Opinion: Stalin Would Applaud Trump's Epstein Assassins Plot

A Disturbing Attempt to Distract from the Real Issues

There was a brief moment during the White House's effort to tarnish the reputations of a former president and first lady that felt genuine. Tulsi Gabbard, who served as director of national intelligence under President Donald Trump, and Karoline Leavitt, his press secretary, spoke about the administration’s commitment to transparency. While it is indeed transparent, the motives behind their statements are as clear as the hairpiece of Marco Rubio.

The sole purpose of revisiting old reports to paint Barack Obama as fresh news for the MAGA crowd is a blatant attempt to divert attention from the media’s growing interest in the president’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The constant coverage of the misdeeds of the wealthy and powerful—royals, billionaires, and even a president—has created a sense of urgency. In this climate, Trump sought to throw a body into the water.

Joseph Stalin would have been proud. The Soviet leader sent an assassin to Mexico in 1925 to kill Leon Trotsky with an axe. On Wednesday, Trump sent two White House operatives to attack America’s 44th president in the back.

There is no other plausible reason for the Trump administration to bring up documents that had been gathering dust since 2017 and 2020. These documents were used to spark a debate that no one cares about anymore. The so-called “biggest scandal” in history? It’s not even the biggest scandal this week.

Irony is not something many in Trump’s White House understand. However, Gabbard has long struggled to shake off concerns that she is sympathetic to Russia. She has called Ukraine’s government a “corrupt autocracy” and expressed support for Russia. She also praised Edward Snowden as a “brave whistleblower” after he leaked secrets and fled to Moscow. Additionally, she caused controversy by meeting with Bashar Assad in Syria in 2017.

For Gabbard to accuse Obama of manipulating claims about Russian interference in the 2016 election is absurd. And for her to accuse a former U.S. president of treason is deeply troubling. Her monotone, tone-deaf remarks against Obama and harsh claims against Hillary Clinton were clearly aimed at one person: Trump, who was likely watching from another room.

Trump has grown tired of using Joe Biden as a punching bag. Even for someone with the sensitivity of a stormtrooper, there are limits. He moved from the 46th president to the 44th and used his own “Cruella de Vil” to do the dirty work. He once called her the “hottest” member of his team, though he doesn’t rate her abilities highly. Just last month, he criticized her on Iran’s nuclear options, possibly enjoying making her uncomfortable.

As for Leavitt, she is so consumed by her loyalty to Trump that she shows real anger toward media outlets that dare to ask questions. This is reminiscent of tactics used in authoritarian regimes—intimidating the media, silencing opposition, and eventually eliminating all questions. Leavitt is not a puppy; she is Trump’s attack dog.

Gabbard claimed that the evidence she released points to Obama leading the manufacturing of an intelligence assessment. But this is not true. One document she referenced was compiled by House Intelligence Committee staff led by Devin Nunes, who now chairs the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board and runs the Trump Media & Technology Group. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Trump in 2021. No conflict of interest there.

This document was originally drafted in 2017 when Republicans controlled the committee. Would they have supported the Democrats? Another document cited was a bipartisan 2020 report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, chaired by Marco Rubio, who is now Trump’s Secretary of State.

Nothing new was revealed in these documents. Yes, there was Russian interference, and it targeted Clinton. Perhaps Putin preferred Trump, but he believed Hillary would win. There is no evidence that Russians hacked any votes or that Obama acted like a Machiavellian figure.

No one in the White House briefing room was fooled by the performance. The race to the bottom continues, and smoke and mirrors have become the norm. Instead of honest answers, there is diversion and deception.

As with every autocracy, truth is the victim. Gabbard left with a tight smile. Leavitt avoided more questions with a scornful glance at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. And then we all returned to the question of why Donald Trump won’t come clean about Jeffrey Epstein.