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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann suggested using the Second Amendment against President Donald J. Trump if he defies a federal judge’s order blocking the closure of the Department of Education.
👤Who’s Involved: Michael Mann, President Donald J. Trump, the University of Pennsylvania, Libs of TikTok, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
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🧾Key Quote: “If Trump doesn’t comply, we’re in second amendment territory,” Mann posted on Bluesky.
⚠️Fallout: Libs of TikTok flagged Mann’s post to the FBI, citing it as a potential threat, amid heightened concerns following two 2024 assassination attempts against Trump.
📌Significance: Mann’s invocation of the Second Amendment to suggest violence against a sitting president underscores the escalating political rhetoric from academics.
IN FULL:
Michael Mann, a prominent climate scientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, sparked controversy on May 23, 2025, by posting on the Bluesky social media platform: “If Trump doesn’t comply, we’re in second amendment territory.” The statement was made in response to a report on a federal judge’s ruling that blocked President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, appearing to suggest people take up arms to overthrow or assassinate the America First leader.
The May 22 injunction froze the administration’s plan to eliminate the department, which included terminating around 1,300 employees. Mann’s post—interpreted by many as a call for violence—drew immediate backlash across social media platforms.
The post was spotlighted by Libs of TikTok, which tagged the FBI and University of Pennsylvania, writing: “Hi “FBI, this climate scientist and professor at @Penn appears to be calling to kill Trump and Trump officials.”
The controversy comes on the heels of two assassination attempts on President Trump in 2024. The first occurred on July 13 during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at Trump, grazing his ear and killing a supporter. The second attempt took place in September at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, with pro-Ukraine activist Ryan Routh caught lying in wait with a firearm and seriously injuring a child during his attempted getaway.
In response to the second incident, Trump said, “The suspected gunman believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it. Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.”
Mann’s invocation of the Second Amendment in the context of killing or overthrowing Trump echoes a recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, who was accused of inciting violence by posting “8647” on Instagram. “86” is hospitality and mob parlance for removing or murdering someone, while “47” refers to Trump as the 47th President.
Hi @FBI, this climate scientist and professor at @Penn appears to be calling to kiII Trump and Trump officials https://t.co/NOFnEhmYN6 pic.twitter.com/slJ4REEzel
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 23, 2025
Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Lockheed Martin has announced the removal of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies to comply with an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump promoting merit-based hiring.
👥 Who’s Involved: Lockheed Martin leadership, including CEO Jim Taiclet, and President Donald J. Trump.
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📍 Where & When: The announcement was shared internally with Lockheed Martin employees and revealed on Thursday, May 22; the decision aligns with an Executive Order signed by President Trump on January 21, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “Since then, we have conducted a thorough review of our efforts to recruit, retain and promote the best aerospace and defense talent in the world to ensure full alignment with the executive order and our core values—Do What’s Right, Respect Others and Perform with Excellence,” said CEO Jim Taiclet.
⚠️ Impact: Lockheed Martin will eliminate DEI policies, including demographic-based hiring goals, and align its practices with the Trump administration’s merit-based directives.
IN FULL:
Lockheed Martin has announced plans to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in order to align its hiring practices with a Trump-era executive order promoting merit-based opportunities. The decision was communicated to employees through an internal release, following a thorough review of the company’s practices.
The Executive Order, signed by President Donald J. Trump immediately following his inauguration on January 21, 2025, is titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” It mandates that federal contractors, including Lockheed Martin, end policies that prioritize demographic representation over merit. The National Pulse previously reported that consulting giant Deloitte announced in February it would end its DEI programs in compliance with Trump’s directive.
Jim Taiclet, Lockheed Martin’s president, CEO, and chairman, emphasized the company’s commitment to excellence and compliance with the directive. “Since then, we have conducted a thorough review of our efforts to recruit, retain and promote the best aerospace and defense talent in the world to ensure full alignment with the executive order and our core values—Do What’s Right, Respect Others and Perform with Excellence,” Taiclet wrote.
The company outlined several changes, including ensuring training compliance with the Trump directive, removing race-based hiring goals, ending affirmative action plans, and sunsetting Business Resource Groups and Employee Networks organized around identity or advocacy. Funding for external groups will also be aligned with the company’s mission and the executive order.
“The success of our company rests on the strength of our people, and we have the best in the business at 121,000 strong,” Taiclet added. He linked the changes to the company’s broader mission of ensuring peace through strength and delivering advanced capabilities to the United States and its allies.
Notably, the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under chairman Brendan Carr, has also used its regulatory authority to push the telecom and technology industries to scrap their DEI policies and programs. Last week, as part of a major buyout agreement approved by the FCC, Verizon announced it would end its DEI programs, among other concessions.
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