Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[Annetts key]

Is that still true of anything these days? Trump seems to just declare whatever he likes and everyone goes along with it.

I'm sure he's going to try something illegal and if he gets told no, he'll blame Biden.

However, he / the federal government has lost a number of court cases. So he doesn't get everything he wants.

 

[43096]

Who is deciding on the intention?

Some combination of:
- the voices inside Trump's head
- realising he personally can make some money out of it
- influence from others who can make money out of it

 

[najaB]

Is that still true of anything these days? Trump seems to just declare whatever he likes and everyone goes along with it.

The Fed Rate is set by the Fed. Kinda difficult for anyone else to do it!

The Orange One is having another temper tantrum over the Kennedy Centre.

President Trump says the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., could be “ripped down.” He made the comment while speaking to reporters after landing in North Carolina last night. Trump has threatened not to carry out renovations to the building unless his name is added back to the facade. The president said, “I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition because, frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down.” The Morning Joe panel discusses Trump’s latest threat to the Kennedy Center, which was dedicated by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy one year after his assassination.

 

[BuhSnarf]

However, he / the federal government has lost a number of court cases. So he doesn't get everything he wants.

I feel he's using the mentality of doing it without authorisation, if the courts tell him 6 months down the line he shouldn't have done it, it's too late and he's likely made his money already. If the courts don't tell him, it's a win.

Just look at the tariffs, the government repaid all his billionaire friends whilst the general population got absolutely done over. He doesn't care they eventually outlawed it.

 

[Killingworth]

The Fed Rate is set by the Fed. Kinda difficult for anyone else to do it!

The Orange One is having another temper tantrum over the Kennedy Centre.

Trying to rename the Kennedy Centre was a red rag from a bull! If he'd left his name out many would have objected to the sums being expended to restore it but he wouldn't be so closely associated with the decision. Of course he'll now find ways for it to be condemned as unsafe and blame Biden for letting it get into such a state that it has to close permanently

Classic Trumpism.

 

[bahnause]

He can try, but it doesn't work like that.

It turns out threatening and prosecuting the Fed doesn't lower interest rates. Lowering inflation lowers interest rates.

 

[jon0844]

However, he / the federal government has lost a number of court cases. So he doesn't get everything he wants.

But it doesn't stop him doing what he does. Just as I'm sure he'll make more threats to the Fed director to stop further rises and even reverse the latest one.

It all reminds me of the ASA issuing statements and rulings when advertisers don't care they can't run a controversial or misleading ad anymore, because their campaign has already ended - or in this case Trump has done the damage he planned and made the money off the markets.

I am sure he's planning something ahead of the mid-terms and the checks and balances won't be able to keep up.

My fear is it will involve further action against Iran, although there are some signs that Trump may be actually realising how he was taken in by Israel and may even realise that Netanyahu could be ousted next month leaving him even more exposed.

I'm sure blaming Biden will still feature. It's possible that now almost the entire world is standing up to Israel and being funded by Israel is costing votes, Trump can claim that Biden's support of Israel started everything off. In some respects he'll be right as both parties have been strong supporters of Israel through funding and, in return, sending taxpayer money to Israel.

 

[Annetts key]

But it doesn't stop him doing what he does. Just as I'm sure he'll make more threats to the Fed director to stop further rises and even reverse the latest one.

It all reminds me of the ASA issuing statements and rulings when advertisers don't care they can't run a controversial or misleading ad anymore, because their campaign has already ended - or in this case Trump has done the damage he planned and made the money off the markets.

I am sure he's planning something ahead of the mid-terms and the checks and balances won't be able to keep up.

My fear is it will involve further action against Iran, although there are some signs that Trump may be actually realising how he was taken in by Israel and may even realise that Netanyahu could be ousted next month leaving him even more exposed.

I'm sure blaming Biden will still feature. It's possible that now almost the entire world is standing up to Israel and being funded by Israel is costing votes, Trump can claim that Biden's support of Israel started everything off. In some respects he'll be right as both parties have been strong supporters of Israel through funding and, in return, sending taxpayer money to Israel.

I fear you are giving Trump far more credit than he deserves, remember, he clearly has some form of dementia. Every week there are more indications of this.

It may well be the people behind him, whispering in his ear, that are pushing the agenda or a combination of that and thoughts that still occur in his dementia riddled brain. The older memories can continue to be powerful until the dementia gets worse. Especially if there are strong emotions associated with these memories.

The other indication that his dementia is getting worse, is his emotions becoming unfiltered, especially anger and frustration.

Of course, it's not just how dementia, but his personality which was not good to start with.

And if course, everything and anything that goes wrong is never his fault, but is the fault of someone else.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how the midterm elections to and his response to the results.

 

[brad465]

"I never thought leopards would eat MY face, sobs person who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces party."

https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/f99b2462-e180-49fb-a428-da5ec8eeeea5

A top Florida Republican lawmaker warned that Hispanic voters felt “betrayed” by Donald Trump, issuing a stark rebuke of the president’s immigration crackdown ahead of the midterm elections. María Elvira Salazar broke with Trump in a 30-second ad filmed in front of the White House as a growing cast of Republicans distance themselves from the president and his policies to avoid defeat in the November vote.

 

[dgl]

At least in America we still have South Park, sorry that's South America now!, who will not be pushed around or silenced by Trump, I wonder how trump's feeling about the rename?

 

[brad465]

Free Speech latest:

Donald Trump says he is banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from White House

The US president has had a tense and fiery relationship with the US media since returning to office.

www.bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is "immediately" banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, the latest twist in his fraught relationship with American media outlets.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said that the outlets "constantly write or report fiction or lies" about his administration, although he provided no examples.

It is unclear what exactly a ban would entail, and whether employees of those outlets would be prevented from entering the White House grounds.

The move is likely to be met with legal challenges from the outlets involved and press freedom organisations.

Reporters from both Politico and CNN were still on the White House grounds shortly after the announcement was made.

"Media outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies when covering they're covering the President of the United States, the trump administration or the United States of America," Trump wrote. "Other news outlets to follow."

The post did not mention specific stories or reporting that led to the move.

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump and administration officials have repeatedly clashed with members of the White House press corps.

In February of that year, the White House announced that it was taking back control of the press pool which has access to Trump and had for more than a century been managed by the White House Correspondent's Association.

The same month, the administration moved to bar Associated Press reporters and photographers from spaces where access is limited, such as the Oval Office or Air Force One, because of the outlet's usage of the term "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America".

The Associated Press swiftly filed a lawsuit and the case remains ongoing.

The president often clashes with reporters in the Oval Office and on Air Force One, often referring to them as "fake news" and "rude".

In his first term, President Trump also banned CNN correspondent Jim Acosta from the White House, although they restored his credentials after CNN sued.

Trump has pursued legal action against a number of US and international news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the BBC.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on Trump's announcement.

 

[najaB]

Definitely the actions of a strong, powerful leader and not a pathetic, weak narcissist who can't cope with any criticism.

 

[DelW]

Free Speech latest:

Donald Trump says he is banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from White House

The US president has had a tense and fiery relationship with the US media since returning to office.

www.bbc.co.uk

The president often clashes with reporters in the Oval Office and on Air Force One, often referring to them as "fake news" and "rude".

He has too little self-awareness to realise that most people outwith the MAGA bubble know only too well that falsification and rudeness are characteristic of almost all Trump's own utterances.

 

[najaB]

An interesting example of what happens when people are so far up DJT's **** that they can taste his breakfast before he does!

Facebook reel: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1TfTpBPbQk/

Video description: Two DJT supporters who lost money investing in TRUMP coin refuse to admit that they've been scammed.

 

[Russel]

How much of a battering do we think Trump will get in the upcoming mid-term vote?

 

[najaB]

How much of a battering do we think Trump will get in the upcoming mid-term vote?

If it's a fair vote the GOP is in for a slaughter. The House will definitely go to the Democrats, and there is a very good chance that they may get the Senate.

 

[Russel]

If it's a fair vote the GOP is in for a slaughter. The House will definitely go to the Democrats, and there is a very good chance that they may get the Senate.

You seem quite clued up on US politics, in that scenario, what would it mean for the current situation with Iran?

 

[najaB]

You seem quite clued up on US politics, in that scenario, what would it mean for the current situation with Iran?

The US is in a fairly intractable situation. As long as the IRGC can maintain control they hold the upper hand. I imagine that a Democratic controlled Congress would put a leash on Trump's ability to continue the war, but I can't see that they could force a deal to end it.

In any case, they would be unable to force any change for another four months which is plenty long enough to trash the global economy.

 

[GusB]

The US and Denmark now have an agreement for the permanent security (and all other needs) of Greenland, apparently.

US and Denmark reach Greenland security agreement - Trump

The US and Denmark have entered into an agreement that will give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security, US President Donald Trump has said.

www.rte.ie

The US and Denmark have entered into an agreement that will give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security and will bar Russia and China from setting up bases in the Arctic territory, US President Donald Trump has said.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has repeatedly insisted that Washington needed to control Greenland for strategic reasons.

Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory controlled by Copenhagen, both hailed the deal and said that they would sign it on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

"I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland," Mr Trump said on his Truth Social network.

"From now on, no US adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval."

The 80-year-old said it was an "infinite" deal, adding that Washington would immediately start building up a large military presence in the territory.

In a statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: "I am pleased that there is a prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States."

Ms Frederiksen added that the deal was "good for NATO and Europe" and that it strengthens security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

Mette Fredriksen's statement would suggest that the agreement isn't quite as bigly as Trump is making it out to be; "a prospect of a good agreement" doesn't quite tally with what he's saying.

 

[gg1]

The US and Denmark now have an agreement for the permanent security (and all other needs) of Greenland, apparently.

US and Denmark reach Greenland security agreement - Trump

The US and Denmark have entered into an agreement that will give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security, US President Donald Trump has said.

www.rte.ie

Mette Fredriksen's statement would suggest that the agreement isn't quite as bigly as Trump is making it out to be; "a prospect of a good agreement" doesn't quite tally with what he's saying.

I've a suspicion that when you go down to the fine detail, most of that big beautiful agreement is merely re-iterating long standing arrangements Denmark and the US have had since the cold war, but sold to Trump as if it's all down to him.

 

[najaB]

The US and Denmark now have an agreement for the permanent security (and all other needs) of Greenland, apparently.

US and Denmark reach Greenland security agreement - Trump

The US and Denmark have entered into an agreement that will give Washington "permanent control" over Greenland's security, US President Donald Trump has said.

www.rte.ie

Mette Fredriksen's statement would suggest that the agreement isn't quite as bigly as Trump is making it out to be; "a prospect of a good agreement" doesn't quite tally with what he's saying.

Considering that the USA already had bases in Greenland, and previously stationed tens of thousands of troops there, one has to wonder if the "new deal" is in fact, just the existing agreement with a new cover put on the outside.

 

[DelW]

Mette Fredriksen's statement would suggest that the agreement isn't quite as bigly as Trump is making it out to be; "a prospect of a good agreement" doesn't quite tally with what he's saying.

She's probably aware that there's a fair chance that in six months' time Trump will claim it's the worst deal ever, that Denmark is taking advantage of the US and disrespecting Trump, and threaten to bomb Copenhagen in revenge.

 

[najaB]

I've a suspicion that when you go down to the fine detail, most of that big beautiful agreement is merely re-iterating long standing arrangements Denmark and the US have had since the cold war, but sold to Trump as if it's all down to him.

That is now pretty much confirmed. The "deal" is actual "a concept of a deal" that needs the details ironed out, and then to be ratified by the legislatures in Greenland, Denmark, and the USA - a process that's likely to take months or years. And the only major change from the existing arrangement is that Greenland will apparently agree to deny China and Russia access to any mineral resources on the island.

---

Edit: Not specifically about the Trump presidency, but a glimpse into what we might have to deal with when he's gone. An interview with a Trump supporter who is so far down the delusional conspiracy theory route that he doesn't even trust Trump:

54K views · 1.4K reactions | This person doesn’t Trust Donald Trump because it may be a body double and not actually Trump | The Good Liars

This person doesn’t Trust Donald Trump because it may be a body double and not actually Trump

www.facebook.com

The Good Liars: This person doesn’t Trust Donald Trump because it may be a body double and not actually Trump

 

[Annetts key]

That is now pretty much confirmed. The "deal" is actual "a concept of a deal" that needs the details ironed out, and then to be ratified by the legislatures in Greenland, Denmark, and the USA - a process that's likely to take months or years. And the only major change from the existing arrangement is that Greenland will apparently agree to deny China and Russia access to any mineral resources on the island.

Well, Denmark was never going to allow Russia any access of any kind to Greenland anyway, that was kinda the point of the existing arrangements. Keeping in mind that it was the U.S.A. that chose to reduce it's military presence there to save money (so past U.S. administrations must not have considered that Greenland was under any serious threat from Russia) rather than them being asked to leave.

And China is not interested in invading Greenland or in mineral extraction.

Trump is and always has talked rubbish about Greenland and (well what he thinks is) the threat to it. This is and always has been about him wanting control so that he can say "it's mine" and "I got it" and try to make money from it. Never mind that the facts are, any mineral extraction is too costly for it to be profitable.

For the record, U.S. defence/military spending as a percentage of GDP is falling (predicted to be 2.8% of GDP in 2026). Although the amount spent in dollars is still huge.


Graph (image) above shows that since 2010 (when it was 4.6%), defence spending as a percentage of GDP has declined to a predicted amount of 2.8% of GDP in 2026, and is predicted to continue to fall in the coming years.

Figures and the above graph from https://www.pgpf.org/article/the-un...n-defense-than-the-next-6-countries-combined/



Graph (image) above shows that since 2010 (when it was 4.9%), defence spending as a percentage of GDP has declined to 3.4% of GDP in 2024.

Graph from the World Bank - https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=US

The figures are different between the two as they are using different data and methods. But the trend is clear. And demonstrates what a hypocrite Trump is when he demands that other NATO members spend more.

 

[Killingworth]

It was a long time ago that Trump was giving us warnings of his irrational thinking.

His unbalanced campaign to prove Obama was born in Kenya had minimal credibility from the start but he persisted long after the Hawaiian proof had been produced. It was nasty to put it mildly.

He's continued to twist Obama's forenames to suggest Islamic connections making his paranoid slurs worse on wider grounds.

And he calls others nasty! There's one superlative he'll fully deserve, he's going to leave his sucessors the greatest mess the US has ever seen. Trouble is he's in danger of taking the rest of us with him.

Surely he'll soon be stopped. He's got away with things for so long he thinks he's invincible. He's not.

 

[brad465]

His dementia-driven fantasies keep going:

Trump says his triumphal arch will become a military ammunition complex

Trump said the updated plans were at the request of the US military and for national security purposes.

www.bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has said his proposed triumphal arch will double as a complex to store military equipment, complete with the ability to deploy snipers and drones.

In a Sunday morning post, Trump said he is updating the plans at the "strong request" of the US military and for "national security purposes".

The "top grade" military complex and arch will "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage", he said.

He did not provide details on construction plans or timing, and it's not clear if he needs further approval for the facility.

"There will be no facility like this anywhere in the World," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He added that out of "the 59 top cities and Capitals", Washington DC is "the only one in the world that does not have a triumphal arch", without specifying what those cities are.

Construction on Trump's 250-foot arch, planned for a site across the Potomac River from Washington DC just outside the Arlington National Cemetery, was expected to begin this month.

A rendering of the design from earlier this year includes a golden, winged Lady Liberty on the top of the arch, flanked by two gold eagles, and with the phrases "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" inscribed in gold on either side of the structure. It will stand 250-feet (76m) from its base to the top of the golden lady statue.

At that height, the structure would dwarf the 99-foot Lincoln Memorial nearby and be half as high as the Washington Monument.

 

[Annetts key]

His dementia-driven fantasies keep going:

Trump says his triumphal arch will become a military ammunition complex

Trump said the updated plans were at the request of the US military and for national security purposes.

www.bbc.co.uk

Hmm, Trump's proposed triumphal arch is not likely to ever be used by the military. It would be too much of a target for precision artillery or a guided missile.

Never mind that if an enemy army gets that far, it almost certainly means the U.S. military is already in great difficulties... And some snipers are unlikely to make any significant difference.

But then, anyone in the military already knows this, so therefore, as per usual, Trump is just making stuff up to suit himself.

 

[najaB]

His dementia-driven fantasies keep going

How long until either the 25th Amendment or a Big Mac put us out of his misery?

 

[Mr. SW]

I suspect a very intense and sudden meeting from various concerned persons with an unplanned and sudden outcome.

 

[Sorcerer]

Never mind that if an enemy army gets that far, it almost certainly means the U.S. military is already in great difficulties... And some snipers are unlikely to make any significant difference.

Let's be honest, any hypothetical military force that manages to overcome the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean and successfully invade the mainland United States is probably going to view snipers in an arch as child's play. This along with a refurbishment of the Oval Office is just another gold-rimmed vanity project in Trump's game of playing tinpot dictator.