Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[JamesT]

Or unless the Supreme Court find some esoteric reason as to why it doesn’t apply if the two terms aren’t consecutive.

Which I wouldn’t put past them tbh.

The amendment says cannot be elected more than twice. The only ambiguous bit is whether someone who has already served two terms could succeed to the presidency from a lesser position. But can you really see Trump being someone's Vice President, even if only temporarily?

 

[eyebrook1961]

One thing I read today was a comment about time zones saying that, in London it was 1pm, in Mexico it was 6am and, in the US it was 1930's Germany

That's seriously seems the path that the tango'd fool is hell bent on pursuing

 

[RT4038]

I also wonder how much of it still came from China/Mexico/etc and they did the bare minimum to be permitted to slap "made in USA" on it.

Well of course - if they use US labour to make it, it will be too expensive and they'll sell much less.

 

[ainsworth74]

Offshoring everything has put a lot of people out of work. Those people are angry. Those people have been angry for 20 years or more, but Trump is the only one who has really tapped into that anger. The Democrats haven't, which is why the Democrats lost.

People don't want "free trade" if all that "free trade" means to them is that their job making widgets gets moved to Bangladesh/India/China/Thailand where Nike can pay some 6 year old kid ten cents an hour to make $200 trainers.

And I do think that on this they do actually have a fair point. I sit here in the post-industrial ruins of Teesside (okay, ruins is perhaps me exaggerating slightly ) and have the people of the North East really been best served by de-industrialisation? The nation as a whole has probably in terms of raw GDP growth done better out of those industries going offshore but I'm not convinced that those benefits have really been felt in those former industrial heartlands. A similar tale in much of the US "Rust Belt" I suspect.

Has the decline of US Steel (both the company and, to be fair, the industry) really been the best thing for Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio? The decline of vehicle production worked out well for Detroit? As well as smaller widget producing factories throughout much of the US? Of course work has come in to replace those, at least in some places, but a lot of it is perhaps not as well paid, certainly likely to be less secure. Some of it is also unlikely to be much good to an unemployed coal miner in his 50s. I can certainly see why they're angry and why if someone came along and tapped into that anger they'd reward them handsomely. Just a shame that they've swung in behind someone and a party edifice that would happily offshore even more if they thought it would make them an extra buck or two.

Complex issues of course and ones that much of the Western world has been grappling with, to varying degrees of success, since the 1980s.

Or unless the Supreme Court find some esoteric reason as to why it doesn’t apply if the two terms aren’t consecutive.

Which I wouldn’t put past them tbh.

I really do think that people aren't alive enough to the looming threat that the rule of law in the US is functionally dead. At the moment it feels like it's currently in the ICU but still just about hanging in there. But I really don't think we're far away from it suffering a fatal blow, it's all well and good and pointing to the provisions of the Constitution but if the Supreme Court were to decide to interpret it in an odd way who is going to stop them? Or if Trump and the Republican's decide to just start ignoring the court? They're clearly beginning to lay the groundwork for that particularly move, starting with something small (but also not really) and will likely move on to bigger things:

[...]

Vice President JD Vance, as he's done before, questioned judicial oversight of the executive branch. In an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos last year, Vance suggested a president can ignore a court's order -- even a Supreme Court order -- he considers illegitimate.

"If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power," Vance said over the weekend.

Trump was asked on Sunday about Vance's comments and some of his setbacks in court.

"When a president can't look for fraud and waste and abuse, we don't have a country anymore," Trump told reporters. "So, we're very disappointed, but with the judges that would make such a ruling. But we have a long way to go."

"No judge should, frankly, be allowed to make that kind of a decision," the president added. "It's a disgrace."

[...]

Trump, Vance and Musk take aim at the courts as judges halt some of 2nd term agenda

President Donald Trump and key members of his administration are lashing out at judges who have halted some of his second-term agenda.

abcnews.go.com

We're only on week three and they're already talking openly and, we have to assume, seriously about just ignoring court orders. Where will be in 2027/28 when issues of who will be on the ballot will start to crop up?

 

[WelshBluebird]

People don't want "free trade" if all that "free trade" means to them is that their job making widgets gets moved to Bangladesh/India/China/Thailand where Nike can pay some 6 year old kid ten cents an hour to make $200 trainers.

But they do want cheap crap off temu etc they would cost significantly more than if it was made in the west. They need to decide which is it because it is one or the other.

Or to be a bit more careful with my wording, we have gotten used to the reduced cost of things offshoring manufacturing had given us, and there is no way regular people would accept the increased costs that would need to be felt if that was reversed.

 

[najaB]

Has the decline of US Steel (both the company and, to be fair, the industry) really been the best thing for Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio? The decline of vehicle production worked out well for Detroit? As well as smaller widget producing factories throughout much of the US? Of course work has come in to replace those, at least in some places, but a lot of it is perhaps not as well paid, certainly likely to be less secure. Some of it is also unlikely to be much good to an unemployed coal miner in his 50s. I can certainly see why they're angry and why if someone came along and tapped into that anger they'd reward them handsomely. Just a shame that they've swung in behind someone and a party edifice that would happily offshore even more if they thought it would make them an extra buck or two.

And there you've hit the nail on the head as far as de-industrialisation is concerned.

The problem isn't deindustrialisation in itself, but that it was driven by a desire to maximise profits in the short term. And so no thought or provision was given to the workforces by the owners of the industries, and the governments of the day were happy to let them throw the workers to the curb rather than risk angering them through higher taxation of the greater profits to fund diversification and retraining.

That said, it's not like the barons of the industrial revolution founded those industrial towns out of the goodness of their hearts, but rather because they needed the labour. So in that regard not much has changed.

 

[edwin_m]

And I do think that on this they do actually have a fair point. I sit here in the post-industrial ruins of Teesside (okay, ruins is perhaps me exaggerating slightly ) and have the people of the North East really been best served by de-industrialisation? The nation as a whole has probably in terms of raw GDP growth done better out of those industries going offshore but I'm not convinced that those benefits have really been felt in those former industrial heartlands. A similar tale in much of the US "Rust Belt" I suspect.

One possible answer to this is that neither the UK nor the US have used the opportunities of globalisation to offset the impacts on the areas that have suffered from it. I would guess the US is worse in that respect due to a much stronger culture of small government and distrust of state intervention. Both countries are now turning to the blunt instruments of protectionism and anti-immigration when something much more nuanced is probably needed.

 

[dgl]

And isn't it the case that US made locomotives/rolling stock from European companies is no where near the quality of that made over here.

 

[Tetchytyke]

And I do think that on this they do actually have a fair point.

I think so too.

“Free trade” means that Newcastle Brown Ale is brewed in the Netherlands and the Shields Ferry was built in the Netherlands and HP Sauce is made in the Netherlands. “Free trade” means Dr Martens boots are made in Vietnam and Barbour jackets are made in Thailand. “Free trade” means your bank’s call centre is in India. “Free trade” means British Steel is owned by an Indian who ran it into the ground and “free trade” means the British chemicals industry is owned by a tax dodger living in Monaco.

As you say, it’s even worse in the US, especially in the rust belt.

Of course people are angry. And the Democrats still don’t get why they lost. Remainers still don’t get why they lost either.

If you told most Geordies that tariffs were being put on Newcastle Brown Ale until it is made in Newcastle again, you wouldn’t get many complaints.

But they do want cheap crap off temu etc they would cost significantly more than if it was made in the west.

It’s more complicated than that. Even expensive items are made abroad now- my M&S overcoat was made in Morocco, my Dr Martens were made in Thailand, one of my Barbour coats was made in Vietnam. Everyone’s trainers were made in some sweatshop in Bangladesh. So why not shop at Temu instead? Chances are the Temu boots were made in the same sweatshop as the genuine goods.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2025 ==

And isn't it the case that US made locomotives/rolling stock from European companies is no where near the quality of that made over here.

Not much is made over here now. Nobody in the UK makes freight locomotives. There’s only really the Bombardier plant at Derby that actually makes anything at all. Hitachi manufacture everything in Japan and just bolt the bits together here, and they only do that for political reasons.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Free trade” means that Newcastle Brown Ale is brewed in the Netherlands

At the same time of means that plenty of foreign branded beers are brewed in the UK too.

It’s more complicated than that. Even expensive items are made abroad now- my M&S overcoat was made in Morocco, my Dr Martens were made in Thailand, one of my Barbour coats was made in Vietnam. Everyone’s trainers were made in some sweatshop in Bangladesh. So why not shop at Temu instead? Chances are the Temu boots were made in the same sweatshop as the genuine goods.

I was being facetious, but I did add a quick more serious edit. At the end of the day we are now used to and probably reliant on the reduced cost manufacturing abroad gives. I don't think that is something we can reverse unless we drastically reduce our standards of living.

 

[Tetchytyke]

At the same time of means that plenty of foreign branded beers are brewed in the UK too.

They’re not brewed here for export though. Purely for UK consumption. And that’s if they’re an actual real foreign brand and not just marketing guff like Madri.

At the end of the day we are now used to and probably reliant on the reduced cost manufacturing abroad gives.

But, generally, do consumers see the benefit of the “reduced cost”, or does it go into the back pockets of the big corporates? If we assume that the likes of Nike and Adidas charge what the market will bear, not what the items cost them to make, then who gets the benefit of the reduced manufacturing cost?

Dr Martens are an excellent example. For roughly the same price as a pair of Dr Martens which are made in Thailand you can buy a pair of Solovair boots which are made in Northampton. The only difference is that Solar isn’t owned by private equity and that Solovair’s brand doesn’t have the cache of DMs. I’ve switched to Solovair from Dr Martens because they’re better quality and made in the UK and, crucially, they’re no more expensive.

 

[najaB]

At the end of the day we are now used to and probably reliant on the reduced cost manufacturing abroad gives. I don't think that is something we can reverse unless we drastically

There definitely is a lot of cakeism.

People want high-paying manufacturing jobs and cheap goods.

 

[Tetchytyke]

People want high-paying manufacturing jobs and cheap goods.

As above, I’m not sure that is entirely true.

For all the people bragging about their Temu hauls you have people paying £200 for a pair of trainers that were made in some sweatshop. For the latter we have to assume the retailers are selling the items for what the market will bear and so not making them in a foreign sweatshop won’t affect the prices.

 

[najaB]

As above, I’m not sure that is entirely true.

Of course it's not universally true. But the £200 sneaker market is a dwarfed by the £20 market.

 

[Yew]

At the same time of means that plenty of foreign branded beers are brewed in the UK too.

Lovely, some fake "German" Pißwasser. I think I'd prefer it if regional beers were made regionally in the UK, and German beers were made regionally in Germany.

More seriously, the prevailing model of large multinationals that are only beholden to maximising profits for shareholders clearly hasn't worked for the country and the people in it. Jobs have gone, beloved local brands have been destroyed, meaning that communities are economically and socially poorer.

 

[trainswitheddy]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/08/trump-administration-job-candidates-loyalty-screening/

"These people said that two individuals, both former officials who were being considered for positions within the intelligence community, were asked to give “yes” or “no” responses to the questions: Was Jan. 6 “an inside job?” And was the 2020 presidential election “stolen?”

These individuals, who did not give the desired straight “yes” answers, were not selected. It is not clear whether other factors contributed to the decision."

While this isn't a surprise it is still of concern that this administration is blatantly endorsing conspiracy and lies and ensuring all those who join equally subscribe to these theories.

I mentioned this before but my worry with this seeding of distrust that is going on between people and the media will only allow Trump to further his agenda.
E.g.
Elon Musk wants to gut all regulations, which could lead to serious accident and injury or exploitation of workers
"Woke nonsense"
USAID helped eradicate Polio, gutting aid will only mean the spread of disease which will inevitably make its way to the US
"Fake news"

Possibly another ramble but this endorsement of lies and collapse of meaningful discourse will only push these agendas further and surely ensure a worsening of political tribalism.

 

[GusB]

USAID helped eradicate Polio, gutting aid will only mean the spread of disease which will inevitably make its way to the US

I wouldn't worry about that too much; an injection of bleach will sort it out fairly quickly

 

[SteveP29]

Lovely, some fake "German" Pißwasser.

Spot the GTAV player

 

[brad465]

Tell me the UK is in an abusive relationship without telling me the UK is in an abusive relationship:

UK and US refuse to sign international AI declaration

It follows a warning from US Vice President JD Vance that excessive regulation could "kill a transformative industry."

www.bbc.co.uk

The UK and US have not signed an international agreement on artificial intelligence (AI) at a global summit in Paris.

The statement, signed by France, China and India among other countries, pledges an "open", "inclusive" and "ethical" approach to the technology's development.

Downing Street said the UK "hadn't been able to agree all parts of the leaders' declaration" and would "only ever sign up to initiatives that are in UK national interests".

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance told delegates in Paris that too much regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) could "kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off".

Vance told world leaders that AI was "an opportunity that the Trump administration will not squander" and said "pro-growth AI policies" should be prioritised over safety.

He said that this would require regulation which fosters AI development "rather than strangles it".

Vance added that leaders in Europe should especially "look to this new frontier with optimism, rather than trepidation".

His comments appear to put him at odds with French President Emmanuel Macron, who defended the need for further regulation.

"We need these rules for AI to move forward," Macron said at the summit.

The UK has previously been a champion of the idea of AI safety, with then prime minister Rishi Sunak holding the world's first AI Safety Summit in November 2023.

Andrew Dudfield, head of AI at fact-checking organisation Full Fact, said the government's decision not to sign the Paris communique put that in jeopardy.

"By refusing to sign today's international AI Action Statement the UK Government risks undercutting its hard-won credibility as a world leader for safe, ethical and trustworthy AI innovation," he said.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I was reading about the "Trail of Tears" actions in the US south east in the 1830s (Andrew Jackson was president).
60,000 first native Americans from 5 tribes (Cherokee being the biggest) were forced to trek under guard to Oklahoma so that white farmers could take their land.
The legislation was supposed to make the trek voluntary, but Jackson and the US army enforced the migration.
The "5 Tribes" also displaced plains Indians whose land the US government had taken for the reservation.
Similar legislation was used to set up other Indian reservations later in the 19th century.
Trump has just taken that playbook, which was ethnic cleansing, for Gaza, and applied it to more than 2 million Palestinians.

Trail of Tears - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Today I hear he has renamed Greenland as Red White and Blueland.
I see Google maps now shows "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)".
And BP and Shell, with huge investments there, are to use the term Gulf of America.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I see Google maps now shows "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)".

Came here to see if anyone else had noticed it, I see a sky news article with a photo of it just saying "Gulf of America" without any mention to Mexico, so it might appear different to people viewing from the US.

 

[Silver Cobra]

Came here to see if anyone else had noticed it, I see a sky news article with a photo of it just saying "Gulf of America" without any mention to Mexico, so it might appear different to people viewing from the US.

For residents of the US it will show only "Gulf of America". For residents of Mexico it will show only "Gulf of Mexico". For the rest of the world it will show "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)".

Wonder if Trump will be happy enough with that, or if he'll start demanding that the rest of the world only calls it Gulf of America.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It can't be long before he issues an executive order renaming Mt Rushmore as Mt Trump, and requiring that he is added to the presidents already there

 

[bspahh]

I think so too.

“Free trade” means that Newcastle Brown Ale is brewed in the Netherlands and the Shields Ferry was built in the Netherlands and HP Sauce is made in the Netherlands. “Free trade” means Dr Martens boots are made in Vietnam and Barbour jackets are made in Thailand. “Free trade” means your bank’s call centre is in India. “Free trade” means British Steel is owned by an Indian who ran it into the ground and “free trade” means the British chemicals industry is owned by a tax dodger living in Monaco.

I live in Cambridgeshire. Today, I have worked for customers in South San Francisco, Germany, Cambridge MA, Texas, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Of the 5 people based in the US, 4 did their first degree in India.

I was also in an internal Zoom meeting with people based in Leipzig, Cologne, Cape Town, Montreal, Illinois, Connecticut and Vancouver.

 

[AlterEgo]

Spot the GTAV player

Trump will probably claim to "deliver" GTA VI when it does eventually come out. Wouldn't have happened under Biden etc.

 

[najaB]

I see Google maps now shows "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)".

That's not unprecedented though. They have a policy of showing local names where they differ from the name recognised generally. For example, see Myanmar (Burma) in the screenshot below:

Wonder if Trump will be happy enough with that, or if he'll start demanding that the rest of the world only calls it Gulf of America.

He can demand all he wants, he has zero ability to force anyone to change what they call it.

 

[jon0844]

That's not unprecedented though. They have a policy of showing local names where they differ from the name recognised generally. For example, see Myanmar (Burma) in the screenshot below:

View attachment 174485

He can demand all he wants, he has zero ability to force anyone to change what they call it.

Maybe he'll get Elon to sue everyone. I mean, if you won't advertise on X or buy a Tesla, you can already expect a lawsuit...!

 

[brad465]

It can't be long before he issues an executive order renaming Mt Rushmore as Mt Trump, and requiring that he is added to the presidents already there the presidents there are removed and only his head is installed

Fixed it for you.

 

[Jimini]

For residents of the US it will show only "Gulf of America". For residents of Mexico it will show only "Gulf of Mexico". For the rest of the world it will show "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)".

Wonder if Trump will be happy enough with that, or if he'll start demanding that the rest of the world only calls it Gulf of America.

Indeed -- I took this screenshot a couple of hours or so ago to send to a couple of chums (I've cropped my mugshot out at the top ):




Image is an iPhone / Google Maps screenshot with "Gulf of America" marked on it.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They have a policy of showing local names where they differ from the name recognised generally.

Only sometimes, though, you don’t see “La Manche” on Google Maps?


(Screenshot shows Google Maps with just the “English Channel” listed to describe the English Channel/La Manche.)