“We Need Somebody Disruptive”: Alex Jones, Former Bush Official Clash In Trump ZeroHedge Debate

Last night kicked off the fifth ZeroHedge debate on the question: “Should Donald Trump be the next U.S. President?“

The debate featured Infowars host Alex Jones and former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos vs. independent journalist Michael Tracy and former George W. Bush White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter.

Tracey came in hot, accusing Trump of being two-faced for bashing special interests during the primary, while courting the donor class during the general election:

“[Trump] was calling out to Miriam Adelson — who’s the widow of Sheldon Adelson — and having private soirees with her, and she’s excepted to give millions of dollars to Trump’s next campaign. He even said it outright. He said because of Miriam’s late husband, [Trump] was compelled to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv in Israel to Jerusalem.“

Michael Tracey on Trump’s quoted tweet:https://t.co/vLlq5hS5Cu
“When Trump became the Republican nominee in 2016, what did he do? He courted the donors that he had just gotten the nomination by castigating, including Adelson who went on to become the most prolific donor.” pic.twitter.com/ylcc5czCFS

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 26, 2024

In an enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend spirit, Alex Jones argued that entrenched bureaucratic powers within the U.S. pose an existential threat. Thus, given that Donald Trump is the primary force standing in their way, he deserves mass support.

“We need somebody disruptive,” said Jones.

Alex Jones: “That’s why we must back Trump all the way because if they can take down the popular front-runner in all the major polls, they can get everybody.” pic.twitter.com/QpcxgG5p84

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 26, 2024

“Trump is the first President who has refused to follow the Constitution.”

Former chief ethics lawyer of the George W. Bush White House, Richard Painter, accused Trump of being the first President to disregard the Constitution regarding the transfer of power after the 2020 US election.

The comment did not go over well…

Richard Painter: “I am not going to participate in a debate when people are making things up.”

Alex Jones: “I don’t know where you found this dinosaur from 50 years ago that tells us George W. Bush — the war criminal — is a good guy.” pic.twitter.com/QtR1xgRYXv

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 26, 2024

Papadopoulos, meanwhile, offered an international perspective in favor of Trump – who he says keept US adversaries at bay. The former Trump adviser attributes this to siloing Russian exports and increasing NATO funding — while unleashing “the shale renaissance in the United States.”

Tracey hit back – arguing that such moves were in fact escalatory:

“Go read Putin’s speech before he launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he cites multiple grievances with the U.S. administration, and half of them are to do with Trump… He hyper escalated tensions with Russia under the auspices of John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and all the other hard-liners.“

Papadopoulos: “[Trump] sanctioned Nord Stream to cut off the Russian economy from the Europeans…. He bolstered NATO’s defense spending… NATO members were committing to the 2% expenditure.”

Tracey: “It’s just not consistent with this idea that… he’s not getting us into wars.” pic.twitter.com/htdM9Rhd6z

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 26, 2024

Watch the full debate here and decide who won: