In a moment that either confirms President Donald Trump’s impressive tech skills or showcases his staff’s utter incompetence; a private message intended for Attorney General Pam Bondi was publicly posted to the President's Truth Social account on September 20, 2025.
Surprised to learn it was public
The message, in which Trump pushes Bondi to seek legal action against his political rivals, re-entered the news cycle after multiple agencies, including NBC and the Wall Street Journal, reported that Trump had intended for the message to be private. The President was reportedly “surprised” when he found out the post was public hours later.
Consistent if nothing else
Trump’s post certainly displays his incompetence, but it also displays the strategies he’s used since being elected. Trump’s message was long and referenced multiple talking points that have populated GOP politics since 2016.
Namedropping enemies
Trump mentions by name three people he views as political opponents, clamouring that ‘something must be done’ about them, "[it’s the] same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done."
Erik Siebertcatches strays
Midway through the message, Trump mentions Erik Siebert (though not by name), claiming he had a ‘GREAT CASE’ to fire him.
"He even lied to the media and said he quit, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so."
Virginia
He finished the message by mentioning Lindsey Halligan, his newest nominee for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Halligan has no experience in legal prosecution and acted as one of Trump’s personal attorneys in 2022. She was named a special assistant to the president and White House senior associate staff secretary in January 2025 and served in that role until her appointment in Virginia.
Keystone cops in the White House
The message confirmed what many have feared: that Donald Trump’s cabinet is defined by incompetence, punctuated and perpetrated by juvenile and vindictive ideologies being projected by the President. According to the report from NBC, "Trump was surprised to learn he had actually posted the message to his Truth Social account, the president reacted by saying ‘Oh,’ and then tried to shrug it off."
Mirroring fiction
For those used to watching political fiction like ‘Veep’ and ‘The West Wing’, and ‘House of Cards’ this report shows us a fun house mirror of American politics; one where politicians in charge are no longer scrambling to manipulate their constituents, but instead feel so powerful that they can ‘shrug off’ a blunder that would be embarrassing to a high-schooler, much less the leader of the ‘free world’. The only difference between this and your favourite piece of fiction? This incompetence carries real-world consequences.
An wholly unpresidential president
Once upon a time, the President was concerned about his image. Of course, that was when America was led by someone who understood how mirrors work. Now, the Trump administration seemingly thinks it can do no wrong; shamelessly lying to the press, lying on social media, and lying in its own reports. Additionally, the Trump administration is actively working to silence institutional media through discreditation, perpetuating a river of disinformation that American voters are wading through.