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

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-throws-elon-musk-a-bone-with-white-south-african-order/

Happy to take in immigrants, as long as they are white. Direct global political favors now for Musk and his own political views. Despicable stuff.

If Trump has below average intelligence, then what does it say about the multitude of people who he has swept aside not once, but twice, to claim two non-consecutive terms as US president? What does it say of the system in general? If Trump and minions are able to destroy the entire democracy of the US in this term, then it will surely say that US democracy was a rotten, creaking edifice, and that all of those people who'd been in politics their whole lives really weren't very good at their jobs when it came down to the crunch.

America for large parts is a 3rd world shìthole. You get usual wealthy areas around big towns and cities but you also have entire cities, parts of cities and in some cases entire states that are by any standard, 3rd world. Crime, employment opportunities, drug use, depravity and hunger would be more in line with parts of Russia than they would be with Europe, Canada, Australia etc.

Maybe Trump really wants to make the whole of America like Russia when he talks about making it great again

There's definitely a large element of the political system in the US that allowed something like Trump to emerge. The Democrats are all over the shop and their system doesn't seem to allow effective opposition to emerge. And their systems of checks and balances are a pathetic house of cards

However there are huge societal problems in the US where normal, intelligent, functional human beings will blind themselves to the incredibly obvious multitude of failings of their representatives, just because their representative promises to address one or more things the voter wants addressed even if those things appear insane to us. That could be the representative promising something specific like mad anti abortion legislation or rounding up "illegals" or build a wall. It could also so be something ethereal like "make America great again" where the voter fills in the the policies to make whatever that slogan means to them, happen in their own heads.

So long as the voter believes there is at least one thing in it for them (**** everyone else); they will blind themselves to the everything else. Until the things they have blinded themselves start to impact the voter; they will remain convinced they made the correct decision because their representative could be doing what they promised in the chaotic mess that is Trump's second term (is the media they consume going to tell them any different?). And even when the things they have blinded themselves to actually do impact them; they still may believe enough in whatever promises were made to them; to think that somehow it's a mistake that there are real life consequences for them because of their vote.

The political system and the citizens of the US are to blame for the mess they and by extension we find ourselves in. If somehow the US survives Trump; they really need to address both the system and people that allowed this insanity to occur or it will just happen again.

Ah stop. You are completely overestimating Russia. They are a busted flush and have shown their weakness in the war with Ukraine. I heard the other day that they are now using North Korean soldiers at the front line. Embarrassing.

I think Trump thinks both Russia and Ukraine are weak now and he plans to go in and carve out the goodies (minerals) for USA. I think he will throw a few bones to Putin in terms of annexed Ukrainian land so he can save face but ultimately he thinks he is calling the shots. It remains to be seen if Putin will accept what is being offered. I do think it was very very bad form for USA to stop sending Ukraine the front line intelligence information and satellite images. Nasty stroke, left them defenceless.

China is the only real threat America has. And many of Trump's actions will be about staying one step ahead of China. The minerals are key here. He doesn't want the Russians selling them to China.

I have just watched every minute of that and it's incredible that is not national news. It should be compulsory viewing. I knew about some of the events but not the reasoning and the consequences just days later after people are removed. I note his use of the word oligarch along with dollars but he missed a beat by not labelling the US Uber wealthy as oligarchs also.

Out of interest, how many stayed to listen to that or did it just fall on deaf ears. There were people walking around in front of the camera and a stenographer seen later in the clip.

It should be noted that Clinton was brought through the ringer for a blowjob from an intern. A willing one at that.

Trump is a crook,.plain and simple. He makes Bertie or Charlie seem like saints by comparison.

Years of the democrats becoming completely complacent while in power is the primary fault for why Donald Trump is now in office. Focusing on liberal social issues while lettting the middle class fall into a place where they feel poorer and poorer. People in America are working 2 sometimes 3 jobs just to make ends or get somewhat ahead in life. I don't blame them for voting for him, he promised them it won't be like this anymore. We all know now that he neither has the capability or the want to change anything for them. Capitalism, or rather US capitalism in particular has failed the majority in america. Where all your worth is what the corporations say. At least we have decentish healthcare, education and social welfare in the EU. If it gives the democrats and the decent republicans a kick up the hole to do better maybe it will be worth it in the long run. But who knows.

Do we need a reason? We are gone AWAY, AWAY AWAY, AWAY, AWAY. beyond the relevance of the usefulness of asking that question

Mod edit:

Post deleted.

@My name is URL you are welcome to repeat your question/point without the personal comment re: the other poster.

the Manchurian Candidate?

Bolton was one of Trumps senior advisors in his first term - he apparently Lasted longer than other advisor in his ‘speciality’. The interview with PAT KENMY on Thursday last was riveting. It was all about his accessment/opinion/ analysis of WHO TRUMP is. One of the chief descriptions of Trump was when he said as to how Trump would play chess , ie Trump would take a shine to one piece and move it into an empty position - having given ABSOLUTLY NO THOUGHT to the ramifications of the move. He is not interested in strategy/policy.
Money ; getting even more rich; maintaining/ further enhancing his ego are his only objectives. I think that Bolton fell out with Trump and then went on to write a book

Lost all his staff in 9/11 when one of the planes flew into their offices in the south tower. No doubt that had some effect, but hey, loons in the CFTrump cabinet are de rigeur.

So they plan to use robots to make the iPhone and it's gonna employ millions of people to make said robots?

Can't they just make a robot make the robots who makes the iPhone? Probably offshore those millions of jobs to China to make the robots though.

Baffling stuff all around. Then again, he did say tariffs do not create inflation.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/amy-coney-barrett-under-attack-by-right-wing

Barrett is now apparently a DEI hire, according to people who can't square the circle that she was a Trump appointment.

I'm surprised they haven't burnt it to the ground. He's made life hell for the locals living round it.