Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[Toller Station]

I live in Colombia so we went through the whole tariff nonsense. The President of Colombia Petro (not my choice I will admit) complained that he did not want the migrants returned in shackles and suggested sending his own plane, rather than have US Military aircraft, return the migrants home. Migrants have been returned back to Colombia in the past on commercial aircraft. He said that the country would welcome the migrants back, and show them that Colombia valued them. When you think about that Trump should have been happy with that. Welcoming migrants back and even offering to collect them. But no, that had to spawn a trade war as Colombia (probably the US‘ strongest ally in the region) because they had refused military aircraft. In the end Colombia got to send aircraft, no shackles and no trade war. Noticeably the press, and the Daily Mail in particular ran the story that Colombia’s President had bowed to Trump and been humiliated.
Then today photos of Rubio watching Colombian migrants being deported from Panama having come through the Darien Gap, something that happens everyday. But here was Panama suggesting that in working with Trump here they were doing something new. Rubio ‘winning’ for Trump.

And the violent Colombian criminals being returned in both cases the people getting off the planes were often young women with a few young men (often with professional qualifications), not a tattoo in sight.

Then the ‘trans’ opera funded under an arts grant. The central character is trans, the composer American and the opera has been performed around the world including in multiple cities in the US. Not an opera full of trans people.

Trump clearly lies (a hundred million dollars of condoms for Hamas is around a billion items) and Musk is out of control. But let’s not forget the Right Wing Press (The Mail in particular) that fan these flames.

 

[AlterEgo]

He’s just suggested “owning” Gaza alongside Netanyahu at a presser, and suggested ethnically cleansing Gaza.

 

[najaB]

To paraphrase a meme that's going around: If the United States saw what was happening in the United States, the United States would invade the United States to free them from the despotic leadership of the United States, and install a regime more in line with the best interests of the United States.

 

[Mr. SW]

It's been two weeks now and my comment on what I've seen so far is this:

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear.

Ohhhh, dear.

I don't ever remember seeing, reading, learning or being told about any nation descending into despotism so rapidly. It's all happening faster than I ever imagined possible.
This is an utter Trumpster fire of democracy and foreign relations.
I've seen anyone make so many potential enemies so quickly and so efficiently.
If this is how the Tangerine Man runs his companies, that would certainly explain the bankruptcies.
And now he's entertaining that mass-murderer Bendything Netanachoo.

This will not end well.

My prediction is that the Trump regime will end prematurely, suddenly and with little warning.

I shall revisit this statement in a few months.

 

[najaB]

This was referred to earlier, but ICYMI here's Chis Hay.'s response to DJT's latest thoughts(sic) on Gaza:

 

[DoubleLemon]

What he's doing to USAID is morally reprehensible (big surprise, I know), but it's also completely against the USA's and his own interests.

The foreign aid budget is something like 1% of the federal budget, but does immeasurable good to the image of the USA globally. All they are doing by cutting the USAID budget - which *will* result in people dying - is handing China an opportunity to step in and be the good guys.

I think its stupider than that. His base is lapping it up. They don't understand, if these people are fed, secure (ish) and have medical help and clean water etc... they are less likely to become migrants and leaving. (that's on top of it being what a developed nation should be doing because its the right thing to do)

 

[brad465]

He’s just suggested “owning” Gaza alongside Netanyahu at a presser, and suggested ethnically cleansing Gaza.

Anyone who either voted for Trump or stayed at home because of "Genocide Joe's" Gaza attitude is going to wish that he was still running things.

 

[DelW]

This is surely all distraction. The Gaza idea is so utterly crazy and unworkable that even Trump must realise it, BUT, it's taken press and public attention away from the hugely damaging consequences of Musk's arbitrary closure of USAID. Without the Gaza "speech" (or ramblings), headlines might well have been "World's richest man condemns millions to starvation and disease in pursuit of his own ideology", but instead that's gone almost unnoticed.

It's cynical, cruel and entirely self-interested, but those are Trump's and Musk's hallmarks.

Coming soon? A Trump plan to end the Ukraine war by dispossessing all Ukrainians, moving them out of their country and handing it over to Russia to resettle? After the resulting outcry, any concessions to Putin would seem almost acceptable by comparison. At one time I'd have thought that possibility was ludicrous, but after the last few weeks, I'm not so sure.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Coming soon? A Trump plan to end the Ukraine war by dispossessing all Ukrainians, moving them out of their country and handing it over to Russia to resettle?

Well, the Black Sea coast gets great summer weather and would really suit a load of Trump hotels

 

[DerekC]

The absolute worst thing about all this for me is the lack of push back in the headlines across the media. The Daily Mail is fully supportive, Farage is lapping it all up and we can expect a UK mini-version of Project 2025 when he becomes Prime Minister, which if Starmer doesn't get his act together in terms of selling the message, is exactly what's going to happen.

 

[najaB]

This is surely all distraction. The Gaza idea is so utterly crazy and unworkable that even Trump must realise it, BUT, it's taken press and public attention away from the hugely damaging consequences of Musk's arbitrary closure of USAID. Without the Gaza "speech" (or ramblings), headlines might well have been "World's richest man condemns millions to starvation and disease in pursuit of his own ideology", but instead that's gone almost unnoticed.

You would think that it's all about distraction, but with DJT, et al the distraction is also the plan. This idea isn't something that's just poppoed up out of nowhere, Jarred spoke about it last year as well.

 

[ainsworth74]

This idea isn't something that's just poppoed up out of nowhere, Jarred spoke about it last year as well.

Yes this is why it was so frustrating that many people appear to have stayed home to "punish" Biden, Harris and the Democrats for enabling/supporting genocide in Gaza. Whether they did or did not do such a thing, it was obvious to me for quite a while that should Trump win that the end game in Gaza will be a "Khan Younis Luxury Resort & Golf Course" within the Trump property empire and associated other developments. And the only way that can happen is by giving Israel everything they want and removing the vast majority of Palestinians from Gaza. I'm not sure that that's actually a better development than a Harris administration would have been for the Palestinian cause. But we are where we are.

The only possible restrain is whether the other Arab states kick-up enough of a fuss to cause Trump to stay his hand. Otherwise I reckon it's nailed on that Gaza is going to end up being annexed by someone.

 

[Harpo]

Trump's latest Gaza er, verbal incontinence underscore his approach to everything. Treat it all as real estate to be redeveloped and make a few bucks. Nothing else matters.

That and his bullying behaviour and belief in solving everything with 'a deal' in much the same way that a thug might agree to accept your wallet in exchange for not breaking your legs.

Are American citizens really comfortable with this conduct in their name?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Trump sees everything as transactional, so in his eyes he won't see a payback from foreign aid.
On a wider view I feel it is necessary to split things Trump cares about from things he is going to do to assist those who have helped him. The former will happen, unless somehow prevented, the latter will only happen if it doesn't interfere with things he wants and he doesn't fall out with whomever it is pushing that particular agenda.

 

[SuspectUsual]

That and his bullying behaviour and belief in solving everything with 'a deal'

Except it isn’t a deal, it’s extortion

 

[najaB]

The only possible restrain is whether the other Arab states kick-up enough of a fuss to cause Trump to stay his hand. Otherwise I reckon it's nailed on that Gaza is going to end up being annexed by someone.

I there's about zero chance that Egypt will agree to taking in hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, etc have said that only a two-state solution is acceptable. I can easily see Qatar and Bahrain kicking the Americans out of the military bases there over this.

 

[Thebaz]

To paraphrase a meme that's going around: If the United States saw what was happening in the United States, the United States would invade the United States to free them from the despotic leadership of the United States, and install a regime more in line with the best interests of the United States.

Oh, that's good. I'm stealing that..

 

[trainswitheddy]

Apologies to take to another topic but feel it's worth a mention. Ukraine being excluded or at the least not included from talks between the US and Russia is deeply concerning not only for Ukrainians but for the future of the conflict more generally, it should hardly come as a surprise after many of Trumps appointees, for examble Tulsi Gabbard, have been shown repeating Russian talking points (whether purposefully or not).

I'm not sure how anyone doesn't see the obvious pattern here. Russia makes a huge land grab claiming to be protecting the ethnic Russians in the region, that they want independence etc, tries to have peace talks, rearms and takes more territory.

The idea of abandoning Ukraine now, whom we have easy methods of supplying equipment, aid etc too (connected railways from Europe etc) only signals to other countries (China and Taiwan) that after a while we will get bored and take the easy way out - especially when supplying Taiwan is so much more of a logistical challenge, the loss of Taiwan would be catastrophic (semiconductors etc) but if pro-CCP talking points and/or disinformation takes hold in the west, coupled with a presumed manufacturing crisis seeing as how we're so reliant on China for many products, can Taiwan even realistically hope for survival or will the CCPs forces simply barrel in and take it with little western assistance other than a strongly worded letter diplomatic letter?

Unfortunately (for the sake of debate) with this thread there aren't many defending Trumps actions, however if you do have pro-Trump sympathies or support him I am genuinely curious on your thoughts towards his Ukraine strategy?

*apologies for any errors, got a bit rambly toward the end

 

[najaB]

Unfortunately (for the sake of debate) with this thread there aren't many defending Trumps actions, however if you do have pro-Trump sympathies or support him I am genuinely curious on your thoughts towards his Ukraine strategy?

Obviously, I'm not in the pro-DJT camp, but I'll point out that you're asking for too much. There is no strategy, he's purely transactional.

Strategy requires object permanency which is something I'm not convinced he ever developed, given how often the end of his sentences contradicts their begining.

 

[SuspectUsual]

There is no strategy, he's purely transactional

Agreed there's no strategy, but Trump absolutely isn't transactional - a transaction is a two-way process, whereas Trump's approach is to bully and extort - "do as I unilaterally say, or suffer the consequences"

 

[edwin_m]

Agreed there's no strategy, but Trump absolutely isn't transactional - a transaction is a two-way process, whereas Trump's approach is to bully and extort - "do as I unilaterally say, or suffer the consequences"

I think "transactional" is intended to mean that if somebody wins, someone else has to lose. He doesn't seem to get the concept of a deal where both sides benefit, such as when a country makes the items they are good at making and trades with others to obtain things they can't easily make themselves.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think "transactional" is intended to mean that if somebody wins, someone else has to lose. He doesn't seem to get the concept of a deal where both sides benefit, such as when a countries makes the items they are good at making and trade with others to obtain things they can't easily make themselves.

Indeed so. I read a great article today by Prof. David Honig of Indiana University, who specialises in teaching negotiation. I can’t post a link now, but it’s all over social media so shiuldnt be difficult to find.

 

[najaB]

I think "transactional" is intended to mean that if somebody wins, someone else has to lose.

Indeed. He doesn't do deals (despite having someone write The Art of the Deal and then putting his name on it). His view on everything is simply "What will get me what I want at this precise moment in time?" with zero thought given to what happens next.

 

[Harpo]

His view on everything is simply "What will get me what I want at this precise moment in time?" with zero thought given to what happens next.

I have absolutely no desire to see it happen, but I suspect that Trump’s zero-thought approach will cause there to be consequences from Palestinian groups.

At least Inspector Clouseau was funny.

 

[GusB]

We can only hope that nature takes its course soon.

How the hell did we end up with this nutcase in power - twice?

 

[hi2u_uk]

Why does it seem that the USA now wants to take over the world, they want to colonialise Canada, Greenland and now the Gaza strip ??

 

[Ivor]

Coming soon? A Trump plan to end the Ukraine war by dispossessing all Ukrainians, moving them out of their country and handing it over to Russia to resettle? After the resulting outcry, any concessions to Putin would seem almost acceptable by comparison. At one time I'd have thought that possibility was ludicrous, but after the last few weeks, I'm not so sure.

I missed the end of the Ukraine war, I know my relations there have, he was going to end it within 24 hours of taking office. Probably busy with a choreographer to work on his idiotic dad dance to YMCA

How the hell did we end up with this nutcase in power - twice?

Spot on Gus

 

[SuspectUsual]

Why does it seem that the USA now wants to take over the world, they want to colonialise Canada, Greenland and now the Gaza strip ??

Mad isn’t it. Especially given their domestic policy is so insular. Almost schizophrenic

 

[GatwickDepress]

As per the BBC, now the US State Department has falsely stated on X, the cesspit formerly known as Twitter, that US government vessels could now traverse the Panama Canal without paying fees. The Panama Canal Authority rebuked this claim.

Panama has denied making changes to allow US government vessels to transit the Panama Canal for free, following White House claims it had agreed to such a move.

The State Department said in a statement on X that its government vessels "can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year".

Responding to the comments, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said it was "empowered to set tolls and other fees for transiting the canal," adding that it had "not made any adjustments to them"

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced his desire to retake control of the waterway, which is key to global trade.

The 51-mile (82km) Panama Canal cuts across the Central American nation and is the main link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been on a visit to Latin American countries this week, demanded that Panama make "immediate changes" to what he calls the "influence and control" of China over the canal.

America's top diplomat said Panama had to act or the US would take necessary measures to protect its rights under a treaty between the two countries.

During a visit to the country, Rubio met Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, as well as the canal's administrator, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.

The ACP said after his visit that it had conveyed its intention to work with the US navy to optimise transit priority for its vessels through the canal.

This commitment for dialogue with Washington remained, it said in a separate statement on Wednesday.

Very much a post-truth government in the literal sense too.

 

[DerekC]

Why does it seem that the USA now wants to take over the world, they want to colonialise Canada, Greenland and now the Gaza strip ??

Money, money, money. Trump wants Canada's and Greenland's natural resources and sees Gaza as a potential Mediterranean money spinner.