u/OneNormalBloke

President Donald Trump on Wednesday repeated his easily disprovable claim to have won California’s electoral votes as he suggested that a Republican ex-reality television star running for mayor of Los Angeles could have trouble winning because of “dishonest” elections in the Golden State.

Trump made the bizarre comments to reporters before boarding Air Force One en route to Connecticut and a planned commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Asked about GOP mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, Trump said he’d like to see the former The Hills star “do well” and called him “a character” and a “big MAGA person” before pivoting to unsubstantiated accusations about California’s elections.

“if you have a rigged vote out there, that's the problem. The votes are rigged. You have a really rigged vote in California. You have all the mail in ballots, everything else. Very hard to win because the elections are very dishonest,” he said.

“If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California, because I do great with Hispanics, but it's a rigged vote.”

The president continued by repeating an oft-employed grievance about the Golden State’s use of postal ballots, which he and other Republicans often suggest are used to manipulate election results even though California has voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in statewide office since the 1990s.

“They send out 38 million votes. Nobody knows where they're going, of course. The Democrats disproportionately, Democrats get many more votes, some get eight votes, they get eight cards, and Republicans have to call in, 'Where's my card?’ — it's a rigged system, one of the most, not the worst,” he said.

He added later that California was “one of the most dishonest states for voting.”

Trump also told reporters his message to graduating Coast Guard cadets would be to “enjoy your life” and said Americans don’t realize how important the Coast Guard is until disasters such as hurricanes hit.

“I remember the big hurricane in Texas, where these kids go on boats, and they're going to the waves that are 20 times higher than the boat ... these massive waves to save people that were inside, and you don't realize it, but boy, they are good, they are good seamen, they are unbelievable,” he said.

President Donald Trump has posted a bizarre AI meme of himself and the Secret Service escorting an extraterrestrial in handcuffs on Truth Social, just one of many eccentric posts that appeared on his page this weekend.

After returning from a long and exhausting mid-week trip to China, Trump used his “executive time” on Saturday and Sunday to golf and trawl social media.

The meme showed the president and a group of stern-faced agents leading the alien, silver and conspicuously muscular, across a desert U.S. military base, with no accompanying comment or caption to explain it.

However, he did also post three further memes of himself in a high-tech Space Force command center above the Earth as satellites, asteroids, and bombs explode in the background.

The science-fiction theme comes two weeks after the Pentagon declassified and published a swathe of previously top secret material on supposed UFOs collected by the U.S. government, a release that posed a potential problem for Christian members of Trump’s base, some of whom rationalized it as proof of the existence of angels instead.

Elsewhere on Truth Social it was largely back to business as usual, as the president posted attacks on his enemies, from rebel Republican congressman Thomas Massie, to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Barack Obama, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, all Democrats.

Newsom, in another AI meme, was depicted wearing a straitjacket in a padded cell, suggesting he had literally been driven insane by “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” which the president recently insisted was a real medical condition.

Another post showed a Golden State license plate bearing an image of the governor as a zombie, its letters spelling out “NEW-SCM” (or “Newscum”), Trump’s preferred disparaging nickname for a man considered by many to be a likely Democratic presidential candidate come 2028.

There were also a number of press photos of himself looking statesmanlike in conversation with Xi Jinping and memes championing his renovation of the Reflecting Pool in front of the Washington Monument, as well as dramatic AI images of drone strikes on Iranian naval vessels, following on from his warning to Tehran that “the clock is ticking” on their faltering peace talks.

On Saturday, Trump’s output appeared to be dedicated towards promoting the idea that he remains youthful and in rude health, with the president recirculating praise that he “gets younger” and “ages in reverse” a month before the dawning of his 80th birthday.

The idea runs counter to the unwanted attention he received last week after dozing off at an Oval Office event on maternity care and social media focus on his swollen ankles during the Beijing visit.

Amid ongoing speculation about his health, the president is due for his latest checkup at Walter Reed Military Medical Center on May 26, hist fourth visit since returning to power in January last year.

Albino buffaloes in Bangladesh that vaguely resemble world leaders have become viral sensations ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival.

A 700kg buffalo, named after Donald Trump due to its striking resemblance to the US president, in particular has been drawing large crowds to a farm in Narayanganj near the capital Dhaka.

The pink-skinned animal was so named because of its golden-coloured hair, akin to the president’s.

“When I saw his pictures on Facebook, he looked exactly like Donald Trump," a visitor told the Prothom Alo newspaper. "His facial structure and even hairstyle match that of Trump."

"The buffalo is very calm and polite in nature,” she quipped, “which definitely does not match with Donald Trump.”

Ziauddin Mridha, the owner, said dozens of visitors had been flocking to his farm every day to see the animal and take pictures.

Mr Mridha told the Business Standard that the buffalo was bought from a cattle market about 10 months ago.

"My younger brother jokingly named it Donald Trump after seeing the hair on its head. It is very calm in nature. Albino buffaloes are generally peaceful and do not become aggressive unless provoked," he said.

The buffalo has been sold at the rate of Tk550 (£3.31) per kg and will be delivered to its new owner before Eid.

There is also an aggressive albino buffalo named after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that has been drawing crowds in Narayanganj.

The buffalo, weighing at over 750kg, reportedly displays a "combative" attitude. Reports claim that the animal's hair and eyes bear a resemblance to Mr Netanyahu’s.

"I came here after hearing about this buffalo," an unnamed visitor was quoted as saying by local outlets.

A manager at the SS Cattle Farm said that "Netanyahu is very naughty and has a devious intelligence”.

“Even when we go to feed it, it snorts and tries to gore us.”

The farm housed six albino buffaloes and all of them were temperamental, the manager said. "Large crowds are arriving every day to catch a glimpse of them.”

Gary McAllister played for Liverpool 87 times, but you'd be forgiven for thinking it was at least triple that.

The affection that is held for him by supporters of the club runs deep, with the dynamic Scottish midfielder regarded as one of the most shrewd signings in the club's history, helping them win a Treble in 2001.

McAllister is featured in BBC Scotland's Icons of Football series, taking an in-depth look at his storied career for club and country.

When McAllister arrived at Anfield, aged 35, there were some eyebrows raised in and around the club, particularly by a young Steven Gerrard.

"It wasn't really in the news, it wasn't a big story, and he wasn't considered a big target at the time," the Reds legend tells BBC Scotland.

"It was when Gary walked in the door [that I found out].

"And obviously, someone in my position as well, I was a bit like, 'Oh, hang on a minute, what's going on here?'

"I didn't know how to take it.

"When he arrived, I thought he was a threat for my position, because I knew he was a top player, but from day one, from the first conversation we connected, he had time for me. Went out of his way to help me."

Over the next couple of years, McAllister would act as an extension of Gerard Houllier's coaching staff on the pitch, as Gerrard puts it, and guided a squad of raw players such as Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen, and Danny Murphy to multiple trophies.

"We were a gang of toe-rags, shall we say," Gerrard adds.

"He brought calmness to the dressing room, big-game knowledge, a lot of wisdom.

"Gary was vital for me, he certainly helped me both on and off the pitch become a better professional, a better person.

"It was like having a coach sitting next to you in the dressing room all the time.

"He was the fittest, probably the oldest, but still the fittest. He could run for days and days.

"All the way through pre-season he was at the front of the group."

McAllister's fitness, something he was schooled in at Leeds by the likes of Gordon Strachan, led to his career at the top level lasting well past his contemporaries, an honest admission that Gerrard makes.

"He was still in his prime well into his thirties, which is the biggest compliment I can pay him because when I was that age, I was very much done," he says.

"I was ready for a different level of football, I went to the MLS.

"Gary McAllister was still producing consistently in the Premier League, so his longevity certainly outlasted mine from that point of view."

This makes sense

Plans for a Trump Tower on Australia’s Gold Coast have been scrapped just three months after they were announced, with the developer blaming the US president’s “toxic brand” and the Iran war for the project’s collapse.

Altus Property Group chief executive David Young said that the Iran war had made the Trump brand increasingly difficult to work with in Australia.

“Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly toxic in Australia,” he said. “Some time ago, we knew it was time to part company. It was not about not meeting obligations. There are other luxury brand options for us. The project is live.”

The Trump Organisation disputed that account, saying the developer had failed to meet basic financial obligations.

“After months of negotiations and empty promise after empty promise, on a supposed A$1.5bn ($1bn; £802m) project, Altus Property Group was unable to meet the most basic financial obligation due upon the execution of the agreement,” said Kimberly Benza, director of executive operations for the Trump Organisation.

“Mr Young’s attempt to blame certain world events for our termination of the agreement is merely a ploy to distract from his own defaults and failures.”

The organisation said it looked forward to exploring other potential projects in Australia.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the collapse came down to negotiations over profit margins rather than politics.

“The Trump Organisation wants a lot more for their brand on the funding side of things, to operate it and the percentage of return,” he told ABC Gold Coast. “The developer’s going, ‘Well, I’m putting in all of my money, and you’re actually going to take quite a lot of profit,’ so I think that’s why they’re parting ways.”

Mr Tate had met Donald and Eric Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the days before the deal was announced, with the Trump Organisation footing the cost of his meals, accommodation, and transfers.

ABC quoted industry sources who spoke to financiers approached to fund the project as saying some investors had been wary about the risk associated with a luxury hotel on the Gold Coast.

A development application for the project was never lodged with the City of Gold Coast, and the site at Surfers Paradise has been vacant for more than a decade, passing through the hands of several owners. It already has existing council approval for an 89-storey tower.

The 91-storey luxury hotel and residential tower was announced in February and would have stood 335m (1099ft) tall – higher than the Shard in London – making it Australia’s tallest building. It was to include 285 hotel rooms, 272 luxury apartments, shops, restaurants, and an exclusive beach club, with construction due to begin in August. Details about the project have since been deleted from the Trump Organisation’s website.

When the project was announced, Eric Trump said it was the company’s first official foray into Australia, bringing “the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand” to the country.

The project divided locals from the outset, with petitions against the development attracting more than 120,000 signatures compared with around 3,500 for a rival petition in support.

President Donald Trump has lashed out at two U.S. Supreme Court justices that he himself nominated to the bench, complaining that they have not “remained true” to him by reliably ruling in his favor.

Dwelling on the prospect of the highest court voting against his executive order ending the principle of birthright citizenship, the president took to Truth Social late Sunday to attack Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett over their decision to block his reciprocal tariffs program in February.

“I ‘Love’ Justice Neil Gorsuch!” Trump wrote. “He’s a really smart and good man, but he voted against me, and our Country, on Tariffs, a devastating move. How do I reconcile this? So bad, and hurtful to our Country. I have, likewise, always liked and respected Amy Coney Barrett, but the same thing with her.

“They were appointed by me, and yet have hurt our Country so badly! I do not believe they meant to do so, but their decision on Tariffs cost the United States 159 Billion Dollars that we have to pay back to enemies, and people, companies, and Countries, that have been ripping us off for years. It’s hardly believable!”

The president suggested a solution the justices could have made when handing down their 6-3 ruling against him three months ago: “They could have solved that situation with a ‘tiny’ sentence, ‘Any money paid by others to the United States does not have to be paid back.’ Why wouldn’t they have done so?”

Taking a self-pitying turn, Trump continued: “I’m working so hard to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and then people that I appointed have shown so little respect to our Country, and its people. What is the reason for this? They have to do the right thing, but it’s really OK for them to be loyal to the person that appointed them to ‘almost’ the highest position in the land, that is, a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

“Democrat Justices always remain true to the people that honored them for that very special Nomination. They don’t waver, no matter how good or bad a case may be, but Republican Justices often go out of their way to oppose me, because they want to show how ‘independent’ or, ‘above it all,’ they are.”

After touting his record in the 2024 presidential election, he complained: “I choose people to help our Country, not to hurt it, and now… they will be ruling against us on Birthright Citizenship, making us the only Country in the World that practices this unsustainable, unsafe, and incredibly costly DISASTER.”

The judges have not yet indicated when they might hand down their ruling in the case in question, known as Trump v. Barbara, much less what their opinion might be.

Continuing to strike a wounded tone, Trump contradicted himself by claiming: “I don’t want loyalty, but I do want and expect it for our Country.”

He suggested that Gorsuch and Coney Barrett may just have “had a really bad day” when they ruled against his tariffs but warned: “Our Country can only handle so many decisions of that magnitude before it breaks down, and cracks!!! Sometimes decisions have to be allowed to use Good, Strong, Common Sense as a guide.

“A negative ruling on Birthright Citizenship, on top of the recent Supreme Court Tariff catastrophe, is not Economically sustainable for the United States of America!”

When the justices issued their ruling against the tariffs on February 20, the president lambasted the majority opinion as “deeply disappointing” and said the conservatives on the bench had been weak.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Republicans plan to dispense a large “Election Integrity Army” to every single state for the 2026 midterms – invoking his debunked claims that the United States does not have fair elections.

In a message on his Truth Social platform the president appeared to attribute his “Historic Election in 2024” to the fact that the Republican National Committee sent thousands of volunteers across the country to poll watch or assist with election litigation through a volunteer program.

“During my Historic Election in 2024, when I won every single Swing State, and decisively won both the Electoral and Popular votes by wide margins, the Republicans had an Election Integrity Army in every single State to preserve the sanctity of each legal vote. We will be doing the same again in 2026, but it will be much bigger and stronger,” Trump wrote.

Trump did not elaborate on who would be part of the “Election Integrity Army” or how large it would be.

But his announcement is reminiscent of familiar claims he made in the run-up to the 2024 presidential race in which he planted seeds of doubt on the validity of U.S. election – seemingly dependent on the outcome.

task force aimed at identifying and mitigating threats to U.S. elections.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said last month Democrats would partner with former Attorney General Eric Holder and election lawyer Marc Elias, who helped the Democratic Party counter Trump’s lawsuit in 2020, to assist in the effort.

“Donald Trump knows, his party knows, that they’re at risk of losing this election in 2026, which is why they’re working round the clock to tilt the scales unfairly in their favor,” Schumer said.

The president asserted the Democratic-led task force “will no doubt try to suppress Republican voters, and interfere with our Elections.”

The president’s latest Truth Social post about election integrity is part of his long-standing efforts to implement more regulations on voting and attempt to investigate debunked claims of ballot fraud.

Since returning to office, the president signed an executive order attempting to restrict mail-in ballot voting and directing the government to create a list of eligible voters, he’s demanded Congress pass federal voter ID laws and sought to have Republican-led states redraw congressional maps in their party’s favor.

The U.S. Constitution largely gives states the power to administer elections and create rules.

Trump’s election denialism stems from his claims that the 2020 was rigged to favor Democrats, despite election infrastructure experts, state audits, federal judges and members of his own administration concluding there was no widespread evidence of voter fraud in the election he lost.

Election experts had consistently assured voters that U.S. elections have been and are secure.

In the 2024 election, the RNC created a “Protect the Vote” program in which average citizens could sign up to be poll watchers on Election Day to make note or report signs of suspicious activity. They also recruited lawyers to assist on election-related litigation. The RNC said more than 160,000 volunteers participated in the last election cycle.

President Donald Trump says he still wants to travel to Fort Knox, peer inside its secure vaults and verify that the gold is still there — because, he said: “They steal a lot.”

In a Sunday interview with journalist Sharyl Attkisson, the 79-year-old billionaire was asked about his February 2025 pledge to inspect the Kentucky military installation, which houses a large share of the country’s bullion reserves.

“Well, we wanted to go and knock on their door — Fort Knox, very thick door — and to see whether or not we have any gold in there,” Trump said, after being reminded about his earlier promise.

“It’s a very interesting question. We played with that. I wondered if they left the gold in Fort Knox because they steal a lot,” he added, though who exactly he was referring to was not clarified.

When asked if he still intends to follow through, the Republican president responded: “I do want to go to Fort Knox sometime. I want to see if the gold is there, which I’m sure it will be.”

President Donald Trump has a “better” understanding of the Bible’s lessons than Pope Leo, a conservative Christian pastor has claimed.

Pastor Robert Jeffress made the stunning remark on Fox News this weekend during a discussion about Thursday’s meeting between the first American Pope and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Tensions have flared in recent months after the Pope urged Catholics to pray for a peaceful resolution to the Iran war amid the U.S. president’s threats to “end” Iranian civilization - but he did not mention Trump by name. Trump then posted a series of angry messages on his Truth Social platform, calling the Pope “weak” on crime and accusing him of not understanding the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

According to Jeffress, one of Trump’s longtime backers in the evangelical community, the differing stances amount to Trump being more of a Christian leader than the head of the Catholic church. “The Pope is a good man, he’s sincere in his faith, but he’s sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran,” he told Fox News.

"It looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches than the Pope.”

Jeffress, a Dallas-area megachurch pastor, first endorsed Trump during his 2016 run for office. He has frequently participated in Trump’s meetings with faith leaders, and has led prayers standing next to the president in the Oval Office.

The pastor has also defended Trump’s criticism of the pope in the past. “What the president said was absolutely correct,” Jeffress told the Religion News Service in mid-April. “Pope Leo apparently doesn’t have a biblical understanding of what the government’s role is in protecting its citizens from those who would do us harm both from within and without our country.”

Trump sells special “God Bless the USA Bible” editions of the Bible to his supporters which include the King James version alongside the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The books also include a handwritten chorus to Lee Greenwood’s song, God Bless the USA. Trump participated in a Bible-reading marathon last month, reading from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 — a section of scripture that has long been quoted by those who believe the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation.

But many critics argue that the president has little knowledge of Christian scripture. In early 2016, during a speech to students at Liberty University he incorrectly referred to a passage from Second Corinthians as “Two Corinthians.” During a photo op in 2020, he appeared to hold a Bible upside down as he posed for pictures holding it in front of a church.

Earlier this week, Trump accused the Pope of “endangering Catholics” and claimed that the Vatican was supportive of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, during an interview with a Catholic radio show.

Pope Leo denied outright Trump’s allegations about the Vatican’s supposed support for nuclear. “The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” Leo said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.”

Aside from his war of words with the Pope, Trump also came under fire for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ healing the sick. After backlash from prominent Christian commentators and some Republican lawmakers, the image was deleted.

Earlier this week, a separate group of pastors led a dedication ceremony for a gold statue of the president which was attended (by phone call) by Trump. The statue was unveiled at Trump National Doral, the president’s golf course in Miami, Florida.

“Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf,” Mark Burns, a member of Pastors for Trump, wrote on Facebook. “This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.”

Jeffress declined to comment on the image when he was questioned about it in a separate interview by the Religion News Service.

In March, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent an email to Trump staff, instructing them in no uncertain terms to stop leaking to the press. That memo didn’t stay private for long.

The email, obtained by Politico, stated that “no staff member within the Executive Office of the President is permitted to speak with members of the news media without the explicit approval of the White House Communications Office.”

The Reds' penultimate Anfield fixture of the campaign is a 12.30pm BST duel with the Blues, who are led by interim head coach Calum McFarlane.

Slot writes: "As things stand going into today's game, we have the opportunity to take another step towards our objective of achieving Champions League qualification for a second successive season.

"The best way for us to ensure that this happens, of course, is by taking the results of others out of the equation by taking care of our own business.

"Our fate is in our own hands, we have no need to rely on anyone else or to hope that fate might conspire in our favour. We just have to get the job done.

"This has to be our mindset and we should also be aiming to take as many points as we possibly can from our final three matches, particularly after the disappointment of losing at Old Trafford last weekend after three very good wins against Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace.

"I would never look to take positives from a defeat against Manchester United because I know how important these kinds of fixtures are to everyone associated with Liverpool FC, including myself.

"But we can use our experiences in that game – both negative and positive – as fuel for this one against another opponent who will want to make things as difficult for us as possible.

"I would like to welcome Calum McFarlane, his players and staff and the directors and supporters of Chelsea to Anfield for today's game.

"Obviously, Calum has come in as interim manager once again in recent weeks and will want to continue making a good impression. I can only wish him well in this regard, although I am sure he will understand that this does not extend to today.

"As I said earlier, our focus can only be on ourselves and finishing as strongly as we possibly can.

"This is a time of change for us as a club and the best way of coming through it as strongly as we would want to is by sticking together and ensuring that the building blocks are in place not just for our remaining games of this season but also for the challenges that lie ahead.

"The reality is that any progress that we make now will stand us in good stead for next season and the possibility of Champions League qualification is clearly part of this picture.

"From a financial perspective for the club and from a sporting point of view for the team, we know the importance of finishing in the top five and that is why it is always a priority.

"At the time of writing these notes, I do not know which of our injured players, if any, will be available for this fixture. But what I do know is that the second half against United showed that we still have the quality to impose ourselves on games even if we do have players who are unavailable.

"Injuries have been too much of a factor in our season since it began and it has not been easy to deal with them, especially when they are serious and lead to players being out for a long time.

"We have not used them as an excuse but this does not mean they aren't a reality that we have had to deal with and we will carry on doing so.

"In recent weeks, we have been unable to call upon our first- and second-choice goalkeepers which has led to Freddie Woodman coming into the team.

"The way Freddie has dealt with this situation – particularly the attitude he has shown and the way he has quickly become part of the team – is exactly what we need in a situation like this.

"This is something that our supporters have clearly appreciated and you showed this in our last home game against Palace. This, to me, says so much about our support and we will need that kind of backing today.

"Hopefully on and off the pitch we can give one another exactly what is required."

A towering gold statue of Donald Trump was unveiled at the president’s golf course in Doral, Florida, during an emotionally charged ceremony presided over by an Evangelical pastor.

Placed on a pedestal in a clearing of palm trees, the 22‑foot colossus depicts the president thrusting his fist into the air, echoing his defiant gesture after the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania.

At Wednesday’s dedication ceremony, the sculpture was draped in white and blue fabric, resembling a Greek toga. It was encircled by a few dozen guests seated in chairs, as Pastor Mark Burns — a member of Pastors for Trump — spoke at a podium.

“Today at Trump National Doral Miami, we witnessed an unforgettable moment,” Burns wrote on social media before emphasizing that the gilded effigy was not a false idol.

“Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf,” he said. “This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.”

Burns, who previously described the president as divinely appointed, added that the sculpture stands as a reminder that God is protecting Trump’s life — in a nod to the multiple assassination attempts he has survived.

At one point during the proceedings, Burns held his cell phone up to the microphone, and the president’s voice rang out.

“I want to thank Mark Burns, a pastor, he’s a good pastor, he's a good man,” Trump said. “I’ve known him a long time, he’s been with me from the beginning, right from the beginning, maybe about two days later.”

“I want to thank everybody there,” he added. “I know it was done from love.”

The statue — which rises 15 feet atop a 7-foot base — was commissioned and bankrolled by a collective of crypto investors seeking to boost visibility for their memecoin, $PATRIOT, according to The Daily Beast.

President Donald Trump on Thursday fired off a raging social media post blaming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the assassination attempt against him at last month’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner and demanding that he face criminal charges.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump called Jeffries a “lunatic” and “Low IQ“ and said he “should be charged with INCITING VIOLENCE” while claiming that “Radical Left Democrats actually want to Destroy our Country.”

Trump’s comments accompanied a graphic showing Jeffries speaking at an April press conference when he called for “maximum warfare” relating to Democratic-led states’ work to counter GOP redistricting next to a still image from security camera footage of the attempted shooting at the Washington Hilton.

Jeffries, leader of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives, made those comments during a press conference in the wake of Virginia’s special election to approve a new congressional district map that heavily favored Democrats. State legislators had put forward the new map to counter Republican-led states’ efforts to rig the upcoming midterm elections in their favor by eliminating seats held by Democrats in majority-minority areas.

At the time, Jeffries said: "We are in an era of maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”

Three days later, a gunman attempted to storm the DC Hilton ballroom where Trump was attending the annual fundraising dinner for the first time in his six years as president.

Although a federal statute does make it a crime to “solicit, command, induce, or otherwise endeavor to persuade” another person to engage in a crime of violence, it’s unlikely that any attempt to charge Jeffries under that law would succeed because the law requires the government to prove that the person charged actually intended for a specific crime to occur.

Jeffries defended his remarks at a press conference the following Monday, telling reporters: "As it relates to the comment related to 'maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time,' in connection with the redistricting battle that Republicans launched, I stand by it,"

Trump’s latest call for a high-profile Democratic official to be prosecuted for ordinary political rhetoric appears to ignore comments by his own White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, just minutes before the shooting.

During an interview with Fox News on the Red Carpet as she arrived for the dinner, Leavitt told the right-wing network that Trump’s planned speech would be lighthearted and joke-laden.

"It’ll be funny. It’ll be entertaining. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room," she said.

Though her comment was a clear reference to the long tradition of the president roasting the White House press corps at the annual dinner, they took on a more chilling light when actual shots were fired — one from the alleged gunman and five from a Secret Service Uniformed Division officer — just minutes after Trump sat down for dinner that evening.

Leavitt ignored her own comments and lashed out at Jeffries directly at a press briefing two days after the attempted assassination by blaming the Democratic leader’s comments for the unrelated act of violence.

Asked to respond, Jeffries told reporters that the White House spokesperson should “get lost.”

“Clean up your own house before you have anything to say to us about the language that we use,” he said.