President Donald Trump set off a political firestorm Tuesday by abruptly firing the Federal Trade Commission’s two Democratic commissioners, a maneuver that escalates tensions between the White House and independent regulatory agencies.
Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, both Democrats, were dismissed in a decision that quickly ignited fierce backlash and promised legal retaliation. The sudden purge raises critical questions about executive authority and the sanctity of independent federal watchdogs.
“This Is Corruption Plain and Simple”
Bedoya broke the news himself in a blunt statement on social media platform X: “I am a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission. The president just illegally fired me. This is corruption plain and simple.”
Slaughter, who had served on the commission for nearly seven years, echoed his outrage. “I woke up this morning, as I have every day for years, eager to fight for an honest and fair economy,” she said. “But today, the president illegally fired me, violating the clear language of a statute and Supreme Court precedent. Why? Because I have a voice. And he is afraid of what I’ll tell the American people.”
