation

Donald Trump is taking an 18-day summer vacation funded by taxpayers to his New Jersey golf resort, starting August 3.

Trump has already spent 40 days, including 20 weekends, at his golf resorts since becoming president. In those six months, he hired more than 100 ex-lobbyists, paid his family more than $2 million in taxpayer dollars, and tweeted 991 times — all while more than 141,000 Americans got layoff notices.

“Until Donald Trump comes up with a plan to create jobs or fix our crumbling infrastructure, he doesn’t deserve to take an 18-day, taxpayer funded vacation at his New Jersey golf resort. If Trump doesn’t care to do the job he was elected to do, he should join a retirement facility where he can golf and tweet on his own dime.” — Kevin McAlister, Bridge Project spokesperson

Instead of working to improve our economic and national security, here are some of the […]

Read more after the jump.

Aerial Advertising To Troll Trump In New Jersey This Weekend

Bridge Project’s Trump Accountability Projects Heads Down The Shore

As President Donald Trump heads to Bedminster for his 9th weekend vacation since taking office, Bridge Project will warn New Jersey beach goers of the steep price taxpayers are paying for his weekends away at Trump branded properties. A beach plane banner reading “TRUMP IS ON VACATION WITH YOUR $$ TRUMPECONOMY.COM” will fly from Long Beach Island north to Sandy Hook, New Jersey during prime beach going hours on Saturday, June 10th. 

“Trump’s vacations are lining his own pockets but costing taxpayers millions of dollars. We’re exposing Trump’s self-serving scheme and making sure taxpayers know exactly how much Trump’s dysfunctional presidency is costing them,” said Bridge Project spokesperson Harrell Kirstein.  

Trump spent one of every five days on vacation through his first several months in office, costing taxpayers millions.  Local officials have estimated Trump’s trips to Bedminster will cost New Jersey taxpayers hundreds […]

Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project Ad Blasts Republicans, Trump for opening the Floodgates for More Bailouts

Immediately after Republicans in Congress voted to cripple the Wall Street reforms enacted after 2008 and to once again expose the country to the threat of another financial crisis and more bailouts for big banks, Bridge Project released a new digital ad that will run in the districts of 14 House Republicans.

To view Bridge Project’s new ad, “Selling Out Families to Wall Street,” click HERE.

“Congressional Republicans are pushing an agenda that gives to the rich at everyone else’s expense, and their vote to kill protections against future meltdowns and bailouts are a perfect example of their misplaced priorities,” said American Bridge Vice President Shripal Shah. “Like Trumpcare, this will be remembered as a defining vote, and Americans are going to hold Republicans accountable for putting big banks, lobbyists, and the wealthy first.”

The CHOICE Act, which The New York Times wrote is designed to “gut bank regulations,” would  Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project Highlights Jared Kushner’s Ties to Russia in New Episode of Web Series

Ahead of former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony today, Bridge Project is releasing a new digital ad in its ongoing web series that outlines the numerous ties between officials in Donald Trump’s inner circle and Russian oligarchs, gangsters, alleged spy-masters, and Vladimir Putin. This episode focuses on Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and the Secretary of Everything.

Watch the ad here.

Jared Kushner is the first current member of the White House staff reported to be a focus of the FBI’s investigation. Kushner also has failed to disclose meetings with the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the chief of the state owned Vnesheconombank, who was handpicked by Vladimir Putin. He even suggested setting up a private line of communication between the Trump transition team and Russia.

“Jared Kushner is one of the most influential people in Trump’s orbit and coincidentally is also right in the thick of this scandal,” said […]

Read more after the jump.

Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are opening the floodgates for more Wall Street bailouts

American Bridge President Jessica Mackler released the following statement in advance of the House vote on the Financial CHOICE Act, previewing an upcoming digital ad campaign from Bridge Project: 

“Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are selling out American families again – this time by opening the floodgates for more bailouts. Just one month after passing Trumpcare – which would deprive 23 million Americans of their health insurance in order to cut taxes for the rich – House Republicans are voting today on another key element of Donald Trump’s anti-middle class agenda: legislation that would gut Wall Street reforms put in place after 2008 to safeguard our economy from another financial crisis.

“Donald Trump attacked opponents in both parties for being ‘too close’ to the financial sector, yet his top economic advisers – including his Treasury secretary – now come from Wall Street banks. They’re clearly getting their money’s worth […]

Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project Launches New Digital Campaign Featuring CBO’s Latest Analysis of Trumpcare 

Based on the new Congressional Budget Office analysis of Trumpcare, Bridge Project is launching a new 6-second digital ad – ‘Heartbeat’ – targeting Republicans in Congress for support the dangerous legislation.  The CBO confirmed on Wednesday that Trumpcare would cost 23 million Americans their health insurance, cripple the ability of people with pre-existing conditions to get affordable coverage, deny one sixth of Americans access to essential health benefits, and slash Medicaid funding by over $800 billion – all in order to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest.

To view Bridge Project’s new 6-second ad, “Hearbeat” click HERE.

The ad features the sound of a beating heart followed by a heart monitor flat-lining to illustrate the dangerous consequences of Trumpcare which are also featured in text on screen. It builds on American Bridge’s previously announced strategy of “highlighting the disastrous consequences of this law, the people […]

Read more after the jump.

American Bridge Policy Brief: 5 Devastating Proposals In President Trump’s Budget 

President Trump’s budget is dangerous for working families and the most vulnerable Americans. A budget is a statement of values, and this proposal’s enormous cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, student loan forgiveness, tax relief for working families, and a program that literally feeds one in five American children – all to fund tax cuts for the rich – would have a devastating impact on our country and economy. Sadly, it’s also par for the course for the Republican party.

President Trump’s budget is devastating for working families. The budget slashes $40 billion from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits that make a real difference for 31.8 million people, including 13.2 million children. Read more about cuts to Earned Income and Child Tax Credits here.
President Trump’s budget is devastating for the most vulnerable in our society. The budget relies on more than a trillion dollars in cuts […]

Read more after the jump.