AP News reports that a diamond brooch lost by Napoleon during the Battle of Waterloo sold for over 3.5 million Swiss francs at a Geneva auction. The brooch, featuring a 13-carat oval diamond, significantly exceeded its pre-sale estimate. This sale price was boosted by a “private collector,” as well as the recent theft of Napoleonic jewels at the Louvre museum in Paris. A green beryl also worn by Napoleon sold for nearly 1 million Swiss francs.
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Authorities have cordoned off the Louvre Museum and a major road along the Seine River as they investigate a potential break-in. Attention is centered on the southeast corner of the building, where a large, extendable ladder, likely used for accessing upper floors, was discovered. The ladder, mounted on a mechanized lift, suggests the suspects accessed a balcony on one of the upper floors. The closure has left numerous tourists unable to enter the museum on an overcast day.
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President Trump’s Truth Social post quoting Napoleon Bonaparte—”He who saves his country does not violate any law”—has drawn sharp criticism, with some comparing his actions to the French emperor’s authoritarian rule. This follows a series of executive actions, White House statements, and comments from VP Vance and Elon Musk that have fueled concerns about Trump overstepping presidential authority and undermining democratic processes. Critics point to Trump’s past comments about potentially acting as a “dictator” and his administration’s numerous legal challenges as further evidence of these concerns. The situation raises significant anxieties about the rule of law and the potential for a constitutional crisis.
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Following a string of legal setbacks, President Trump, echoing a Napoleon Bonaparte quote from the film *Waterloo*, asserted on social media that a president saving the country violates no law. This statement, endorsed by the White House, comes amidst widespread court challenges to his administration’s actions, including efforts to curtail federal funding and redefine the 14th Amendment. Allies, including Elon Musk, have attacked judges ruling against them, raising serious concerns among constitutional scholars about a potential constitutional crisis. The White House dismisses these concerns, instead blaming the judiciary.
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President Trump’s social media post quoting Napoleon, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” drew sharp criticism for its authoritarian implications. The statement, likened by many to the rhetoric of Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco, was seen as a justification for disregarding legal limitations. This interpretation was fueled by Trump’s recent actions, including numerous executive orders circumventing Congress and Vice President Vance’s assertion of unchecked executive power. The ensuing controversy highlights concerns over potential constitutional violations and dictatorial ambitions within the Trump administration.
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It seems like history is being used as a tool to intimidate and threaten rather than to educate and learn from past mistakes. The idea that French troops would suffer the fate of Napoleon’s army if they were to be deployed to Ukraine is an ominous warning from Putin’s allies. The reference to Napoleon’s failed campaign in Russia is a clear attempt to dissuade France from any potential military involvement in the region.
The comparison to Napoleon’s ill-fated march to Moscow in 1812 is not only historically inaccurate but also disregards the current geopolitical realities. France has not shown any intention of invading Russia, but rather offering assistance to their ally, Ukraine.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker