Tag: fake news

Fact Check: Did Cole Allen Drive for Savannah Guthrie or Other Celebrities?

Accused wannabe Trump-assassin Cole Tomas Allen was once a driver for some high-profile celebrities, including Savannah Guthrie, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and Sydney Sweeney, according to several posts circulating on social media.

Allen has drawn intense public interest after he charged through security while carrying a long gun with the intention of killing President Donald Trump and other Cabinet members at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old California resident was charged with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States and several other counts following the incident that left a Secret Service officer, who was wearing a ballistic vest, shot in the chest. 

The Claim 

Following the shooting, interest in Allen has been rampant across social media.

Multiple posts on Facebook quickly went viral, claiming the would-be assassin worked as a driver and his wife currently works as an assistant for various celebrities.

The celebrities mentioned in these posts include:  

  • Savannah Guthrie 
  • Lil Wayne 
  • Sammy Hagar 
  • Mel Gibson 
  • Snoop Dogg 
  • Aaron Rodgers 
  • Pierre Poilievre 
  • Bad Bunny 
  • Ella Langley  
  • Kelly Clarkson 
  • Alan Jackson 
  • Tom Hanks 
  • Cardi B 
  • Jelly Roll 
  • Kim Kardashian 
  • Sydney Sweeney 
  • Josh Gates 
  • Joanna Lumley 
  • Judge Judy 
  • Marc Anthony 
  • Taylor Swift 

A number of the posts contain language like this: “BREAKING: The shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been identified as 30-year-old Cole Allen from Torrance, California.” 

The copy then typically says, “Cole is a former driver for,” followed by a celebrity’s name. It then states, “and his wife is currently working as” his or her assistant. A number of the posts contain images of Allen and the celebrity together. 

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DEBUNKED: The Left Falsely Blames Trump for the Afghan Refugee Mess Created by Biden’s Disastrous Withdrawal

Left-wing media is once again scrambling to rewrite recent history—this time over Afghan refugees still stranded overseas after Joe Biden’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During a recent segment, MSNOW attempted to frame President Donald Trump as “targeting” Afghan allies who assisted the United States during the war. 

The claim centers around reports that some Afghan nationals currently living in Qatar may be given relocation options outside the United States, including possible resettlement in other countries.

But the outrage narrative leaves out the most important facts.

First, these individuals were not universally promised permanent resettlement in the United States—certainly not under the Trump administration. 

The idea that every Afghan who assisted U.S. efforts was guaranteed entry into the U.S. is simply false. Immigration and refugee policy has always involved a structured vetting process, prioritization, and logistical constraints.

The current situation exists because of Biden’s 2021 withdrawal—an operation widely criticized across the political spectrum for its execution.

When the Taliban rapidly took over Afghanistan following Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces, thousands of Afghan allies were left in limbo. Many were relocated to temporary holding locations, including a former U.S. military base in Qatar. 

Years later, many remain there, waiting for final decisions on resettlement.

That is the context MSNOW conveniently ignored.

Instead, the segment leaned heavily on emotional framing, highlighting interpreters, special forces affiliates, and families—including hundreds of children—while suggesting the Trump administration is abandoning them. 

The reporting relied in part on claims from outlets like The New York Times, which often shape the initial narrative before it spreads across legacy media.

What is actually being discussed is policy—not abandonment.

Any proposal to relocate individuals to third countries is part of a broader effort to manage a complex backlog created by the rushed withdrawal. 

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Who Is General Dan Caine? The Man Who Allegedly Said ‘No’ to Trump’s Nuclear Codes During the Iran Crisis

Now, General Dan Caine — America’s highest-ranking military officer — is at the centre of one of the most explosive and widely-circulated claims of the US-Iran conflict: that he stood up in a White House meeting and told President Donald Trump ‘no’ when the president allegedly moved to invoke nuclear codes.

The allegation, which originated from retired CIA analyst Larry C Johnson on the ‘Judging Freedom‘ podcast on 20 April, has not been confirmed by any official source. A White House spokesperson told Newsweek the claim was false. Yet it has already accumulated nearly two million views on X — and placed Caine squarely in the public eye in a way his relatively quiet rise to the top of the US military never had.

A Fighter Pilot Nobody Saw Coming

John Daniel ‘Raizin‘ Caine was born on 10 August 1968 in Elmira, New York. His father, Steve Caine, is a retired United States Air Force fighter pilot. He followed that path, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Virginia Military Institute in 1990 before completing the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Programme and going on to fly F-16s.

A command pilot with more than 2,800 flight hours in the F-16, including over 150 combat hours, his career spans combat aviation, special operations, and senior interagency leadership across the Department of Defense, the White House, and the Intelligence Community. His last government post before becoming Chairman was as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency, a role he held from 2021 until his retirement in December 2024.

Trump’s Pick Over the Pentagon’s Own

Caine was not well known before his nomination in February 2025. Several officials on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon, granted anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said at the time that they had to Google his name.

He is the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who never served at the rank of four-star general or admiral before being nominated, the first to be nominated while in retirement, and the first to have been nominated as a member of a reserve component. Despite the unusual path, Trump backed him publicly. ‘He only knows one thing, how to WIN,’ Trump wrote of Caine in February.

Caine was confirmed on 11 April in a 60-25 vote and was promoted to a four-star general prior to the vote. He was sworn in just days before the Iran ceasefire deadline came into force.

The Claim That Went Viral

It was against this backdrop that Johnson made his allegation on the ‘Judging Freedom’ podcast. Johnson claimed that an emergency White House meeting took place on Saturday night amid escalating tensions with Iran, during which Trump allegedly moved to invoke nuclear codes, and Caine refused, with Johnson describing the exchange as ‘apparently quite a blowup.’

Johnson cited no named sources. Lead Stories searched Google News and Yahoo News for matching reports and found none, concluding that had such a confrontation actually happened and been verified by insiders, major outlets would have covered it heavily. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said, ‘I’d have to see a couple of source confirmations before I even dignify that question with an answer. I just can’t imagine that that was ever a serious consideration.’

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Melania was ‘very involved’ in Epstein’s circle and that’s how she met Trump, claims biographer

Since our original report referenced The Daily Beast podcast and its claims, we want to note that The Daily Beast has since retracted the accompanying article detailing allegations by journalist Michael Wolff.

The story had alleged that Melania Trump was introduced to Donald Trump through a modeling agent connected to Jeffrey Epstein. After receiving a legal challenge from the first lady’s attorneys, The Daily Beast issued the following editor’s note in place of the original article: “Editor’s Note: After this story was published, The Beast received a letter from First Lady Melania Trump’s attorney challenging the headline and framing of the article. After reviewing the matter, the Beast has taken down the article and apologizes for any confusion or misunderstanding.”

The original hyperlink now redirects to this retraction notice: https://www.thedailybeast.com/epstein-this-story-has-been-removed

WASHINGTON, DC: New claims from journalist and longtime Donald Trump biographer Michael Wolff have stirred fresh controversy around Jeffrey Epstein, this time placing first lady Melania Trump at the center of the conversation.

Appearing on ‘The Daily Beast Podcast’ hosted by Joanna Coles, Wolff asserted that Melania was “very involved” in Epstein’s elite social circuit, and even suggested that her introduction to Donald Trump was facilitated through mutual contacts also connected to Epstein.

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The Hysterical Media Are Lying About The Forest Service Reorganization

In a ludicrous news story this week, The New Yorker writes about “the gutting of the Forest Service,” and warns that the supposed “gutting” is happening right before wildfire season. If you read the story for yourself, look for numbers: budget reductions, slashed staffing. Spoiler alert: You won’t find any of that. A story about something being “gutted” makes no effort to quantify the claim.

In fact, the Trump administration is reorganizing the Forest Service, starting by moving its national headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Utah, the heart of the Western lands that the service largely manages. The plan also replaces large regional headquarters with state offices, moving the management of public lands closer to the actual forests. You can read a detailed description of the changes, with a list of offices that are closing and a list of the offices that will replace them, here. The reorganization is debatable, and its effects have yet to be seen, but the Forest Service isn’t being “gutted.” It’s being reorganized.

In an example of a good sign, the National Association of State Foresters released a statement last week expressing cautious optimism about the reorganization: “The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) supports the transition to a state-based organizational model that continues to serve all lands. … While the restructuring plan raises many questions, we appreciate that it reflects feedback from State Foresters and other stakeholders.”

Similarly, the Democrat governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, has expressed support for the reorganization: “Colorado is known for our outdoor spaces and nation-leading research institutions that are strengthening our forests and public lands, so it only makes sense that the U.S. Forest Service would include a location in our great state.” The New Yorker warns that the Forest Service is being “gutted,” while the governor of a state with significant National Forest land has warm things to say about the improvement of federal forest management. Go figure.

As for the implied wildfire threat, you can read a detailed line-item description of the federal wildfire budget here. It’s going up, not down: $6.35 billion in FY 2024, $6.7 billion in FY 2026. Firefighter salaries are improving after a long period of stagnation that made it harder to fill federal wildfire jobs. This is not “gutting.”

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“Completely Untrue”: Holy See Rejects Fake News Story of Pentagon Threat to Vatican

In a desperate effort to drive a wedge between Catholics and the Trump administration, the fake news circulated a story implying that the Department of War (DOW) threatened the Vatican.

According to the initial report in The Free Press and amplified by outlets such as The Daily Beast, Catholic blogs, and social media, the incident allegedly occurred during a closed-door meeting on January 22, 2026, at the Pentagon.

The report claims that Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby (a Catholic and a Trump administration official) and colleagues supposedly summoned the then-Vatican apostolic nuncio/ambassador to the U.S., Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and delivered a “bitter lecture.”

One official reportedly invoked the Avignon Papacy (a 14th-century historical episode where French kings exerted military/political control over the Pope), which some interpreted as a veiled threat of force or pressure against the Holy See.

The Vatican, however, formally debunked the story.

CruxNow reports:

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni flatly denied the report in a statement Friday, saying that “As confirmed by His Eminence Christophe Pierre…his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the papal representative’s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.”

“The narrative offered by some media outlets about this meeting is completely untrue,” Bruni said.

The Vatican nunciature in Washington had previously distributed a statement to the press also denying the portrayal of the meeting, confirming the Jan. 22 meeting at the Pentagon to discuss “current affairs,” but characterizing the interaction as “routine.”

“The Apostolic Nunciature is grateful for the opportunities to meet and dialogue with government officials and others in Washington to discuss areas of mutual concern,” the nunciature said.

“As confirmed by His Excellency Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the Pontifical Representative’s regular mission and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. The narrative presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all.”

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Trump Launches Federal Investigation Into “Fraudsters and Charlatans” Pushing FAKE Iran Ceasefire Letters

President Donald Trump just dropped the hammer on a coordinated campaign of fraud and deception surrounding the U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations.

President Trump announced a full federal investigation into the flood of phony “agreements,” lists, and letters being circulated by total “fraudsters and charlatans” who have absolutely nothing to do with the real negotiations.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, President Trump announced a double-sided ceasefire just yesterday, agreeing to suspend bombing of Iran for two weeks after negotiations.

And of course, Fake News CNN is right in the middle of it, just like Trump called out. They ran with a bogus “statement” from someone with zero power or involvement.

Trump wrote on Truth Social:

“The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows. The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a “legitimate” headline. The Official Statement by Iran was just released, and posted on TRUTH, below.

“Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement, or was it a sick rogue player? CNN is being ordered to immediately withdraw this Statement with full apologies for their, as usual, terrible “reporting.” Results of the investigation will be announced in the near future.”

CNN pushed back on President Trump’s claim, asserting that the Iranian statement originated from official regime spokespeople.

“The statement in question was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets. We received the statement from specific official Iranian spokespeople who are known to us.”

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Trump Calls Factual CNN Report on Iran Ceasefire Statement “Fake News”

n Tuesday evening, following the announcement of a tentative ceasefire agreement with Iran, President Donald Trump accused the news network CNN of falsely reporting a statement from some of Iran’s leaders that claimed victory over the United States in the war that has been waged over the past month.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump made a promise to engage in additional war crimes and genocidal attacks against Iran unless an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was reached.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Trump said, giving Iran until 8 p.m. ET to comply.

Ninety minutes before that deadline, Trump then announced via Truth Social that a two-week ceasefire deal had been reached. Wrote Trump:

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

Trump also said the U.S. received a 10-point proposal from Iran that “is a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

Trump shared a statement from Iran’s minister of foreign affairs, which read, “If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.”

That same evening, CNN reported on a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which was much more forceful in its telling of events.

“The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,” that statement read. “Our hands remain on the trigger, and at the slightest mistake by the enemy, a full-force response will be delivered.”

The reporting of that statement upset Trump, who claimed on Truth Social that it was “a FRAUD” and a fake news story emanating from Nigeria. Trump provided no evidence for his assertions, but suggested the reporting by CNN could be criminal.

“Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement,” Trump wrote. He added:

CNN is being ordered to immediately withdraw this Statement with full apologies for their, as usual, terrible ‘reporting.’ Results of the investigation will be announced in the near future.

In a later post, Trump also claimed CNN was “inflaming a very delicate situation” rather than reporting on the facts of a statement from Iran.

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Trump Launches Investigation Into CNN World for Pushing ‘FRAUDULENT’ Iranian Ceasefire Statement — Says CRIMINAL ACT May Have Been Committed

President Donald Trump just dropped a nuclear Truth Social bomb on the corrupt fake news media.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported that President Trump announced a two-sided ceasefire and agreed to pause planned military strikes on Iran following discussions with Pakistan’s prime minister.

Trump wrote on Truth Social:

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!

The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.

On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

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Liberal HuffPost Mocked for Article Claiming Pentagon ‘Excluded Catholics’ from Good Friday Service

Liberal Huffington Post breathlessly wrote about the Pentagon and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth allegedly “excluding Catholics” from Good Friday services.

Jennifer Bendery, a senior politics reporter at the outlet, wrote that the Pentagon “invited more than 3,500 employees to attend a Good Friday service at its in-house chapel.”

“Except it’s only for Protestants, not Catholics,” Bendery claimed.

Was there not a single Catholic Bendery could have queried about religious traditions during the period surrounding Easter and Holy Week?

And, in sharing the actual text from the Pentagon invitation, does she not understand sentence structure?

Bendery shared a memo sent to staff by Air Force leadership that read, “Just a friendly reminder: There will be a Protestant Service (No Catholic Mass) for Good Friday today at the Pentagon Chapel.”

“No Catholic Mass” does not exclude Catholics; it simply notes that a Catholic Mass is not being held. Why? Because Catholics traditionally do not attend Mass on Good Friday.

Catholic Holy Week and Easter form the most sacred period in the liturgical year in the Catholic church, which commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ’s life, his Passion (suffering), death, and Resurrection.

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and culminates in the Easter Triduum (the “Three Days”), a single unified celebration from the evening of Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday evening.

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when crowds welcomed him with palm branches. In Catholic churches, a procession with blessed palm branches takes place at the beginning of Mass, and many families take the blessed palms home and display them, often woven into crosses. The palms are later burned to make ashes for the following year’s Ash Wednesday.

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum. It commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist (the sacrament of his Body and Blood) and the priesthood, and washed the feet of his disciples as an example of humble service.

Good Friday (The Passion of the Lord) is the most solemn day of the year — a day of mourning, fasting, and penance that commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross.

It is a day of strict fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics aged 14 and older, with some observing additional silence or prayer between noon and 3 p.m.

Popular devotions include the Stations of the Cross (a meditation on 14 scenes from Jesus’ Passion) and processions or reenactments in some cultures. For the first time since Pope John Paul II, Pope Leo Pope personally carried the wooden cross himself through all 14 stations.

But there is no Catholic Mass on Good Friday. The tabernacle is empty, and the altar remains bare.

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