Apparently state.gov runs on WordPress (if you View Source, there are a number of comments which reference WP plugins). My guess is something was badly configured and someone broke in and vandalized the page.
I'm betting on some kind of glitch on the State Department website, but it's an interesting historical note that when Richard Nixon formally resigned in August 1974, he did so via a brief letter to then Secretary of State Kissinger.
I was reminded of A Game Designers Analysis of QAnon [0]. It really is fun to be part of a group finding clues likes this. I was getting some definite ARG vibes.
Additional source: "UPDATE: Sources tell
@BuzzFeedNews a "disgruntled staffer" is behind the State Department site's change of Trump and Pence's biographies"
Even if section 4 of the 25th amendment were validly invoked, it would not end the president's term. Such a procedure only temporarily removes the powers of the presidency to the VP. Ending the term would require impeachment.
There's an obscure clause of the 25th amendment that declares the presidency null and void if it should be announced as such on the state department's website.
And I know that most people have such a distorted view of his actions that someone could probably write an accurate biography with a fake name, and he would not be recognized by the left or the right.
But, please. He was the president, and he did a tremendous amount of things by all counts. He changed the world's attitude towards China and towards the Middle East.
Any other president would probably have used Covid to become dictator (see other countries), he instead boosted the States' power.
You may think that he made changes for the better, you may think for the worse. But he is commander in chief and he is leaving by all counts in another week.
A little respect looks a lot better and is much more manly than acting like a big baby and sore winner.
John Wayne Gacy [0] has a bad reputation and isn't well-liked either, just because he "assaulted and murdered at least 33 young men and boys."
No one ever talks about all the good things that he did, like bringing happiness and joy to so many by performing as a clown -- usually at no charge! -- "at numerous local parties, political functions, charitable events, and children's hospitals."
Instead, they always just focus on that one bad thing he did (at least 33 times).
47 comments
[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 101 ms ] threadInteresting to note that the time seems to be jumping around. Some staffer with backend templating access behind it?
Donald J. Trump's term ended on 2021-01-11 19:48:41.
Donald J. Trump's term ended on 2021-01-11 19:40:41.
Update: After getting the above I now get: Donald J. Trump's term ended on 2021-01-11 19:40:41.
I'm seeing:
Donald J. Trump's term ended on 2021-01-11 19:39:22.
The even more shocking news is that half of HN had apparently never seen or never heard of a "dynamic web page" before!
The time wasn't updating on every refresh, and even when it was it appeared to be going backwards.
Then the page was taken offline because of technical difficulties.
(Just kidding. I've played too many ARGs I think...)
[0]: https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analy...
https://mobile.twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/134872560133...
https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1348725601335717889
And I know that most people have such a distorted view of his actions that someone could probably write an accurate biography with a fake name, and he would not be recognized by the left or the right.
But, please. He was the president, and he did a tremendous amount of things by all counts. He changed the world's attitude towards China and towards the Middle East.
Any other president would probably have used Covid to become dictator (see other countries), he instead boosted the States' power.
You may think that he made changes for the better, you may think for the worse. But he is commander in chief and he is leaving by all counts in another week.
A little respect looks a lot better and is much more manly than acting like a big baby and sore winner.
(My own life was changed greatly by Trump's policies, but that would be anecdotal, and therefore not relevant.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/opinion/fact-check-trump....
https://www.thenationalsentinel.com/2020/10/10/heres-a-list-...
https://logiclogiclogic.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/what-a-terr...
John Wayne Gacy [0] has a bad reputation and isn't well-liked either, just because he "assaulted and murdered at least 33 young men and boys."
No one ever talks about all the good things that he did, like bringing happiness and joy to so many by performing as a clown -- usually at no charge! -- "at numerous local parties, political functions, charitable events, and children's hospitals."
Instead, they always just focus on that one bad thing he did (at least 33 times).
</sarcasm>
--
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy