Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning updated in OP 12/2/26

The only reason they're doing this is to retain a "got ya" card to deport people on progression visas that the regime deems to be too critical. They'll take your tourist money, but I still wouldn't fancy being detained simply because some ICE depot is trying to meet its monthly target.

A lot of his voter base simply don't believe in government, and I don't believe they'll simply graft onto Vance. When it comes flipping tables no one did it better than Trump and his base loved him for it.

The question is after Trump will his anarchist base simply turn on government outright. At the time of the lockdowns I genuinely thought the armed occupation and takeover of a red state capital was possible. The insurrection sapped that momentum, but it hasn't gone away.

I can well imagine some flyover states becoming non land transit states too.

They do. It's just not in a European-style government that provides services and infrastructure. It's in a government that terrorises the people they hate, imprisons black people and censors views they hate. Same with libertarians like Ron and Rand Paul with their medieval views on abortion.

They will. The interesting question is what form it will take. Once Trump dies, there'll be multiple factions. I'd say one based around JD Vance if he gets to be President, one around one of the family and maybe a third, perhaps led by someone like Ron DeSantis.

Some of those Hollywood types (who Trump would hate regardless) who invest in alcohol are missing a trick. They should create a range that people can buy but keep in the fridge only to be opened once Trump pops his clogs. 😄

MAGA - Make Alcohol Great Again

I think this is a classic example of Groucho Marx's quip on principles. Graham saw which way the wind would blow and moved accordingly.

Yeah I suppose I am not in a good position to comment given I'm Irish, we are not in Schengen, and we receive (though wonder for how much longer?) some special benefits when it comes to travel to the US.

I have always thought all the EU member countries should be mirroring whatever the US does to our citizens when travelling there.

That's never happened because disunity of the EU in this policy area, size/power of the US and its ability to play divide and rule with the individual members comes into play.

Anyways, the European version of US "ESTA" is only coming in next year I think? If they go ahead, maybe whack the fee on that up. Charge them EUR 500 or even EUR 1,000 each for it or something!

The US is rich, Americans are rich and it's pocket change no doubt & loads of them still seem to want to travel here (in preference to Russia, or Belarus say) despite our civilisational decline and descent into anarchy - so soak them good!

The lettuce has gone all in on Trumpism far right, Johnson and Farage already in that bed.

On the White House Ballroom front, presumably in response to the National Trust for Historic Preservation suit against the destruction of the old wing, The White House has claimed in a court filing that the construction project must continue for national security reasons but has not revealed what the national security reasons are AND claims that the National trust group has no legal standing to sue.

The Beeb [radio 4] responds to Trump in a mischievous way: To everyone’s surprise, Darth Vader has been handed a special award...Join Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Kieran Hodgson and special guest Josh Berry for a special festive edition celebrating 25 years of mischievous mimicry.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=204ea9526cfea096f03ba378742683cf9a42e1b530dadf2ad991891a61fe5ee5JmltdHM9MTc2NTg0MzIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=04f55f2f-e40c-6108-1379-4b9fe541609e&psq=Dead+Ringers+%7c+Listen+on+BBC+Sounds+BBC+Radio+4+%23DeadRingers+%23DarthVader+%23Comedy+%23Satire&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0JCQ1JhZGlvNC92aWRlb3MvdG8tZXZlcnlvbmVzLXN1cnByaXNlLWRhcnRoLXZhZGVyLWhhcy1iZWVuLWhhbmRlZC1hLXNwZWNpYWwtYXdhcmRqb2luLWphbi1yYXZlbnMvMTI1MDQ4NTQzMDI5MDgxMy8

I also have no interest in encouraging any more state snooping and surveillance from the British and European governments. If the Americans want fascism, let them have it.

I saw a headline from The Guardian about librarians trying to resist the MAGA Nazis trying to get books banned from libraries. The insane thing is that in 2021-2022, 60% of the challenges came from 11 people:

https://lithub.com/just-a-few-hateful-parents-are-responsible-for-most-of-the-book-challenges-in-america/

John Oliver covered this in one of his shows:

It's funny how the First Amendment offers practically no protection in Trump's America.

and yet they try and lecture us about free speech, utterly risible.