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

Putin has dirt on him.

Has any European leader criticised Trump and his lap dog Vance?

Surely we cant let Peter and Murray leave

Lefs see just how polite their society is when their economy tanks - it’s was a simple set up for the cameras - Trump was looking for an ego boost and something to brag about to his c*** suckers and he got it and they’re now drinking his cool aid

I know MM is constrained in what he can say but I hope he stands up to Tramp, the greatest pompous ignorant prick that ever entered political life.

Trump really did a number on the Ukraine president

Will MM come out and support Zelensky when he appears on the late late tonight?

It doesn't make sense to harm ourselves diplomatically on behalf of a different country which isn't even in the EU.

Posters carried away on a riptide of emotion miss that just because Ireland supports Ukraine, it doesn't mean that Ireland itself should become a vehicle for pro-Ukrainian politics at its own expense.

These posters themselves sit in front of screens doing nothing. They are consumers of news media only.

I assumed that Pres. Zelensky has maintained quasi-military garb from the outset because he is leading a country in a desperate war and wishes to signal his solidarity with his soldiers who are fighting and dying on the front lines. It's not normal times.

In any case -why would anyone even focus on such a trivial matter when there's so much at stake for so many ?

I agree, however, contrast this to the overwhelming praise from the US Congress and Senate for both Trump and Vance

Again, CNN is source and its the usual adulation of Trump from his cult. Yet again, as said previsouly, support for Zelensky is lukewarm, support for Trump is red-hot.

Further defence spending in Ireland, and political unification of the EU is essential. Geopolitically, the USA-Russia is going to become an openly talked about reality very shortly. We in the EU can choose to be 27 small states, or a unified entity that can stand up to this.

There is zero opposition worthy of mentioning to what he is doing these past weeks, including the presence of Russian state media reporters in the "cherished Oval Office" this evening. It is undeniable anymore he is doing the bidding of the Russian dictatorship, and that Europe is in danger again similar to the 1930's. Things will escalate from here; Trump will refuse to leave office in 4 years, either standing again and forcing a constitutional crisis, or simply refusing to leave office.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was part of a bipartisan group of senators who met with Zelensky earlier today, praised President Donald Trump’s handling of the fiery Oval Office exchange and warned that Zelensky “is either going to have to fundamentally change or go.”

“I’ve never been more proud of President Trump for showing the American people and the world you don’t trifle with this man. He was very positive, he was very upbeat, he wanted to get a ceasefire, he wants to end the war. And Zelensky felt like he needed to debate Trump in the Oval Office. (Vice President) JD (Vance) was awesome. This is a missed opportunity,” Graham said in an interview on Fox News.

He later added, “Zelensky is either going to have to fundamentally change or go. I can’t believe most Americans, after what they saw today, would want to be partners with Zelensky. Ukraine is an important ally that fought like tigers. I don’t want Putin to win, I want to help you train, but it’s hard to help people who seem unable to realize the moment they’re in.”

Graham has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and said that he is “devastated” by what happened in the meeting, calling it an “absolute, utter disaster.” He added that he told Zelensky to “be grateful, be thankful” in the meeting.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mike Lee posted on X, “Thank you for standing up for OUR COUNTRY and putting America first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!” He also criticized House Republican Don Bacon for saying that today was a “bad day for America’s foreign policy.” Lee wrote, “Maybe he meant it was a ‘bad day for *Ukraine’s* foreign policy.’”

Sen. Rick Scott, who has previously led the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, released a statement thanking Trump for “standing up for America’s best interests.”

Sen. Josh Hawley, who has long been opposed to sending aid to Ukraine, added, “Remember: the U.S. Senate has repeatedly and for years voted BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine with no strings attached and with no true oversight. It’s time for some ACCOUNTABILITY.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also endorsed Trump’s statement that Zelensky “disrespected” the US and can “come back when he is ready for peace.”

“Amen, Mr. President,” Hegseth said in a post on X accompanying a screenshot of Trump’s statement.

Europe can defeat Russia without the US.

Time to just call Trump's bluff on the idea that we need America to defeat Putin's utterly useless army.

Not going to happen. Starmer was saying before leaving for the US, that any military guarantees had to include the US. Britain would not be going alone and although not said, by extension the EU also would not go alone.

Don't think they (Macron/Starmer) were that bad (and of course it was before this latest American disgrace happened).

Starmer was more obsequious than Macron, as there was the palaver with inviting Trump on a state visit. Vance said nasty stuff about the UK turning away from free speech etc. (similar to what was said in Munich by him I think) and Starmer pushed back on that. I think Trump told some lies about how much Europe/US had provided in aid to Ukraine in Macron's presence, and again he was firmly corrected by Macron + record set straight.

All (non far right!?) European leaders do need to wise up that this admin. is fundamentally hostile, it is no friend either to them or to Ukraine. Stroking Trump's ego will only get them so far, and the next Republican president could well be worse than Trump is.

They need to be thinking of this as a shift in geopolitics, and considering all their dependencies on the US, military and economic (which are massive) and levers the US can bring to bear to pressure them, and reducing these.

They will need to work together to succeed in that, the EU (and other cooperation efforts) have to deepen, because as saying goes as if they don't hang together now, they will hang separately later on.

It's an increasingly hostile and cold world out there, and none of these great "powers" of the 21 C (no longer the US, never China, probably not India if they join these "big 2" some day) are reliable or trustworthy for Europe. They all just want to take a piece of us.

I'd say it's entirely necessary given the fact the US has become entirely unreliable and are siding with a nation that has started wars in Europe. The one big lesson from Trump is that the US are no longer trustworthy. And doing nothing about Russia now means Russia gets years to regroup and repeat this.

And what's more he has ensured that by law he now cannot be prosecuted for anything .

Except in the court of Public Opinion .