Pam Bondi's Bold Donald Trump Stat Turns Heads, And Not In A Good Way
Critics raised eyebrows — and questions about basic math — after Attorney General Pam Bondi made a dubious claim during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Bondi boasted to Trump that 3,400 kilos of fentanyl had been seized 'since you've been here last 100 days,' and then added: 'which saved — are you ready for this, media? — 258 million lives.'
The comment immediately drew attention.
This isn't an SNL skit. At a cabinet meeting today, Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed that Donald Trump saved 258 million lives—75% of the U.S. population—in his first 100 days by seizing fentanyl. pic.twitter.com/DECRILvqMI
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 30, 2025
With the U.S. population currently estimated at 346 million, Bondi appeared to suggest that Trump had saved around 75% of all Americans.
Adding to the confusion, Bondi had posted on social media just the day before that the administration had saved 119 million lives — less than half her Wednesday figure.
Today is Fentanyl Awareness day. In President Trump's first 100 days we've seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives. We are fighting relentlessly for the families of loved ones lost, for those whose lives are at risk, and for the soul of our… pic.twitter.com/nQLnN0nipn
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 29, 2025
Critics on social media and in the press mocked the shifting numbers and asked how Bondi arrived at such inflated estimates.
'Are you ready for this, media?'Pam Bondi turns to the press and says Trump saved '258 million lives.'That's not a press briefing that's a cult sermon with a camera crew.At this rate, they'll credit him for inventing oxygen next. pic.twitter.com/msKRC2yGBI
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) April 30, 2025
BREAKING: Pam Bondi just claimed that Trump's fentanyl seizures have saved the lives of 75% of the US population, 250 million lives. Do you believe this one too MAGA? pic.twitter.com/GBhCXYvdkm
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) April 30, 2025
Pam Bondi turns to the press, dramatically credits Trump with saving 258 million lives—because, apparently, that's the kind of math we're working with. pic.twitter.com/hDkR3uIwWT
— The Vivlia (@TVivlia) April 30, 2025
Wait, today Pam Bondi said that 258 million lives or 74% OF THE ENTIRE US POPULATION were saved?Just yesterday she said it was 119 million lives.Pam Bondi is giving RFK Jr. a run for his money with her feats of statistical bullshittery. https://t.co/q1YZN8Rswf
— Ashley (@ashleydixon) May 1, 2025
AG Pam Bondi claiming they 'saved 258 million American lives' in just 100 days is straight-up fantasy.There are only 340 million people in the entire country.What did they save us from — Thanos?This isn't leadership.It's North Korea-style delusion.#Trump#TrumpTariffs… pic.twitter.com/mj20SNCH92
— OrangeMenace (@WKazingmei) May 1, 2025
pam bondi really expects people to believe that if trump didn't win 250 MILLION Americans would've died???? Do these people hear themselves!
— Covie (@covie_93) May 1, 2025
Update: Bondi now says that this number is low, and that in fact they've saved 258 million lives. That's 75% of all Americans. Awesome work, Pam! https://t.co/AwghBbG7EA
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) April 30, 2025
I don't really know what to say, but within 24 hours of the whole internet making fun of her innumeracy, AG Pam Bondi has doubled down, now stating that she has saved 258 million lives over the past 100 days. https://t.co/FtrCzX2cMNhttps://t.co/nS2LJk4syB
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) April 30, 2025
Yesterday Pam Bondi claimed Trump saved 119 million lives.Today she has upped it to 258 million as she yells at the press for not wanting to accept it.Seriously, we are in deep trouble. You really can't be on the fence anymore about what we're seeing. pic.twitter.com/HR5pb0ULWe
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) April 30, 2025
Critics Think Trump's 'Brain Is Cooked' After Bonkers Town Hall Tangent
Lawrence O'Donnell Drops 'Sopranos'-Style Burn On Trump
Critics Stunned By Trump Rally Crowd's 'Sickening' Response To Immigrants Video
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong warns of persisting national security threats
HONG KONG (AP) — A top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs on Saturday warned of persisting threats in the city as a China-imposed national security law approaches its fifth anniversary, while seeking to allay concerns about the law's impact on the financial hub's openness. Speaking at a forum about the law, attended also by the city leader John Lee and other officials, Xia Baolong, the director of China's Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, said various forms of soft resistance continue to emerge in new forms and external forces have never ceased their intervention in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong has transformed from chaos to order. But just as a tree desires stillness, the wind continues to blow,' Xia said. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments deemed the law necessary to maintain the city's stability following anti-government protests in 2019. Under the law, many leading pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, were prosecuted. Dozens of civil society groups disbanded. This month, authorities have stepped up their crackdown, including charging young activist Joshua Wong, who was already sentenced last year over a subversion case, under the law for the second time and targeting a mobile game app. Last week, China's national security authorities in Hong Kong and the city's police launched their first publicly known joint operation, raiding the homes of six people on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Critics say the political changes indicate that the Western-style civil liberties Beijing promised to keep intact when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 are shrinking. But Xia said the law only targeted an extremely small number of people who severely endanger national security. He also sought to allay concerns about Hong Kong's openness and international position. He insisted that normal international exchanges do not violate Hong Kong's national security law but rather are protected by it.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
I'm exhausted by attempts to pretend discrimination doesn't exist in America
Mary-Frances Winters defined the term 'Black fatigue' in her book of the same name, describing it as a form of psychological and emotional exhaustion from persistent racism and microaggressions. You know what I'm tired of? The MAGA movement twisting and co-opting language used to help Americans cope with racism and turning it back on them. The latest example is "Black fatigue." In 2020, author Mary-Frances Winters defined the term in her book of the same name, describing it as a form of psychological and emotional exhaustion from persistent racism and microaggressions. This fatigue can impact one's mental and spiritual well-being, and if left unaddressed, it could also affect physical health and shorten life expectancy. Today, the term has been co-opted by the right – and even people unwittingly using it against themselves. For instance, when five girls attack a woman at the opening night of the Milwaukee Night Market, it is labeled "Black fatigue." When some boys drive recklessly in a stolen car, it is also called "Black fatigue." When a 39-year-old man is arrested in the shooting of a Milwaukee police officer, you guessed it. I reached out to Winters, 74, who said she was not surprised to learn the MAGA crowd had co-opted the term. However, she is disheartened that some are using it against their fellow African Americans. Opinion: I remember my first Juneteenth. It's more than a Black holiday. While it's understandable for people to feel frustrated and speak out when they witness something bad happen, it's important to recognize that no single group has a monopoly on bad behavior. The bigger question is why do Black people often find themselves under greater scrutiny? I believe we know the answer to that. Real 'Black fatigue' gives voice to microaggressions, systemic racism This disparity is precisely why Winters coined the term in the first place, capturing the struggles faced by the Black community in a world that is quick to pass judgment. Ironically, the movement co-opting the term is the one inflicting the pain by pretending bigotry doesn't exist by President Donald Trump's attempt to erase diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Opinion: Trump worries more about South Africa's nonexistent genocide than real US racism When Winters' book was released, America was grappling with a global pandemic and confronting systemic racism after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who sparked nationwide protests. When she was writing the book, many expressed to Winters, the founder and CEO of The Winters Group, Inc., a 40-year-old global organization development and DEI consulting firm, that they felt exhausted by microaggressions, conveying a sense of pressure to excel at work but thought they were only making minimal progress. Think of it as constantly walking on a new carpet. Over time, you don't realize how the fibers are worn down until you compare before-and-after pictures and see how your repeated steps have diminished the carpet's beauty. That's what racism does. Since Trump took office again, Winters noted that real Black fatigue has intensified due to his rhetoric and policies, which have escalated racial tensions and eroded civil rights protections, further compounding a long history of unacknowledged, unaddressed racism and discrimination. 'He's hurting people. Just think about all the government jobs that have been eliminated," Winters said. "A lot of those employees were Black men and women who now must figure out what they want to do." MAGA uses concept to perpetuate negative, racist stereotypes There are dozens of videos online featuring people discussing the co-opted concept of Black fatigue, and to be honest, it makes me angry. It's not surprising, though, as there are even more videos and websites seemingly dedicated to showcasing the worst behaviors. Sites like and 'Ghetto Fights' often highlight instances of fighting, or just being unkind to each other. Given that our country is so hypersegregated, it's no wonder that people watch these clips and conclude this is representative. And the thing that is so tiring is how the term has been twisted so silently. Dynasty Ceasar, a local community activist who has studied race and racism, was unaware that the definition had changed. She described the issue as 'complex and sensitive,' making it difficult to grasp. 'We need to be mindful of the impact of such statements and avoid language that reinforces negative stereotypes or internalizes racism,' Ceasar said. It's important to clarify that I'm not suggesting that Black people should avoid accountability for their negative actions. What I mean is that everyone, regardless of their race, should be held accountable for their actions but should not be subjected to a different standard than anyone else. It's easy to fall into the trap and use the term incorrectly When I spoke to Winters, I had to be entirely transparent and shared with her that I had inadvertently fallen into the trap. I shared an incident I witnessed while shopping at Plato's Closet, a resale shop in Greenfield. I was about to buy some shoes when I noticed an elderly White woman with her grandson. She was purchasing a pair of sunglasses for him, and I let them skip ahead of me in line because her grandson was very antsy. While we were waiting, a Black woman was selling some shoes and seemed unhappy with what was being offered to her. When the cashier called for the next customer, the older woman accidentally bumped into her, which sparked a verbal altercation. The Black woman began cursing, expressing her frustration about people who bump into her without saying "excuse me." Although the older woman apologized, it only seemed to escalate the situation, as the woman continued to curse and insult her. After both women left the store, several employees asked what had just happened, and I felt compelled to explain the situation. After the incident, I called my cousin and mentioned that I had experienced "Black fatigue" because I felt that the woman's behavior was out of line. My cousin told me that I was misusing the term. Winters and Ceasar both agreed that racism is rarely the result of a single action; it is much more complex than that. While they did not condone the actions of the woman for shouting, Ceasar acknowledged that her outburst might have stemmed from the many times she had been ignored, overlooked as if she did not exist, or made to feel devalued. If Black fatigue can negatively impact on a person's mind, body and spirit, it can also lead to diminished emotional well-being, sometimes manifesting as outbursts to seek acknowledgment. If you find yourself using the term to express disappointment about something bad happening in the world, take a moment to consider how you express that. If your feelings are not specifically related to race, then your fatigue may not be about racial issues at all. It might be about human nature. However, if you believe that only Black people are capable of negative actions and continue to use the term in that context, it might be necessary to reflect on your own biases. That's what I'm tired of. James E. Causey is an Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at jcausey@jrnhttps:// or follow him on X: @jecausey
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trump Mobile, gender care and the champion Panthers: The week in review
Floods ravage Texas, Appalachians Torrential rain and flash flooding in Texas and parts of West Virginia trapped drivers, swept vehicles away and pulled homes off their foundations, leaving as many as 20 people dead and communities struggling to recover. Thunderstorms over San Antonio dropped nearly 10 inches of rain in a matter of hours, more that double the amount of rain the area typically gets in all of June. Up to 4 inches drenched the Appalachian region, overwhelming creeks and waterways. 'It happened so quickly,' said Lou Vargo, Ohio County's emergency management director. "I've been doing this for 35 years. … I've never seen anything like this.' Court upholds gender care ban The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the transgender rights movement and a victory to the Trump administration when it upheld a Tennessee law barring gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling fell along ideological lines as the court's six conservative justices ruled in favor of the ban and the three liberals dissented. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said the decision was a victory 'in defense of America's children'; Kimberly Inez McGuire, head of Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said the court chose 'cruelty over care.' Trump Mobile answers the call Yet another enterprise is getting the Trump name. Trump Mobile, a new cellular service, will offer the 5G '47 Plan' for $47.45 a month (Donald Trump is the nation's 47th and 45th president) and its own phone, the T1 Phone, the Trump Organization announced. 'Trump Mobile is going to change the game,' said Donald Trump Jr., who runs the president's conglomerate with his brother Eric. The gold-colored phone will retail for $499. Of course that's not the only venture in the Trump orbit: There's Truth Social and the crypto company World Liberty Financial, plus Trump Bibles, watches, sneakers and guitars. Steve Carell's advice to grads: 'Just dance' When Steve Carell is your commencement speaker, you should be ready for anything. The actor, who was presented with an honorary degree from Northwestern University before he spoke to its graduates, briefly turned the ceremony into a dance party as he bolted off the stage and into the crowd of delighted grads to 'That's Not My Name' by The Ting Tings. 'That was as invigorating as it was disturbing,' he told them afterward. His speech was not without some sage advice: 'Remember to laugh when you have the opportunity and to cry when necessary,' he said. And, 'just dance sometimes.' Twice is nice for the Florida Panthers Who said the Sunshine State is no place for hockey? The Florida Panthers netted their second straight Stanley Cup − and denied the Edmonton Oilers a second straight time − with a 5-1 romp in front of the home crowd in Game 6 behind a record-tying four goals from winger Sam Reinhart. The Cats join their brethren the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021. As for Edmonton, falling short again was especially stinging: The last Canadian team to take home the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief
