Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[ainsworth74]

At this point would anyone buy that?

Probably not which is why this time feels different. It really feels like he might have lost control of a situation and can't just tough it out.

 

[styles]

Somehow I missed this story for a few days.

Trump cuts tariffs on Switzerland after they give him a Rolex and a gold clock.

US agrees deal to slash Swiss tariffs to 15% after golden charm offensive

Under the deal, Donald Trump's 39% tariffs will be cut and Switzerland will invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US.

www.bbc.com

Switzerland and the US have agreed to cut President Donald Trump's steep 39% tariffs on Swiss imports to 15%, as part of a deal that involves a Swiss promise to invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US.

"It's a great relief for our economy," said Swiss Economics Minister Guy Parmelin, who said significant damage had been done since the additional tariffs had kicked in last August.

Parmelin said a move by Swiss business leaders to meet Trump in the White House last week had proved "decisive" in reaching a deal.

Industry chiefs visited the Oval Office, bearing gifts including a Rolex gold watch and a specially engraved gold bar from Swiss-based gold refining company MKS.

 

[brad465]

Somehow I missed this story for a few days.

Trump cuts tariffs on Switzerland after they give him a Rolex and a gold clock.

US agrees deal to slash Swiss tariffs to 15% after golden charm offensive

Under the deal, Donald Trump's 39% tariffs will be cut and Switzerland will invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US.

www.bbc.com

Country built on money laundering and fraud offering to help country run by President with a history of money laundering and fraud.

Incidentally this story came out yesterday about Trump's latest money laundering venture:

Trump family and Saudi partner unveil tokenised Maldives resort

Project announced on eve of Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to White House

www.ft.com

Donald Trump’s family business and its Saudi Arabian partner are to build a luxury Maldives resort that uses blockchain technology to attract investment, in plans unveiled on the eve of a visit to Washington by the kingdom’s de facto ruler. The Trump Organization and London-listed Dar Global on Monday announced plans for the 80-villa hospitality development a short boat ride from Maldives capital Malé, in the latest venture to be launched by the two companies.

 

[D6130]

Country built on money laundering and fraud offering to help country run by President with a history of money laundering and fraud.

Incidentally this story came out yesterday about Trump's latest money laundering venture:

Trump family and Saudi partner unveil tokenised Maldives resort

Project announced on eve of Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to White House

www.ft.com

I thought that the Maldives were going to be underwater in a few years time due to rising sea levels caused by global warming?

 

[Gloster]

I thought that the Maldives were going to be underwater in a few years time due to rising sea levels caused by global warming?

Yes, but the people who make all the money won’t be, will they? They and their money will be welcome in Mar-a-Lago. And the others? Who? How much have they got?

 

[brad465]

Yes, but the people who make all the money won’t be, will they? They and their money will be welcome in Mar-a-Lago. And the others? Who? How much have they got?

Mar-a-Lago will probably be underwater soon as well.

 

[Gloster]

Mar-a-Lago will probably be underwater soon as well.

All the better. They can arrive, hand over their ill-gotten gains, be arrested by ICE and put to work in a chain-gang to raise Mar-a-Lago above the encroaching waters. (The trouble with comments like this nowadays is that you wonder if it might already be planned.)

 

[Tester]

All the better. They can arrive, hand over their ill-gotten gains, be arrested by ICE and put to work in a chain-gang to raise Mar-a-Lago above the encroaching waters. (The trouble with comments like this nowadays is that you wonder if it might already be planned.)

Indeed you are Donald Trump and I claim my £5

 

[dgl]

Remember for the likes of Trumpton climate change is fake news, so it doesn't matter if scientists claim the area will be underwater as they will claim otherwise.
Remember we are not dealing with rational people here!

 

[jon0844]

Mar-a-Lago will probably be underwater soon as well.

By then, everyone will have relocated to the Trump Ballroom that he's going to claim is his because the taxpayer didn't fund it.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Bill Gates has done an amazing 180-degree about-turn with his views on climate change. Apparently it's now nothing at all to worry about.

In a stunning and significant pushback to the “doomsday” climate activist community, Bill Gates, a leading proponent for carbon emissions reductions, published a remarkable essay Tuesday that argued resources must be shifted away from the battle against climate change.

Instead, Gates argues, the world’s philanthropists must increase their investment in other efforts aimed at preventing disease and hunger.

Climate change is not going to wipe out humanity, he argued, and past efforts that strive for achieving zero carbon emissions have made real progress. But Gates said that past investments fighting climate change have been misplaced, and too much good money has been put into expensive and questionable efforts.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/28/business/bill-gates-climate-change

I wonder why he might have done that just as there's starting to be increased scrutiny about his links to Jeffrey Epstein. A mystery we'll never solve, I guess.

 

[najaB]

Bill Gates has done an amazing 180-degree about-turn with his views on climate change. Apparently it's now nothing at all to worry about.

That's not exactly what he said though, is it? It is indisputable that a lot of money has been put into things like carbon capture schemes that have limited actual impact. At the same time, there's been underinvestment in providing food and income stability. If you look at what the Gates Foundation actually invests in, its mostly around health and nutrition, and local climate resilience rather than big, flashy projects like large-scale carbon capture.

 

[jon0844]

Carbon capture is for the most part a scam, a way for polluting companies to continue polluting by pretending they're doing something.

There may be some valid use cases, but I'm not convinced. I doubt many people that see climate change as an issue are behind the concept.

 

[87electric]

Gates Foundation indeed donates to health/living via philanthropic charities like the BBC Media Action. Probably his most attention is overseeing his TerraPower nuclear energy company as it seems to be scaling up big time at this current moment.

 

[brad465]

House vote 427-1 in favour of releasing the files, which must be one of the most clear-cut votes in history outside of war (Clay Higgins the sole No vote). Now we wait to see how Trump tries to delay further votes and release:

Live: US House and Senate approve release of Epstein files

The bipartisan bill will now head to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law.

www.bbc.co.uk

The US House of Representatives has voted 427-1 to compel the justice department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

 

[ainsworth74]

Still has to pass the Senate...

 

[najaB]

Still has to pass the Senate...

A reminder for those following along at home: this is a bill to compel DJT to do what DJT can do at any time, and could have done months ago.

It will be interesting to hear the story if, for some reason, it gets stuck in the Senate: "I would love to release the files but my hands are tied because the bill to force me to release them (because I refused to) hasn't passed."

 

[Cowley]

A reminder for those following along at home: this is a bill to compel DJT to do what DJT can do at any time, and could have done months ago.

It will be interesting to hear the story if, for some reason, it gets stuck in the Senate: "I would love to release the files but my hands are tied because the bill to force me to release them (because I refused to) hasn't passed."

I think the Senate is currently 53% Republican isn’t it?

At this point any further attempts to suppress it just looks damaging for him now. Especially to some of his base who were pretty invested in the whole Qanon thing.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It doesn’t matter. Everything interesting will be redacted to within an inch of its life before it’s published

 

[Cowley]

It doesn’t matter. Everything interesting will be redacted to within an inch of its life before it’s published

I believe it does matter.

What (if anything) is released is one thing, but it’s the missing stuff that’s going to drive the conspiracy minded up the wall, and his base is full of people like that.

 

[najaB]

What (if anything) is released is one thing, but it’s the missing stuff that’s going to drive the conspiracy minded up the wall, and his base is full of people like that.

"I fought for months to not release the files and redacted large parts of them to protect other people, not myself. Believe me."

 

[SuspectUsual]

I believe it does matter.

What (if anything) is released is one thing, but it’s the missing stuff that’s going to drive the conspiracy minded up the wall, and his base is full of people like that.

Opinions on this seem massively entrenched. I don’t believe what is or isn’t in the files, or what is or isn’t released, or what is or isn’t redacted, will change anyone’s mind.

 

[najaB]

Opinions on this seem massively entrenched. I don’t believe what is or isn’t in the files, or what is or isn’t released, or what is or isn’t redacted, will change anyone’s mind.

This is likely true to an extent, but that's not going to work in Trump's favour - the attempt to block the release of the files has been a big factor in forming opinions. At this point either the files confirm what people believe (that he's implicated) or the lack of confirmation just reinforces the idea that he's hiding something. And that applies as much to MAGA Republicans (who tend to be of conspiratorial mindsets) as it does to liberals and moderates.

 

[Cowley]

This is likely true to an extent, but that's not going to work in Trump's favour - the attempt to block the release of the files has been a big factor in forming opinions. At this point either the files confirm what people believe (that he's implicated) or the lack of confirmation just reinforces the idea that he's hiding something. And that applies as much to MAGA Republicans (who tend to be of conspiratorial mindsets) as it does to liberals and moderates.

Exactly. I think we’re witnessing the first thing that potentially is properly damaging for him and he’s now not only struggling to keep a lid on it but I think it’s happening at a time when he’s not as mentally agile as he was a few years ago.

 

[Gloster]

And then what… The president or vice-president can only be removed after impeachment and conviction of ‘Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours’. We don’t know what might be revealed in the files, but it is quite possible that any actions, even some thoroughly odious ones (if they are there such: there might not be) can either not be classified as leading to impeachment or the whole process can be delayed interminably by lawyers arguing that they aren’t. Trump is almost certainly willing to hang on at any cost or, at least, until he’s emptied the kitty.

 

[najaB]

Trump is almost certainly willing to hang on at any cost or, at least, until he’s emptied the kitty.

The longer he holds on, the more damage he does to the GOP. It will only be a matter of time before his utility as an vote winner turns into a liability as a vote loser, once that inflection point is reached expect them to jettison him.

Why do you think that Marjorie "Jewish Space Laser" Green publicly called for the files to be released?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Nov 2025 ==

The bill passed in the Senate by unanimous consent.

 

[brad465]

Still has to pass the Senate...

I think the Senate is currently 53% Republican isn’t it?

At this point any further attempts to suppress it just looks damaging for him now. Especially to some of his base who were pretty invested in the whole Qanon thing.

Passed the Senate with unanimous verdict:

Live: US House and Senate approve release of Epstein files

The bipartisan bill will now head to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law.

www.bbc.co.uk

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asks the Senate to pass the bill - just passed by the House - to compel the release of the Epstein files by unanimous consent.

No senator objected, meaning the bill will head to Donald Trump to sign.

 

[nlogax]

How much use do we think the Redact-o-pen or TrumpErase-o-matic will have seen for this document release?

 

[dgl]

The one issue there could be with any redactions is people will just assume the redacted parts mention Trump, so Trump could still be screwed. Plus if too much stuff is redacted then it won't stop the row over the release of the files.

 

[Bantamzen]

How much use do we think the Redact-o-pen or TrumpErase-o-matic will have seen for this document release?

He's already put into plan his next stall. By instructing the FBI / DOJ to investigate possible involvement by some high ranking Democrats, he's activated the "can't release whilst there is a live investigation ongoing" clause. So he can sit on the bits that are potentially damaging for him, whilst leaking info on his enemies.