'He Really Has Brain Damage': Trump Was So Deep in His Meltdown He Shared an Anti-Trump Image Without Realizing — Then Leavitt Tried to Flip the Script
Leavitt defended the investigation and argued that Kelly's video could intimidate service members.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYAtlanta Black Star is an identifiable news publisher with an attributed author, but this article's sensational framing and limited independent corroboration temper confidence in its institutional reporting standards.
- Source type — Recorded as a national news publisher, a positive baseline signal.
- Author attribution — The article names an author, supporting accountability.
- Editorial standards — The article uses highly charged framing that weakens confidence in neutral editorial presentation.
- Track record — The text offers limited evidence of the publisher's corrections practices or reporting record.
The article provides attributed statements from Trump, Leavitt, the Defense Department and Kelly, and includes detail about the investigation. Much of its supporting material comes from social-media posts and reactions, however, and it offers limited independent context or corroboration.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Leavitt's defense and the Defense Department's stated rationale, but its framing and selection of reactions lean heavily against Trump and Leavitt, with little independent examination of the competing claims.
- Counterarguments presented — Includes Leavitt's argument that Kelly's video could intimidate service members, but does not develop the administration's case in depth.
- Loaded language — The headline and narration use strongly negative language about Trump and Leavitt.
- Source diversity — Quotes officials and Kelly, but relies heavily on social-media reactions and does not provide independent expert or documentary context.
- Omitted context — The piece does not substantially examine the legal or procedural basis for the investigation.
The article strongly criticizes Trump and Leavitt through its headline and loaded descriptions, while giving substantial space to criticism of their conduct and supportive reactions to Kelly.
- Language tone — Uses terms such as “meltdown,” “embarrassing,” and “breathless” in its own framing.
- Headline — The headline characterizes Trump as having a “meltdown” and presents Leavitt as trying to “flip the script.”
- Source selection — Quotes social-media criticism of Trump and Leavitt, alongside Kelly's defense of his remarks.
The article reports that President Donald Trump attacked six Democratic lawmakers after they released a video about military orders, and that the Pentagon opened an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the investigation, while Kelly said he would not be silenced.
The article says Trump responded to a video by six Democratic lawmakers with attacks that included calling them “traitors” and accusing them of “sedition” and “treason.” It reports that Trump also reposted a call to hang them and said their actions were “punishable by death.” In sharing screenshots of Kelly from the video, Trump also amplified an image from an anti-Trump account, according to the article.
The article reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a Pentagon investigation of Kelly and that the department said the inquiry could lead to his recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures. Leavitt defended the investigation and said Kelly’s video sought to intimidate service members. Kelly said he would not be silenced and described his message as one that military members should follow the law.
Community verdict
29 VOTES- Readers of left-leaning coverage: 57% good look
- Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
People in this story
SWIPE →White House press secretary who defended the Pentagon investigation
Senator criticized by Trump and subject of a Pentagon investigation
Kelly's version of this story ↗President whose attacks on Democratic lawmakers and repost are central to the story
Trump's version of this story ↗Senator who joined the video criticizing Trump's leadership
Defense secretary who announced the investigation into Kelly
Representative who joined the video criticizing Trump's leadership
Representative who joined the video criticizing Trump's leadership
Representative who joined the video criticizing Trump's leadership
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