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Trump takes on Hollywood, Alcatraz, calls Pope Donald image a joke
President Donald Trump is fighting several new battles at once with a flurry of initiatives that are causing consternation around the globe.
And that’s not even counting the trade war he launched.
Hollywood is in a state of panic, and bewilderment, over Trump’s vow to slap 100% tariffs on any film made outside the United States – even if they’re American-made movies.
Some countries, such as Canada – not yet the 51st state, though Trump made the pitch to visiting Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday before they held their meeting – offer lucrative incentives to lure American filmmakers, with shoots in Toronto made to look like New York or L.A.
CARNEY SAYS CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE, TRUMP REPLIES, ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’
From movie tariffs to a push to reopen Alcatraz, this past week has been anything but uneventful for the Trump administration. (Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Gavin Newsom urged Trump to support a $7.5 billion federal tax incentive for the film industry, far larger than California’s own $330 million credit.
Trump called Newsom «grossly incompetent» for allowing the film industry «to be taken away from Hollywood.»
I would blame streaming services most of all; people have gotten accustomed to watching movies and TV shows on their phones and laptops, whether it’s Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Max, Hulu or others.
And naturally, Trump and the blue-state governor, who obviously has presidential aspirations, would wind up in a blame game.
Trump also wants to rebuild the infamous Alcatraz prison.
The San Francisco island, called «the Rock,» was used as a federal jail from 1934 until 1963, when it was shut down because of the massive costs. Gangsters such as «Machine Gun» Kelly and Al Capone, who Trump frequently likes to cite, were held there.
«When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,» Trump posted.
Since those breaking out had to swim a mile in frigid waters to reach San Francisco, there has never been a successful escape. Most have died.
TRUMP ORDERS FEDS TO REOPEN ALCATRAZ TO HOUSE ‘AMERICA’S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT’ CRIMINALS
But I view this move as largely symbolic. It’s hard to imagine that Trump will be able to foot the bill – though Pam Bondi insists it will save money – and the island will remain a tourist attraction.
And then there’s the tale of Pope Donald.
Trump is now trying to dismiss the AI image, which I’m sure you’ve seen.
«You mean they can’t take a joke? You don’t mean the Catholics, you mean the fake news media? The Catholics loved it.»
President Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as the pope on Truth Social last Friday – quickly generating a media firestorm. (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)
«I had nothing to do with it,» Trump said. «Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope, and they put it out on the Internet.»
So he’s both minimizing the picture and distancing himself from it – not an easy maneuver.
But Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich asked him why the controversial image was later posted on the official White House account. Trump retreated to saying he wanted to have «some fun.»
TRUMP POSTS AI IMAGE OF HIMSELF AS POPE AMID VATICAN’S SEARCH FOR NEW PONTIFF
Many Catholics, especially in the leadership, are livid over what they see as sacrilegious.
Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi posted: «This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the global right enjoys being a clown.»
The New York State Catholic Conference, as noted by the Washington Post, posted: «There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.»
The bishop of Springfield, Ill. wrote: «The Bible tells us, ‘Make no mistake: God is not mocked’ (Galatians 6:7). «The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. By publishing a picture of himself masquerading as the Pope, President Trump mocks God, the Catholic Church, and the Papacy…»
Meanwhile, Trump did something else this week that may have surprised people.
He took the same position on the abortion pill mifepristone as the Biden administration.
In a court filing, the Trump team asked a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit from three conservative attorneys general aimed at seriously restricting access to the pill.
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And it was filed in Texas before Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a history of opposing abortion, as deputy counsel of a conservative, deeply religious law institute.
Doesn’t that mirror the accusation by the right against liberals, that a single judge can impose his or her will on the country by careful venue-shopping?
Trump, of course, takes credit for the end of Roe v. Wade by appointing the three Supreme Court justices who comprised the 6-3 conservative majority.
In more surprising news, the Trump administration appears to be taking the same position on abortion-inducing mifepristone as its predecessor. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The administration’s filing does not deal with the merits of the case. It makes a procedural argument that the suit does not meet the legal standard to be heard by a Texas court.
Judge Kacsmaryk, relying in part on an 1873 law, ruled that the AGs of Idaho, Missouri and Kansas can continue their lawsuit because «plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm if the motion is not granted. At least two women died from chemical abortion drugs just last year.»
If the Trump administration succeeds on appeal, it would at the least slow down restrictions on a drug that the FDA first approved in 2000.
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Abortion may have faded quite a bit as a front-line political issue. But Trump still has the ability to surprise – and to drive the news agenda.
Media Buzz,Donald Trump,White House,San Francisco,Canada
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Walz urges Democrats to ‘be a little meaner,’ ‘bully the s–t’ out of Trump: ‘A challenging few years’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, called on his fellow Democrats on Saturday to «be a little meaner» and stand up to President Donald Trump, who he described as a «bully.»
Walz, a 2024 vice presidential candidate, was the keynote speaker at a Democratic Party state convention in Columbia, South Carolina, where he took jabs at the Republican president and sought to energize his party’s activists.
«Maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner, a little bit more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this,» Walz told the crowd in the Palmetto State.
The comment came after he said he had been accused of being «mean» when he threw criticism in recent months at Trump administration officials, including billionaire Elon Musk, who has since left his role in the federal government.
ACTING ICE DIRECTOR DEMANDS TIM WALZ APOLOGIZE FOR CALLING AGENTS ‘MODERN-DAY GESTAPO’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called on his fellow Democrats to «be a little meaner» and «bully the s–-t out of» President Donald Trump. (AP)
«The thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully,» Walz, a former schoolteacher, said. «And when it’s a child, you talk to them and you tell them why bullying is wrong.»
«But when it’s an adult like Donald Trump, you bully the s–-t out of him back … This is a … cruel man,» the governor added.
The Minnesota Democrat also criticized Trump as a «wannabe dictator» and an «existential threat.»
«Donald Trump is the existential threat that we knew was coming,» Walz said, noting that, for Democrats, «it is going to be a challenging few years here.»
«We’ve got the guts and we need to have it to push back on the bullies and the greed,» he said.
Walz also appeared Friday night, along with Maryland Democrat Gov. Wes Moore, at the party’s fundraising dinner and after-party fish fry hosted by South Carolina Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn. Walz and Moore are on a long list of potential 2028 presidential candidates who have been traveling to early-voting states, although the Maryland governor said he would not run for the White House in the next election cycle.
Gov. Tim Walz criticized Trump as a «wannabe dictator» and an «existential threat.» (Getty Images)
«I want to be clear: We can and we must condemn Donald Trump’s reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience,» Moore said in his remarks.
«Donald Trump doesn’t need a study to dismantle democracy or use the Constitution like a suggestion box. Donald Trump doesn’t need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that raise the cost of virtually everything in our lives,» he added.
The events gave the two governors the opportunity to test out their messages in front of hundreds of Democrats in the state that has long held the South’s Democratic presidential primary and, last year, kicked off the party’s nominating calendar entirely.
State party chair Christale Spain has said she will renew the argument to keep the state’s number one position in the next cycle, although national party organizations have not settled their 2028 calendars yet and party officials in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada are also looking to go first.
MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, VOWS TO ‘FIX’ WHAT TIM WALZ ‘BROKE’
Gov. Tim Walz took jabs at Trump and sought to energize Democratic Party activists. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Just as he did on Friday night, Walz praised his fellow Democrats in his speech on Saturday for having the «courage» to keep fighting in a largely Republican state, where Democrats have not won a statewide election in about two decades and only hold one congressional seat.
«Damnit, we should be able to have some fun and be joyful,» Walz said. «We’ve got the guts and we need to have it to push back on the bullies and the greed.»
Walz has not officially said if he will seek a third term as governor in 2026, but acknowledges he is considering it. He has also given mixed signals on a potential 2028 presidential run.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tim Walz,Donald Trump,Politics,Democratic Party,South Carolina
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México elegirá a casi 2700 jueces en una elección que podría consolidar el poder del partido oficialista Morena
En los últimos siete años, un partido político de izquierda llamado Morena ha logrado una notable conquista del panorama político mexicano.
Ha elegido a dos presidentes consecutivos, se ha asegurado supermayorías en el Congreso, ha llevado a cabo medidas políticas radicales que han cimentado su autoridad y ha dejado a la oposición tan maltrecha que se aferra a su sobrevivencia.
Ahora, Morena podría dar uno de los pasos más importantes en su consolidación del poder. El domingo, los mexicanos acudirán a las urnas para elegir a todos los jueces federales del país y a muchos a nivel local (2682 magistrados, ministros y jueces en total).
Los líderes de Morena dijeron que optaron por la elección para arreglar un sistema de justicia plagado de jueces corruptos que servían a la élite —no a todos—, y que seguían frustrando los planes del partido. En el proceso, podrían eliminar el último gran freno al poder de Morena.
Muchos analistas jurídicos y políticos de México prevén que los candidatos afines a Morena dominen las elecciones, ocupando magistraturas desde los juzgados locales hasta la Suprema Corte y otorgando al partido el control efectivo del tercer poder del Estado.
Como resultado, los mexicanos se enfrentan a la paradoja de que dar más poder a los ciudadanos puede socavar su democracia.
Las predicciones sobre el éxito de Morena el domingo están impulsadas por la naturaleza inusual de la votación.
Según las autoridades electorales, apenas un 20 por ciento de los votantes acudirá a las urnas, en parte porque los electores apenas conocen a los candidatos. Las encuestas muestran que Morena cuenta con una popularidad abrumadora y que la oposición es frágil. El gobierno controló el proceso de selección de los candidatos federales, que son elegidos por los votantes a nivel nacional, y 19 de los 32 estados también elegirán a los candidatos locales.
A los candidatos se les prohíbe en gran medida hacer campaña de forma tradicional, una política para tratar de nivelar el terreno de juego entre los candidatos con diferentes financiaciones. Y se ha acusado a operadores políticos de repartir tarjetas de ayuda memoria, la mayoría de las cuales recomiendan candidatos con conocidos vínculos a Morena.
“Esto no es una elección, es un nombramiento del gobierno de Morena que va a ser validado por votación”, dijo este mes Carlos Heredia, analista político de izquierda que anteriormente asesoró a Andrés Manuel López Obrador, el expresidente mexicano que fundó Morena y firmó la iniciativa en sus últimos días en el cargo el año pasado.
Andrés García Repper, ex abogado de Morena que ayudó a seleccionar a los candidatos y que ahora es uno de ellos, refutó que los nuevos jueces estén en deuda con el gobierno. Pero dijo que la vigilancia será importante. “De ninguna manera es una carta blanca”, dijo este mes. “Hay que estar al pendiente. Hay que exigir mucho y señalar todas y cada una de las irregularidades y pormenores que sean”.
La presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum ha calificado la elección como la forma más democrática de solucionar problemas generalizados en los tribunales, como la corrupción y el nepotismo, afirmando que el voto quita a los burócratas del gobierno el poder de elegir a los jueces y se lo da a la población. “México va a ser un país más democrático el 1 de junio”, dijo a la prensa la semana pasada.
Ha señalado que en su mandato de seis años, habría podido nombrar a cuatro jueces de la Suprema Corte. “Nosotros estamos renunciando a ese derecho que tenía el Presidente de la República”, dijo a sus partidarios este mes.”¿Y por qué renunciamos a ello? Porque queremos que elija el pueblo, porque eso es democracia”.
Los mexicanos hace tiempo concuerdan en que el sistema judicial no funciona. Un amplio historial de impunidad para los ricos y poderosos ha llevado a la población a renunciar en gran medida a la búsqueda de justicia: el 92 por ciento de los delitos no se denuncian en México, una tasa que no ha variado en una década, según un estudio anual.
Como resultado, una encuesta realizada a 1000 mexicanos este mes mostró que el 72 por ciento creía que las elecciones eran “necesarias”. Sin embargo, el 77 por ciento no era capaz de mencionar por nombre a un solo candidato.
En ese ambiente de incertidumbre, los simpatizantes de Morena han impulsado a los candidatos preferidos del partido.
En las últimas semanas, ha habido numerosas noticias sobre operativos de Morena distribuyendo “acordeones”, u hojas de ayuda memoria desplegables en las que aparecen los candidatos que Morena quiere que sean elegidos. Están diseñadas para llevarlas a las urnas y ayudar a los votantes a elegir entre una papeleta larga y confusa. Una de ellas, vista por The New York Times, simplemente enlista los números asignados a los candidatos en la papeleta, omitiendo sus nombres.
Sheinbaum ha criticado públicamente estos acordeones diciendo que no son una estrategia oficial del partido. “La gente tiene que decidir”, dijo esta semana. “Yo no voy a orientar a votar por una u otra persona”.
Sheinbaum ha tenido que llevar a cabo la elección dado que López Obrador, su mentor político, dejó el cargo.
Desde el inicio de su presidencia en 2018, López Obrador frecuentemente llamó corruptos a los jueces, pero durante años, en gran medida no disputó sus decisiones.
Luego, en 2023, el Tribunal Supremo bloqueó algunos de sus planes, incluidos sus esfuerzos por debilitar el organismo de control electoral de la nación y poner a la Guardia Nacional bajo control militar. Jueces de tribunales inferiores también emitieron órdenes de suspensión de algunos de sus proyectos emblemáticos por motivos medioambientales.
López Obrador respondió prometiendo sustituir a los jueces por votación popular.
Su partido Morena y sus aliados obtuvieron amplias mayorías en el Congreso el año pasado. Y, en su último gran acto como presidente, López Obrador promulgó una serie de enmiendas constitucionales que modificaron el sistema judicial mexicano.
La mayoría de los cargos judiciales se convirtieron en cargos electivos, el número de magistrados de la Corte Suprema pasó de 11 a 9 y se creó un nuevo tribunal, denominado disciplinario. Este tribunal tendrá amplios poderes para investigar y destituir a los jueces, y sus decisiones serán inapelables. A los juristas les preocupa que la votación del domingo conforme el Tribunal Disciplinario de jueces leales a Morena que sometan al resto del poder judicial a la línea del partido.
Guadalupe Salmorán Villar, profesora de derecho en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, calificó la reforma como “un instrumento abigarrado, complejo, para controlar, para subordinar, al poder judicial a los demás poderes y para eliminar a los jueces incómodos”.
Sheinbaum ha respaldado la iniciativa, argumentando que ayudará a impedir que los jueces estén “legislando”.
“La corte, durante todo el periodo del presidente López Obrador, decidida a actuar fuera de sus facultades” dijo la semana pasada. “Leyes que aprobaba el Congreso, leyes que echaba atrás la Corte sin fundamento, según esto por procedimientos”.
Funcionarios de Morena han argumentado que si bien la elección de magistrados no es perfecta, es la mejor vía posible para actualizar un poder judicial que no estaba administrando una justicia imparcial.
Muchos otros en México se preguntan si podría haber habido un proceso mejor.
Lila Abed, ex funcionaria del gobierno mexicano que dirige el Programa México en el Diálogo Interamericano en Washington, dijo que lo más probable es que la elección abra paso a jueces menos cualificados y potencialmente más comprometidos que el sistema actual.
“¿Necesita reforma el poder judicial? Sí”, dijo. “¿Es esta la reforma que necesita? No”.
Si bien la elección podría evitar muchos enfrentamientos futuros con los tribunales, los analistas políticos todavía lo ven como un dolor de cabeza para Sheinbaum mientras intenta navegar por una relación precaria con el presidente Trump.
Algunos candidatos han sido acusados de tener vínculos con cárteles, lo que hace temer que las elecciones amplíen la influencia de la delincuencia organizada sobre algunas partes del poder judicial. Las elecciones también han inyectado incertidumbre en la economía.
Las empresas extranjeras, preocupadas por quién podría decidir pronto sus casos, se han apresurado a resolver los litigios antes de que los nuevos jueces tomen posesión de sus cargos, dijo Gerardo Esquivel, economista y ex miembro del consejo del banco central de México que asesora a empresas. “De las empresas con las que hablo que se están trasladando a México, su principal preocupación es la reforma judicial”, dijo.
© The New York Times 2025.
administración de justicia,elecciones,poder judicial
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Trump warns Rand Paul he’s playing into ‘hands of the Democrats’ with ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ opposition
President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., he would be «playing right into the hands of the Democrats» if he votes against Trump’s «Big, Beautiful Bill.»
«If Senator Rand Paul votes against our Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, he is voting for, along with the Radical Left Democrats, a 68% Tax Increase and, perhaps even more importantly, a first time ever default on U.S. Debt,» Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday afternoon.
«Rand will be playing right into the hands of the Democrats, and the GREAT people of Kentucky will never forgive him! The GROWTH we are experiencing, plus some cost cutting later on, will solve ALL problems. America will be greater than ever before!»
Paul told «Fox News Sunday» last weekend he supports the tax and spending cuts in the bill, which he still slammed as «wimpy and anemic, but I still would support the bill, even with wimpy and anemic cuts if they weren’t going to explode the debt. The problem is the math doesn’t add up. They’re going to explode the debt by, the House says, $4 trillion. The Senate’s actually been talking about exploding the debt $5 trillion.»
INSIDE THE LATE-NIGHT DRAMA THAT LED TO TRUMP’S TAX BILL PASSING BY 1 VOTE
President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., he would be «playing right into the hands of the Democrats» if he votes against the president’s «Big, Beautiful Bill.» (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The bill narrowly passed the House May 22 and will soon be voted on in the Senate, where Republicans can only afford to lose three votes.
Others, like Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have also expressed concerns about the bill.
TRUMP SLAMS REPUBLICAN ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ OPPOSING BUDGET BILL, PREDICTS MASSIVE US TAX INCREASES IF IT FAILS
Last weekend, Trump told reporters he was open to changes in the bill.
«I want the Senate and the senators to make the changes they want,» he said. «It will go back to the House, and we’ll see if we can get them. In some cases, the changes may be something I’d agree with, to be honest.»
Along with tax cuts, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act also includes stricter requirements for accessing Medicaid, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program and no taxes on overtime or tips.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol after the House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act May 22. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Democrats have slammed the Medicaid reform section of the bill, mentioning possible cuts as a driving issue ahead of competitive midterm elections in 2026.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan analyst for the U.S. Congress, estimates that 8.6 million people in the United States will lose health insurance by 2034 through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Medicaid reform.
«The Democrats have been focusing on this specific line of attack that 13.7 million Americans are going to lose their health care, and that’s just blatantly false,» Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview this week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans celebrated passing Trump’s «Big, Beautiful Bill» earlier this month. (Getty Images)
«Five million of those people are receiving a tax credit under the Affordable Care Act that was passed by the Democrats with a sunset date that was implemented by the Democrats. We’re simply allowing the sunset date to expire as the Democrats originally intended,» Houchin said.
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CBO estimates that 13.7 million Americans will lose coverage by 2034, which also includes the 5 million Americans who were already about to lose coverage. A number of Democrats have already deployed the figure in campaign messages rejecting Trump’s bill passing in the House.
«I don’t trust the CBO score, nor should the American people, because it’s been proven again and again to be wildly off,» added Houchin, who served on three major committees leading budget markup, including the House Rules, Budget and Energy and Commerce committees.
Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Donald Trump,Senate,Politics,Rand Paul,Legislation
Walz urges Democrats to ‘be a little meaner,’ ‘bully the s–t’ out of Trump: ‘A challenging few years’
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No tengo nada que hablar con vos porque seguro me terminás pegando como siempre
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