“Adult” in the Room (NOT) Marco Rubio–He Does not Object to Trump Pick “Toddler” Darren Beattie for Key State Department Post– February 7, 2025
Many people, including major political analysts, believed that Demagogue Donald’s Secretary of State, former GOP Florida Senator Marco Rubio, is the “adult” in the room, standing way above Trump’s other subpar and pathetic second-term Cabinet selections. Take that back. “Adult” Marco Rubio has now become a member in good standing of the immature lap dog gang of Trump Cabinet appointees by not objecting to Demagogue/Dictator Donald’s filling of a key State Department post by immature “toddler” Darren Beattie. Trump has picked Beattie to be the acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Who is this Darren Beattie?
A former professor at Duke University, where he proudly wrote a doctoral dissertation on Nazi philosopher Martin Heiddeger, Darren Beattie worked in Trump’s first administration as a speechwriter. He was fired in 2018 after revelations that he had spoken at a 2016 H.L. Mencken Club Conference. That conference, according to the “Forward” is popular with white nationalists and was named after the early 20th-Century journalist H.L. Mencken whose posthumously published diary revealed racist and anti-semitic views. Prominent white supremacist Richard Spencer participated in past Mencken conferences. Beattie appeared, according to the Washington Times, at the 2016 conference alongside Jared Taylor and Peter Brimlow, anti-immigrant and racially-obsessed individuals. Beattie refused to resign when his appearance at this conference was made public and the first Trump administration then fired him. At that time, Trump, who had plans to run for re-election in 2020, had taken a lot of flak for praising the 2017 Charlottesville race rioters and could not be seen too close to the likes of Beattie. However, now that he has been safely re-elected to his second and final term, Trump, IMHO, could care less about appointing Beattie to a State Department position.
And the Mencken conference attendance by Beattie is no outlier. In 2019, extremist firebrand, then Florida GOP Cong. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), hired Beattie to be a special advisor for speechwriting. Gaetz, remember, was plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. He also was accused of trafficking in anti-semitism. According to the “Forward,” in 2020, Trump appointed Beattie to the Preservation of American Heritage Abroad, dedicated to maintaining sites across Eastern Europe connected to the Nazi extermination of Jews during the WWII Holocaust. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) chief executive Jonathan Greenblatt condemned this appointment as “absolutely outrageous.” The Biden administration fired Beattie from this post, the “Forward” noted. Beattie, criticized Israel after its being brutally attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Beattie has, as the JTA, Jewish Telegraphic agency noted, an isolationist view of the world, which Trump and Company also adhere to. Beattie also advocates the conspiracy “Great Replacement” theory which anti-semites and other white supremacists push. That malignant nonsense states that immigrants from Third World countries, with help from liberals and often Jews, are bringing these people into the U.S. to destroy our nation’s “White” character. Beattie additionally argues that George Soros, the Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor and Democratic donor, hated by anti-semitic groups, was behind the attempts to remove Trump from office.
Beattie adheres to other bizarro conspiracy theories as well. More than two years ago, Beattie launched a right-wing media outlet called “Revolver News,” which raised funds, according to ABC News, by selling pro-Trump apparel and merchandise. Two shirts still being sold on the Revolver’s website, say, “It’s OK to deny 2020.” Another shirt promotes the refuted claim that the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot was an “FBI setup to frame Trump supporters as insurrectionists.” Beattie often appears on right-wing media to promote these conspiracies, calling the Jan. 6 Trump-incited riot a “Fedsurrection.” Trump has promoted Beattie’s articles and media comments. Beattie is proud that Trump pardoned what he calls the Jan. 6 “political prisoners.” In an inflammatory and beyond outrageous comment he posted on “X” in October, 2024, Beattie stated, “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 white men.” You get the idea.
The post that Trump appointed Beattie to in the State Department, acting Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, is a “Top 10” position in that Cabinet post.The State Department’s website describes it as one that “leads America’s public diplomacy outreach, which includes messaging to counter terrorism and violent extremism.” The website at State adds, “The Under Secretary oversees the bureaus of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Global Public Affairs, and participates in foreign policy development. This move by Trump to put Beattie in such a high-level position has raised concerns among many of State’s employees, ABC News has noted. Frankly, all of us must be concerned about this Trump/Rubio pick.
Beattie, despite his awful record, insists that he is not a racist. Why? Because he is Jewish! As if being Jewish makes him immune from racism. Remember, being Black did not make “Black Nazi” former N. Carolina GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and failed 2024 gubernatorial candidate anti-racist. Get real! And what does Jewish Beattie think of the primary Jewish defense group, the ADL, whose mission is to fight the scourge of anti-semitism? Beattie told the NY Times, “The ADL pretends to be an organization that protects Jews, but it really exists to protect Democrats. As a Jewish Trump supporter, I consider it an honor to be attacked by the far-left ADL and its disgraced leader, Jonathan Greenblatt.” Ridiculous! The ADL goes out of its way to condemn anti-semitism and general bigotry on all sides of the political aisle and emphasizes that it is non-partisan. Its new leader Jonathan Greenblatt is a man of great intelligence and integrity. Beattie, not Greenblatt, is a “disgrace.” Beattie is, as the saying goes, “Not good for the Jews,” or, in fact, any other group but the Trump/MAGA fanatics.
Beattie should resign from this key State Department post, but don’t bet on him doing that. Demagogue/Dictator wannabe Donald could try to make him permanent Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, which would require Senate confirmation. Democrats and moderates who believe in upholding our democracy, must fight strongly against any such Trumpian action.
