Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I remember the spoof calypso that was around when the Americans wanted the Taliban to hand over Bin Laden and it could well hold truth with a change a wording, such as...
"Come Ayatollah, come to the peace talks,
Daylight come and we bomb your home"

 

[najaB]

I'm also old enough to remember that DJT ran as the 'anti-war' candidate, having spent years criticising previous administrations for getting the USA involved in 'forever wars' in the Middle East.

 

[Giugiaro]

If Trump was president this wouldn't have happened!!!

Uh... wait...

Trump voters, circa 2025

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Apparently Pakistan have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tom Lehrer stated that satire died when Kissinger won that award, I think if Trump was awarded it not only would satire have died but it would have had a stake driven through it's heart, the body buried at a crossroads and the ground soaked in holy water.

 

[ainsworth74]

Apparently Pakistan have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

To be fair they stated their intention to nominate him for his work on bring the recent India-Pakistan spat to an end (and, you know, to suck up). They've not actually gone through with the nomination and you have to assume that they won't be seeing as the next day they condemned him...

ISLAMABAD, June 22 (Reuters) - Pakistan condemned on Sunday the strikes ordered on its neighbour Iran by Donald Trump, a day after Islamabad had said it would nominate the U.S. President for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Pakistan on Sunday said Trump's decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities violated international law and that diplomacy was the only way to resolve the Iran crisis.

“The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

[...]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-condemns-trumps-bombing-iran-day-after-nominating-him-peace-prize-2025-06-22/

 

[najaB]

To be fair they stated their intention to nominate him for his work on bring the recent India-Pakistan spat to an end (and, you know, to suck up).

Work which India has said most definitely didn't happen. To the extent that Modi declined an invitation to the White House.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Work which India has said most definitely didn't happen. To the extent that Modi declined an invitation to the White House.

With Trump with doesn't have to happen for him to claim credit anyway.

 

[Acey]

J D Vance ( JD to his friend ) reminds me of that creepy slimebag Ellis from the original Die Hard

 

[Harpo]

J D Vance ( JD to his friend ) reminds me of that creepy slimebag Ellis from the original Die Hard

He reminds me of the Kitty Shunt Percy Wetmore, the utterly vile guard in The Green Mile.

 

[Mr. SW]

JD Vance is Wesley Crusher gone bad.

 

[OuterDistant]

Today marks one year since the Trump-Biden debate. As I'm sure we all agree, it had no real impact on the election

 

[Railwaycat]

J D Vance ( JD to his friend ) reminds me of that creepy slimebag Ellis from the original Die Hard

Commander Bell in The Handmaids Tale, the worst of the commanders by far - he did get his comeuppance though (not a pleasant end, for non-viewers).

 

[brad465]

Seems as though the Epstein list has been causing a lot of drama this weekend, which apparently led to one of Trump's Truth Social post being ratioed (more comments than likes) for the first time ever. I've not been fully following this, but could Trump be in actual trouble with his MAGA base?

 

[styles]

Did well on 'crystallysing capital gains' on S&P 500 on Friday. I recently decided to just embrace the chaos because frankly I can't control it but I can control my reaction to it.

I think I'm becoming numb to much of global politics. It just seems so ridiculous now.

 

[Gloster]

Seems as though the Epstein list has been causing a lot of drama this weekend, which apparently led to one of Trump's Truth Social post being ratioed (more comments than likes) for the first time ever. I've not been fully following this, but could Trump be in actual trouble with his MAGA base?

It does seem that the inaction over the Texas flooding, and the subsequent crass and insensitive blame game, which has gone right up to Trump’s own words, may have caused a certain amount of disquiet even among the MAGA supporters. Deaths of small children do not play well with anyone.

 

[najaB]

It does seem that the inaction over the Texas flooding, and the subsequent crass and insensitive blame game, which has gone right up to Trump’s own words, may have caused a certain amount of disquiet even among the MAGA supporters.

Indeed. I think the "You're evil to even ask that" comment to a reporter who was repeating questions that they had been asked by victims families didn't go down well in particular.

 

[jon0844]

So the Epstein list doesn't exist, but the list that doesn't exist was made up by Hillary and Obama. Checks out.

 

[AndrewE]

Seems as though the Epstein list has been causing a lot of drama this weekend, which apparently led to one of Trump's Truth Social post being ratioed (more comments than likes) for the first time ever. I've not been fully following this, but could Trump be in actual trouble with his MAGA base?

Thanks for the explanantion, but having looked at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67861498 [Jeffrey Epstein list: Who is named in court filings?] I still don't understand this... there again my version of English might be 10 or 20 years out of date!

 

[SteveP29]

So the Epstein list doesn't exist, but the list that doesn't exist was made up by Hillary and Obama. Checks out.

and because of the non existence of that list, JP Morgan paid out $290M for no reason at all!!! /s

 

[martin butler]

I think it's something that just has to be allowed to run its course and everyone just has to hope that there are enough sane people left to prevent lasting damage I actually do think that Trump is in very poor health, and won't last the full 4 years, and that once he is gone, Maga will implode

Hopefully the mid-terms will see democrats taking the senate and house back, and then holding his administration to account, for the many illegal acts they have done, I do think that in the future, the next Democrat government will be holding trials of trumps entire inner circle

 

[brad465]

White House saying Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition after his hands were not seen in good nick. Don't know how serious this is, but interesting that the officials can't deny there's a problem:

Trump diagnosed with vein condition, White House says

The president's press secretary says bruising on his hands is consistent with damage from frequent handshakes while taking aspirin.

www.bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump is suffering from a chronic vein condition, the White House announced on Thursday, after days of speculation regarding photographs showing bruising on the president's hand.
After recently experiencing swelling in his legs, Trump underwent a "comprehensive exam" including a diagnostic vascular study, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt said Trump's bruised hand was consistent with "tissue damage from frequent handshaking" while taking aspirin, which she said is "part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen".
Trump, 79, has regularly touted his good health and once described himself as "the healthiest president that's ever lived".
Following an annual physical exam in April, White House physician Sean Barbabella wrote that Trump "exhibits cognitive and physical health".
The vein condition discovered in the recent exam is called chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when leg veins fail to pump blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower limbs, which can then become swollen.

 

[nanstallon]

I think it's something that just has to be allowed to run its course and everyone just has to hope that there are enough sane people left to prevent lasting damage I actually do think that Trump is in very poor health, and won't last the full 4 years, and that once he is gone, Maga will implode

Hopefully the mid-terms will see democrats taking the senate and house back, and then holding his administration to account, for the many illegal acts they have done, I do think that in the future, the next Democrat. government will be holding trials of trumps entire inner circle

What 'mid-terms'? If there are any, they will be Russian style. In November 2024, the USA voters said goodbye to democracy.

 

[jon0844]

White House saying Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition after his hands were not seen in good nick. Don't know how serious this is, but interesting that the officials can't deny there's a problem:

Trump diagnosed with vein condition, White House says

The president's press secretary says bruising on his hands is consistent with damage from frequent handshakes while taking aspirin.

www.bbc.co.uk

They've always said he's in perfect health until now, so I guess this is another attempt to divert attention away from the Epstein files they're still rapidly writing so they can release them later.

Be suspicious when the list is hand written with a Sharpie.

 

[Cloud Strife]

What 'mid-terms'? If there are any, they will be Russian style. In November 2024, the USA voters said goodbye to democracy.

This is quite far from the truth right now. The Republicans are trailing in the polls for the midterms, and while voters are exceptionally annoyed with the Democrats, they're still favouring them in the midterms. If the Republicans lose Congress, then Trump's final two years will be a lame duck at best.

but could Trump be in actual trouble with his MAGA base?

It'll be interesting to see what happens with this list. It's looking very much like a massive blunder on his part, especially as this list was something that MAGA types have been frothing at the mouth over. He's getting attacked for it from all the reliably MAGA-types, although most of the anger seems to be directed at Pam Bondi. I wouldn't be surprised if he throws her under the bus if he can't put out this fire though.

 

[ainsworth74]

White House saying Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition after his hands were not seen in good nick. Don't know how serious this is, but interesting that the officials can't deny there's a problem:

Trump diagnosed with vein condition, White House says

The president's press secretary says bruising on his hands is consistent with damage from frequent handshakes while taking aspirin.

www.bbc.co.uk

Yes interesting that they finally feel forced to confess that Trump is in anything other than perfect health. I mean I don't think this condition is particularly serious. My grandfather had extremely swollen legs for a good portion of his later years and he made it to 96! But still interesting that they feel that they've got to admit it. Wonder if that means that he's actually got something far more serious wrong with him (apart from the obvious narcissist tendencies, psychopathy and early stages of dementia obviously)...

 

[jon0844]

There are probably many reasons for saying this about Trump, and I expect one of them will be to try and make people feel sorry for Trump and his base will say 'Leave the poor guy alone'.

Meanwhile, they'll be working on a list they can release that shows Trump not to be involved at all.

 

[Thirteen]

Yes interesting that they finally feel forced to confess that Trump is in anything other than perfect health. I mean I don't think this condition is particularly serious. My grandfather had extremely swollen legs for a good portion of his later years and he made it to 96! But still interesting that they feel that they've got to admit it. Wonder if that means that he's actually got something far more serious wrong with him (apart from the obvious narcissist tendencies, psychopathy and early stages of dementia obviously)...

I mean he's 79, health problems are kind of expected but I just find it odd, he's been trying to portray himself as a picture of health.

 

[jon0844]

I mean he's 79, health problems are kind of expected but I just find it odd, he's been trying to portray himself as a picture of health.

Yes, but now it suddenly suits him to appear vulnerable and, erm, human.

 

[ainsworth74]

I mean he's 79, health problems are kind of expected but I just find it odd, he's been trying to portray himself as a picture of health.

Absolutely it would be more bizarre if he actually was the perfect picture of health! But that's why I think they've admitted that he has got a health problem (even if comparatively minor) is interesting. So much time has been spent building him up being the perfect human specimen who is in perfect health and the healthiest President to ever President that why have they now finally admitted he's not actual superhuman.

 

[Thirteen]

Absolutely it would be more bizarre if he actually was the perfect picture of health! But that's why I think they've admitted that he has got a health problem (even if comparatively minor) is interesting. So much time has been spent building him up being the perfect human specimen who is in perfect health and the healthiest President to ever President that why have they now finally admitted he's not actual superhuman.

The problem is that nobody ever believed that given his lifestyle.