Donald Trump’s presidency rarely has a dull moment — but even by his chaotic standards, the past 48 hours have been utterly bonkers.
In just one day, he’s threatened war, confused basic constitutional principles, slapped a punishing new tariff on overseas films, and announced plans to reopen Alcatraz. Yes, the actual prison.
Oh, and he stirred up controversy over an AI image of himself as the Pope.
Let’s break down a day that felt more like a season finale.
🎬 Lights, camera… trade war?
Trump blindsided the global film industry by announcing a 100% tariff on international movies — all in caps, naturally.
He called films made overseas a “national security threat”, claiming other countries were poaching American productions with subsidies.
“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he wrote online. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”
Industry leaders weren’t impressed. Philippa Childs from the UK’s media union Bectu warned it could deliver a “knock-out blow” to a fragile sector.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, agreed: “Making it harder to shoot films in the UK hurts both sides of the Atlantic.”
🏝️ Alcatraz: from tourist trap to Trump’s dream prison
In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script, Trump declared he wants to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous island prison shut down in 1963.
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” he demanded, saying America must lock up “the most ruthless and violent offenders” — people he described as “the dregs of society.”
Critics rolled their eyes. Democrats called the idea unserious. Alcatraz, now a tourist hotspot near San Francisco, hasn’t housed inmates for over 60 years.
But hey, why not revive an abandoned prison island when you’re already rewriting trade policy via social media?
❄️ Trump won’t rule out invading… Greenland
Yes, he’s still on about Greenland.
During a national interview, Trump hinted (again) that the US might just take it — despite it being a peaceful, self-governing Danish territory.
“I don’t rule it out… We need Greenland very badly,” he said. “Greenland is a very small amount of people… which we’ll take care of.”
Diplomats across Europe winced. Again.
📸 The Pope, but make it AI
Trump caused uproar last week by posting an AI-generated image of himself wearing papal robes — complete with a smug expression and holy pose.
Religious leaders, including the Catholic Bishops of New York, condemned the image:
“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President.”
But Vice President JD Vance, himself a Catholic, dismissed the outrage.
“As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,” he shot back.
📜 Does Trump even know what the Constitution is?
When NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump whether Americans deserve due process, his response was… baffling.
“I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.”
Pushed again — should he be upholding the US Constitution as president?
“I don’t know.”
For someone hoping to return to the White House, not knowing whether to follow the rule of law isn’t exactly reassuring.
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