Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[trainswitheddy]

Removed as couldn't find original source post (Will add if I stumble on it!)

 

[Harpo]

It really is remarkable. Every time people think we’ve got to the lowest point, Trump says “hold my Diet Coke” and plumbs new depths

Maybe he watched ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ at the weekend? Lets hope he doesn’t watch Gladiator next.

Passport To Pimlico might help him but it’s got a 100% tariff on it now.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Maybe he watched ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ at the weekend? Lets hope he doesn’t watch Gladiator next.

Passport To Pimlico might help him but it’s got a 100% tariff on it now.

How do you tax a film? Won't the tax be payed, ultimately, by the cinema goer?

If the British film industry is so competitive because of government subsidies why doesn't Trump respond by subsidising Hollywood?

 

[generalnerd]

Depends what you count as a state. If it's only UN members then you're correct as that's only 193 of those. But if you add on other countries with disputed sovereignty then you can get over 200.

Which is good and all, until you realise that he already doesn’t like half the countries on the undisputed list, so I struggle to see him liking many more disputed countries…

 

[Lloyds siding]

How do you tax a film? Won't the tax be payed, ultimately, by the cinema goer?

If the British film industry is so competitive because of government subsidies why doesn't Trump respond by subsidising Hollywood?

Because he only likes his government receiving money (taxes, tarriffs), rather than spending it (subsidies, grants). The great U.S. public will have to pay.

 

[Strathclyder]

That's the critical failing right now in the US to my mind. That Republicans in Congress are utterly supine and seemingly happy to have their Constitutional powers ridden roughshod over. Of course that's no surprise really. The Senate Republicans could have put an end to all of this back in January 2021 if they'd convicted him during the impeachment proceedings. But they were spineless then so it can hardly be a surprise they'll be spineless now.

Spineless, supine, completely lacking in moral integrity, only after power for it's own sake and will do/say anything to attain and keep hold of it, damn the consequences. Honestly, I'd go further back and say that they could've stopped him even before he accepted the nomination the first time in 2016, but they were hardly gonna pass up the chance for a easy ride into the halls of power and influence were they?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It really is remarkable. Every time people think we’ve got to the lowest point, Trump says “hold my Diet Coke” and plumbs new depths

On the BBC News tonight ( 22.00 bulletin ) they stated that Trump had said he is not surprised by this latest war between India and Pakistan "...as they have been fighting for centuries!"

Remind me when Pakistan was created...

Trump hopes India-Pakistan clashes end 'very quickly'

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he hoped clashes between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan end "very quickly," after New Delhi's forces launched strikes and Islamabad vowed retaliation."I just hope it ends very quickly," said Trump.

uk.news.yahoo.com

"I guess people knew something was going to happen based on the past. They've been fighting for many, many decades and centuries, actually, if you really think about it," he added.

Edited: Thank you to the moderator; I was watching the news broadcast so couldn't provide the quote myself.

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Yes the 1950s that well known century

 

[zero]

I don't want to defend Trump, but Muslims and Hindus have been fighting in the Indian subcontinent for "centuries, actually, if you really think about it". Although you could say that about a lot of the world too.

 

[edwin_m]

Yes the 1950s that well known century

Trump was born in 1946. Does that make him centuries old?

 

[DoubleLemon]

I don't want to defend Trump, but Muslims and Hindus have been fighting in the Indian subcontinent for "centuries, actually, if you really think about it". Although you could say that about a lot of the world too.

If there's a conflict thats been going on for centuries the British, French or (in more modern times) the usa are usually partly to blame or the catalyst.

 

[Annetts key]

If there's a conflict thats been going on for centuries the British, French or (in more modern times) the usa are usually partly to blame or the catalyst.

Well in the case of the India / Pakistan, and in the case of the Israel / Palestinian territories inc. Gaza, it's both British and the U.S.A. that are partly to blame. All these areas were once part of the British Empire, an Empire that the U.S.A. pressured Britain to end and thus leave these areas. But in the haste to leave, what turned out to be unwise decisions were made in terms of borders, boundaries etc.

And since then, in many cases, the U.S.A. has not helped. Not that the British have been much better.

 

[RT4038]

Well in the case of the India / Pakistan, and in the case of the Israel / Palestinian territories inc. Gaza, it's both British and the U.S.A. that are partly to blame. All these areas were once part of the British Empire, an Empire that the U.S.A. pressured Britain to end and thus leave these areas.

To be fair, not without the additional pressure of Nationalism amongst the people of those areas, and the opportunism of their leaders.

But in the haste to leave, what turned out to be unwise decisions were made in terms of borders, boundaries etc.

In neither of these areas was it a pleasant departure - so what if decisions (made under enormous pressure) were not the best in hindsight (assuming that any other decision could practically have been made in the circumstances). The parties have had 75+ years to sort themselves out, which they have been spectacularly unable to do.

 

[Russel]

Well in the case of the India / Pakistan, and in the case of the Israel / Palestinian territories inc. Gaza, it's both British and the U.S.A. that are partly to blame. All these areas were once part of the British Empire, an Empire that the U.S.A. pressured Britain to end and thus leave these areas. But in the haste to leave, what turned out to be unwise decisions were made in terms of borders, boundaries etc.

And since then, in many cases, the U.S.A. has not helped. Not that the British have been much better.

Let's be realistic for a second, it doesn't matter where the borders or boundaries are, in both cases, India/Pakistan and Gaza/Israel, you have two religions that are completely incompatible, while religion is still a thing, there will never be long term peace.

 

[ainsworth74]

Let's be realistic for a second, it doesn't matter where the borders or boundaries are, in both cases, India/Pakistan and Gaza/Israel, you have two religions that are completely incompatible, while religion is still a thing, there will never be long term peace.

Though in the case of India/Pakistan there is some element of artificiality to the current position in that prior to Partition those two groups were often harmoniously living alongside each other. Which isn't to say it was all sunshine and puppies, but the present scenario of having two states on the opposite side of a line with strong religious identities was not a forgone conclusion until Partition. It should also be noted that, on the Indian side, there's been a lot of deliberately stirred up anti-Muslim and pro-Hindu nationalist sentiment by the ruling BJP party and Narendra Modi over the past decade which hasn't exactly help the situation either (and is contrary to the Indian Constitution which clearly asserts that the Indian Republic is a secular nation). But I reckon we're starting to wander very off topic here

 

[edwin_m]

Though in the case of India/Pakistan there is some element of artificiality to the current position in that prior to Partition those two groups were often harmoniously living alongside each other. Which isn't to say it was all sunshine and puppies, but the present scenario of having two states on the opposite side of a line with strong religious identities was not a forgone conclusion until Partition. It should also be noted that, on the Indian side, there's been a lot of deliberately stirred up anti-Muslim and pro-Hindu nationalist sentiment by the ruling BJP party and Narendra Modi over the past decade which hasn't exactly help the situation either (and is contrary to the Indian Constitution which clearly asserts that the Indian Republic is a secular nation). But I reckon we're starting to wander very off topic here

To bring it back, these comments would also apply to many fundamentalist Christians who support Trump.

 

[brad465]

What do you get when you cross a nursery with a brothel?

Donald Trump's Presidential Library.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Trump administration mulling end to habeas corpus, legal right to challenge one’s detention

Top White House adviser Stephen Miller announces US president considering suspending writ of habeas corpus

www.theguardian.com

Afraid I can't seem to get any link other than to the app.

Story in The Guardian that Trump is considering suspending the right of people who are detained for deportation from being able to legally challenge their detention.

If true, especially if the action is actually taken, then it is another low point.

 

[Annetts key]

Trump administration mulling end to habeas corpus, legal right to challenge one’s detention​

Top White House adviser Stephen Miller announces US president considering suspending writ of habeas corpus

Sam Levine
Fri 9 May 2025 23.03 BST

The Trump administration is considering suspending the writ of habeas corpus, the legal right to challenge one’s detention, Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, said on Friday.

“The constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus could be suspended in time of invasion. So that’s an option we’re actively looking at. A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller said to a group of reporters at the White House.

The US constitution says: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” The writ of habeas corpus has only been suspended four times in US history, most notably by Abraham Lincoln during the civil war. It was also suspended during efforts to fight the Ku Klux Klan in the 19th century in South Carolina, in the Philippines in 1905 and after Pearl Harbor.

Suspending habeas corpus would be an extremely aggressive move that would dramatically escalate the Trump administration’s efforts to attack the rule of law in American courts as it tries to deport people without giving them a chance to challenge the basis of their removals.

Miller, long known for his far-right positions on immigration, has sought to deploy a maximalist approach in carrying out mass deportations. The US government has already produced little evidence to justify immigrant deportations and in some cases has sought to remove students in the United States legally for expressing their views, specifically support for Palestinians.

Many of the immigrants that the Trump administration has moved aggressively to deport – including Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk – have filed habeas petitions challenging efforts to deport them.

The administration has already attempted to deport people without due process by invoking the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law that allows the president to do so in a time of war.

The Trump administration has justified its actions by arguing that the US is under “invasion” by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. Multiple judges have rejected the idea that the United States is under invasion and tried to halt the removals.

But, while courts have tried to stop the administration’s efforts to unlawfully deport people, Trump has attacked judges for ruling against him and in some cases openly defied the courts.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Thank you. No matter what I tried it kept defaulting to the app.

 

[GusB]

I think we can safely assume that America is no longer the bastion of freedom and democracy that it claims to be. (haha)

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I think we can safely assume that America is no longer the bastion of freedom and democracy that it claims to be. (haha)

You are perfectly free unless you are invading by being say on a student visa and protesting against something, or something like that anyway.
Remember free speech means the freedom to whatever speech Trump currently approves of*

*Terms and conditions apply. Trumps opinions are merely for display purposes and may be changed or cancelled at any time.

 

[The Ham]

You are perfectly free unless you are invading by being say on a student visa and protesting against something, or something like that anyway.
Remember free speech means the freedom to whatever speech Trump currently approves of*

*Terms and conditions apply. Trumps opinions are merely for display purposes and may be changed or cancelled at any time.

It's hilarious (other terms may be more appropriate) just how indoctrinated many Americans are, they get all wond up over the fact that inciting violence ends you up in prison in the UK but totally miss the fact that if you criticise the dear leader and you aren't white, don't have citizenship (even if you thought you do the rules have changed) or aren't wealthy you can find yourself part of the growing export market of the Trumpancy.

 

[Gloster]

Trump and his gang are playing the age old game: it is fine for nasty things to happen as long as they don’t happen to you.

Meanwhile, there was something about Laura Loomer referring to the ‘Woke Marxist Pope’. The Pope does seem to be unpopular with MAGA. (I think that the quote was genuine, not satire, but it is difficult to tell nowadays.)

 

[Ediswan]

Meanwhile, there was something about Laura Loomer referring to the ‘Woke Marxist Pope’. The Pope does seem to be unpopular with MAGA. (I think that the quote was genuine, not satire, but it is difficult to tell nowadays.)

I'm waiting for Trump to declare the Pope 'unpatriotic' and seek to have his US citizenship removed.

 

[D6130]

I'm waiting for Trump to declare the Pope 'unpatriotic' and seek to have his US citizenship removed.

I thought he only had Peruvian citizenship.

 

[Ediswan]

I thought he only had Peruvian citizenship.

The Pope has dual citizenship.

 

[Harpo]

The Pope has dual citizenship.

Which has presumably become treble now??

 

[brad465]

"And then they came for the universities..."

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enrol international students

The move escalates the administration's row with America's oldest university over hiring, admissions and teaching practices.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Trump administration has moved to end Harvard's ability to enrol international students, escalating a standoff with America's oldest university.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X that the administration had revoked Harvard's "Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law."
"Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," she wrote on Thursday.
Harvard called the move "unlawful" in a statement.
"We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably," the university responded.
"We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission."
The Trump administration's decisions could affect thousands of international students who study at the university. Over 6,700 international students were enrolled at the institution last academic year, university data shows, making up 27% of its student body.
"We're seeing a lot of confusion on this," Sarah Davis, an Australian student receiving a graduate degree, told BBC Newshour.
"The news has come only five days before a lot of us are due to graduate the university, and this obviously is going to have a lot of very uncertain implications for whether we're able to stay on in the United States afterwards and keep working here," she said.
"We're all just sitting back and waiting to see whether or not we get communications about what the next steps are from the university."
The White House has demanded Harvard make changes to hiring, admissions and teaching practices to help fight antisemitism on campus. It has threatened to revoke the university's tax-exempt status and freeze billions of dollars in government grants.
Harvard earlier this year said it had taken many steps to address antisemitism, and that the government's demands were an effort to regulate the university's "intellectual conditions". In April, Noem threatened to revoke the university's access to student visa programmes if it did not comply with a sweeping records request from the administration, pertaining to international students.
In Thursday's letter, Noem said Harvard must comply with a list of demands to have an "opportunity" to regain its ability to enrol international students.
That included all disciplinary records for non-immigrant students enrolled at Harvard over the past five years. Noem also demanded Harvard turn over electronic records, videos, or audio of "illegal" and "dangerous or violent" activity by non-immigrant students on campus.
The notice gave Harvard 72 hours to comply.
The Trump administration has attempted to curtail visas for international students, causing confusion on university campuses across the US and leading to a wave of lawsuits.
In some cases, those revocations appeared to affect foreign students who participated in political protests or have had previous criminal charges, such as driving infractions.
In a separate court case on Thursday, a federal judge in California blocked the Trump administration from cancelling the legal status of international students across the US while challenges to the policy play out in court.

 

[najaB]

"And then they came for the universities..."

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enrol international students

The move escalates the administration's row with America's oldest university over hiring, admissions and teaching practices.

www.bbc.co.uk

Just the fact that she started a sentence with ""Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country" tells you all you need to know.

The USA is cooked unless they can get rid of these loons, and quickly.