When the Branding Becomes the Message

I’ve been chewing on something today.

My Facebook feed is full of posts about Trump—some outrageous, some insightful—and the ones that actually cite facts are the ones I pay attention to. They give me ideas. They make me want to push back with receipts, not just vibes.

Here’s where I’m at: I’ve been concerned about Trump for a long time. I didn’t want him elected the second time and I didn’t vote for him. I expected the strongman posturing and I disagreed with a lot of his policies. But I did not expect the sheer volume of plainly untrue statements we’re watching now. It feels like every week, the claims get bigger and bolder—and further from reality.

What He Said at the U.N. (September 23, 2025)

At the United Nations today, he delivered lines that would make any ally wince. A few examples, verbatim:

“Your countries are going to hell.” Source | Clip

“I’m really good at this stuff.” Clip

“I don’t say this in a braggadocious way, but it’s true — I’ve been right about everything.” Source

Climate change is “the greatest con job ever.” Source

“I ended seven wars…” Coverage

This isn’t normal diplomatic rhetoric. It’s performative—closer to a rally rant than a head-of-state address. He didn’t offer solutions; he insulted partners and cast himself as the lone savior. That might play to his base, but to allies it reads as contempt and chaos. It makes the U.S. look like the loud heckler in the room, not the steady partner.

Why this lands badly with allies

Allies listen for two things at the U.N.: clarity and reliability. Instead, they got sweeping doom-talk about Europe, pot-shots at the institution itself, and a victory lap about “ending” wars. That signals volatility, not leadership—and it undercuts coalitions we need on Ukraine, the Red Sea, and beyond.

Yesterday’s Autism Presser: Tylenol, Vaccines, and Cuba/Amish (September 22, 2025)

Yesterday he veered into health claims with real-world consequences. The lines matter:

“If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol.” Source

Vaccines should be spaced out; current schedules cause problems. Source

“The Amish have essentially no autism.” (and that Cuba “doesn’t have autism.”) Source

Reality: autism exists in Amish communities and in Cuba. And the science does not show that acetaminophen causes autism. Some observational studies report associations; other high-quality work finds none once family factors are accounted for. That’s not a basis for presidential scare-advice.

For the record: U.S. regulators opened a label-review process noting a possible association; medical groups still emphasize there’s no proven causation and that acetaminophen remains appropriate in pregnancy when clinically indicated. See ACOG statement and ACOG FAQ. For Cuba’s reality, see MEDICC Review.

“I Ended Seven Wars” vs. Reality

He keeps saying he ended six or seven wars. Independent analysis finds he’s overselling it: in some places the U.S. nudged talks or pauses; in others, the fighting or the underlying dispute continues; and a couple weren’t “wars” to begin with. There’s daylight between “played a role” and “ended the war.” See FactCheck.org and CBS.

This Isn’t New—It’s the Brand

He’s been selling superlatives for years: “I alone can fix it.” Source And this year’s slogan-hat says the quiet part out loud: “Trump Was Right About Everything.” Local coverage | Newsweek.

Why It Matters

Words from a U.S. president carry weight. Telling allies their countries are doomed and spreading shaky medical claims isn’t harmless—it has consequences. It undermines coalitions we need, and it confuses people about their own health. We can disagree on policy all day long. But making things up, over and over, is dangerous—at home and on the world stage.

What I Want, Honestly

I want a country that shows up with humility, does the work, and measures success by the lives actually made safer—at home and abroad. Not by how many times a president declares himself the GOAT. We deserve leadership, not an infomercial.