Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 06/06/25

Not sure whether to put this in the Pope Francis thread or here but i could see Trump making waves in Rome when he attends the funeral of Francis - conservatives have been the order of the day in US Catholicism and that’s just the way Trump likes his Christian religious - Francis drew the ire of many conservative bishops and cardinals including American ones - I’ve no doubt Trump will be wheeling and dealing in Rome this weekend - he’s certainly not going out of “respect” for Francis - he likely can’t stand what Francis represented which was care for the poor and marginalised and a lot more progressive take on divorce and homosexuality and married priests - I’d say Trump will be out to advocate for a conservative Pope

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/22/vatican-power-struggle-will-an-anti-francis-pope-emerge-from-conclave

It really wouldn’t surprise me if he made some comment on the election of the new pope - really, I just wouldn’t be surprised- that’s how fcking off the wall he is at this point

Qanon, the fact that conspiracy theories are the norm in it.

"Do you know how many popes there have been? Lots. I mean LOTS. And romans. You know, like with knives and robes? and they. Beautiful people but they were mean to me. But that's OK. I don't. Popes. So many popes and no Americans. Can you believe that? hundreds. Have them all the time and no Americans. But the pope. Beautiful man but he said to me, "Mr President, you're my favourite president. But you need to forgive" And, y'know, that's not in MY bible. I said. Mr Pope. Did JESUS forgive? Co's y'know, the woke, they don't want to forgive. The loony Left want to forgive EVERYONE. Terrorists. Immigrants. People who stole…. And we won the election.

But I said "Mr Pope. you gotta… You gotta vote for an American pope. Cos. Cos Jesus. Did you ever see that movie? And he was. Very handsome man. I mean, not my type but. Handsome. Blue eyes. Women. So Mr Pope. You gotta do the right thing. Make Rome Great Again". And Biden. He. He said. Pope isn't even in Rome! Can you believe that? Like all "Pope doesn't live in Rome".

So, we're gonna get a pope from America. Maybe not the biggest pope because of corruption. You know those romans. But, we'll get one. We can/ Did you see that place? Looks like my houses. So classy. I mean. Gold. I said "Mr Pope, I may. you are copying me". But we'll get an election. I'll talk to him next week in Rome and. We'll get the pope. And he'll. New York. I mean. Hundreds of popes and not one pope from America. We're gonna change that. And taxes. Boy. Do they…….."

And on and on.

But yeah, he'll stick his oar in and try to get an American pope. Nevermind the vast majority of Catholica in the US are… them people from "sh*thole countries"… He'll be front and centre. Surrounded by his nodding dogs and his puppets.

He was too good a politician and communicator to have used him so ineffectively.

The hilarious thing about that is, his own political coach right up to that speech in 2004 described his communication skills as "excrement".

Hindsight is rarely applicable for obvious reasons.

But for Obama the stars just aligned a just the right time, he was also a notorious hard worker.

Also I think McCain would have beaten Clinton.

Pope Jake Paul I.

Pope Donald 1 FTW

The Vatican State is an independent state within Italy. ROFL if Don was turned away from Vatican City by the Swiss Guard "sorry, Mr Trump, you're not on the funeral invite list and don't have the correct visa".

I saw this chart on LeopardsEatMyFace and it's got some very interesting facts imbedded in it.

Ignoring CFTrump for the moment, if you look at the chart (there are about 3000 counties in the US, they're defined arbitrarily and most are historic - NJ where I lived for some time is a geographically small state with 21 counties, Alaska the largest state has 30 'county equivalents.' California, also a huge state, has 58.)

Anyway, if you look 25 years ago, government assistance was close to even between Blue and Red.

Now, in 2016, Blue is up to 169 counties. Red has ballooned to 1276, about 1/3 the entire national total.

The thing the chart is missing, is what changed in 16 years. Manufacturing leaving? Population soaring so fewer good paying jobs? 2000 to 2016 was split GQP/Democratic in the WH and various parts of Congress. So, why so many getting support?

Then, 4 years later, another spike (and Covid accounted for some of that for sure, not sure when the chart was generated probably the following year.)

So, yeah, red counties have been collapsing economically for some time. Unfortunately, they vote GOP, the classic voting against their own interests. A lot do poorly because they're 'right to work' states, a euphemism for 'union free,' attracting business but no pesky unions so employees get shafted with no recourse. But, another missing fact, if you look into the money spent on those programs especially Social Security, which is direct $$ in the pocket unlike the medical program, and ignore the over 65's, that's a lot of money gone out, yet, still voting for Trump.

Only losers (in politics) mention popular vote

Pope McGregor(y) 1.

Except for the fact that Trump said that knowing it would be a headline giving him free promotion material without any intent of ever doing so, while knowing he might meet an NRA member citizen prepared to defend himself in line with his amendment rights. Imagine no 1st or 2nd Trump presidency.

Is Trump not behaving clearly un constitutionally and when does the army ‘show an interest’ in what is going on and ‘do something about it’?

Make it the 51st state? Papa Donaldus Casino Roma.