Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[Killingworth]

Look up narcissistic personality disorder and suggest a living person who might fit those symptoms. No known cure.

At least one mystery has been cleared up. He doesn't make all those social media posts. How many he makes himself is unclear or how many he is even aware of.

 

[Krokodil]

At least one mystery has been cleared up. He doesn't make all those social media posts.

Or so he says. I can't believe that the late-night rambles are the product of anyone else's mind. Racist AI slop yes, but a staffer would be more coherent for the written stuff. Notice how KKKaroline was out there defending the post until they realised the scale of the backlash and decided to throw a staffer under a bus.

 

[GusB]

I assume that the previous posts are discussing Trump's recent video depicting the Obamas. Surprisingly, he has refused to apologise.

Trump refuses to apologize for video with racist imagery of Obamas posted on his social media

Only a smattering of Republicans spoke out about clip in which Obamas’ faces were superimposed on bodies of apes

www.theguardian.com

Donald Trump said on Friday evening, after a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes had been posted to his social media account and then deleted, that he had directed aides to post the offensive video but that he hadn’t seen that portion of the clip and he refused to apologize for it.

The same article goes on to say:

As he so often does, Trump undercut efforts by his aides to explain away his own behavior by telling reporters that he did approve posting the video. “I just looked at the first part,” the president said. “I didn’t see the whole thing; I guess during the end of it there was some kind of a picture that people don’t like. I wouldn’t like it either. But I didn’t see it, I just, I looked at the first part… then I gave it to the people. Generally they look at the whole thing, but I guess somebody didn’t and they posted – and we took it down.”

Asked if he would apologize, as even Republican officials have suggested he should, Trump bristled. “No, I didn’t make a mistake,” said the president of the racist meme posted on his social media account.

He knew exactly what he was doing when he posted it.

In other news, Vance had a good reception at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics!

NBC appears to cut crowd’s booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast

The US vice-president, JD Vance, was greeted by a chorus of boos during when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday

www.theguardian.com

The US vice-president, JD Vance, was greeted by a chorus of boos when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, although American viewers watching NBC’s coverage would have been unaware of the reception.

As speedskater Erin Jackson led Team USA into the San Siro stadium she was greeted by cheers. But when the TV cameras cut to Vance and his wife, Usha, there were boos, jeers and a smattering of applause from the crowd. The reaction was shown on Canadian broadcaster CBC’s feed, with one commentator saying: “There is the vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha – oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/07/usta-trump-censorship-us-open-booing
The Guardian’s Sean Ingle was also at the ceremony and noted the boos, as did USA Today’s Christine Brennan. However, on the NBC broadcast the boos were not heard or remarked upon when Vance appeared on screen, with the commentary team simply saying “JD Vance”. That didn’t stop footage of the boos being circulated and shared on social media in the US. The White House posted a clip of Vance applauding on NBC’s broadcast without any boos.

Friday was not the first time there have been moves to stop US viewers from witnessing dissent against the Trump administration. At September’s US Open, tournament organizers asked broadcasters not to show the crowd’s reaction to Donald Trump, who attended the men’s final. Part of the message read: “We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity.”

 

[najaB]

Surprisingly, he has refused to apologise.

Is that surprising? I don't remember him apologising for anything. Ever.

 

[martin butler]

I'm almost speechless, had anyone else posted that, they would be facing charges, depicting any black person as apes, is below human, its disgusting, but who really is surprised, see in Trumps world Obama should have never became president, its a white male only job, and people of colour, should know their place.

That's his view of the world, why else were black people in effect banned from renting from the trump organisation, plus to add insult to injury Obama was a well-loved respected person, very educated, very eloquent, and a recipient of the Nobel peace award. Trump hates him, why else do you think he wanted the award so badly? because he thinks being white, and powerful should be enough.

 

[sor]

That's his view of the world, why else were black people in effect banned from renting from the trump organisation, plus to add insult to injury Obama was a well-loved respected person, very educated, very eloquent, and a recipient of the Nobel peace award. Trump hates him, why else do you think he wanted the award so badly? because he thinks being white, and powerful should be enough.

It's long been suggested that the seed was planted when Trump attended a White House Correspondents Association dinner and received a light roasting from Obama. Would explain why he specifically tries to tear down anything that Obama or Biden did.

(in hindsight, the photoshop image of a white house with his name and gold accents is perhaps less tacky than what he's really doing to it!)

 

[najaB]

It's long been suggested that the seed was planted when Trump attended a White House Correspondents Association dinner and received a light roasting from Obama. Would explain why he specifically tries to tear down anything that Obama or Biden did.

That and/or the Seth Myers "Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican which is surprising since I just assumed he was running as a joke." zinger.

Edit: Adding a link to the video for context:

You can see that DJT was not happy, it looks like a real villain origin story moment.

 

[Krokodil]

Is that surprising? I don't remember him apologising for anything. Ever.

The one time I can recall him ever expressing regret for his actions was his regret that he didn't refuse to leave the White House in 2021.

 

[najaB]

One thing that I find slightly heartening is that we don't seem to be getting nearly as many DJT/MAGA apologists these days trying to justify the actions of the president and the administration - which I'd like to think is because even they find it increasingly difficult to try and rationalise.

 

[DelW]

Or so he says. I can't believe that the late-night rambles are the product of anyone else's mind. Racist AI slop yes, but a staffer would be more coherent for the written stuff. Notice how KKKaroline was out there defending the post until they realised the scale of the backlash and decided to throw a staffer under a bus.

It's amusing that Trump's retraction, and claims that he knew nothing about the blatantly racist section which had supposedly been "erroneously" posted by a staff member, completely undermined Bull**** Barbie's defence of it, and her characterisation of responses as "fake outrage". It's beyond me how that woman can have any self-respect when she regularly has to argue completely contradictory positions whenever Trump changes what passes for his mind.

[Edit: the asterisks were substituted by the forum's software]

 

[brad465]

I'm almost speechless, had anyone else posted that, they would be facing charges, depicting any black person as apes, is below human, its disgusting, but who really is surprised, see in Trumps world Obama should have never became president, its a white male only job, and people of colour, should know their place.

That's his view of the world, why else were black people in effect banned from renting from the trump organisation, plus to add insult to injury Obama was a well-loved respected person, very educated, very eloquent, and a recipient of the Nobel peace award. Trump hates him, why else do you think he wanted the award so badly? because he thinks being white, and powerful should be enough.

I've come to believe that Trump has "Obama derangement syndrome": wants the Nobel Peace Prize because Obama got one, ripped up the Iran nuclear deal because Obama signed it, and ran for President because Obama mocked him in 2011 about running.

 

[Krokodil]

It's beyond me how that woman can have any self-respect

When one bears the child of a man more than twice one's age - but he happens to be rich - self-respect was long gone.

 

[najaB]

I've come to believe that Trump has "Obama derangement syndrome": wants the Nobel Peace Prize because Obama got one, ripped up the Iran nuclear deal because Obama signed it, and ran for President because Obama mocked him in 2011 about running.

I agree. But I think that the thing that rankles him more than all that Obama achieved and how respected and well-regarded he is by the world, is the fact that he is black - and there's nothing more devastating to DJT's ego then being outdone by someone who isn't white.

 

[Gloster]

While all the anger is aimed at Trump’s latest weirdness, behind the scenes more serious things are happening that few notice. They range from the daft, Trump trying to get Penn Station and Dulles Airport renamed after him by threatening to withhold federal funds, to more serious ones like plans to have ICE present outside polling booths in November or ‘Epstein…Who?’ Whether he writes the stuff after being wound up by his handlers, somebody else does at his vague instigation or he has no idea beforehand, it distracts.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

The alarmingly unstoppable Trump train rumbles on akin to the "Heart of Britain" sleeper from BBC's Nightsleeper without the hacking.

Whether there eventually will be intervention to slow the train to a safe rolling stop or this leads to a colossal crash with very ugly & horrific results and lasting consequences for the history books!

 

[52290]

While all the anger is aimed at Trump’s latest weirdness, behind the scenes more serious things are happening that few notice. They range from the daft, Trump trying to get Penn Station and Dulles Airport renamed after him by threatening to withhold federal funds, to more serious ones like plans to have ICE present outside polling booths in November or ‘Epstein…Who?’ Whether he writes the stuff after being wound up by his handlers, somebody else does at his vague instigation or he has no idea beforehand, it distracts.

Perhaps if they rename Penn Station,Trump Station, they could use these words on the plaque;
"My name is Donald Trump, King of Kings.
Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!"

 

[Gloster]

Perhaps if they rename Penn Station,Trump Station, they could use these words on the plaque;
"My name is Donald Trump, King of Kings.
Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!"

Perhaps that could be used for our former ambassador: ozy-Mandy-a*s.

 

[edwin_m]

Penn Station is like Birmingham New Street on steroids, horrible hole in the ground where nobody wants to spend any more time than necessary. So naming it after Trump might actually be quite appropriate.

 

[nw1]

Penn Station is like Birmingham New Street on steroids, horrible hole in the ground where nobody wants to spend any more time than necessary. So naming it after Trump might actually be quite appropriate.

Prepare for Amtrak bookings from it to crash if it is so-renamed, though...

 

[najaB]

Prepare for Amtrak bookings from it to crash if it is so-renamed, though...

There might be a few but I don't think many people choose a train station or airport based on its name.

 

[DelW]

While all the anger is aimed at Trump’s latest weirdness, behind the scenes more serious things are happening that few notice. They range from the daft, Trump trying to get Penn Station and Dulles Airport renamed after him by threatening to withhold federal funds, to more serious ones like plans to have ICE present outside polling booths in November or ‘Epstein…Who?’ Whether he writes the stuff after being wound up by his handlers, somebody else does at his vague instigation or he has no idea beforehand, it distracts.

As a further distraction, he's stated his intention to close the Kennedy Centre for two years from July, for "renovation". How much of the original building - or name - will survive is hard to predict. It's widely thought to be revenge for the way that ticket sales have collapsed since Trump took over control of programming and renamed it. The Washington Post has an article detailing the ticket statistics, but it's paywalled.

BBC report here, but there's much more coverage in US media.

The Kennedy Center in Washington DC will be closed for a two-year renovation beginning in July, US President Donald Trump has announced.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that the centre would close on 4 July this year "in honour of the 250th Anniversary of our Country".

The move follows several artists cancelling performances at the storied institution after it was recently renamed as the Trump Kennedy Center.

Penn Station is like Birmingham New Street on steroids, horrible hole in the ground where nobody wants to spend any more time than necessary. So naming it after Trump might actually be quite appropriate.

It was certainly like that when I was there in 2008, but I thought that a new and more spacious concourse had been created using the old Post Office building next door?

 

[edwin_m]

It was certainly like that when I was there in 2008, but I thought that a new and more spacious concourse had been created using the old Post Office building next door?

Yes, the Daniel Patrick Moynihan train hall, named after a deceased Democratic senator. But I believe the rest of the station is still just as grim as it ever was, at least since the original building was demolished in the 1960s.

 

[DerekC]

There might be a few but I don't think many people choose a train station or airport based on its name.

Agreed - otherwise French passports through Waterloo International back in the day should have been few and far between!

 

[Broucek]

According to the Financial Times, there is evidence that the US Embassy in London is denying visas for people with decades old convictions for comparatively minor crimes (cannabis, punch up in a pub) and even for people arrested but not convicted... And some of the people affected are senior business leaders. FT is paywalled but the Times of India is free to view and is carrying a very similar story

Not only in India, US embassy in London denying visas to executives citing 'minor offences' of 1970s - The Times of India

US News: Immigration lawyers in London are turning away clients with any criminal history as they know the US embassy in London will reject these visas no matt.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[najaB]

According to the Financial Times, there is evidence that the US Embassy in London is denying visas for people with decades old convictions for comparatively minor crimes (cannabis, punch up in a pub) and even for people arrested but not convicted... And some of the people affected are senior business leaders. FT is paywalled but the Times of India is free to view and is carrying a very similar story

I can believe that. Gotta hit their targets somehow.

Does anyone know if the 'five years of social media' history rules have come into effect yet? I got a notification email over the weekend that my ESTA is about to expire.

 

[jon0844]

I can believe that. Gotta hit their targets somehow.

Does anyone know if the 'five years of social media' history rules have come into effect yet? I got a notification email over the weekend that my ESTA is about to expire.

It would be March onwards, if approved. You're okay for now, hopefully.

 

[Krokodil]

According to the Financial Times, there is evidence that the US Embassy in London is denying visas for people with decades old convictions for comparatively minor crimes (cannabis, punch up in a pub) and even for people arrested but not convicted...

Hasn't that always been the case to a degree? Or was it just ESTAs affected in the past, not visas?

Does anyone know if the 'five years of social media' history rules have come into effect yet? I got a notification email over the weekend that my ESTA is about to expire.

Still only an aspiration to make it compulsory.

 

[nw1]

Hasn't that always been the case to a degree? Or was it just ESTAs affected in the past, not visas?

Not sure but it shows the hypocrisy of the puritanical, holier-than-thou US Right if so. Woe betide you if you smoked a joint in 1970, but shooting and killing innocent passers-by is absolutely fine.

And of course if a MAGA supporter is snorting cocaine (to be quite honest, given how they act, it wouldn't surprise me if many of them do...) I'm sure the law will leave them well alone.

 

[najaB]

Hasn't that always been the case to a degree? Or was it just ESTAs affected in the past, not visas?

Yes and no. While it has always been the official policy, it was honoured more in the breach than the observance. In practical terms, only things that would turn up on a basic disclosure would be problematic. It seems that currently even being arrested without facing any charges might be enough for visa denial.

 

[Minilad]

I can believe that. Gotta hit their targets somehow.

Does anyone know if the 'five years of social media' history rules have come into effect yet? I got a notification email over the weekend that my ESTA is about to expire.

I renewed my ESTA last week due to having a new passport. There is a question asking for any Social Media accounts but it isn't compulsory to answer. This question has been on there for at least the last few years IIRC