President Donald Trump’s Late-Night Truth Social Spree Amplifies Conspiracy Claims and Reflecting-Pool Dispute

Between 10:15 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 12, and early Tuesday, President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account to repost more than 50 items from supporters. The messages repeatedly called for the arrest of former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI director James Comey and other officials, labeling them traitors and conspirators.

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The burst occurred hours before Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and amid a U.S.–Iran war that has strained the economy. The Cultural Landscape Foundation sued to block a $13.1 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing preservation violations. Former national-security adviser Michael Flynn and bot networks amplified the posts.

The New Zealand Herald

• 10:15 p.m. EDT, May 12: Trump begins resharing posts.

The New Zealand Herald

• 10:53 p.m.: Peak activity, demanding DOJ arrests “for treason.”

Forbes

• 6:46 a.m., May 13: Attack on NYT reflecting-pool cost report.

Forbes

• 8:00 a.m.: Final posts feature AI-generated images of U.S. forces versus Iran.

The New Zealand Herald

The feed logged over 50 reposts, including a dozen targeting Obama. Trump claimed the pool renovation would cost $1.8 million, versus the Interior Department’s $13.1 million contract and a separate $5–6 million two-week estimate.

Forbes

Trump called Obama’s alleged actions a coup and urged the DOJ to arrest him, James Comey and Jack Smith. He dismissed the NYT cost analysis as “a deeply complicated work of smart and beautiful construction.” Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Charles Birnbaum called the repainting “blatantly unlawful” and urged restoring the pool’s dark-grey finish.

Forbes

Checkers flagged false claims. CNN traced a Senate quote about Obama earning $120 million from the ACA to a satirical site, not Sen. John Kennedy. The Atlantic found no evidence for coup or wiretap accusations. Daily Kos called Dominion claim of 2.7 million deleted votes unsubstantiated.

CNN

The reflecting-pool cost shows a discrepancy: NYT reported a $13.1 million contract, while Trump cited $1.8 million and later a $5–6 million estimate. Sources differ on repost counts, noting “more than 50” versus “over four dozen.” The alleged Sen. John Kennedy quote remains unverified, and neither Obama nor White House responded.

CNN

• “They are working hard!” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

Forbes

• “8 million” figure he cited last week, Trump baselessly claimed that the Times is quickly losing subscribers: “The Failing New York Times, which is one of the worst newspapers anywhere in the World, and is losing subscribers on an hourly basis, is now at it again.” — Donald Trump, President

CNN

• “Gorsuch is a “really smart and good man, but he voted against me, and our Country, on Tariffs, a devastating move”, Trump wrote.”.” — Donald Trump, President

The Guardian

• “I was hunted by some very bad people. Now I’m the hunter.” — Donald Trump, President

(The) Atlantic

Trump departs for the China summit on May 14, where the Iran ceasefire proposal will be discussed. The reflecting-pool lawsuit proceeds in D.C. federal court, and the Interior Department is expected to release a detailed cost breakdown. Observers anticipate further Truth Social activity.

Forbes