Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
JULI BRISKMAN DIDN’T think twice when she gave US president Donald Trump the finger as his motorcade passed her while she was cycling on a road near his golf club.
“He was passing by and my blood just started to boil,” Briskman (50) told HuffPost.
“I’m thinking, he’s at the damn golf course again.”
But the obscene gesture quickly went viral. And it has now cost the single mother her job.
The president had gone to his Trump National Golf Club on the banks of the Potomac River, about 40 kilometres northwest of the White House.
Briskman lives nearby and was out for a Saturday bike ride when the convoy of black SUVs drove past.
The moment was captured by AFP White House photographer Brendan Smialowski.
“You never know what you might see. You never know what might happen,” he said. Gestures from bystanders, thumbs up or middle fingers, are common.
In this case, he said, Briskman “seemed to know exactly who was inside those vehicles”.
After the first time the convoy passed her, she caught up again when it stopped at a red light.
“What made this particular cyclist unique was her tenacity – once the motorcade passed her, she managed to catch back up and share her feelings again,” he said.
The photo only showed Briskman from the back, unidentifiable, her left arm out and middle finger up.
It didn’t take her long to realise that she was the person in the photo soon all over the internet and television. She proudly posted it as her profile picture on her Facebook and Twitter pages.
It isn’t known whether Trump saw the gesture. But it didn’t please Briskman’s bosses at Akima LLC, a builder that does work for the US government and military.
Three days later they told Briskman, a marketing officer, she had to go.
“They said, ‘We’re separating from you,’” Briskman told HuffPost.
“Basically, you cannot have lewd or obscene things in your social media. So they were calling flipping him off obscene.”
Briskman and Akima could not be contacted by AFP today for comment.
The photograph remained at the top of Briskman’s social media pages.
But… But …. We’re attracting these companies because of our educated workforce and links to Europe right? Best small country to do business according to the dear leader… Surely he can’t have been wrong?
Ive been in many meetings where that sentence is the butt of a good few jokes.
This is down to American Tax law, so unless the cabinet are deciding American Tax Law then you’ve chewed too many of those pink tablets.
First of many deals to go I’m afraid.
Will facebook google and the like still be here in 10years?
IFSC will be the next ghost estate.
Cheerful.
You’re right. sad but true. Noonan should be making it easier for companies to dodge tax, not harder. It’s the only thing we have to offer. Our workforce is too expensive and the infrastructure is simply not on par, even with Poland.
Exactly. Who cares if we are offering them a way of paying less tax? It doesn’t matter if it boosts our economy at the expense of America’s. We are absolutely screwed if these companies pack up and leave due to decades of neglect towards indigenous businesses.
Obama the bollox
I thought the yanks just love the irish
no just the tax rates. and easily exploitable muppets in Government
Apparently only when we’re a tax haven.
what is it with the gimps who “run” this country , they always give away any “aces” they have up their sleeves for no payback. Its like they just want to be good poodles for their handlers in Europe
What has this to do with Ireland.
Some people really think that the world revolves around this place, that they are trying to shaft us or are laughing at us or we have it the worst in the world in this “kip”.
America is doing here what is in its own tax interest, they couldn’t give a fucj who is in charge here. That doesn’t come in to it.
What it does show is that focusing on Multi-nationals leaves the country very open to changes in American domestic policy.
Ordinary people were never going to benefit from this anyway
I work in the pharma industry here in Ireland and this takeover deal was (is?) huge. It is a great opportunity for Ireland – and UK based – Shire. The inevitable consequences of the negative publicity over the past year I’m afraid. Bad for business and bad for Ireland over the long term in my opinion.
Yea but no offense, the pharma industry has a lot to answer for in terms of ethics and general human health
It was bound to happen, given all the publicity. I’m confident our government will find some way around it, after all they’ve been codding us for years, Obama will be a doddle.
Very good, Martin! Let’s hope you’re right.
Keep big pharma away from this country, corrupted killers making money, should be buried in a desert somewhere.
shouldnt you be dancing at a crossroads somewhere?
With Comey maidens – or youths, whichever floats your boat?
The same desert you’ve your head buried in? Pharma and Med. Device companies are our biggest employers and account for over 50 billion in ex ports from this country. I bet you’d go to a faith healer if you got sick. Best of luck with that.
One thing about Pharma is the vast imports that it brings in as well, so the net benefit to the country is not as large as it looks when you say 50bn in exports.
Agriculture is surprisingly eaves the most in Ireland’s hands out of exports, money circulating in the economy than Pharma.
They are all just slices in a pie, mind you, but Pharma is in no way our largest sector employer. In all the companies and all the spin off jobs for there would still only be under 3% of the workforce.
Fools those who are negative & for giving in to the EU. US companies really only have a couple of choices uk, Israel or us. If the krauts spoke English they would go there. Posted on this before. Who gives a sh€t how much corporate tax they pay, it’s the PAYE, PRSI & USC take that makes the difference, by local employment. Shame on the government & naysayers for pushing reform. The right move was to cut it to 5% and stick two fingers to Brussels, what could they have done? Their broke, kick us out & watch everyone else jump with us. The tax on the fees alone on the merger alone would have been €50m – grow some balls Ireland. We’re paid up and EU is on the ropes
No more tax dodging and money laundering through Ireland for multinationals so.
One last point because the anti pharm guy’s wound me up. The U.S. Won’t change tax policy more than cosmetics. Who the hell do you think provides the $1bn it takes to get elected in the states? – Santa?
They just tryin drive a hard bizargain, know’m sayin?
For Christ sake it’s only 3-10% but the PAYE take is at least double of Ag, given the tax breaks. I’m a big fan of farming and the industry but the average Ag business doesn’t employ folks at the same rate after tax breaks. Cut corporate tax on strict employment requirements and the country will pick up. Even line factory guys pick up €20-30k+ per year all in. Farm folk just can’t pay that give the current prices. You think Iceland or Singapore would take this sh€t? We need to start looking after ourselves.
Uh oh
have your say