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Trump Elevates White Nationalist Darren Beattie to Key Government Role

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Beattie, who has a long record of racist, misogynistic, and extremist rhetoric, will now be responsible for shaping U.S. messaging abroad, including on issues of counterterrorism and violent extremism.

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

President Donald Trump has once again elevated a known white nationalist to a key government position, appointing Darren Beattie as the acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Beattie, who has a long record of racist, misogynistic, and extremist rhetoric, will now be responsible for shaping U.S. messaging abroad, including on issues of counterterrorism and violent extremism. For African Americans and other marginalized communities, Beattie’s appointment is yet another clear signal that this administration prioritizes individuals who openly promote white supremacy and hostility toward diversity. This pattern has been a hallmark of Trump’s administration, where figures with histories of racism, bigotry, and extremism have been strategically placed in powerful positions. Beattie, a former speechwriter for Trump, was dismissed from the White House in 2018 after reports surfaced of his ties to white nationalist groups. Since then, he has built a platform to amplify extremist ideology, founding the right-wing media outlet Revolver News, which has spread disinformation, particularly regarding the January 6 attack. Beattie has repeatedly promoted baseless conspiracies, including the false claim that federal agencies orchestrated the insurrection, calling it a “Fedsurrection.”

Beattie’s record of explicit racism and misogyny is well-documented. In one tweet last year, he declared, “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work. Unfortunately, our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities and demoralizing competent white men.” He praised Dr. James Watson; the disgraced scientist who claimed Black people were genetically inferior to white people. Beattie has also taken direct aim at Black lawmakers and policy leaders, demanding that they “learn their place” and “take a knee to MAGA.” In a series of deleted tweets following the January 6 attack, he called for Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to kneel before MAGA supporters, while also targeting Black figures such as Senator Tim Scott, historian Ibram X. Kendi, and Kay Cole James of the Heritage Foundation with the same racist command.

His attacks extend to gender. In 2020, he criticized pop star Taylor Swift for opposing a Tennessee Capitol monument honoring Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest. He compared Swift’s advocacy to performing sexual favors for music producers, writing, “That celebrities are required to debase themselves with such statements is, in some ways, even more humiliating than the physical favors they are required to perform for their producers.” His statements on foreign policy have also raised concerns. In July 2024, Beattie dismissed concerns over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, writing that it “might mean fewer drag queen parades in Taiwan, but otherwise not the end of the world,” while suggesting the U.S. should negotiate “massive concessions from China on Africa and Antarctica.” In September 2024, he implied that the U.S. intelligence community was more likely to be behind assassination attempts on Trump’s life than Iran. His disdain for U.S. diplomatic institutions was evident in his 2021 remark, “Imagine having respect for the State Department.”

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett railed against Trump, Beattie, and the administration’s opposition to diversity. “The only people that are crying are the mediocre white boys that have been beaten out by people that historically have had to work so much harder,” Crockett said. She addressed Beattie’s complaints about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, saying, “If you are competent, you are not concerned.” Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy also blasted Beattie’s appointment. “It seems to be standard that the qualification to serve in the Trump administration is affection for racist and misogynist philosophy,” Murphy asserted. Timothy Welbeck, director of Temple University’s Center for Anti-Racism, stated, “The United States cannot say that it’s fully been a meritocracy when we have 249 years of slavery, 90 years of racialized segregation, and barred women from entering into the workforce in meaningful ways for much of our nation’s history.” Murphy added, “There seems to be people like him being peppered throughout Trump’s government.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

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Oakland Post

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.