Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[The exile]

I wonder if the world cup will be a wakeup call for the state of the US generally, depending on how it is received.

It will present an interesting opportunity for comparison with Berlin 1936 where the regime actually had the sense to rein itself in for a month or so.

 

[kitchenoven]

It will present an interesting opportunity for comparison with Berlin 1936 where the regime actually had the sense to rein itself in for a month or so.

Certainly. Headlines like this https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/iran-world-cup-base-camp-tijuana-mexico-tuscon-war already show us it will certainly be a highly political one. I just wonder how far Trump will take it (worringly I feel pretty far as his mental capacity certainly seems to be reduced somewhat).

 

[martin butler]

Certainly. Headlines like this https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/iran-world-cup-base-camp-tijuana-mexico-tuscon-war already show us it will certainly be a highly political one. I just wonder how far Trump will take it (worringly I feel pretty far as his mental capacity certainly seems to be reduced somewhat).

Trump won't care, all he will want is to see his name on every media post, even if it's for the wrong reason, I think he's well beyond being able to rationale his behaviour.

Especially if countries refuse to attend, half empty stadiums, making huge losses, might be the catalyst that also brings down FIFA, and ushers in a corruption free replacement.

 

[Killingworth]

With everything he has done, to try to keep justice at bay, what happens though when he shuffles off this mortal coil,

He's in poor health, nearing 80, has advanced heart failure, never exercises, overweight, he can't cheat death, like he has everyone else,

The cheap facade he has put up around himself will crumble; his legacy will be what? exposed lies, on a stage not seen for many years,

Maga will implode without its leader, The best example would be Stalin, how his people were soon looked upon as criminals.by the next leadership.

As one too close to 80 myself I hope others aren't counting on my early demise!

With all the benefits of modern medical science he should be able to see out his term. That's still a worryingly long period for his style to become more entrenched in US government at all levels. There's a lot of trouble and strife ahead on both sides of the political divide.

We tend to overlook how Democrats struggled to find good Presidential candidates in recent years - some might say in any years. Can they coalesce around a unifying team that is capable of restoring sound governance from 2028? It's going to be a very challenging time and there's absolutely no guarantee Donald won't have skewed the system to get another term for himself - or a puppet he can still control (Putin as his model).

Clearly most European residents don't think highly of Trump. Astonishingly a lot in the US still do! Time will tell.

When in the US in 1998 I recall hearing a case being made for the US splitting in 2, or even 3. A wealthy west coast with high tech, a wealthy New England and east coast with financial dominance - and the rest. Civil War scenario Mark 2! Not likely, but there could, and probably will, be a chaotic period ahead.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Especially if countries refuse to attend, half empty stadiums, making huge losses, might be the catalyst that also brings down FIFA, and ushers in a corruption free replacement.

The FIFA could be taken over - we could call it the World Coup, then...?

Returning to Trump, I see from the BBC TV News that there was another shooting in his vicinity last night; someone shot up one of the checkpoints outside the White House and in turn rather unsurprisingly died from a case of sudden onset lead poisoning.

Suspect killed after opening fire on Secret Service near White House

Officials say a suspect approached a checkpoint near the building and opened fire, and that a bystander was wounded.

www.bbc.co.uk

Suspect killed after opening fire on Secret Service near White House​

A gunman who shot at a White House security checkpoint was killed in an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents on Saturday evening, officials have confirmed.

The suspect was Nasire Best, a 21-year-old man, the Metropolitan Police Department told the BBC. He reportedly was known to police and had a documented history of mental health conditions.

Gunfire rang out just after 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT) - reporters filming outside ducked and ran for cover inside the White House.

US President Donald Trump was at the White House but was unharmed. He thanked officers for their "swift and professional action". The shooting comes a month after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

The incident began when Best pulled a gun from his bag and "began firing" outside the White House at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Secret Service officers posted on the corner returned fire, striking the gunman. Best was then taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

 

[najaB]

It’s absolutely staggering and I consider all governments who accept him as a leader as complicit.

And what do you propose as the alternative for these other governments if they don't "accept" him as leader?

 

[DoubleLemon]

I see trump has been doing his usual "pump and dump" over oil prices. announcing there is a deal a few days before the weekend so prices rise, then making comments over the weekend to ensure they fall Monday. I'm expecting a deranged tweet today.

 

[scarby]

And what do you propose as the alternative for these other governments if they don't "accept" him as leader?

I don’t care what the alternative is.

He’s a criminal.

The rule of law has to apply equally to everyone. No exceptions.

 

[Killingworth]

I don’t care what the alternative is.

He’s a criminal.

The rule of law has to apply equally to everyone. No exceptions.

Of course. But who can enforce any rules/laws against the powerful who ride roughshod through whatever suits them? Throughout history bullies quickly learn might is right. It can take an awful lot to stop them.

 

[Bantamzen]

Just thinking ahead to 2028, Simon Marks, LBC's US correspondent made a interesting remark about Trumps new "ballroom" recently. After Trump had proudly shown the White House Press Puppets the progress of it, and how there would be 6 underground floors in what sounded like a military bunker, Marks wondered if Trump was being a forever-bunker, where he or his kin could rule the US surrounded by loyal military well beyond 2028 regardless of the election results. The thought hadn't even occurred to me until then, but a $1 billion bunker that needs building urgently, i.e. inside of 2 years seems ridiculously expensive until you consider this possibility. Marks basically likened it to a underground base of a James Bond villain....

Edit: Video link to YouTube piece here (Relevant piece starts at around 07:35): Simon Marks On Donald Trump & Republicans Finding Their Spine

Quote from the piece, where Marks talks about what is being built at the East Wing:

The ballroom is really a shield. It turns out for a massive impenetrable military fortress. He has dug six stories below ground and plans to equip the facility with state-of-the-art munitions and an on-site military force.

They'll have a hospital down there, secure communications rooms, a scientific research lab, which seems odd given this administration's complete antipathy towards science. Above ground, the Secret Service and the military will be given a new promonry from where they will enjoy 360° views of the entire city laid out before them. A titanium fence is going to surround a complex that will be equipped with anti- drone technology and snipers nests just in case the White House ever comes under attack.

The more he talked, the more it sounded like he is building exactly the kind of compound in which a president who one day decides not to leave power could hold himself up protected by loyal members of the military.

(Text lifted from video using Gemini)

 

[AlterEgo]

I don’t care what the alternative is.

He’s a criminal.

The rule of law has to apply equally to everyone. No exceptions.

Doesn't the rule of law for us involve things like respecting the democratic choice of foreign countries and acknowledging the legitimacy of the same?

 

[dorsetdesiro]

The orange ape seems to be getting bored after the chaos caused with Iran, now turning his attention to Cuba beating his chest?

 

[najaB]

I don’t care what the alternative is.

He’s a criminal.

The rule of law has to apply equally to everyone. No exceptions.

You're coming at this from a position of emotion, but unfortunately it's fact that needs to be considered.

This means that there are two considerations - first off, that equal application of laws means that everyone is presumed innocent until found guilty by a court, and secondly, even if he was found guilty of a crime, until and unless the US Congress impeached and convicted him, he holds the office of President of the United States and so other leaders have to deal with him, even if they don't want to.

 

[martin butler]

Just thinking ahead to 2028, Simon Marks, LBC's US correspondent made a interesting remark about Trumps new "ballroom" recently. After Trump had proudly shown the White House Press Puppets the progress of it, and how there would be 6 underground floors in what sounded like a military bunker, Marks wondered if Trump was being a forever-bunker, where he or his kin could rule the US surrounded by loyal military well beyond 2028 regardless of the election results. The thought hadn't even occurred to me until then, but a $1 billion bunker that needs building urgently, i.e. inside of 2 years seems ridiculously expensive until you consider this possibility. Marks basically likened it to a underground base of a James Bond villain....

Now he's saying he will have his snipers on the roof, Note the word his,
What it sounds like is his own personal army, He does not intend to leave power, even if he gets voted out,

Jan 6th rioters and others no doubt, willl be his private army, Can anyone see the flaw? a bunker needs power, fuel, electricity,

A new congress and legally appointed president, will only have to order the military to cut off the bunker, take out Trumps snipers with extreme prejudice, , IE long range shots, then cut all power to the bunker and seal it, deal with any trump militia on the ground, then starve them out.

 

[The exile]

A new congress and legally appointed president, will only have to order the military to cut off the bunker, take out Trumps snipers with extreme prejudice, , IE long range shots, then cut all power to the bunker and seal it, deal with any trump militia on the ground, then starve them out.

“Only”! Given his support base (assuming it still exists) and its likely correlation with the NRA, we’re talking major civil war in a superpower - and the one we used to look on as “friendly” at that.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Now he's saying he will have his snipers on the roof, Note the word his,
What it sounds like is his own personal army, He does not intend to leave power, even if he gets voted out,

Jan 6th rioters and others no doubt, willl be his private army, Can anyone see the flaw? a bunker needs power, fuel, electricity,

A new congress and legally appointed president, will only have to order the military to cut off the bunker, take out Trumps snipers with extreme prejudice, , IE long range shots, then cut all power to the bunker and seal it, deal with any trump militia on the ground, then starve them out.

Not an unrealistic scenario. Good God, what an awful prospect.

 

[The Ham]

“Only”! Given his support base (assuming it still exists) and its likely correlation with the NRA, we’re talking major civil war in a superpower - and the one we used to look on as “friendly” at that.

Whilst it wouldn't be pretty, the losses on the government side could be quite light - small arms fire isn't going to kill a lot of soldiers if the bunker is being attacked by drones.

Anyway, given the poor health of Trump, I suspect that he'd not last that long without ongoing medical support, so any incoming administration could just set up a new presidential house (say in San Francisco or New York) and just wait for nature to take it's course.

 

[martin butler]

“Only”! Given his support base (assuming it still exists) and its likely correlation with the NRA, we’re talking major civil war in a superpower - and the one we used to look on as “friendly” at that.

Alot will depend on who the military are prepared to obey, yes, it could very well result in armed insurrection, but against a well-armed disciplined force, I would not expect trumps mercenaries to last very long and amongst the dead will be a lot of Jan 6th insurrectionists

Which will make the war crimes trials of his henchmen, and women rather interesting, as it will pose the question of why those people were pardoned to go on and do it again,

 

[The exile]

Whilst it wouldn't be pretty, the losses on the government side could be quite light - small arms fire isn't going to kill a lot of soldiers if the bunker is being attacked by drones.

In terms of the targeted operation on the bunker - yes. But who’s to say what would then be done by an “army” of armed partisans (which no doubt is how the Trump supporters would see themselves). We have a precedent in these islands (no - I’m not equating causes, merely possible outcomes).

 

[Annetts key]

About the ballroom bunker complex...
You are all assuming three things:
That construction will go ahead and be completed before the end of Trump's term of office and,
That Trump will live that long, or still have enough mental capacity to stay in power and,
That Trump 's plans aren't disrupted by the outcome of the mid-term elections.

Personally, I think the outcome of the mid-term elections are going to have a dramatic effect on the USA and on what Trump can and can't do.

 

[AlterEgo]

The idea that Trump will live in a bunker and command an apocalyptic government from there entirely unseen is really insane.

 

[Gloster]

About the ballroom bunker complex...
You are all assuming three things:
That construction will go ahead and be completed before the end of Trump's term of office and,
That Trump will live that long, or still have enough mental capacity to stay in power and,
That Trump 's plans aren't disrupted by the outcome of the mid-term elections.

Personally, I think the outcome of the mid-term elections are going to have a dramatic effect on the USA and on what Trump can and can't do.

If they have a free and fair, by US standards, election. However, it is clear that Trump’s henchmen and handlers are busy trying to either find ways to cancel the elections, allow the executive unprecedented powers to interfere with them or just rig them. The latest that passed through my news feed a couple of days ago, but has disappeared, is that they recently had a go at banning half the voting machines (*) in the US: they failed, but like another monster ‘they’ll be back’.

* _ Those produced by Dominion Voting Systems (?) that previously upset Trump, if I remember correctly.

 

[Bantamzen]

The idea that Trump will live in a bunker and command an apocalyptic government from there entirely unseen is really insane.

Completely insane, just as the thought that the President would set up a slush fund from taxpayer's money to pay people off after backing off suing the same for $10 billion, or start a war to get some cheeky insider trading done, or deploy Federal Agents to shoot dead protestors, or claim that he could bring down prescription drugs by 1500%, or reverse clean air policies because he doesn't believe the science, or wanting to build gold statues of himself everywhere and have his name on everything, or start an attempted coup on Capitol Hill when he lost an election....

I wish it was a totally insane thought, but right now nothing can be ruled out. Keep in mind he has constantly "joked" that he would be president beyond 2028, and that he is now laser focused on getting this "ballroom" built no matter what the cost, because of "security" reasons. Never mind that the "ballroom" has gone from $100M dollars of private money to over $1 billion in public money, and that it's gone from somewhere to host state events to a military complex with an attached ballroom, or quite simply the fact that he is pushing this as a most urgent build that the country "needs". A building that quite honestly could see someone hole up in should things get tricky. And what would be trickier than refusing to leave the White House, riling supporters to come defend him whilst he burrows deep underground??

It really isn't quite as improbable as you think, at this juncture nothing would surprise me, including him trying to bunker down and even trying to make use of nuclear weapons. That's how bad the situation is. This bunker needs to be stopped before it can be used. It's clear he wants to jerrymander his way to mid-term, and full term elections, and has made it clear he wants to use federal forces to "police" elections, so what's to stop him going full James Bond villain at this point? Nobody in the White House seems to have what it takes to stop him, they're all probably trying to buy their seat in the damn thing. And he ignores Congress, The Senate and all judicial powers with abandon. So where does this end?

Trump is one hollowed out volcano, or White House lawn, away from becoming a real life super-villain....

 

[SteveP29]

Just thinking ahead to 2028, Simon Marks, LBC's US correspondent made a interesting remark about Trumps new "ballroom" recently. After Trump had proudly shown the White House Press Puppets the progress of it, and how there would be 6 underground floors in what sounded like a military bunker, Marks wondered if Trump was being a forever-bunker, where he or his kin could rule the US surrounded by loyal military well beyond 2028 regardless of the election results. The thought hadn't even occurred to me until then, but a $1 billion bunker that needs building urgently, i.e. inside of 2 years seems ridiculously expensive until you consider this possibility. Marks basically likened it to a underground base of a James Bond villain....

Now he's saying he will have his snipers on the roof, Note the word his,
What it sounds like is his own personal army, He does not intend to leave power, even if he gets voted out,

Jan 6th rioters and others no doubt, willl be his private army, Can anyone see the flaw? a bunker needs power, fuel, electricity,

A new congress and legally appointed president, will only have to order the military to cut off the bunker, take out Trumps snipers with extreme prejudice, , IE long range shots, then cut all power to the bunker and seal it, deal with any trump militia on the ground, then starve them out.

There would surely need to be a ventilation duct for the bunker too, I'm certain the police/ army/ National Guard would be able to overpower any of Trump's unpaid militia and block it off, or put something in that forces them out

 

[The exile]

The idea that Trump will live in a bunker and command an apocalyptic government from there entirely unseen is really insane.

Wouldn’t put it past him to try. Whether anyone that mattered would actually take any notice is another matter.

 

[Gloster]

Alot will depend on who the military are prepared to obey, yes, it could very well result in armed insurrection, but against a well-armed disciplined force, I would not expect trumps mercenaries to last very long and amongst the dead will be a lot of Jan 6th insurrectionists

Which will make the war crimes trials of his henchmen, and women rather interesting, as it will pose the question of why those people were pardoned to go on and do it again,

Trump and Hegseth seem to be busy removing any senior officers who might place their duty to the country or the constitution above willingness to follow Trump, although this is a bit difficult to gauge as there are likely to be some who, despite appearing to be Trump loyalists, will stick to their honourable allegiance. However, you don’t need to get the Army or National Guard out to support you, just select their leaders and the governors who will make sure that the troops stay in barracks while your private armies, such as ICE, and faithful supporters do your bidding.

 

[Uncle Buck]

They could follow the example shown in Portugal, when their long-serving dictator, Dr. Salazar, had a debilitating stroke. Although he was removed from
office he remained in his residence and his ministers simply continued to tell him he was the prime minister, and he went to his grave none the wiser. A bit tricky in the internet age mind you.

Trump and Hegseth seem to be busy removing any senior officers who might place their duty to the country or the constitution above willingness to follow Trump, although this is a bit difficult to gauge as there are likely to be some who, despite appearing to be Trump loyalists, will stick to their honourable allegiance. However, you don’t need to get the Army or National Guard out to support you, just select their leaders and the governors who will make sure that the troops stay in barracks while your private armies, such as ICE, and faithful supporters do your bidding.

I recently re-read Macaulay’s famous History of England and was struck by the parallels with the American situation. Certainly there are a few of Trump’s acolytes who could fill the role of Judge Jeffreys! But I noticed also that many of those who privately opposed James II but their tongue, bided their time and looked out for themselves right up til the moment when James a) went too far and b) had nothing to offer them. At the critical moment when William of Orange had a chance of reaching London and seizing power they turned on James. The most famous example was John Churchill, later Duke of Marlborough, or the Hyde brothers.

If you are a Republican senator, Trump’s opposition can still lose you a primary; and even if you oppose him, the other, loyal senators will outcote you. So your opposition is pointless. But if you have got through your primary; if you are next up for election in four or six years, when Trump will be gone; and if the Democrats seize control of Congress and start impeachment, then like John Churchill you suddenly have far less to lose by opposing him.

 

[najaB]

They could follow the example shown in Portugal, when their long-serving dictator, Dr. Salazar, had a debilitating stroke. Although he was removed from
office he remained in his residence and his ministers simply continued to tell him he was the prime minister, and he went to his grave none the wiser. A bit tricky in the internet age mind you.

They just need a fake version of Fox News on repeat...

 

[Gloster]

I remember reading Macaulay’s famous History of England in which James II was surrounded by sycophants who waited until the opportune moment to betray him and go over to William of Orange.

Maybe, but who could they go over to? They probably don’t trust each other and it is unlikely that anyone else will trust them, so they would be on their own. They have hitched their wagon to Trump and have nowhere to go but follow MAGA.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Maybe, but who could they go over to? They probably don’t trust each other and it is unlikely that anyone else will trust them, so they would be on their own. They have hitched their wagon to Trump and have nowhere to go but follow MAGA.

Sorry I seem to have posted this comment twice by mistake.

if the Democrats bring an article of impeachment in the next Congress and you are a Republican senator, you are the swing vote. That gives you a good reason to vote your conscience.