Former President Donald Trump embarked on an extraordinary late-night posting marathon on his Truth Social platform, sharing more than 160 times in a single evening. The spree, which at one point saw him posting more than once per minute, has sparked widespread commentary on his online behaviour.
A Late-Night Avalanche and a White House Defence
Buried within the deluge of content was a reposted conspiracy theory, originally from the founder of Bed, Bath and Beyond, suggesting Michelle Obama had temporarily controlled Joe Biden's autopen. Another shared video, titled "MAKE CHRISTMAS GREAT AGAIN", featured Trump's cameo from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Meanwhile, the White House press briefing addressed a major international incident. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed a second military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, which occurred after an initial hit left two survivors clinging to the wreckage. She denied that "Secretary of War" Pete Hegseth had given an order to "kill everyone," a command that could constitute a war crime.
Instead, Leavitt stated that Admiral Frank M. Bradley, then Commander of Joint Special Operations Command, authorised the follow-up strike in "self-defence," targeting the boat, not the men. She asserted he acted "well within his authority and the law." Reporters challenged this, noting the U.S. Navy's own manual prohibits firing on survivors from a wrecked vessel.
Fraud, Deportation Rhetoric, and Pentagon Cosplay
Leavitt also sought to justify Trump's recent focus on people of Somali heritage, citing a fraud case in Minnesota where 78 of the 86 charged individuals were Somali. She used this to stress the need for the president's "mass deportation operation," declaring "illegal aliens... must go back to their home countries." A significant flaw in this argument is that most of the individuals charged are American citizens, either naturalised or born in the U.S.
In a related matter, Leavitt defended Trump's recent commutation of financier David Gentile's prison sentence. Gentile was convicted in August for a $1.6bn Ponzi scheme and had served just 12 days of a seven-year term before his release.
In a surreal development at the Pentagon, the press corps that walked out months ago over contract disputes has been replaced by a roster of pro-Trump influencers and outlets. Figures including Laura Loomer and representatives from Infowars, Gateway Pundit, and Mike Lindell's channel were seen posting from their new desks. Notably, several claimed the desk formerly used by Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe.
Backlash, Badges of Honour, and a Precious Jacket
The administration's friction with the media continued with the launch of a White House website section designed to "call out" "fake news." For the journalists named, inclusion has swiftly become a badge of honour, a mark of recognition for their work.
Former astronaut and fighter pilot Mike Kelly delivered a powerful speech hitting back at attacks from Trump and Hegseth. Kelly, who appeared in a video reminding troops not to follow illegal orders, listed his service record in contrast to Trump's past, stating, "I've been through a lot worse in service to my country. The President and Pete Hegseth are not going to silence me."
In a separate, bizarre report, acting FBI Director Kash Patel allegedly caused a delay in Utah following a murder investigation. According to a leaked account, he refused to leave his plane without wearing an FBI raid jacket. After a medium-sized jacket was procured from a female agent, he reportedly further insisted on having Velcro patches to cover blank areas on the sleeves before disembarking.
Amid these controversies, Trump also released medical results from his doctor, who declared the former president's MRI one of the "greatest" ever and noted his organs were "well-perfused." The letter was presented as a clean bill of health.
