America, The Big Fucking Liar, And The Off Ramp For We The People
- Terri Kern
- Aug 11
- 26 min read
America, you in trouble girl.
Start the America The Beautiful music...
On the timeline of mankind, our beloved nation, The United States of America, is young. She just turned 249 on July 4, 2025, right before this writing.
For comparison, 🇷🇺 Russia is more than 1,000 years old, the 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, specifically England, is over 1,000 years old, and 🇫🇷 France is 1,180 years old, nearly 1,000 years older than the USA. 🇪🇬 Egypt is over 5,000 years older than the USA.
America is in her teens. And she's acting like it.
Our nation is currently experiencing a phase of widespread dishonesty (lying) and misinformation (lying), much like a rebellious teenager. Without house rules like a curfew, homework time, chores, and limited electronics time our teen is at risk of acting out and making life hard for her and for us, her parents.
I want America to live a long happy life. Up until ten years ago I didn't think much about her as an actual "thing." It was the country in which I lived. I never paid attention to the President and I hated watching the news.
I had white privilege growing up - why TF did I care what was happening? I didn't. I say that because I was completely sheltered from reality as a kid and well into my 30s due to authoritarian parenting mixed with lots of love.
Like a typical teenager, America is in her lying phase. And I am putting out a call to every single American reading this to work with me in putting an end to the lies.
This is a non-political call to action.
Listen, we all lie from time to time. I bet you have. Of course I've lied in my lifetime for selfish reasons; maybe to avoid consequences of bad behavior, or the truth is too hard to face. That latter is when I start lying to myself, and that's the worst kind of lie.
And here we are. Lying to ourselves that our president isn't a pathological liar and that our government isn't lying to us. That's not a judgment - that's a fact. There is no judgment here, so stay with me!
Trump is a liar, evidenced by the fact that he lies all the time. If you support him, that's your prerogative and you have your reasons. If you hate him - same. That's what makes America great.
Don't All Presidents Lie?
Let's look at the act of LYING on a spectrum.
Honest Abe and George "I cannot tell a lie" Washington are on the "truthful" end with Jimmy Carter and Dwight Eisenhower. On the corrupt end in modern times are W. who lied about weapons of mass destruction, and Clinton obstructing justice, lying about getting a blowey (my sister Susan's term!) in the Oval Office and that weird shit with Whitewater. Remember what he said - "Eye did not have sexual relations with that wuman....Miss Lewinskeee." - fuckin' liar. Damn, Bill.
What's up with the dark ones though? Nixon and Trump.
Wounded: Dick Nixon’s personality was shaped by deep insecurity, early losses, and a lifelong need to prove himself. He has a well-documented history of emotional dysregulation, which manifested in control, paranoia, and secrecy. Beneath the intellect and strategy was someone driven more by fear than confidence.
Fear-based living is something that feels familiar to me.
Nixon lived in the delusion that people were out to get him; that's how he experienced the world. How sad that he went through life not feeling well-loved or understood. If Dick would have had the ability to own his criminal behavior, pay his debt to society, and raised a shit ton of money for a really great cause he would have redeemed himself AND helped others. That would have made him feel fantastic.
Instead he remained haunted by his choices by blaming everyone else along with himself. That's a cop out.
Needy: Donald Trump’s personality is centered around an intense need for attention, validation, and dominance — driven by insecurity, but expressed through bravado, manipulation, and showmanship. He craves loyalty, applause, and control at the expense of truth, empathy, or stability.
He also had an emotionally turbulent childhood as well, despite his privilege.
I drew some similarities between Nixon and Trump:
Factor | Richard Nixon | Donald Trump |
Early Emotional Wounds | Lost two brothers to illness; emotionally distant, hypercritical parents; grew up poor and isolated | Emotionally neglectful, authoritarian father; raised to see vulnerability as weakness; lifelong need for dominance and praise |
Core Psychological Drive | Fear of rejection and humiliation | Desire for attention, control, and superiority |
Public Persona vs. Private Self | Publicly restrained and formal; privately anxious, bitter, and obsessed with enemies | Publicly brash and dominating; privately insecure, approval-seeking, and reactive |
Relationship with Truth | Saw truth as a liability in politics; manipulated it to maintain power and avoid shame | Viewed truth as malleable, secondary to winning; used falsehoods as tools for persuasion and identity control |
Mental State Before Scandal | Increasing paranoia, isolation, and obsession with enemies; drinking escalated | Inflated sense of entitlement; surrounded by loyalists; relied on flattery, misinformation, and personal grievance narratives |
Why He Crossed the Line | Believed the system was rigged against him; felt justified in using illegal tactics to protect himself and the presidency | Believe rules don’t apply to him; seeks personal loyalty over lawful governance; treats presidency as a tool for self-glorification |
Response to Accountability | Deep shame; tried to cover up; eventually resigned | Defiance; denied wrongdoing; attacked investigators, media, and institutions that challenged him |
Emotional Core of Corruption | Wounded fear: “They’ll destroy me if I don’t strike first.” | Entitled grandiosity: “I can’t lose unless someone cheats. I’m the system.” |
Your opinion of Trump doesn't change these facts. He has a well established history of lying.
Ignoring his lying and pretending like he's not, or saying "I don't care" doesn't make his lying any less frequent or harmful.
Let's take a look at some of the big lies Trump has told over the last twenty years:
🧨 Trump’s Major Lies Since the “Birther” Lie
🔁 2011–2016: The Obama Years and Campaign Lie
Obama Birther Lie→ Claimed Barack Obama was not born in the U.S.→ Debunked repeatedly; Trump used it to build political momentum→ He later falsely claimed he "ended" the controversy.
Muslim Ban Justification→ Claimed thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheered 9/11 — no evidence exists.
Crime & Immigrant Lies→ Claimed undocumented immigrants caused widespread crime spikes — contradicted by data.→ Claimed Mexico "sends rapists" — inflammatory and unsupported.
Voter Fraud in 2016→ After winning the election, falsely claimed 3–5 million illegal votes were cast.→ No evidence; created the “voter fraud” myth that would resurface in 2020.
🏛️ 2017–2020: Presidency Lies
Inauguration Crowd Size→ Falsely claimed his crowd was the largest in history.→ Sparked "alternative facts" defense by Kellyanne Conway.
Tax Cuts "Biggest Ever"→ Claimed his tax cut was the largest in U.S. history — several past cuts were bigger.
COVID-19 Lies→ Claimed the virus would “disappear” and that cases were “going down.”→ Suggested disinfectant could be injected as a cure.→ Downplayed severity despite privately acknowledging its dangers.
Hurricane Dorian Lie ("Sharpiegate")→ Altered a weather map with a Sharpie to falsely show Alabama was at risk.→ Pressured NOAA to support his false claim.
The Ukraine Call→ Claimed his call with Zelensky was “perfect.”→ It included pressure for political dirt on Biden — basis for his first impeachment.
⚠️ 2020–2021: Election Lies and Insurrection
Election Was Stolen (Big Lie)→ Claimed the 2020 election was rigged or stolen.→ Dozens of court cases and Republican officials found no evidence.→ Central lie that led to the January 6th insurrection.
Voting Machines Were Rigged→ Falsely claimed Dominion machines deleted Trump votes.→ Led to billion-dollar lawsuits and massive disinformation campaigns.
Capitol Rioters Were Antifa / Patriots→ Shifted narratives: first called them “Antifa,” later “true patriots.”→ Refused to accept responsibility for inciting the riot.
🧯 Post-Presidency Lies (2021–Present)
Classified Documents Denials→ Claimed he had the right to keep classified documents and had “automatically declassified” them — false under the law.
Indictments Are "Election Interference"→ Claimed legal consequences are just political persecution — despite evidence-based investigations.
He Won All States→ Repeated falsehoods that he won blue states like New York and California “by a lot.”
Biden Was Behind Indictments→ No evidence links Biden to DOJ decisions in Trump’s federal cases.
I have to make sense of things in my ADHD brain visually - I'll share it with you.
I think of America as a teenager, We The People are the parents, and the President of the United States is her caretaker.
When we vote, We The Parents are telling our teenager who to hang out with and who to stay away from. If we don't vote we're neglecting her growth and her health. I went way too many years being very careless about making sure she was always safe and in good hands because it never occurred to me that we'd elect a President who acts like he hates America.
Our Constitution represents the parental agreement and he doesn't follow it. Ever.
Trump is America's caretaker and he calls her corrupt, vindictive and incompetent. Our President verbally abuses America, blames We The Parents for America acting out in chaos, while accessing our personal data through DOGE without transparency and oversight, making billions of dollars off of his position as President, and breaks the law without consequences.
Those are not judgment calls nor is that a subjective paragraph. We're in realty here on this blog; it's my job as a therapist to keep people living in reality and truth where you make the best choices for yourself and your life.
Taking A Step Into The Truth
Your outrage towards Biden, or Barack, or Kamala, or Hunter Biden - no judgment -doesn't change the fact that The President of the United States of America is a pathological liar.
And now America is lying. Lying keeps We The People in a state of THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING rather than in reality - this IS happening and we have to stop it.
If you support Trump you may be wondering now if he's lying about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. I'll help you answer that.
I want to help you understand on a deeper level the damage lying causes when it comes from Trump's level of responsibility as President of the United States.
I see it every day in my work.
A young woman desperate for love getting walked all over by some immature dude and she keeps going back for more, hoping something will change.
She lies to herself that deep down " he really cares" and he's going to figure that out.
A Baby Boomer parent struggling to accept the decision of their son and daughter-in-law to not have children, claiming they're "entitled" to have grandchildren and shaming them for not.
They lie to themselves that their feelings are more important than the kids they raised to think for themselves.
The husband who gets caught cheating on his wife and spends precious time in defense mode to avoid the consequences and makes things worse.
He lies to himself that it's best to "move on" versus face how his choices destroyed a woman he actually loves.
The GenX white 1st gen college graduate from blue collar Ohio says ,"Kamala's an moron!" as the reason she skipped the vote.
She lies to herself that a fellow GenX blue collar woman who graduated from law school and became the DA for San Francisco, the AG for the State of California, A US Senator and the Vice President of the United States is a "moron" because she can't admit that she wouldn't vote for a black woman.
From the White House to Your Couch
When the leader of the country treats truth as negotiable, it filters down. It gives permission. It teaches people that if a fact is uncomfortable, you can simply replace it with a better story — one that protects your pride, shields you from blame, or makes you feel like the hero.
More examples of how lying infiltrates peoples' lives:
A husband convinces himself his wife “doesn’t love me” so cheating feels justified.
A woman with a lifetime of good choices tells herself she can’t trust her own judgment.
A professional clings to the myth that multitasking was once her superpower, even though it nearly broke her.
Someone else avoids emotions altogether because they’ve decided feelings are dangerous.
These personal lies aren’t so different from the political ones. They serve the same function: to avoid discomfort, to dodge accountability, and to keep us from facing truths that demand change.
When the culture of leadership rewards deception, we absorb it — in how we talk to each other, in how we explain our behavior, and in how we justify the choices that hurt us and the people we love.
The repair, whether for a country or for a person, begins in the same place: the willingness to tell the truth, even when it costs us.
Especially when it costs us.
This blog is NOT about politics so, take your "Yea I know I am but what about YOU" mentality and leave it on Twitter (it will always be called that in my house.).
This space is for truth and trust. And to inspire you to reject the lies and get our government to take the focus OFF of Trump and back onto WE THE PEOPLE.
Since my first vote in 1983 I've always wanted whoever won the Presidency to succeed regardless of whether or not I voted for him. In 2016 I wished Trump all the best and hoped for a booming economy. Same in 2024.
That's not what we're getting and I'm not ok with that. Im asking - regardless of who you voted for why are you ok with all the lies?
I turn to look at our teenager, America.
America, this ain't your first rodeo. One of your strongest qualities is that you've proven time and time again you can walk through hell and emerge like a radiant butterfly. Your vibrant wings symbolize resilience and newfound freedom.
I believe in you; but right now I have to be able to believe you again.
LYING: An American Crisis
Misinformation is LYING and it's eroding trust in facts, institutions, and even personal relationships. Over the past decade, public discourse has changed dramatically because everyone is acting like the lies aren't lies - we call them "misinformation, disinformation, fake news" - they're LIES.
Lies spread significantly faster, deeper, and more broadly than truthful information — especially on platforms like Twitter. Social media has become garbage with fake accounts everywhere posting rage bait.
Imagine being a data analyst at your job and you get a new boss. Your boss asks you to bring the spreadsheets into the next meeting so he can figure out how the department is doing. You're not a sales person, nor are you in the manufacturing, so you neither make nor sell the widgets the department is responsible for selling.
He reviews the data you spent weeks gathering. You've been in the job since the last boss hired you and you're competent. The new boss rejects your spreadsheets and tells you that the data sucks and he fires you.
First of all this would never happen in real life, and secondly this would never happen in real life.
You wouldn't stand for it; you'd lawyer up.
Yet, we just roll with our government doing it.
Trump lies so much most of us just say, "Yep, he's crazy!" and we move on with our day.
I'm asking you a serious question here - HOW DOES TRUMP LYING BENEFIT YOU?
Let's look at an economic key performance indicator - the creation of jobs.
Following the release of a weaker-than-expected jobs report in July 2025 and significant downward revisions to the employment data for May and June, President Trump fired the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Erika McEntarfer, on August 1, 2025. Trump accused McEntarfer, appointed by former President Joe Biden, of manipulating the jobs numbers for political purposes, a claim he reiterated on Truth Social and during interviews. In a social media post, Trump stated that the jobs numbers were rigged to make Republicans and him look bad. Economists and former BLS commissioners dismissed these claims. They stated that the commissioner does not control data collection and calculation, which is handled by career professionals. The revisions to the jobs numbers, though larger than usual, were attributed to additional information becoming available, a standard BLS practice. The firing and questioning of BLS data integrity raised concerns about potential political interference in the independence of government statistics.
Trump Can't Handle The Truth And It's Hurting All Of Us
This not a judgment or an opinion, and you know. this, man! Take a look over here in reality with me.
As of this writing the economy is unstable - that's not an opinion, that's not a guess, that's not even from me. While it's not collapsing, many factors, including jobs creation, make or break it. Tariffs too. Click the link in the first sentence of this paragraph to see THE TRUTH.
An emotionally intelligent leader would say - "Whoa - what's happening that's preventing new jobs being created?"
Let's take Ohio specifically, and let's pretend that Ohio's two US Senators aren't part of the LIE -
Let's see, tariffs on materials to make Intel chips will cost more money; therefore we won't be able to fully staff the new plant we're building. Thus, that affects the jobs numbers. Let's figure out how to solve this problem.
Trump firing the chick that reported the numbers doesn't add more jobs. Claiming she's a Biden-ette and "rigged" the numbers doesn't get your recently graduated kid out of your house and thriving. It doesn't bring down the $400 grocery bill I just paid for a week of food for two people.
Your outrage towards the "pedophile Democrats" and the "libtards" isn't going to make buying a house cheaper for your single daughter who wants to spread her wings as an adult or make finding a job after a layoff right before retirement any easier.
Trump coming to Ohio and saying the Intel CEO sucks and should resign because the latter knows tariffs are going to hurt business isn't going to create jobs at the Intel plant in Ohio when the cost hits.
Trump's trade and immigration policies have not lowered the price of gas or eggs, the job market sucks, the labor market is out of balance, GNP and the economy is shrinking. Anecdotally I hear evidence of the struggling economy daily as clients are anxious about how to pay for college, a layoff, rent increasing, underemployment, caring for aging parents, not enough for retirement, childcare and grocery costs, vehicle costs, and the list goes on.
There is harm coming for America out of the One Big Beautiful Bill. We'll feel immediate benefits including increased take-home pay, business expansion, and larger deductions. On the other side of it, in five years, economists predict higher national debt, inflation, and the effects of deeply gouging social programs.
Trump's actions caused America's credit rating to go down. It's like a babysitter trashing your kid's credit score as they enter adulthood - that would be a no go in your world.
If you support Trump and hate Democrats - no judgment - your outrage towards them being part of The Deep State isn't going to save your 401k, or increase your property value, or make homeowner's insurance more available in Florida or create a job or a better housing market for your 30 year old kid or grandkid who wants to buy a house, get married, and have a family.
All this to say that, up to this point, we recognize and acknowledge that our current President is a pathological liar. If I were saying this out loud it would be as if I'm reading it out of the newspaper.
No judgment.
The Lies Divide Us
These lies don't just float in the background—they actively divide communities and shapes how we relate to one another.
That's not a guess or an opinion. I see it every day in my work.
WE THE PEOPLE :
Many Americans once believed a baseless conspiracy - another word for a lie - that Democrats were running a child sex ring. Though entirely false, it caused widespread harm.
A gunman entered Comet Ping Pong (2016) with an AR-15, ready to “rescue the children” — no basement even existed. What the fuck!
Political violence has risen; early this summer the murder of two Democrats in Minnesota state government.
Vaccine misinformation led to decreased immunization rates and now mumps, measles, TB and other preventable diseases are on the rise unnecessarily.
Algorithms prioritize sensational content that sparks outrage and strong emotions.
Users are funneled into echo chambers, hearing only what reinforces their beliefs.
Opposing facts are filtered out, fragmenting society and making it harder for the truth to break through.
The consequences are far-reaching:
Public health crises caused by vaccine hesitancy.
Polarized communities fractured by conflicting realities.
Families torn apart by disagreements over basic truths.
Inability to address major issues, like climate change, because we can’t agree on the facts.
The Role of Our Elected Officials in Spreading Lies
One of the most prominent drivers of lying in recent years is Donald Trump. He doesn't lie alone, though.
I live in Ohio and our entire Republican party lives in a lie exacerbated by the most criminal state party Ohio's history. That's not a political statement, that's a fact.
Misinformation isn’t limited to national figures—it’s pervasive at all levels of leadership.
Let's look at the big fucking liars in Ohio:
Governor Mike DeWine faced little accountability for the state’s largest bribery scandal, House Bill 6, involving $60 million in bribes.
Despite two colleagues dying by suicide and others being convicted, DeWine was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2022, with questions about transparency largely ignored.
US Congressman Jim Jordan has been linked to a sexual abuse scandal at Ohio State University, with multiple athletes stating he knew about the misconduct. How do they know? They fucking told him.
Despite these allegations, Jordan continues to hold power and win elections in his heavily gerrymandered district.
J.D. Vance, or whatever his many names is, after years of criticizing Trump’s character, reversed his stance to gain political advantage, showcasing how expediency often trumps integrity.
Vance has a well documented history of complex trauma as he shared in his autobiography, Hillbilly Elegy.
Ohio is seeing a drastic decline in population since 2022 including birth rates because it's not safe to get pregnant here for everyone. Ohio isn't safe for many people right now.
WE THE PEOPLE MUST REJECT THE LIES - ALL THE LIES - ALL THE TIME
You may not believe this - I care about you. I want you to be healthy and have food, and clean water, and a roof over your head. I'm a single mom - I know what struggling is like. I wouldn't wish that struggle on anyone.
If you support Trump - no judgment from me. I live amongst many MAGA and I hear all the reasons and honestly, I totally understand. I get how some of you have fallen into the false hope of a better America through Trump's false promises (also called LIES).
AND ALSO Trump is a pathological liar - we already established this to be fact. It's not good for any of us to have a pathological President and I'm going to tell you why.
You're smart, I know you'll understand this to stay with me here.
The Offramp for WE THE PEOPLE: The Truth
If our teenager, America, was at the White House with Donald Trump, her caretaker, and Trump's friend Jeffrey Epstein was there, there would be a high probability she'd be sexually assaulted.
We The Parents are lying to ourselves that it's good for us to hand over our beloved teenager, The United States of America - the place we all call home, where we live and where I personally was born and raised, to a pathological liar who, statistically, would harm America and, therefore, harm us. The People.
That's not an opinion, that's a statistical fact.
Is Trump in the Epstein files? Is Trump a rapist?
Let me walk you through some critical thinking here and answer those questions. I'll even make it easy for you with a link to the receipts:
70s - 2017 Sexual Assault and Misconduct Allegations
At least 26 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct since the 1970s (Business Insider, 2023).
One of those women, E. Jean Carroll, brought a civil case in 2023: A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation — ordering him to pay over $5 million.
Judge Lewis Kaplan clarified in a May 2023 that "The jury found that Mr. Trump did in fact digitally penetrate Ms. Carroll — which meets the common understanding of rape, even if it does not meet the New York Penal Law’s definition."
Trump was found liable for forcing his fingers into E. Jean Carroll's vagina without her consent - THAT'S RAPE.
During Trump's The Apprentice days, which I watched and loved! (You're fired!) multiple women reported incidents.
Summer Zervos (2007 incident, alleged)
Background: Contestant on The Apprentice (Season 5, 2006).
Allegation: In 2007, Trump invited her to meet about job opportunities and then groped and kissed her without consent at a Beverly Hills hotel.
Status: Filed a defamation lawsuit in 2017 after Trump denied the allegations; case was dropped in 2021 when she decided to move on.
Temple Taggart McDowell (1997, but public disclosure during Apprentice years)
Background: Miss Utah USA, met Trump at pageant events.
Allegation: Said Trump kissed her directly on the lips without consent.
Relevance: Spoke publicly during the Apprentice era (2016 campaign) about Trump’s pattern of behavior toward women in pageants and media.
Jessica Drake (mid-2000s incident, alleged)
Background: Adult film actress.
Allegation: Said Trump kissed her without consent and later offered her $10,000 to come to his room during a golf tournament in 2006.
Relevance: Publicly accused him in 2016; timeline overlaps with The Apprentice years.
Natasha Stoynoff (2005 incident, alleged)
Background: People Magazine reporter covering a Trump feature.
Allegation: Says Trump pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue in her mouth at Mar-a-Lago while Melania was upstairs.
Relevance: This was the same year as the Access Hollywood recording — during peak Apprentice fame.
Mindy McGillivray (2003 incident, alleged)
Background: Photographer’s assistant at Mar-a-Lago.
Allegation: Said Trump grabbed her buttocks without consent during an event.
Relevance: Although before The Apprentice premiered, her story resurfaced while Trump was hosting the show.
Other Pageant Contestants (2000s)
Multiple Miss USA and Miss Teen USA contestants reported that Trump entered their dressing rooms unannounced while they were undressed — several of these incidents occurred during his Apprentice years, when he also owned the Miss Universe Organization.
2005 “Access Hollywood” Tape
Bush (W's cousin): "Your girl's hot as shit. In the purple."
Multiple voices: "Whoah. Yes. Whoah."
Bush: "Yes. The Donald has scored. Whoah my man."
Trump: "Look at you. You are a pussy."
Bush: "You gotta get the thumbs up."
Trump: "Maybe it's a different one."
Bush: "It better not be the publicist. No, it's, it's her."
Trump: "Yeah that's her with the gold. I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful... I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything."
Bush: "Whatever you want."
Trump: "Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
Bush: "Yeah those legs. All I can see is the legs."
Trump: "It looks good."
Beauty Pageant Dressing Room Incidents
Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization and allegedly walked into pageant dressing rooms while contestants — some teenagers — were undressed.
Confirmed by multiple contestants and reported by The Guardian and CBS News.
Porn Star & Playboy Model Payoffs
Miss Teen USA Contestants
Former contestants reported Trump entering their dressing room while minors were partially dressed (Buzzfeed News, 2016).
Jeffrey Epstein Association
Trump knew and socialized with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Many photos shows Trump, Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell together.
Trump later claimed they had a “falling out.”
Sexualized Public Comments
Trump has made public remarks sexualizing his own daughter, Ivanka Trump (multiple interviews from early 2000s).
Frequently objectifies women in public speeches and media appearance
All of these incidents are matters of public record.
If it would make it easier for you here is a list of additional women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct:
Name | Year | Allegation | Source | |
Ivana Trump | 1989 | Rape (later recanted as a legal term but stood by account of violent encounter) | Business Insider, 2017 | |
Jessica Leeds | 1980s | Groping on airplane | NY Times, 2016 | |
Jill Harth | 1993 | Attempted rape and groping | Guardian, 2016 | |
Kristin Anderson | 1990s | Groping at nightclub | Washington Post, 2016 | |
Lisa Boyne | 1990s | Inappropriate sexual behavior at dinner | HuffPost, 2016 | |
Cathy Heller | 1997 | Unwanted kiss | Guardian, 2016 | |
Temple Taggart McDowell | 1997 | Unwanted kiss | NY Times, 2016 | |
Karena Virginia | 1998 | Groping and inappropriate comments | Guardian, 2016 | |
Mindy McGillivray | 2003 | Groping at Mar-a-Lago | Palm Beach Post, 2016 | |
Rachel Crooks | 2005 | Forcible kiss | Washington Post, 2016 | |
Natasha Stoynoff | 2005 | Forced kiss and pinned against wall | People Magazine, 2016 | |
Jennifer Murphy | 2005 | Unwanted kiss | HuffPost, 2016 | |
Jessica Drake | 2006 | Unwanted kiss and proposition for sex | LA Times, 2016 | |
Ninni Laaksonen | 2006 | Groping during Miss USA event | Ilta-Sanomat, 2016 | |
Summer Zervos | 2007 | Groping and forcible kissing | Guardian, 2017 | |
Cassandra Searles | 2013 | Inappropriate touching and comments | Seattle PI, 2016 | |
E. Jean Carroll | 1996 | Rape / sexual abuse (jury found liable for sexual abuse in 2023) | Court records, 2023 |
Based on publicly available records, court filings, photographs, and Trump’s own past statements, it is probable that Donald Trump is LYING about the extent of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
In my experience in life, human resources and therapy when someone lies like Trump is lying about his relationship with Epstein, there is absolutely something to hide.
End critical thinking lesson.
The Truth About Trump
Yes, Trump is in the Epstein files.
Fact: The Attorney General briefed Trump that his name was in the files.
Fact: Trump has publicly claimed the files are "fake" and planted by Democrats even though the files existed long before he was POTUS.
Since he was told directly, the evidence strongly supports that this is knowingly false, which fits the common definition of a lie.
If you support Trump or even if you don't and you're ignoring this second term you're lying to yourself if you rebuff these truths or ignore them. The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves about abusive men in our lives.
Our teenager America lies because her caretaker Trump lies, which then makes it ok for, the case of Ohio, DeWine to lie, and Jimmy Jordan, and the current President of the Washington Local School Board in Toledo, Ohio who says January 6th was a "peaceful tour of the Capitol" on social media for every child he influences to see.
An 18 year old political enthusiast gets elected to same school board and gets convicted of a DUI, then gets convicted of driving on a suspended license.
THIS is what trickle-down looks like currently - what about our kids?
Trump Has A Well Documented History Of Sexually Assaulting Women
Trump was friends with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, so was Melania. We see the photos, and the videos, and the cards, and the interviews and the money exchange.
Trump is a felon. He was tried and convicted of 34 - THIRTY. FOUR. FELONIES. I know with 100% certainty those of you who support him that you wouldn't even think about interviewing, let alone hiring, this dude if you had a job open.
Trump is telling Boards of Directors who to put in charge of corporations like Intel, and if you believe he didn't approve at the very least Maxwell's transfer to an easy prison after she pimped out an unnamed number of teenage girls to her sexual deviant boyfriend, you're lying to yourself.
This is what happens when we fall for the lies our leaders tell us - we lie to ourselves and those are the most damaging lies of all.
Critical thinking tells us that it's highly probable that Trump did it to appease Maxwell to keep her mouth shut. That's not an opinion - that's based on public record.
Personally I struggle to understand why the character of the person in the White House is irrelevant at this point of time in America's history. Clinically I know what happens to a teenager who is verbally and sexually abused who is without rules and guidance - in the case of America - it's called the Constitution and Rule of Law.
Calling out dishonesty isn’t about partisanship—it’s about preserving truth and demanding accountability from leaders, regardless of political affiliation. Turning a blind eye to falsehoods normalizes deception, weakening democracy and fraying the bonds that hold society together.
Living In Reality Can Be Hard
I'm a registered Republican in Ohio and Georgia since 1983. I was the strictest parent in my daughter's group and I'm as conservative as they come. This lawless administration is not, they're called extremists. It's important to know the difference.
If you're a Trump supporter and are new politics it's important you know that you're not voting conservatively.
Quite the opposite as Trump attempts to change the Presidency from caretaking to parenting -he's trying to fill OUR role. I didn't like my parents telling me what to do, let alone my government. As a conservative I want LESS authority and more autonomy.
This ain't it.
Speaking out comes with risks—I’ve personally faced harassment, job loss, and financial stress for exposing dishonesty. But standing for the truth is worth it.
I was doxxed (harassed with harm) after I stood up in my community and demand that Patrick Hickey, then superintendent of Washington Local Schools where I was born, raised, and came back to, was held accountable for his predatory behavior after several teachers filed complaints about him.
My community - some people I had known since high school - came after me with a vengeance. My counseling license had hundreds of frivolous and unfounded complaints emailed at the behest of what is the equivalent of Bobby Kennedy Jr. I received hundreds of hateful and threatening messages, my former employers, friends, and family all contacted to get "dirt" on me.
A large percentage of a 15,000 member community all lied to themselves that this charismatic, Christian, white, middle-aged, privileged pathological liar could possibly have a history of predatory behavior on underaged girls.
Even after Hickey served a year in jail and a lifetime of registering as a sex offender people in my community continue to express their hatred towards me and blame me for Hickey's demise.
The administrators in my community knew for decades Hickey had a history of havin inappropriate relationships with students who were under his care and they buried that shit deep.
The lesson is clear: Silence allows lies to grow. By valuing truth, we can begin to rebuild trust in our communities.
How To Find And Debunk Lies
The lies are overwhelming and it's hard to know what's real and what's not. I recently saw a very realistic AI generated photograph of Paul McCartney singing to a man who was dying in a hospital. It was attached to a social media account where the owner or publisher isn't clear and a very clearly AI generated article about how the man requested for Paul to sing to him and - he didn't.
The article was meant to criticize Paul for something that is very likely not even real. Upon closer inspection of the "photograph," Paul is playing his guitar with his right hand. Now if we were in 1969 the whole PAUL IS DEAD conspiracy would ignite and we'd be debating whether or not that is really Paul or an imposter.
Lies and conspiracies aren't new.
Escaping the Cult-Like Grip of MAGA Thinking
Stepping away from any rigid, us-vs-them political identity is not about betraying your values. Rather, it’s about reclaiming your freedom to think clearly.
Political movements can take on cult-like qualities when loyalty to a leader or group becomes more important than loyalty to the truth.
If you’ve felt yourself defending actions you once would have questioned, or avoiding information that challenges your beliefs, you’re not alone — these are common human reactions when we’re deeply invested in a cause.
I recognize that many of you in the MAGA world have a decent cause, to make America great AGAIN by going back to a time that you felt safe and seen. I know you believe that Trump understands you.
If a leader is a pathological liar, they cannot truly advocate for a better America, because without truth as the baseline, there’s no shared reality to build on, no trust to unite us, and no foundation for genuine progress.
Here are steps to help untangle yourself from the echo chamber:
Name What’s Happening: Acknowledge that propaganda (lies with a thread of truth), misinformation (lies), and emotional manipulation (lies) are tools used by all political machines — but some use them more aggressively. Once you see the tactic, it loses much of its power.
A commercial is running currently in OH District 9 against US Rep Marcy Kaptur (D) paid for by conservative PAC American Action Network (AAN). It states Marcy voted to defund Medicare, even though she voted against President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which makes severe Medicaid cuts.
Diversify Your Information Diet: Make a rule to read or watch or find credible sources from across the political spectrum. Include fact-checking sites and reputable investigative journalism. When a claim sparks a strong emotion, pause and verify it before sharing.
Get off of social media! It is no longer possible to scroll through your social media account without reading lie after lie after lie. I had an account comment on a post that was cussing me out, telling me that they have been "following me" and watching my offensive comments (which is totally A LIE). When I looked at the account it was totally a bot. They are very human-like.
The lie you tell yourself is that social media scrolling right before you sleep isn't making you more anxious by feeding you lies to keep you engaged.
Separate Leader from Values: Ask yourself: “Do I support this policy or action because it’s good, or because the leader I like is doing it?” This reframing helps you reclaim your values from partisan identity.
I don't give AF which side of the Israel/Hamas issue you're on starving people in 2025 is as UNAmerican as it gets.
Yep, Biden did stuff I hated too. So did Barack, W. Clinton, Reagan, and Jimmy Carter. Pre-Jimmy I don't remember a lot.
Reconnect with People You Disagree With: Not every conversation needs to be a debate. Seek to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of those outside the MAGA bubble. Humanizing others makes extremist narratives harder to believe.
Calling MAGA names was a huge mistake that Hillary made, which continues today. Non-elected MAGA members who are not part of a white supremacist gang are our fellow countrymen wounded by the lies.
If you're MAGA I bet you don't personally know (that you know of) ONE TRANSGENDER PERSON. Don't tell me you do because ya don't. Transgender people are smart, brave, insightful, and valuable in our world now and forever. You fear what you don't know.
Challenge All-Or-Nothing Thinking: Political identities thrive on absolutes — “We’re 100% right, they’re 100% wrong.” Reality is more complex. Look for nuance and admit when an opponent has a point.
Great example: As of this writing I don't agree with transgender women competing in women's sports because it's unclear to me if there is a physical advantage over cis women.
That doesn't mean I'm against transgender women in sports! What it means is that I don't have enough information for it to make sense to me right at this point in time that they compete with cis women. I also know that transgender women athletes are a VERY small percentage of the total pool of athletes.
When the day comes that more data is available to me, and that data tells me there is no difference, then I'll fully support it, and if there is data that tells me there is then I won't AND I'll be looking for a THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX solution like people compete based on weight or time and not by GENDER.
Practice Private Honesty: Write down the questions and doubts you’ve been afraid to say out loud. This is where the shift begins — when your inner voice is no longer silenced by fear of rejection.
For example: Let's say I have a theory that tariffs are going to be a major drag on our economy and I work for a Trumper who walks around with a clip board making sure butts are in seats.
The plan is for the world to start buying American - and it works. The economy starts booming. I now have to face admitting that my loathing of Trump doesn't change the fact that he was right and I was wrong. I need to face success in spite of my theory and open my mind.
I write down what's actually happening in the economy and, in this scenario, I'd
Breaking away from cult-like thinking doesn't mean that you're "switching sides" so don't fall into that trap. WE THE PEOPLE must take a stop out of a manipulative system and back into your own critical, moral reasoning.
Truth doesn’t have a party label, and integrity doesn’t require anyone’s permission!
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