Trump admits he fears nuclear attack if he brings up rights violations in North Korea

In "Summit," a biting cartoon from David Fitzsimmons of The Arizona Daily Star, President Trump wears blinders as he wades into a pool of blood to shake the hand of North Korea's brutal dictator, Kim Jong Un.

In "Seat of Power," cartoonist Pat Bagley of The Salt Lake Tribune satirizes Trump's habit of tweeting early in the day, reportedly from his toilet. Thus, the expression about Trump, "Brain farts."

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- What is Donald J. Trump doing for Father's Day? 

Lying, as usual.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, a TV reporter asked President Trump how he can defend Kim Jong Un's human-rights record after speaking "passionately" about the death of an American detained for 17 months in North Korea.

"You know why? Because I don't want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family," Trump told CBS Correspondent Weijia Jiang.

So, even after the summit in Singapore, Trump actually fears a nuclear attack from North Korea unless he continues to play nice with the brutal North Korean dictator and salute his generals, as he did last week.

Later, he told the female CBS reporter to be "quiet" more than once, and referred to her as "so obnoxious."

'Justin and Donald'

On Friday night, in a bit called "Justin and Donald," comedian Bill Maher showed illustrations, contrasting the behavior of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump:

"Justin waits politely for women to get on the elevator first.

"Donald grabs their pussies," the satirist said on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

"Justin separates paper and glass. Donald separates parents and children.

"Justin researches an issue and consults experts before making a decision.

"Donald vomits brain farts and leaves his staff to clean up the mess."

A North Korean general puts his hand out in Singapore, but President Trump salutes him, as Kim Jong Un looks on, in this image from state media. 

Cartoonist Dave Granlund refers to Trump's treatment of Canadian Prime Minister and other allies during the G7 summit when he quotes Kim Jong Un: "My biggest worry is that Trump will treat North Korea the way he treats U.S. allies." Below, in "MAGA Double Standard," Adam Zyglis of The Buffalo News notes Trump supporters were outraged when Barack Obama negotiated with Iran ["our enemies"], but have been silent on the president saluting a North Korean general.

Images of Trump and Un wearing the other's hair style appeared on the Internet months ago, when a possible meeting between the two dictators was first announced.

Electronic news media are letting Trump get away with murdering our democracy

After President Trump forgot the words to "God Bless America" at a White House event, Cartoonist Kevin Siers of The Charlotte Observer in North Carolina has him making up words, including "God bless America, land that I rule" and concluding with, "It's all about me!"

TV & RADIO LAP UP EVERY LIE,

 SPREAD THEM 'ROUND WORLD

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Liar-In-Chief of the United States left the G7 summit early and flew to Singapore on Saturday.

He is scheduled to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un on the night of June 11 -- a date that might live in infamy.

Last week, President Trump forgot the words to "God Bless America" at a White House event he staged after the Philadelphia Eagles stood him up.

In his first 500-plus days in the Oval Office, he's fulfilled few of the promises he made on the campaign trail in 2016, except for an enormous tax break for the rich and wealthy corporations that will saddle all of us with a $1.5 trillion in debt.

The massive giveaway will keep millions in campaign funds flowing to Trump and Republicans in Congress as they try to hold onto control of the House and Senate in the November midterm elections.

Endless lies

I'm still waiting for the courageous White House reporter who will tell Trump to his face, "Please stop lying to the American people."

Or, when the president starts making it up as he goes along or takes credit for the 9-year economic recovery, simply confront him or refuse to quote him in their stories.

Trump and his corrupt Cabinet have spent most of their time and energy trying to undo every one of predecessor Barack Obama's major accomplishments in office.

Unfortunately, the electronic news media can't resist capturing every lie, false claim and preposterous tweet in those annoying sound bites, and sending them winging around the world with no pushback or rebuttal.

On HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday night, the satirist discussed the merger of Bayer, a German company, and Monsanto, noting the former manufactured Zyklon B, a cyanide-based pesticide that was the preferred killing tool of the Nazis for use in extermination camps during the Holocaust.

Print media

I'm so tired of The Washington Post's Fact Checker or the thunderous editorials from The New York Times.

The damage of those TV and radio sound bites can't be undone. 

They have to be addressed on the spot by reporters confronting Trump.

Until that happens, the president controls the discussion and damages our democracy in so many ways.

He's the fake

When Trump shouts "fake news," the reporters should shout back, "You're the ultimate fake."

I just came across a site called PolitiFact.com, which summarizes "all false statements concerning Donald Trump."

Here are a couple of recent ones:

On June 5, Trump claimed Philadelphia Eagle players "stayed in the locker room for the playing of our National Anthem" or "were kneeling."

"No. The Eagles didn't kneel,"says PolitiFact.

On May 31, Trump claimed, "We got $6 billion for opioid and getting rid of that scourge that's taking over our country. And the numbers are way down."

"Deaths are up," PolitiFact says.

Cute. 

But unless reporters confront him on the spot or simply refuse to include his lies, half-truths and outrageously false claims in their stories, Trump will get away with murdering our democracy, our free press and other institutions.

Pardons, etc.

Trump claims he can pardon himself, if he is charged and convicted in the Russia investigation, or appoint himself president for life or call off the November elections.

I've heard these claims many times, but, of course, they are nonsense.

No one, not even the president, is above the law.

Cartoonist Joe Heller commenting on the suicides by hanging last week of celebrities Kate Spade, the fashion designer, and Anthony Bourdain, the chef and CNN host, who grew up on Orchard Place in Leonia, a suburb near the George Washington Bridge. You can find this and other cartoons on The Cagle Post.