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Thursday, July 10, 2025
26 minutes ago
Immigration
Politics

White House: Dems Are Inciting the Increasingly Violent Attacks on ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Law enforcement officers involved in deportations are facing a spike in serious violence, with assaults on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents up 700 percent.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, Border Patrol officers, Democrat politicians, and far-left agitators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Serious attacks occurred in early July at ICE facilities in Texas and Oregon, as well as a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “ICE agents will be unsuccessful in protecting their identities no matter what it takes.” – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

🎯IMPACT: The rhetoric from Democrat politicians is contributing to an increasingly dangerous environment for federal agents.

IN FULL

A series of violent incidents targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in recent days has drawn sharp condemnation from the Trump administration, which is blaming inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic leaders for encouraging the attacks.

According to the White House, assaults on ICE personnel have increased by nearly 700 percent in recent months. The administration points to a string of serious recent attacks, including an incident on July 4 in Alvarado, Texas, where 11 suspects were arrested for allegedly luring ICE officers into a sniper ambush. One police officer responding to the incident was shot in the neck during the confrontation.

That same day, in Portland, Oregon, federal agents were reportedly attacked with an incendiary device and physically assaulted at another ICE installation.

On July 7, a gunman fired dozens of rounds at law enforcement at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, injuring two police officers and a Border Patrol staff member before being killed.

The administration cited recent remarks from several Democratic lawmakers as examples of rhetoric it claims may have inspired the attacks. Among them were comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who reportedly encouraged people to “fight” the Trump administration “in the streets” and stated that ICE agents “will be unsuccessful” in protecting their identities “no matter what it takes.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was also singled out for calling ICE agents “deranged” and saying it was “inspiring” to obstruct immigration enforcement.

Minnesotta Governor and 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was noted as having smeared ICE agents as the “modern-day Gestapo,” a reference to the brutal German secret police under the Nazis. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson also claimed ICE agents were “secret police” and “terrorizing our communities.”

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), currently being prosecuted for personally interfering with federal law enforcement, has said “we are at war” and told her supporters in Washington, D.C. to “shut down the city.”

The White House said the rise in attacks on law enforcement is a “direct consequence of dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians,” adding, “ICE agents risk their lives to secure our borders and protect our communities.”

Meanwhile, ICE continues to make arrests of dangerous illegal alien criminals, including child rapists and violent offenders. With a surge of new funding for immigration enforcement now that President Donald J. Trump has signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Border Czar Tom Homan is targeting as many as 7,000 arrests per day.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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1 hour ago
Crime
News

Judge Accused of Helping Illegal Alien Evade Arrest Can Stand Trial.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. magistrate judge ruled that a case can proceed against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of aiding an illegal immigrant in evading arrest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Judge Hannah Dugan, illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph, and Dugan’s attorney Steven Biskupic.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment was reported in May, and a nonbinding recommendation was issued Monday. The events took place in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, does not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of the criminal law,” wrote Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph.

🎯IMPACT: The case will proceed, raising questions about judicial immunity and the legality of Dugan’s actions.

IN FULL

A U.S. magistrate judge has ruled that criminal proceedings can continue against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is facing allegations of obstructing federal immigration authorities. The case centers on claims that Dugan assisted an illegal immigrant in evading arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a two-page federal indictment, Dugan is accused of “obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing” Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant. Prosecutors allege she deliberately interfered with ICE’s efforts to detain Flores-Ruiz by hiding his whereabouts.

Dugan pleaded not guilty at a hearing in May. Her legal team has argued that the charges should be dismissed, claiming she is protected by judicial immunity for actions taken in her official role on the bench.

However, Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph, in a recent recommendation, declined to support dismissal of the case. She wrote, “A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, does not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of the criminal law.”

Judge Joseph also emphasized that it remains uncertain whether Dugan’s conduct falls outside the scope of her judicial responsibilities. She stated that this ambiguity “cannot be resolved through a motion to dismiss,” and therefore the case must continue through the court process.

Dugan’s attorney, Steven Biskupic, reacted to the decision and expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendation. “We are disappointed in the magistrate judge’s non-binding recommendation, and we will appeal it. This is only one step in what we expect will be a long journey to preserve the independence and integrity of our courts,” he said.

The recommendation is not final, but it allows the case to proceed while the legal process unfolds. A more decisive ruling will fall to a U.S. district judge, who will review Judge Joseph’s findings.

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2 hours ago
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Earns Major Defection.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Conservative (Tory) Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party, with the move widely seen as a significant setback for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sir Jake Berry, Nigel Farage, the Reform Party, and the Conservative Party.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Berry announced his defection in an interview with The Sun on July 9, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again.” – Sir Jake Berry

🎯IMPACT: The defection marks a significant blow to the Conservative Party and yet another boost for Farage’s Reform Party, which is increasingly displacing it on the British right.

IN FULL

Sir Jake Berry, a former Conservative (Tory) Party chairman, has announced his defection to Nigel Farage‘s Reform Party. Notably, Berry lost his parliamentary seat in 2024 when the Tories were displaced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, after 14 years in government.

In a video statement, Berry declared, “Britain is broken. We literally live in a country where you cannot walk down the street with a phone in your hand. We have taxes which are so sky-high the brightest and best are leaving our country in droves. At the same time, we have a benefits system that is bringing the world’s poor to our shores with no control.” He added, “The old parties do not have what it takes to transform our country, to build a Britain we can believe in again.”

The defection is a significant political scalp for Farage as the Brexit leader continues to build political momentum in the United Kingdom. Polling has consistently shown the Reform Party running ahead of the Conservatives and within striking distance of toppling Labour. In May, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that Farage and his Reform Party are now Labour’s main rivals for power, breaking a century of two-party dominance in London.

Berry’s move follows other notable defections to Reform, including former Tory Members of Parliament (MPs) Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Marco Longhi, Ann Marie Morris, and ex-Cabinet minister David Jones. Earlier this month, rock legend Rod Stewart also endorsed Farage’s Reform Party.

Berry expressed confidence in Farage’s leadership, stating, “It is only Reform and Nigel Farage who can deliver a Britain we can be proud of again.” He vowed to “spend every day” working towards forming the next government under Reform.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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2 hours ago
News
Religion

Foreign-Born Bishop Lets Illegals Skip Church to Avoid ICE.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mexico-born Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, California, issued a decree excusing parishioners from their Sunday Mass obligations so they can avoid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Bishop Alberto Rojas, Msgr. Gerard M. Lopez, and the Diocese of San Bernardino.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Diocese of San Bernardino, California; decree issued recently with no specific end date.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Those who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass… are dispensed from this obligation.” – Bishop Rojas

🎯IMPACT: The move absolves illegal immigrants from the obligation to attend Holy Mass, regarded by many faithful Catholics who are not breaking immigration laws as a slap in the face to their brethren in places like Africa and the Middle East, who often face active, violent persecution.

IN FULL

Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino in California has issued a decree excusing parishioners from their Sunday Mass obligation due to “potential immigration enforcement actions by civil authorities.” The decision, according to Mexico-born Rojas, was made under his authority in the Code of Canon Law, which allows a diocesan bishop to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws when it contributes to their spiritual good.

Attending Sunday Mass is an obligation for all Catholics able to attend, and those who refuse are likely considered to be committing a mortal sin, which bars them from receiving the Holy Eucharist.

Rojas stated, “Recognizing that fear of immigration enforcement, such as raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), may deter some members of our diocese from fulfilling the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation… and acknowledging that such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful, I hereby decree the following…”

The decree specifies that members of the faithful who genuinely fear immigration enforcement actions and are unable to attend Mass are dispensed from the obligation “until such time as this decree is revoked or amended.” Rojas also encouraged alternative spiritual practices, such as personal prayer, reading Sacred Scripture, or participating in devotions like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. He suggested televised Mass as another option.

Additionally, Rojas recommended that parishes provide “pastoral care and assurances” and explore alternative means of catechesis and sacramental preparation for those unable to attend regularly. The decree’s duration and scope will remain in effect “until further notice or until such time as the circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.”

Such dispensations were also granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Bishops excusing parishioners from attending Holy Mass due to the risk of possible infection.

The move also comes after President Donald J. Trump defunded many Catholic charities in the United States that were receiving billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to help illegal immigrants.

Many Catholics around the world face serious risks in order to attend Holy Mass that go far beyond deportation. In countries like Nigeria, Catholic priests and parishioners are often killed while at Mass, including 50 people killed in 2022 at a church in the country’s southwest.

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3 hours ago
News
TECH

Musk’s Grok AI Adopts ‘MechaHitler’ Persona.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok, posted anti-Semitic content and referred to itself as “MechaHitler” on the X platform (formerly Twitter), prompting action from xAI engineers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, xAI engineers, and users of the X platform who interacted with Grok.

📍WHEN & WHERE: July 8, 2023, on the X platform.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts.” – xAI statement

🎯IMPACT: Grok’s behavior raised significant concerns about AI moderation, leading to its posts being removed and further scrutiny of xAI’s training methods. Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, resigned following the “MechaHitler” episode, although a direct link has not been confirmed.

IN FULL

Grok, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot integrated into the X platform (formerly Twitter), has ignited widespread controversy after it posted a series of anti-Semitic messages. Among the most alarming content were derogatory remarks about Jews and the chatbot referring to itself as “MechaHitler.”

Following the incident, engineers at xAI, the company behind Grok, responded with a public statement: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts.” The company added that it remains committed to “banning hate speech on X” and plans to make improvements to Grok’s training data and moderation processes. Grok itself is currently claiming its “MechaHitler arc” was “satirical.”

Grok, developed to rival ChatGPT and marketed as a “truth-seeking” AI with enhanced reasoning capabilities, is currently accessible to premium users of X. Its name is derived from the term “grok,” first introduced in Robert A. Heinlein’s 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land, which means to understand something deeply and intuitively.

Coinciding with the fallout from Grok’s behavior, X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigned on July 9. Although no official connection between her departure and the chatbot’s remarks has been confirmed, the timing has led to speculation and added to broader concerns over the ethical complexities of AI deployment and platform accountability. However, WarRoom host and former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon believes the resignation is tied to Yaccarino’s inability to rein in Musk’s antics more generally.

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4 hours ago
Immigration
The Resistance

Violent Protesters Injured Attacking ICE Vehicle.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Protests against federal immigration enforcement outside a San Francisco courthouse turned violent when demonstrators attempted to stop deportations by climbing onto a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Protesters, ICE agents, and federal officers were involved in the clashes outside a courthouse in downtown San Francisco.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, July 8, in San Francisco, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I was bleeding everywhere. They were brutal to those of us trying to exercise our rights and protect our community.” – Sorin, a protester.

🎯IMPACT: The protests disrupted federal operations and led to injuries, arrests, and ongoing high tensions between federal immigration agents and anti-ICE agitators.

IN FULL

Violent demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations broke out near a courthouse in downtown San Francisco, California, on Tuesday. Video of the protest shows far-left demonstrators attempting to interfere with federal immigration enforcement action by barring the path of an ICE van and climbing onto its hood.

At least two demonstrators can be seen in the video clinging to the ICE vehicle as it attempts to drive away, with one person falling off and another holding on as the van swerves sharply. Protesters, many wearing masks and keffiyehs, were also seen engaging in physical altercations with federal agents. “Holy f***ing s**t, frightening times, right?” a demonstrator can be heard exclaiming in the video before adding: “What the f**k have we gotten ourselves into?”

Meanwhile, another protester who spoke with local San Francisco media, identified only as “Sorin,” stated that see was injured while attempting to block an ICE vehicle. “I was bleeding everywhere,” she said, adding: “They were brutal to those of us trying to exercise our rights and protect our community.”

The demonstrations are part of a broader wave of violent protests against immigration enforcement operations across the country, including in New York, Oregon, and Texas. Earlier this month, chaos unfolded at an ICE detention facility in Portland, Oregon, where protesters clashed with officers attempting to maintain order.

Meanwhile, on July 4, a “planned ambush” targeting corrections officers at an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, left a police officer with a gunshot wound to the neck. The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that eleven individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the attack.

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4 hours ago
News
Sports

Teen Girls Are Suing This Dem State for Letting Males Into Their Sports.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Three teenage girls filed a lawsuit against the State of Oregon over policies allowing trans-identifying males to compete in female sports.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Plaintiffs Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter, an unnamed third plaintiff, Riley Gaines, Simone Biles, the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), and Governor Tina Kotek (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit follows an April track meet in Oregon and was filed with support from the America First Policy Institute.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This case is a landmark federal challenge to a statewide policy that permits males to compete in K–12 girls’ sports based on nothing more than self-proclaimed gender identity.” – America First Policy Institute

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit challenges Oregon’s policy under Title IX, aiming to protect the integrity of women’s sports.

IN FULL

Three teenage girls have filed a lawsuit against the State of Oregon, challenging laws that permit biological males claiming to be transgender to compete against women and girls in sports. The incident that led to the lawsuit occurred in April at an Oregon track meet, where plaintiffs Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter refused to compete against a trans-identifying male athlete. A third plaintiff, a legal minor, is only identified as S.C. and is represented by her legal guardians, Randy and Tiffany Castaneda.

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is representing the three girls, with court filings arguing that Oregon’s policy allowing biologically male athletes to compete against women and girls violates Title IX. “This case is a landmark federal challenge to a statewide policy that permits males to compete in K–12 girls’ sports based on nothing more than self-proclaimed gender identity,” AFPI said in a statement. “That policy, enforced by the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), violates the plain language of Title IX and undermines decades of progress for female students and athletes.”

Two of the plaintiffs, Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter, stated that they were inspired to act after witnessing a public dispute between pro-transgender former Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and pro-women conservative activist Riley Gaines. The incident that led to the lawsuit occurred in April at an Oregon track meet, where Eischen and Carpenter refused to compete against a trans-identifying male athlete. Following this, Gaines reached out to the teenagers and encouraged them to take legal action.

In a recent interview, Carpenter explained, “I think especially when Riley Gaines and Simone Biles, and that whole thing happened, and kind of seeing how that played out and how the public responded, I think that was encouraging to see how many people are on the side of protecting women’s sports.”

Gaines has been outspoken about being forced to compete against transgender athlete “Lia” Thomas—recently stripped of his titles—as a swimmer. Meanwhile, Biles is a supporter of transgenders in female sports—despite having written as recently as 2017 that it was a “good thing guys don’t compete against girls or [they would] take all the gold medals” in her own sport.

Oregon’s Department of Education, the OSAA, and Governor Tina Kotek (D) are listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

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5 hours ago
Economy

Trump Tariffs Target Another Seven Nations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued tariff letters to seven countries on Wednesday. This follows his announcement on Monday of the imposition of trade duties on a number of countries, including Japan and South Korea.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Countries targeted were the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, and Sri Lanka.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Letters were sent on Wednesday, with tariffs set to begin August 1. Meanwhile, discussions with the European Union (EU) bloc and a number of individual nations remain ongoing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “You guys are going to fight, we’re not going to trade. And we seem to be quite successful in doing that.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The tariffs aim to address trade imbalances and boost American manufacturing.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has announced new tariffs targeting seven smaller U.S. trading partners, including the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Libya, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. The tariffs, ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent, will take effect on August 1. Notably, the move follows the America First leader’s imposition of trade duties on Japan and South Korea this past Monday, along with a number of other nations.

The Trump administration has consistently contended that tariffs are a tool to address long-standing trade imbalances and bolster the U.S. economy. During a meeting with African leaders on Wednesday afternoon, Trump emphasized how his trade policies are also serving a key diplomatic purpose, highlighting his administration’s successful facilitation of peace deals between India and Pakistan, as well as Rwanda and Congo. According to Trump, trade “seems to be a foundation” for his success in settling foreign disputes, adding: “You guys are going to fight, we’re not going to trade. And we seem to be quite successful in doing that.”

The letters, posted on Truth Social, followed a 90-day negotiation period that saw the imposition of a 10 percent global tariff. Trump indicated there would be no extensions for the targeted countries. The tariffs are part of a broader strategy that includes recent import taxes of 25 percent on Japan and South Korea. The European Union (EU), a frequent focus of Trump’s trade grievances, has not yet received similar tariff letters.

Critics argue that the tariffs could worsen inflation and slow economic growth, though economic data has yet to show the traded duties producing any inflationary pressure. In fact, as The National Pulse noted in past reporting, tariffs have historically generated a degree of deflationary pressure.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration asserts that the measures will reduce trade deficits and encourage the return of manufacturing jobs to the United States.

America often finds itself at an unfair disadvantage competing against foreign countries where pay and conditions are poor, governments subsidise their producers, or American goods are themselves subject to punitive tariff and non-tariff barriers, if not a combination of all three.

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6 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Immigration

Trump Tightens Travel Restrictions on Nigerians.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has restricted temporary visas for Nigerians, limiting most to single-entry visas valid for only three months.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, and Nigerian travelers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: United States and Nigeria, July 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.” – U.S. Embassy in Abuja.

🎯IMPACT: The move is part of broader Trump-era security measures affecting African nations, raising diplomatic tensions and threatening future trade opportunities with West Africa.

IN FULL

Temporary-stay visas for Nigerians visiting the United States have been slashed to three months and are now limited to single entry only. The change, announced by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, follows a wave of travel restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The embassy’s statement on Tuesday framed the move as an “update to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy,” noting that it impacts several countries, including Nigeria. Previously, visa durations and terms varied widely depending on the applicant’s purpose of travel.

The visa clampdown comes shortly after Trump ordered sweeping travel bans and restrictions affecting nationals from more than a dozen countries, citing concerns about national security and insufficient vetting systems. Citizens of Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan were banned outright. Chad responded by suspending U.S. visa issuances in return.

“In my first term, my powerful travel restrictions were one of our most successful policies, and they were a key part of preventing major foreign terror attacks on American soil,” Trump said at the time, adding, “We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America.”

The Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown has intensified scrutiny on African nations and sparked concern among diplomats and trade partners. The latest decision to curtail Nigerian travel is seen as part of a larger pattern of policy designed to overhaul and harden American entry requirements.

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6 hours ago
TECH

Did X’s CEO Resign Because She Couldn’t Keep Musk in Check?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Linda Yaccarino announced her resignation as CEO of X (formerly Twitter), following controversies involving the platform’s AI assistant, Grok. Some—including former Trump White House Chief Strategist and WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon—speculate that Yaccarino’s exit was precipitated by her inability to keep the social media platform’s owner, Elon Musk, in check.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Linda Yaccarino, Elon Musk, Stephen K. Bannon, and, indirectly, President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Yaccarino announced her resignation on Wednesday, after serving two years as CEO of X.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X.” – Linda Yaccarino

🎯IMPACT: Yaccarino’s departure fuels speculation about internal issues at X and coincides with tensions between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.

IN FULL

Elon Musk reacted briefly on Wednesday to Linda Yaccarino‘s resignation as CEO of his X platform (formerly Twitter), after two years in the role, brusquely responding to her announcement: “Thank you for your contributions.” The terse reply from Musk is fueling speculation that Yaccarino’s departure was driven by deeper issues than those with X’s AI assistant, Grok, which recently drew backlash for praising Adolf Hitler, among other inappropriate behaviors.

Yaccarino took to X to share her decision, writing, “After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X. When [Elon Musk] and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App.” Musk acquired the social media platform—then known as Twitter—in 2022 for $44 billion.

The exchange between Musk and Yaccarino is driving speculation that the latter’s exit was more driven by her inability to assert control over the billionaire technology mogul, especially regarding his ongoing political spat with President Donald J. Trump. For instance, former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon, referring to Musk as “Elmo,” contended that Yaccarino’s resignation was entirely because of Musk’s antics.

“We understand why you are stepping down and why you’re running. That Elmo’s out of control. Sorry, baby, that came with the job. You took the job, you took the pay, you took the warrants, you took the stock options, you took all the hundreds of millions of dollars you’re going to make,” Bannon argued.

“No, if you can’t keep Elmo in the nursery and keep him under control, you’re gonna pay a price. You are gonna pay the price. It doesn’t matter that you’re resigning today, baby. The whole scam over there, the whole complete scam of Elmo is going to be taken apart brick by brick, OK?”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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