Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[martin butler]

Another variable is in the purchases of American arms systems by Nato members, how much of all NATO spending, end up in the pockets of the American defence companies?

When Trump goes on about Nato not spending enough, is he really meaning that we, all of NATO are not buying enough US arms? and the lobbyists are busy whispering in his ear about how their corporate pay masters are not getting so many orders. and of course, the Hawks are also pushing their own agenda,

Trumps so corrupt that I'm wondering if his family have been getting kickbacks from military spending

 

[styles]

The Military Health System (MHS) is funded within the Department of Defense.

Department of War surely

(Yes I know it is still technically Department of Defense until such time Congress changes it)

 

[dosxuk]

When Trump goes on about Nato not spending enough, is he really meaning that we, all of NATO are not buying enough US arms? and the lobbyists are busy whispering in his ear about how their corporate pay masters are not getting so many orders. and of course, the Hawks are also pushing their own agenda,

Absolutely - he sees it all as part of his goal to rebalance his trade deficit.

The problem is all of his other words are making the NATO members invest internally to boost spending, rather than sending the cash over to the US as they envisioned.

 

[jon0844]

Department of War surely

(Yes I know it is still technically Department of Defense until such time Congress changes it)

For someone who ran on 'no more wars', the renaming of the department seems even more bizarre.

 

[The Ham]

In the US, military and veterans’ healthcare is funded through the federal budget - but it’s split across different departments, not lumped entirely inside “defence spending”.

Active-duty, retirees, and families (DoD - TRICARE / Military Health System):
The Military Health System (MHS) is funded within the Department of Defense.
It accounts for $61.4 billion (7.2%) of the DoD’s FY2025 budget request.
MHS and TRICARE collectively support 9.6 million beneficiaries.

Veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs – separate from DoD):
VA healthcare is not counted as defence spending.
Total VA-related veteran spending reached $326 billion in 2024, heavily driven by health and disability benefits.
Over half of federal discretionary healthcare funding relates to veterans’ hospital and medical care.

The US funds military healthcare partly inside the defence budget (DoD) and partly outside it (VA), whereas countries with public healthcare systems absorb virtually all those costs in their national health budgets instead of defence.

Thank you, I knew it wasn't simple, but there was some value which was counted, likewise I knew it wasn't a large percentage, however it does make straight comparisons overly simplistic too.

 

[Annetts key]

... however it does make straight comparisons overly simplistic too.

Straight comparisons are always going to be misleading as every country has a different mix of requirements and geographical differences.

The U.K. for example does really need both a navy and air force that can attempt to protect commercial shipping in the oceans as we are a net importer of food and other essential supplies. That's not always true of other countries where the army combined with air power may be more important, e.g. countries with long land borders.

One of the reasons that the U.S. spends so much money on their military is because their politicians enjoy using it for power projection and control. As seen this year, it enables them to interfere and bully countries where they don't like the government or leadership of a country. Or with Trump, because he wants to take control of another country.

 

[nlogax]

For someone who ran on 'no more wars', the renaming of the department seems even more bizarre.

Presumably the Dems can run on a slogan of 'no more war departments' in 2028.

 

[brad465]

Many face injuries caused by people palming themselves have just occurred after hearing this:

Trump makes joke about Pearl Harbour while meeting with Japan’s PM

While hosting Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, US President Donald Trump made a joke about Pearl Harbour.

news.sky.com

While hosting Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, US President Donald Trump made a joke about Pearl Harbour.

Video attached

 

[Trackman]

Many face injuries caused by people palming themselves have just occurred after hearing this:

Trump makes joke about Pearl Harbour while meeting with Japan’s PM

While hosting Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, US President Donald Trump made a joke about Pearl Harbour.

news.sky.com

How low can this man go?

 

[EYFanatic]

How low can this man go?

So low that he holds in person meetings with Satan

I saw the video just now and... Yeah, thats a new one. He's clearly mentally unfit for office and I can only presume they do not want to 25 him for fear of it being used again on one of their Presidents as it would set a... precedent

 

[nw1]

They have a moral duty to invoke the 25th amendment now. The man is a menace and a danger, is entirely unfit for office, and needs to be removed immediately.

Section 4 of the amendment appears to allow for this.

 

[martin butler]

They have a moral duty to invoke the 25th amendment now. The man is a menace and a danger, is entirely unfit for office, and needs to be removed immediately.

Section 4 of the amendment appears to allow for this.

All the time he is in office the shady people behind project 2025 are able to enact their plans, its nothing more than a desire to return to feudalism but with billionaires holding the power of kings, and extreme Christian groups hoping for the end of the world.

 

[nw1]

All the time he is in office the shady people behind project 2025 are able to enact their plans, its nothing more than a desire to return to feudalism but with billionaires holding the power of kings, and extreme Christian groups hoping for the end of the world.

Are most current Republicans part of Project 2025? Is JD part of Project 2025, and deliberately wants to keep Trump in power to distract attention?

Because if they are not, then it's going to be in their interest to get rid of him.

JD in particular has a very obvious motivation for 25-ing Trump. The way things are going the GOP aren't going to win the presidency in 2028, so it's his only opportunity for power.

You've only got to look at what's been going on in Minneapolis and other cities to realise that a very large number of Americans are not brainless morons who will just accept whatever rubbish the tech bros and the fundamentalist faux-Christians want. Then add to that some of the MAGA lot who are starting to question what Trump is doing and you're getting quite a strong kickback.

I'm not even sure all of the MAGA crowd want billionaires and religious fundamentalists to control them. While many of them are incorrectly blaming immigrants for their lot, many of them are presumably driven by poor personal financial circumstances and presumably if they realise they are being exploited, they will be quick to turn on the people exploiting them.

I'm not sure there's any method behind this at all. By increasing fuel prices through his (IMO) Epstein-distraction-tactic war, Trump is effectively sowing the seeds of destruction for the whole movement.

 

[Gloster]

So the only thing is not to risk people voting the wrong way by cancelling, sorry, postponing the mid-term elections until the Project 2025 bunch have completed rigging the system. They had reckoned on having four years, but Trump’s decline and erratic behaviour has endangered their plans, but nobody else has the ‘prestige’ (for want of a better word) among the voters to pull in the votes. Even with the measures they seem to have prepared, such as ICE hanging around polling stations in areas that just happen to be Democrat-leaning, things look a bit dodgy. There is only one answer: if you can’t win the vote by fair means or foul, don’t have a vote.

What with the chaos caused by the attack on Iran, there are sure to be incidents that Trump can be persuaded to believe justify a state of National Emergency and cancelling the vote. It won’t need much, just as long as it can be portrayed as a threat to apple pie and his pocket or ego.

Is it legal? Well, I am sure that the Supreme Court will rule on this after the decision has crawled through challenge after challenge in the lower courts, but by then the Project 2025 bunch will have got a lot done.

Would the people rise? Most would probably be insufficiently roused to do anything of any consequence. Anyone who takes action will be portrayed as just the sort of people who the state of emergency is needed to deal with.

 

[nlogax]

Would the people rise? Most would probably be insufficiently roused to do anything of any consequence. Anyone who takes action will be portrayed as just the sort of people who the state of emergency is needed to deal with.

True boiling frogs moment. I'm genuinely curious to know what it would take for the population to rouse from its slumber and reclaim the country, but cancelling the midterms would be a major test.

 

[martin butler]

True boiling frogs moment. I'm genuinely curious to know what it would take for the population to rouse from its slumber and reclaim the country, but cancelling the midterms would be a major test.

Having Trumps gestapo beating up voters, on the steps of town halls, might be the thing that wakes up the American people, The Mid-terms are controlled by state, not federal, so Trump has no legitimate way to stop them if governors decide to hold them, plus all are time limited they lose office regardless, thats why even in war time, the US still held votes,

That's when Vance might act, to remove trump, if he tries to stop the vote by presidential order, but it will still take place and afterwards, trump will lose any power, as congress will be pushing back, and impeaching the top officials for their actions, Bondi especially will be facing perjury ,the democrats can't get Trump, but they can get every last one of his cabinet, and once removed, I wouldn't bet on Vance not throwing Trump under the bus, because you can guarantee Trump will throw Vance and everyone else under the bus.

 

[The exile]

Would the people rise? Most would probably be insufficiently roused to do anything of any consequence. Anyone who takes action will be portrayed as just the sort of people who the state of emergency is needed to deal with.

Viewed from the outside - my gut feeling would be “no” as the people most likely to do so (in the short term) are Trump’s baseline support. “Militant decency” is a bit of a contradiction in terms and for the “decent middle” to rise up against the state in defence of law and order is a paradox which normally takes a much longer period of dictatorship and economic deprivation to bring about. If the man with the scythe doesn’t come to the rescue, the best hope is probably a palace coup that then reveals what’s really going on. What’s really chilling is that it no longer seems weird to be talking in this way about a country that “yesterday” was the a bastion of democracy and “leader of the free world”.

 

[nlogax]

Having Trumps gestapo beating up voters, on the steps of town halls, might be the thing that wakes up the American people, The Mid-terms are controlled by state, not federal, so Trump has no legitimate way to stop them if governors decide to hold them, plus all are time limited they lose office regardless, thats why even in war time, the US still held votes,

I'm aware it wouldn't be legally possible, but 'legally possible' isn't the obstacle it used to be in previous times. Trump is like a cornered animal and things will only worsen for him between now and November. Rumours and news reports suggest EOs are quietly being drafted that would do away with voting machines and mail-in ballots even if the Save Act doesn't become law. It wouldn't surprise me if that were true.

 

[martin butler]

I'm aware it wouldn't be legally possible, but 'legally possible' isn't the obstacle it used to be in previous times. Trump is like a cornered animal and things will only worsen for him between now and November. Rumours and news reports suggest EOs are quietly being drafted that would do away with voting machines and mail-in ballots even if the Save Act doesn't become law. It wouldn't surprise me if that were true.

Wouldn't doing away with mail in ballots and voting machines also harm the Republicans? After all, people who use mail in votes are not automatically going to vote Democrat, what if you're working out of state, in the military, etc,

As everything trump seems to do, it has the capacity to backfire, He clearly wants unlimited power, and no democracy to be a dictator for life, with no elections to hold him to account.

 

[nlogax]

Wouldn't doing away with mail in ballots and voting machines also harm the Republicans? After all, people who use mail in votes are not automatically going to vote Democrat, what if you're working out of state, in the military, etc,

It would, though Trump's ill-dreamt perception that voting machines and mail-in ballots were the cause of his 2020 loss are haunting what's left of his tattered mind. If he follows through with these plans then he salts the earth for all voters including his own.

The Save Act would also have an impact which I've already mentioned upthread.

 

[EYFanatic]

Section 4 of the amendment appears to allow for this.

Indeed it does, but id Trump says "Hey... I'm alright... The best alright thats every alrighted" he resumes his duties, so JD and the cabinet would have to issue Section 4 again. The whole of congress then has to assemble within 48 hours and then has 21 days to settle the issue

I can only think they are holding off on that because they wouldn't want this to back fire on them in the future

 

[martin butler]

Indeed it does, but id Trump says "Hey... I'm alright... The best alright thats every alrighted" he resumes his duties, so JD and the cabinet would have to issue Section 4 again. The whole of congress then has to assemble within 48 hours and then has 21 days to settle the issue

I can only think they are holding off on that because they wouldn't want this to back fire on them in the future

Trump would blow the biggest temper tantrum ever seen, he would tell his base to hang Vance, and the rest of the administration, you can bet on it, he would try to bully congress into some really stupid act, such as arresting Vance for treason, declaring an act of war etc, Trump will never go quietly, he will have to be dragged out of the white house feet first, either heavily sedated, or dead.

 

[najaB]

…and extreme Christian groups hoping for the end of the world.

That's something that a lot of people don't appreciate. There are people in positions of power in the US government who actively want to bring on the end of humanity.

That should scare everyone.

 

[DelW]

Wouldn't doing away with mail in ballots and voting machines also harm the Republicans? After all, people who use mail in votes are not automatically going to vote Democrat, what if you're working out of state, in the military, etc,

One of the problems for the Republicans is that quite a lot of their support is in very rural and\or remote areas, where the nearest polling station isn't a stroll round the corner, it's a long drive or even a flight away. Taking mail-in ballots away from those voters is going to harm, not help, their cause. Some GOP senators have already argued against the suggestion.

Trump would blow the biggest temper tantrum ever seen, he would tell his base to hang Vance, and the rest of the administration, you can bet on it, he would try to bully congress into some really stupid act, such as arresting Vance for treason, declaring an act of war etc, Trump will never go quietly, he will have to be dragged out of the white house feet first, either heavily sedated, or dead.

I thought that might be the case in January 2021 to be honest. I was quite surprised that he did eventually leave without being forcibly dragged out.

 

[Ediswan]

One of the problems for the Republicans is that quite a lot of their support is in very rural and\or remote areas, where the nearest polling station isn't a stroll round the corner, it's a long drive or even a flight away. Taking mail-in ballots away from those voters is going to harm, not help, their cause. Some GOP senators have already argued against the suggestion.

Would this be in Alaska ? They are well known for using light aircraft to get around.

 

[najaB]

Would this be in Alaska ? They are well known for using light aircraft to get around.

It may also apply in some areas of the west. The desert states are big and not densely populated.

 

[DelW]

Would this be in Alaska ? They are well known for using light aircraft to get around.

IIRC one of those senators was from Alaska, and was the one referring to flights. But there were others, as @najaB alluded to.

 

[Annetts key]

It's alright, Trump will use another land grab as a distraction to his current mess of a distraction. He's going to take Cuba...

Video above - Farron Balanced on "Donald Trump Is A Dangerously Deranged Lunatic".

Donald Trump is facing backlash after claiming he could “do anything” he wants with Cuba and suggesting he might “take” the country in some form. The comments come amid rising tensions and a deepening crisis on the island, drawing sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. Farron Cousins discusses this.

 

[najaB]

It's alright, Trump will use another land grab as a distraction to his current mess of a distraction. He's going to take Cuba...

I don't see how that significantly increases his popularity though. I don't think there's a sizable population of people saying "I kinda like Trump, but he's not imperialistic enough".

 

[nlogax]

As many have joked online, at this point he's going to have to release the Epstein files to distract from everything else.