Friday Insights-May 9, 2025
An American Pope and a $45 million birthday parade.
What a week! An American Pope was elected a week after Donald Trump posted an image of himself dressed as the Pope on social media. Trump had also commented that he’d “like to be Pope,” but supposedly, that was a joke. I hope it was.
I worry that Leo XIV's surprise election might convince Trump that somehow his Pope image and joke contributed to Leo’s election. That would be delusional, but not far-fetched. More likely, Trump believes that his self-coronation as King of the entire world made the election of an American to the Holy See a no-brainer.
We live in a distraught world.
And what might Leo XIV have to say about Trump?
Trump congratulated Leo on his election, but I don’t think he will travel to Mar-a-Lago soon to kiss Trump’s ring.
I expect the new pontiff to criticize Trump’s mass deportations and lack of concern over climate change within weeks. I also expect the Pope might comment on Trump’s indifference to the poor.
As soon as Leo speaks out against Trump, we will read that the new pope is a “disaster” or “a loser.”
What will the Pope say about J.D. Vance, a converted Catholic? Nothing good. The Pope, then known as Robert Provost, has posted, or reposted, articles by others, critical of Vance and Trump, especially on immigration.
Trump doesn’t have a prayer of the Pope saying anything nice about him.
Everyone loves a parade, right?
While we are on the subject of Trump, what are we to make of his planned $45 million military parade on June 14, his birthday? The parade will officially celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, but Trump has made no secret that June 14 will also be his birthday (he doesn’t emphasize that it will be his 79th).
The parade will include around 6,500 troops, 50 helicopters, seven marching bands, and Trump watching the spectacle from a reviewing stand in front of the White House. In a way, the event will replace the Inaugural Parade, which was cancelled on January 20 due to cold weather.
Set aside concerns that the heavy military equipment could severely damage DC streets, the parade sounds fun. Well, not really. I won’t be going, but in addition to people who like hearing the rumble of tanks and the sound of helicopters overhead, there will be more than 100 “No Kings” protests against Trump on the same day.
For weeks, I have been expecting Trump, with help from Kash Patel and Kristi Noem (identify her from the large gold Rolex on her wrist), to start breaking up protests against his policies. June 14 could see the start of mass arrests, partly because the demonstrations won’t just be in DC but in dozens of other cities.
I hope I am wrong, but I think a “long, hot summer” might be right around the corner.
A “tariff deal.”
With great excitement (and relief), President Trump announced an agreement in principle on a trade “deal” with the United Kingdom. Trump says the “deal” will be the first of many. He may be right, but recall that the U.S. has a trade surplus with the U.K. That makes the deal “low-hanging fruit.”
Deals with Europe, China, Canada, Mexico, and Japan will be difficult to reach. It is far too early for Trump to suggest a victory in his trade war is at hand. (He, of course, has not yet said that, but has come close.)
Odious Ed Martin.
A remarkable discovery took place this week—A Senate Republican with a spine. Senator Tillis (R-NC) announced he could not support confirmation of Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Tillis’ opposition, coupled with that of three or four other Republicans, killed the nomination. Trump was forced to pull it.
Unfortunately for America, Martin, a strident defender of the “January 6 patriots” and the a top Trump loyalist with Nazi sympathies, is not going to slither back into the filth of the extreme-right wing media. Trump found him a new job:
Congratulations Ed!
And who better to replace Ed in the U.S. Attorney’s office in DC than yet another Fox News personality?
Congratulations, Judge Jeanine! I never watched you once on Fox, but I have been told you fit in nicely with the rest of the “Fair and Balanced” team.
That’s it for today.
Thank you for reading Dean’s Friday Insights. I hope you enjoyed it and found something of value in it.
I welcome any comments on the piece when you have a moment. While many of you seem to read Friday Insights (and Sunday Issues), I don’t get much feedback on either. I would welcome knowing why and would welcome suggestions on how to make the pieces more useful or interesting.
Have a great weekend.
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