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

pretty clear now Trump is a putin asset. The fact that TAS news reporters were in Oval Office today says it all.

JDV is a vacuous half wit. The question from OneAmerica reporter was just bizarre

Russia is on the brink of economic collapse and Donnie is trying to provide them with breathing space to re arm

Something I wonder when seeing these types of figures; they include aid to Ukraine in various forms, where the EU is ahead of the USA, but does it include social welare spending, like in Ireland, Poland, and across the EU where Ukraining people have been taken in and granted asylum during the Russian invasion? That further tips the scales of support given by Europe if not captured om those figures

Elon walks around the white house like Kevin and f**king Perry ffs

I assume you meant "don't".

The thing I fear is that Trump will take another of his random steps and sign an EO instructing that all the sanction steps the US put in place against Russia are cancelled and the sequestered funds and properties are to be returned to Russia. Trump said a few days ago that the US was to apply more sanctions against Russia. Both will be seen as an omen for the future. If he does release the funds, it'll be a propaganda coup for Putin.

Europe want's peace, a just peace, a peace on Ukraine's terms. Trump wants a peace at all costs (because it was an election promise) He doesn't care who comes out the victor…. that's generous, he probably would prefer his buddy Putin to win.

Europe knows that ending the war in Russia's favor is just delaying the war by a few years while Russia rearms and regroups. You can't be that naive that Russia won't try invade Ukraine for a third time?

This was the first time ever, that article 5 of NATO was invoked. An attack on the United States. The Britsh and other NATO soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder in Iraq or Afghanistan, even if the poison gas wasn't there.

I think today was all show business for Trump and the whole argument with Zelenskyy was planned.

Trump promised that he'd end the war in one day, he said that repeatedly during the campaign.

So he has to find another culprit: Zelenskyy is now a dictator and the Ukraine started the war and doesn't want peace.

Trump also has no real interest in rare earths and other raw materials in the Ukraine, the time to set up the infrastructure would by far exceede his presidency. He'd either have left, or be dead by the time something is extracted and of benefit to the US.

So he invited Zelenskyy to the White house to lecture him, blame him, for his own unfulfilled promise of ending the war.

The USA never looked so bad.

Zelenskyy is so smart to go on FOX Maga Media as he knows Trump will be watching

A brave man to go on that gutter trash network

Orban on behalf of Hungary,

Today President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!

Bollox to this.

Zelensky was bang on with how he handled this, he made Trump and Vance look like clowns. He is standing up for his country against a tyrant, and he just showed the world that Trump is pathetic and a baby at that.

No one respects Trump, and they shouldn’t have to either.

What exactly did he do that was considered "disrespectful", was it that he spoke?

What nonsense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War#Sovereign_countries

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_humanitarian_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War

Poke around those links and tell me social media support is all that Europe has given.

The unique ability the US has in the context of war and diplomacy on the European continent is their distance.

US can move decisively and not cause continent wide war, Russia is for the most part powerless to hit back. They can't send little green men on a retaliation invasion of the u.s., or any other sort of trickery or proxy insurrections, theres an ocean in the way. Nothing can be done at scale or worth while really.

If a European country makes a big move then Russia can actually field an army and point it at someone.

The reason European countries cant make big sudden moves is that theres a risk of large scale war spreading.

In the event of tensions on one continent between neighboring countries a force from another continent is well placed to interfere. Especially if its a big force like the US. Theres no real response for Russia, unless they want to try nukes, and they dont want to try nukes.

Other than that, if the US puts the foot down on Russia, from an ocean away, whats the consequence other than Russia sucking it up. Can they point an army at the US, via the pacific, and the USN? Maybe Vlads divisions can gather in Vladivostock and wave their fists over the horizon.

US has impunity in this context, they can do 'urgency'. EU doesnt have that luxury.

EU response speed is actually entirely appropriate in this dilemma. Help but dont cause a larger war. Try to engineer de-escalation. Make invasion untenable. What else are you going to do? Declare open war? Ok millions die, well played.

Trump can screw Russia over in the morning with pretty much no consequences, but refuses to.

How about he just calls up Putin and says - all your shadow fleet are target practice. Do something. Make a move shthead. click. Putin has no response.

Thats the least he could do. He could do that from bed tomorrow morning. But doesnt care to. Theres the lack of urgency.

There were always doing that. This is just an excuse.

Calling him a dictator. Having talks with Russia only. Making any deal pursuant on the US getting rare minerals.

It was all trying to force VZ into acquiseing to whatever Trump demanded or failing that making VZ publicly call out Trump so he could have an excuse to wash his hands of it.

All because Trump lied saying he could end the war with one phone call, within 24 hours of winning the election. He nows he can't deliver so he manufactures an argument.

Europe have provided the same military aid as the US have. Don't go believing the 350bil figure from Trump. Ukraine have also had US aid withheld for 6 months before and they didn't collapse. If Europe do see Russia as a threat and they follow through with rearming and upping their defense spending…. where do you think that will eventually go? It will go to Ukraine.

I really cannot see the US giving arms to Russia, despite all the MAGA loons, it would be deeply unpopular, even dedicated Trump supporters were questioning calling Zelensky a dictator and saying Ukraine started the war. However he can ask Elon to cut off starlink, stop proving intel to Ukraine (maybe leak some to Russia) or worse, prevent arms sales from US contractors to European countries who will be giving them to Ukraine. That could probably severely damage the defense industry, but he couldn't care about that.