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A number of supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory are claiming that Donald Trump can be seen in the reflection of a window in a photo posted on the POTUS Instagram page showing President Joe Biden inside the Oval Office.

Influential advocates of the radical movement with large followings on messaging service Telegram shared the Instagram picture showing Biden on the phone to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer while urging people to look at the figure whose back can be seen in the window reflection.

"Did you see who's in the reflection?," QAnon Telegram account We The Pepe, which has more than 75,000 followers, wrote. "Go see for yourself."

MelQ, another major QAnon figure on Telegram with 140,000 followers, told people to look at the reflection after sharing a similar post from another account with more than 88,000 subscribers on the app.

The posts were met with hundreds of replies agreeing that the person seen is somehow Trump, a savior-like figure for QAnon supporters who they believe will be reinstated as president. Others said the photo is probably an edited image from Trump's time in the White House.

"Proof that patriots are running the show. Doctored up an old photo of Trump, inserted Biden, left the reflection of Trump in the window to tie to Q post," Telegram user MySearchfor Truth wrote.

Another user said: "Did they just photoshop mumbles Biden into a picture that was taken while DJT was in office. Asking for my fren [friend] that questions everything."

Telegram user Barbara Limandri added: "That ain't Biden's head/shoulders. That's DJT...rightful POTUS!!"

As is usually the case with many of their claims, the popular QAnon advocates pointed to old posts from their mysterious leader known as "Q" to justify their latest conspiracy.

The QAnon conspiracy emerged as people began decoding cryptic messages that emerged on controversial messageboard site 4chan in October 2017. The posts claimed to be from a government official with access to top security clearance. The first post suggested that Hillary Clinton would soon be arrested, a prediction that never came to fruition.

Over the next few years, thousands of the cryptic messages were posted on 4chan, before moving to similar messageboard sites 8chan and 8kun, which were deciphered by QAnon supporters to form the basis of movement's beliefs, including that there exists a secret cabal of satanic pedophiles that leading Democrat figures are part of.

However, the frequency of these messages drastically slowed down after Trump lost the election in November, with there being no new post from "Q" since December 8. The final message on 8kun is merely a YouTube link to a pro-Trump video containing Twisted Sister's song "We're Not Gonna Take It."

It is also alleged that the mysterious figure who has been writing the posts on 8kun was not a high-ranking government official, but Ron Watkins, the site's former administrator, which he has frequently denied.

The lack of new posts hasn't deterred QAnon, whose followers now merely decipher the catalogue of thousands of existing messages as a form of confirmation bias to justify their beliefs and suggest any world event was actually long predicted by Q.

In this case, Trump appearing in a reflection of an Oval Office was foretold by Q posts from March 2019 which state: "Find the Reflection inside the castle" and "reflections are important."

Read more from the original source:
QAnon Followers Think They See Donald Trump in White House Window Reflection - Newsweek

Don Peay is no stranger to controversy and negotiating his way around differences of opinion.

As founder of the powerful Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife lobbying organization, hes gone the rounds with bureaucrats and politicians for most of the past 30 years, fighting for wildlife habitat, conservation and the rights of hunters and fishermen.

Other groups hes started or been affiliated with, such as the nonprofit Big Game Forever and Hunt Expo, have definitely called for sharp elbows.

And then theres his more recent affiliation with a certain politician.

Peay was Donald Trumps Utah campaign manager when he was elected in 2016, and an avowed supporter throughout the Trump presidency. He became an adjunct part of the administration when he was named to the national Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council by Trumps Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.

But of course all that came to a crashing halt once the Bidens were in and the Trumps were out.

So whats he doing to decompress from Trump life?

Taking care of veterans, as it turns out.

Peay and his wife, Susan, were the main organizers of an event called Bonfire that took place earlier this week at a venue in Hobble Creek Canyon. Hundreds of people turned out to support a charity called Best Defense and honor dozens of veterans, including a number of Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, who were special guests at the affair.

The Best Defense Foundation was started in 2018 by retired NFL linebacker Donnie Edwards, who spent 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. Edwards and Peay brought in other former NFL players, including the legendary Bo Jackson and Utahns Jim McMahon and Haloti Ngata, all of whom spoke at the event. Country music singer Craig Morgan, himself an Army vet, performed for the crowd and 97-year-old World War II veteran Jack Foy, who fought alongside Patton, rounded out the speakers.

Because the only compensation any of the headliners required or received was airfare, an estimated $150,000 was raised in the one-night event. Plans are already underway for a similar fundraiser in 2022.

Peays affection for the military traces back to his father, Edward, who was a colonel in the Utah National Guard.

If I have one regret its that I didnt pursue going to one of the military academies, said Peay, 61, who grew up during Vietnam and did not serve in the military. This is our familys way of giving back to veterans who actually did.

I take great strength from being around these warriors, he continued. This is some payback to people who at a moments notice will jump into a firefight that they know can cost them their life. This puts our lives into perspective. If we think weve had a hard day, these guys have had hard days, day after day after day. Whatever we have to deal with is nothing compared to what theyve been through.

Which brings us back to Peays experience being on the front lines with Donald Trump, through good times and bad.

Actively supporting such a polarizing politician took a toll and left a mark, he freely confesses.

It got very personal at times. Our children were attacked, a family member was fired supposedly because of my affiliation. But thats a small price to pay for standing for what you believe.

If he had it to do it all over again, Id fight even harder.

I loved Trumps policies, including dollar-seventy-five gas, he said. But we know his tone and his getting down in the weeds and fighting over stupid stuff in the internet hurt him.

But that was then and this is now, and hes taking a hiatus from even thinking about all of that. This fall he has plans to take some of the veterans who were honored this week on hunting trips, and really get away from it all.

I find real peace dealing with veterans, he said. I feel like Im on vacation. Its a nice break from the trench warfare of politics.

Does that mean hes retiring?

Ill always be involved in issues related to wildlife, he said. But the rest of it? Yeah, you could say Im officially retired for a while.

Link:
From Trump to vets: Its a nice break from trench warfare of politics - Deseret News

Caitlyn Jenner, running for governor in Californias expected recall election, once again took to a national platform to promote her campaign, when she appeared on ABCs The View.

One of the questions she faced came from Joy Behar, who asked her about the unfounded view of a significant share of Republicans that Donald Trump actually won the election, not Joe Biden.

Are you one of those people, one of those Republicans? Behar asked.

Jenner responded, I am not going to get into that. That election is over with. I think that Donald Trump did do some good things. What I liked about Donald Trump was that he was a disrupter.

Then Behar interrupted, But did he win? Did he win the election?

Jenner then continued, I want to go in and be a thoughtful disrupter in Sacramento. We need to change the system, and I want to change the system for the positive.

Related StoryJustice Department Drops Donald Trump-Era Lawsuit Against John Bolton Over Book Publication

Then Whoopi Goldberg ended the segment because time ran out.

During the segment, Jenner criticized Gov. Gavin Newsoms handling of the coronavirus pandemic, among other issues, but Behars question was triggered by polls showing a significant share of Republicans back Trumps claim that the election was stolen from him, even though courts have rejected dozens of election challenges.

Jenner also sidestepped a question about transgender athletes in student sports. Previously, she has said she opposed transgender girls playing on girls teams. When asked on The View, she called it a very small issue in the state of California.

We have so many bigger issues in this state like immigration, she said.

She said that she would be tough on immigrants and finish the border wall and do the best job that we can do in protecting our eastern front. It was unclear what Jenner was referring to, as Californias eastern border is shared with Nevada and Arizona.

Immigration in this state has been such a burden on taxpayers, on homes and businesses, she said.

Jenners campaign was launched in April, and she reportedly got help and advice from Brad Parscale, Trumps former campaign manager. Sunny Hostin asked Jenner about working with Parscale and another figure, GOP fundraiser Caroline Wren. ProPublica reported on Wrens role in helping to plan to Jan. 6 rally at the Ellipse in Washington that preceded the siege on the Capitol.

I wanted to put the best group of people, as you would call it, insiders, for a political campaign, Jenner said. I was able to hire some of the best people out there to join campaign. And it is more than just Brad or Caroline. There is a whole host of people that have worked with me over the past few months. I feel like I have a good team around me that can lead me to victory.

Watch a portion of the interview above.

More:
Caitlyn Jenner, In Guest Spot On The View, Refuses To Say Whether Donald Trump Won Or Lost Election - Deadline

Jun 12th 2021

Editors note (June 14th 2021): This article has been updated to reflect the start of the NATO summit

OVER THE last four years we had some challenges in the transatlantic relationship, says Jens Stoltenberg, NATOs secretary-general, drily alluding to the diplomatic pandemonium of the Trump years. Now, he says, We have a unique opportunity to open a new chapter in the relationship between North America and Europe. But will NATOs leaders take it?

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On June 14th the leaders of all 30 NATO members convened for a pivotal summit in Brussels, sandwiched between the G7 summit in Britain and an EU-US summit, to discuss the future of the alliance. The mood was expected to be lighter than at past gatherings, when Donald Trump physically jostled one prime minister, threatened to withdraw from the alliance and stormed out early after being mocked by fellow leaders. Yet the challenges facing NATO have not dissipated with the arrival of Joe Biden.

In recent months Russia has massed troops around Ukraine, Belarus has forced down a European airliner to seize a dissident and America has announced the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistana process more than half-completeforcing NATO to follow suit. Yet the point of the summit is to reorient the alliance in more fundamental ways.

NATOs strategic concept, a document spelling out its raison dtre, was last updated over a decade ago, at a time when Russia was assumed to be a potential partner and China an irrelevance. In Brussels leaders will enjoin Mr Stoltenberg to produce a new version, a process that may take a year or so. It will reflect a broadening of NATOs aperture, embracing new challenges such as climate change, technological threats and the rise of China.

Things are already changing. Mr Stoltenberg points to rising European defence spending (see chart) and more exercises. The alliance is also busily rethinking the basics of military power. It is writing a new strategy for artificial intelligence and has finalised its first new cyber-defence policy in seven years. At the summit, leaders will establish a transatlantic technology accelerator to connect suppliers of cutting-edge military technology to investors.

One of NATOs motivations for this technological rejuvenation, says Mr Stoltenberg, is a fear that Chinaa country that doesnt share our valuesis pulling ahead in key areas like artificial intelligence. Its not obvious that we will maintain the technological edgethat was never the case with the Soviet Union during the cold war, he adds. The discussion of China is a pivotal moment, says Tim Sayle, author of Enduring Alliance, a history of NATO, marking a fundamental break with what the alliance has done in its first 70 years.

Yet the biggest question of all is whether the transatlantic rift under Mr Trump was a passing ruction or something more lasting. Mr Biden has made the right noises, speaking warmly of NATO and reversing Mr Trumps troop cuts in Germany. His eight-day trip to Europe will culminate in a summit with Vladimir Putin, Russias president, in Geneva on June 16th. In theory that allows Mr Biden to form a common front with allies before facing Mr Putin, who on June 9th upped the ante by banning groups linked to his main political rival, the jailed Alexei Navalny.

Mr Biden cannot, however, placate all his friends at once. Take the example of Nord Stream 2 (NS2), a nearly finished gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that will bypass Ukraine and increase European dependence on Mr Putin. The Biden administration had opposed the project, but on May 19th said it would nonetheless waive sanctions. That pleased the German government, but alarmed those who favour a tougher approach to Russia. The mood across Central Europe is souring after the NS2 decision, notes Michal Baranowski, an expert at the Warsaw office of the German Marshall Fund, an American think-tank. The feeling is one of betrayal.

Then there is the fact that the landscape of European defence has shifted irrevocably in recent years. The shock of Mr Trumps election and the departure of Britain from the EU catalysed a surge of activity by the bloc, from joint defence projects to a common fund for the defence industry.

Many European officials, mindful of the radical turn in Americas Republican Party and the prospect of populist successors to Mr Biden, are eager that such schemes should preserve the momentum they acquired in the Trump years. Many are complementary to NATO, such as an EU effort to make it easier for military forces to move across the continent. In practice, an element of competition is inevitable. In response to Mr Stoltenbergs push for an increase in the pool of common funding for NATOunchanged since 2014Florence Parly, Frances defence minister, shot back: All this money is money that wont go towards increasing national budgets and a European defence effort.

What is more, European officials know that all American presidents, Mr Biden included, have lots to worry about. Americas military presence in Europe remains substantial, but its newest weapons are now typically sent to the Pacific first. So are officials. The first overseas trips of Anthony Blinken, Americas secretary of state, and Lloyd Austin, its defence secretary, were to Asia. There is considerable scepticism in Washington that a divided, self-interested Europe will ever manage much support for US efforts against China, argues Jeremy Shapiro of the European Council on Foreign Relations, another think-tank.

Even so, the geopolitics of Europe and Asia are unavoidably entwined, not least because Americas national defence strategy in 2018 explicitly discarded the requirement for the country to be able to fight two wars at the same time. We urgently need European NATO to be able to handle more of the conventional deterrence burden in Europe, says Wess Mitchell, a former American official who co-chaired a panel of experts for Mr Stoltenberg last year, so that in the event of a major crisis the United States can focus on China without calling into question the stability of the European theatre. Having seen off Mr Trump, NATO has no time to rest on its laurels.

This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "Summit season"

Follow this link:
With Donald Trump gone, NATO is plotting its future - The Economist

ExploreLive updates: AJC coverage of the Georgia GOP state convention, Day 2

Though the meeting agenda is unclear, activists expect to pass resolutions that rebuke Raffensperger and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who both disputed falsehoods about systemic election irregularities and cast Trump as the author of his own defeat.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a critic of former President Donald Trump, was not invited to speak at this year's state Republican convention. (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal Constitution/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

Neither is set to attend the convention. Aides to Duncan and Raffensperger said the two werent invited to speak. Its little surprise. Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Jody Hices bid to unseat Raffenspeger and cheered Duncans decision not to stand for a second term.

Raffensperger and Duncan also were certain to get a cascade of boos if they had delivered their message. Duncan, for one, said that any GOP narrative about a stolen election is wasted energy that makes it easier for Democrats to prevail in 2022.

The easy fix is for former President Trump to stand up and dismiss that theres fraud and move on, Duncan said. But our job as Republicans is to walk into every GOP meeting whether its comfortable or uncomfortable and convince them theres no fraud.

Duncan added, Some days its like convincing people hundreds of years ago that the Earth isnt flat.

The bigger question might be the reception awaiting Kemp, who is racing to shore up once-solid support with the partys base.

The states first lifelong Republican governor since Reconstruction is no favorite of some of the activists, who fault him for refusing Trumps demands to call a special legislative session to overturn his defeat.

Gov. Brian Kemp still faces opposition from some grassroots activists in the state GOP because he refused to call a special session of the Legislature to overturned Donald Trump's loss here in the presidential election. But Kemp, who is running for reelection in 2022, thinks he can still win them over. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

More than a dozen county GOPs passed resolutions this year reprimanding Kemp, and one larger gathering of suburban Republicans voted to censure him. A rural district voted this week to express concern about his ability to put Georgia and Georgians first after Trumps defeat.

The governors poll numbers sank following Novembers election but have steadied this year thanks in part to efforts to woo skeptical conservatives, including his support for new voting restrictions and demands for less stringent coronavirus rules.

Yet ahead of an expected rematch with Democrat Stacey Abrams, hes facing pressure from his right flank. Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones, a primary challenger, has led the charge with a call for a forensic audit of election results meant to cast doubt on Joe Bidens victory.

Kemp has repeatedly refused to hit back at Trump, though hes expressed frustration with the narrative that he had power to overturn the election. In an interview, Kemp expressed confidence he could win back their support.

Thats going to be a part of the primary process. A lot of people are still frustrated because they still havent been able to talk to me, and thats kind of what a primary is all about, telling people why youre the best person, he said.

But, he added, we also have to remember there are a lot of people out there, whether they liked what happened in Georgia or not, they want the state to have a good economy, they want their kids back in school, they want to have college football games this year.

Newcomers to Georgia Republican meetings raise their hands last month during the 1st District GOP convention.

Credit: Brandon Phillips

Credit: Brandon Phillips

Even without a top-tier primary opponent, the governor has much work ahead. Brandon Phillips, chair of the 2nd GOP District, said hes heard gripes from activists at the 18 GOP meetings hes attended in the past two months that Kemp is taking the Republican base for granted. He added that he hasnt seen Kemp staffers at any of those meetings.

To the base, especially the influx of new activists, thats concerning because these folks want to make sure were doing everything we can to not have a Democrat win next November, Phillips said.

Others cautioned patience. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue, one of Kemps most powerful allies, predicted Kemp would steady shaky GOP nerves over the next 18 months.

Anytime anybody runs for reelection, they have work to do. I think Gov. Kemp is prepared to do that work, and at the end of the day, people will unite around a candidate they believe will be successful in November 2022, Perdue said. Gov. Kemp will do what it takes.

Democrats, meanwhile, say theyre stunned that the GOP hasnt moved on from 2020.

Instead of feeding into conspiracy theories, we are rolling up our sleeves and working, Augusta-Richmond County Commissioner Jordan Johnson said. And thats what you can expect from the Democratic leadership across the state: getting back on track.

The uneasy environment at a GOP convention is nothing new for elected Republican officials.

Then-Gov. Nathan Deal was scolded for vetoing a religious liberty measure and objecting to campus gun legislation. Before that, then-U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss was booed for his stands on immigration. Others have seen their fortunes rise or recede in front of the activists.

The Trump era, however, has only heightened the backlash. Case in point: Veteran Republicans expected incumbent Georgia GOP Chair David Shafer to face stiff opposition after several election defeats.

Some veteran operatives in the Republican Party expected Georgia GOP Chair David Shafer to have trouble holding on to his job following the party's defeats in November's presidential election and January's U.S. Senate runoffs. But support from former President Donald Trump has made his reelection as head of the state party a near certainty. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

Instead, many of the most formidable potential challengers melted away after Trump endorsed Shafer, who played a leading role in challenging Bidens victory in Georgia.

(Former Cobb GOP Chair Jason Shepherd is Shafers highest-profile opponent, but even he expressed second thoughts about a run.)

The Trump influence will also unspool in speeches from announced and possible contenders for higher office, including those jockeying to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock next year. The GOP race remains wide open, and patience is running thin among party leaders waiting for former University of Georgia football great Herschel Walker to make up his mind.

The 2022 primary season in Georgia begins in earnest over the next 24-48 hours, said veteran activist Cole Muzio, who leads an anti-abortion group. Lets roll.

Joining the GOP crowd will be many new faces. Alex Johnson unsuccessfully ran several times to lead the state GOP before shifting his efforts to the Georgia Republican Alliance, an outside group aimed at pulling the party further to the right. He sees a more energized party this year, galvanized by election defeats.

Republicans are showing up to be involved this year because they are demanding accountability from elected Republicans instead of simply going along with and believing them as they have in the past, Johnson said. Its a positive awakening.

Staff writer Maya T. Prabhu contributed to this article.

Read the rest here:
Georgia GOP meeting will test Kemp and Trumps influence - Atlanta Journal Constitution