MAGA civil war is growing as Trump shocks British PM with incoherence
The David Pakman Show - July 29, 2025
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Donald Trump is facing an unprecedented internal revolt within the MAGA movement after refusing to rule out a pardon for convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. His non-denial—“I’m allowed to do it”—sparked immediate backlash from figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for a life sentence, and Representative Thomas Massie. This is especially damaging given MAGA’s long-standing rhetoric about protecting children, with Trump’s evasiveness on Epstein-related files compounding the distrust.
Trump’s press appearance in Scotland only deepened concerns. He bizarrely referred to not visiting Epstein’s island as a “privilege,” claimed he distanced himself from Epstein over stolen staff rather than abuse, and floated conspiracy theories about the files being doctored. He contradicted himself—claiming both that the files don’t exist and that they were manipulated—while insisting, falsely, that the scandal has boosted his poll numbers.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump’s taxpayer-funded trip to Scotland turned out to be a promotional event for his new golf course. Despite claiming credit for ending multiple wars, he spent most of the trip golfing and swatting flies. His incoherent remarks—including a vague statement about working with Netanyahu to “straighten out the world”—were so unhinged that even Fox News cut away.
Behind the scenes, Trump is reportedly raging, blaming aides and close allies as the Epstein scandal refuses to fade. Unlike past controversies, this one cuts deep—it threatens Trump’s mythology of strength and moral clarity. With even MAGA influencers like Joe Rogan calling out Trump’s hypocrisy and “gaslighting,” the grip on his base is visibly slipping.
Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance insists Trump is pushing for transparency, blaming prior administrations. Yet Trump’s record shows the opposite: no client list, no accountability, no real effort. Vance’s rhetoric feels increasingly Orwellian—urging people to ignore evidence and trust only Trump’s word. But this scandal may prove uniquely immune to Trump’s usual tactics of denial and deflection.
Finally, Martin O’Malley, former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, joins the show and clarifies that Social Security taxes on benefits weren’t repealed but only partially reduced, debunks false claims about payments to deceased people, and warns that these myths harm trust. He emphasizes that Social Security remains solvent but may need reforms like raising the income cap and immigration changes to stay strong as baby boomers retire.
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On today’s bonus show:
Roy Cooper is running for Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a shot at flipping a key seat, though taking the Senate remains tough. Ghislaine Maxwell is appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court, reigniting controversy over Trump’s ties to Epstein. And Oklahoma’s anti-porn schools chief Ryan Walters is under investigation for allegedly showing porn during a closed meeting.
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The British Prime Minister looked like he was waiting for subtitles. We all were.
Trump managed to reference Netanyahu, Epstein, staff theft, hoaxes, and poll bumps…in one sitting while sweating through a chair like the room owed him answers.
What’s wild isn’t just that this happened. What’s wild is how normalized incoherence has become when it’s cloaked in power. You lie enough, and the truth starts sounding suspicious.
And now his own base is blinking. Rogan’s calling out the “gaslighting.” J.D. Vance is left holding a torch in a house with no lights.
It’s not just that the emperor has no clothes. It’s that the emperor’s press team is calling the nudity patriotic.
(If you’re tracking these cracks in real-time, I’ve been documenting the collapse from multiple angles. Click my name. It’s all there.)
He is a criminal. End of discussion. This is the essence of his complete lack of character.