Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

Twitter? The plaything of Trumps loose cannon in this administration? That Twitter?

yes. That Twitter. The one Harris and foreign affairs department officially announced their oh so caring and generous taxpayers donation.

You would swear it was created under Biden.

His MAGA crowd also think the money saved will be filtering back into their pockets, little do they know Trumps next tax cut (which favours the rich) will be paid, not by increased borrowing, but massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid etc…. as it doesn't affect rich people. But all the distraction is focused on plastic straws and government officials paying Politico for a subscription service etc….

Trump is about to inflict tariffs on the whole of the EU but only two countries are responsible for the trade surplus of the EU. One is Germany as you'd expect - a manufacturing powerhouse….the other is Ireland which manufactures and exports pharma to the US. This makes up the bulk of our tax take in this country.

We are going to get a lot more isolated from our European peers. They are going to be very angry that they will also pay for this.

I guess we can Palestine the whole thing and further damage ourselves.

Why is the White House focusing on South Africa of all countries?

And without a proper understanding of the changes to the laws.

Could it be because of the (now) American external influencer who grew up in Apartheid South Africa??

At the same time, because of the shutdown of USAid, anti-retroviral clinics in SA that where sponsored and/or funded by USAid have been shutdown overnight, leaving thousands of people worried about how, when and where they can obtain their next treatment.

https://news.sky.com/story/usaid-crisis-leaves-south-africans-living-with-hiv-in-turmoil-13304449

I don't know how well reviewed or reputable the New Yorker publication is, but it/they seem to put together a pretty damning case against the grandfather.

From experience, for the most part family values continue across generations, especially when brought up in the same/similar environment. In this case being brought up in a privileged environment during Apartheid South Africa.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-world-according-to-elon-musks-grandfather

If they treated white South Africans with the respect they deserved they might continue to get handouts.

Two reasons

1. They are racists
2. They are punishing the country for going against the real power bloc in the US

I know the price of eggs wouldn’t really affect you if you can afford to be there, but I hope trump gets some blowback at the god awful spectacle that is the Super Bowl.

The only way Trump will make this work if he goes after individual countries or individual products like Pharma and hits them hard. A measly 10% will have next to no impact on Ireland and what he is trying to achieve. No doubt they will all know it's temporary anyway so ride it out so he needs to say they are long term unless they bring profits home. There is zero chance of that happening so yeah not sure I'd be concerned yet. Changing tax laws is where he needs to focus.

Trump, in case you haven't noticed, has a profitable business here.

Well, he has a business here. It would be bucking the trend if it were a profitable business.

Not really. Its the super bowl, a football game, people watch the game and eat food. That's pretty much it. I don't know what people on here think america is like, but constant fights over politics or asking who you voted for to start a debate or lecture isn't it

Constant interruption to the actual game to have advertisements and you ask why the Superbowl gets a bit of bad press. It is certainly not a sporting spectacle.

IMO it is just a personal desire and belief that Ireland should leave the EU getting the better of logical thought here.

Plainly politics here is not going in a direction where we would exit ourselves, so he'd have to hope somehow the other members will decide to become quite hostile towards us over a disagreement, and drive us away. First the great hope was over Brexit (did not pan out), now this issue (potential actions of Trump admin. 2)!

Given Hungary is still in the EU with all activities the govt. there has gotten up contrary to interests and even stability/security/safety at times of the other members over last decade, it seems unlikely.

It's pretty obvious that the EU response (and any anger) will be directed at Trump and the US if they initiate a brain dead trade war (apart from 1-2 members that have governments that will want to kiss up to Trump - main e.g. Hungary [again]).

Why would the EU & other members doing less trade with the US be angry with those members (ourselves, Germany, maybe Denmark too?) that will be hit harder by tariffs, due to just doing a lot of trade with the US or the targetting of specific sectors by Trump? It just doesn't make any sense. We didn't vote for Trump or ask for any of this idiocy, noone in the EU did.

Yes, if the US doesn't pay Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design Technology to:

"NURTURE AND ENCOURAGE EQUALITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY IN STORYTELLING, BY FACILITATING SELF-GENERATED NARRATIVES FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF FILM"

Xi and Putin will be right in there, won't they? Change the record.