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

fullstop · 27-01-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184012#Comment_124184012

The criticism of Mamdani has now pivoted from ‘he’s a Commie’ to ‘he has his name on his coat’ and ‘he doesn’t know how to shovel snow properly’

Lillyfae · 27-01-2026 11:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184239#Comment_124184239

Exactly, if you're doing your job properly who should care if you're "labelled" anything?

everlast75 · 27-01-2026 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184239#Comment_124184239

was it a tan coat? 😮😮😮

J Mysterio · 27-01-2026 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184198#Comment_124184198

Eventually citizens might just get their own gopro style body cams rather than relying on their phones. More subtle and reliable.

randomcorkman · 27-01-2026 12:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184040#Comment_124184040

Especially if you're taller than him. By which I mean standing up.

banie01 · 27-01-2026 12:25PM

In real terms on the Geo-political front, leaving aside Don's domestic disasters.
The publication of the National Defence Strategy document has been as big a slap in the face the US allies as last months publication of the National Security Strategy was.

https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF

No mention of of the QUAD (US, India, Australia & Japan).
What is very interesting, given all the tough talk of deterring China?
Is the fact that there is zero mention of Taiwan in the document.
It's as if despite all the talk of Taiwan's importance particularly as the primary foundry site for the AI chips Trump keeps flip flopping on?

That much as America is retreating to its "own" hemisphere?
It is doing so in the most treacherous and transactional manner possible.
They'll sell you wonderful weapons, with 5/6 year lead times and if you're invaded in the meantime?

Oh well.

Absolute retreat from responsibility, whilst still seeking both economic benefits and absolute hegemony of those nations they'll happily fúck under the Chinese boot.

The parallels to the fall of Rome, of Byzantium and even multiple Chinese Dynasties in the retreat of the USA from security obligations it forced upon others in its rise to military and economic dominance are stark.

Whilst Don and co are banging on about MAGA?
What actually made it great?
They've never understood.
They think it's 50's picket fences and uppity folk knowing their place.
Reality always has been though, that it was an idea, that is lain out in the founding documents.

All men are created equal, and along with that, that everyone is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
MAGA seems to believe however, that if you can't be happy their way?
You goddam just ain't an American 🤷‍♂️

fly_agaric · 27-01-2026 12:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184367#Comment_124184367

On China/Taiwan, I also have found it very hard to credit claims that US will defend it & by extension that they will actually step up and protect any of their allies in Asia from China if things (God forbid) take a negative turn there, while Trump/MAGA are in power.

I have noticed that when they do mention Taiwan it is always about the IC manufacturing, the chips and the foundries, its importance to the global electronics supply chain etc.

It's no longer that Taiwan is an authentic Chinese democracy providing a successful and vibrant counter example to the CCP that deserves and needs to be protected here, which would have been a both sides of the political divide foreign policy axiom in the US not long ago. i.e. The principle of the thing.

Now it's f-ck that noise and such principles are for fools so shove em. It's all about the greed, the money, the stuff, what's in it for us here etc. That's the essence of Trump's and the MAGA GOP's USA and the approach to everything.

grammar edits

o1s1n · 27-01-2026 01:15PM

Fox really are such an absolutely ridiculous propaganda outlet.

Check out how far down mention of Bovino being ousted is, he's not even named.

banie01 · 27-01-2026 01:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184446#Comment_124184446

Agreed, the fact that the USA has completely retreated from Taiwan as an example of what a free China could be?
To it merely being an important chip foundry is precisely what I mean when I call this particular abandonment, treacherous and transactional.
Make no mistake, this document and its framing lay clear that the prior "Strategic Ambiguity" that was the usual US response to questions on whether they would defend Taiwan (A policy Biden abandoned, repeatedly affirming the US would defend Taiwan) has been completely abandoned by Trump & Co.

For Forks Sake · 27-01-2026 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184321#Comment_124184321

https://twitter.com/i/status/2015983612014035333

...

Strazdas · 27-01-2026 01:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184119#Comment_124184119

It's effectively two different countries at the moment. The MAGA cult led by Trump plus his government, and then everyone else. Weirdly, Trump doesn't even claim to be a President for all the people…..he's quite happy to be head of the cult only.

Manic Moran · 27-01-2026 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124183662#Comment_124183662

That much is common, longstanding practice. A US Marine on exchange was highly annoyed that he was kicked out of a Fleet Air Arm position during the Falklands war.

The DCG (US divisions have several Deputy Commanding Generals, not a designated 2IC) of 1st Armored Division is a British Brigadier, the French have a general in 3rd Infantry, 25th ID has a New Zealander,, I ran into a Canadian G5 (Full colonel) in 1st Cav division, a French Lt Colonel in the UK's 3rd Division working alongside a Canadian Lt Col… Koreans hold the 2IC and Chief of Staff positions in 2nd ID. I'm not sure about some of the other Divisions. And the US has counterparts exchanged. It's expected that in the even of 'live' deployment in a non-multinational operation that the exchange officers will be pulled (and not unexpected even if in a multi-national operation, there are various legal authorities that the exchange officers don't have).

But thanks for the reminder, I'm planning on going to that exercise and I've been forgetting to talk to 11th Airborne the last couple of weeks.

Timberrrrrrrr · 27-01-2026 02:07PM

ICE to be on duty at the winter Olympics

In ITALY!

https://news.sky.com/story/public-face-of-trumps-minneapolis-crackdown-set-to-leave-city-as-presidents-tone-shifts-13499461

walshb · 27-01-2026 02:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184579#Comment_124184579

this pretty much sums up America and Trump’s madness and badness

Manic Moran · 27-01-2026 02:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124183993#Comment_124183993

That would depend on whether or not I was planning on finding ICE, I suspect.

I don't normally go looking for law enforcement operations, so it's not really a frame of mind I have any experience of. However, one thing which has been observed, which I certainly abide by, is that when armed there is an even greater inclination to avoid trouble of any sort, from road rage to police interaction. Example pieces.

https://www.concealedcarry.com/opinion/you-dont-get-to-fight-anymore/

The moment you put a loaded gun in your waistband, your status in any confrontation fundamentally changes. You are no longer just a man in an argument. You are a man with a firearm. That means if things go sideways, even if you didn’t start it, the risk profile of that encounter has just escalated dramatically.

Once you're carrying, every fight becomes a potential gun fight, because you brought a gun. That makes your presence in a shoving match reckless and dangerous. Not just for you, but for everyone around you.

That should humble you. And it should inform every decision you make.

[…]

You’re not trying to win arguments. You’re trying to go home.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/conflict-avoidance-will-you-walk-away/

Conflict avoidance is one of the most effective self-defense strategies. Whether it’s a heated argument or a dangerous altercation, knowing how to avoid conflict reduces risk and ensures personal safety, and could be the difference between staying safe or facing legal and physical consequences.

[…]

Remember, engaging in a physical altercation carries significant risks, foremost among them being harm to yourself or others.

Despite the allure of prevailing in a fight, the adage holds true: The best fight is the one you never enter.

RoyalCelt · 27-01-2026 02:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124183965#Comment_124183965

I have no idea what you're talking about but you won't be finding a poster of any US president in my house.

RoyalCelt · 27-01-2026 02:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184066#Comment_124184066

Defend to the hilt" means to support, protect, or justify someone or something completely, absolutely, and to the maximum extent possible.

This is just an outright lie. I've pointed out before that it's okay to be a trump supporter or any US president. That's not me however and I won't pretend. If people continue to say it I'll continue to correct. It's completely irrelevant to these debates however.

eightieschewbaccy · 27-01-2026 02:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184707#Comment_124184707

You've depicted serious issues in the administration as if it's just ordinary issues that every administration faces.

RoyalCelt · 27-01-2026 02:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184717#Comment_124184717

That's a very vague response but I'm entitled to my opinion which are not always right.

charlie14 · 27-01-2026 02:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124183676#Comment_124183676

Being a legal resident doesn`t make any difference with this band of thugs.

They are intimidating legal residents, dragging them from cars and homes and murdering them in plain sight with impunity.

scuba8 · 27-01-2026 02:39PM

While the ice thugs are murdering innocent civilians in Minneapolis their counterparts in detention centres are doing the same.

Field east · 27-01-2026 02:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184691#Comment_124184691

I was hoping that, for a change , you might give a yes or no answer . No MM but ICE ‘might find you’. You are going ‘down town’ and minding your own business and a number if ICE vehicles suddenly arrive and park around your space. All - maybe 15 +- get out and ‘command /supervise/take control’ of the area. They usually operate as a large group. You are now caught up in that space and if you look crooked at any one of them or seen to walk away go into a shop or, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,etc, you are giving ICE. A ‘reason ‘ to approach you and ‘away they go’

SO, MM, given the above scenario as a potential development that you would have considered before you left your house. Would you still carry your gun with or leave it at home.

PS . I assume that before you left your house that you would have known that ICE were ‘in town’

banie01 · 27-01-2026 02:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184753#Comment_124184753

Don't forget the rapists and abusers also given badges.
It's an abuser's paradise.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-officer-guilty-sexual-abuse-immigrant-b2893752.html?test_group=lighteradlayout

https://abc7chicago.com/post/us-customs-border-protection-officer-luis-uribe-ordered-detained-sexual-assault-robbery-crimes-schaumburg-naperville/18289552/

Penn · 27-01-2026 02:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184691#Comment_124184691

At no point did he draw his gun, and the gun had been removed from him before he was shot.

Manic Moran · 27-01-2026 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184027#Comment_124184027

Sticks and stones…have to land first before they break bones.

The requirement is not going to go away. If the next President decides that ICE is too much of a political liability to exist, which I suspect is not an unlikely scenario, the roles and functions are going to either be given to a replacement organisation which is in effect a rebrand, or folded into an extant organisation, such as maybe CBP (But you may not like that either, since it was CBP which conducted the most recent shooting). In effect, the options are to leave the organisation as is or rebrand or re-organise.

Hugo Boss may have gotten out of the German uniform production business after World War II, but other companies delivered for the new Bundeswehr just as they did the Wehrmacht and SS. Remind me the provenance of Volkswagen and your opinion of people who drive those cars? Or in your opinion are VW owners all fans of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront?

And yes, I still maintain that the known laws are being followed. Remember that ICE incident last week where they used a five-year-old to lure out his dad? Underhanded and morally questionable, sure. But if they didn't care about the law, they wouldn't have felt any need to do it either. They would have ignored the law and gone in to get him.

banie01 · 27-01-2026 02:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184778#Comment_124184778

Further to that.
At no point did he seek violent confrontation.
He helped a woman who was pepper sprayed and pushed to the ground.
Then ICE/CBP assaulted him, even pulling him back and as he tried crawling away.

The guff spouted by MM in his reply, common sense advice for carrying a firearm responsibly.

It has absolutely zero bearing on the execution of Alex Pretti though.

Leroy42 · 27-01-2026 02:56PM

Are we starting to enter the territory where anyone carrying a gun can now be considered a threat to law enforcement and a potential domestic terrorist? It certainly seems that that is the approach that the WH is taking. (in a US context, obviously, almost every other country in the world already has this)

Yes, in this case, it is due to ICE, but surely that extends to any law enforcement? And as the question has been raised as to why a person would bring a firearm to a protest, and as MM has alluded to the fact that consideration should be given before eve taken a firearm out, surely it is not too long before 2A is going to be removed.

RoyalCelt · 27-01-2026 03:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184792#Comment_124184792

A rebrand is possible but a body doing what ICE does Will always exist. It existed under Obama and too many although less people died under it then. It exists because of the huge number of people who go to illegal lengths to enter the US. Unfortunately that's a downside to being one of the most attractive countries on the planet to immigrants. Even first world people over stay their visa and become undocumented.

Manic Moran · 27-01-2026 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184772#Comment_124184772

I'm sorry, I'm trying to give you a best answer, not a short one.

OK. "Yes, I would wear if authorised to do so." Or more accurately, "I do wear as authorised to do so."

ICE are already operating in my town. It's central Texas, there are a lot of people here eligible for deportation. The state accounts for 20% of all ICE arrests. For example, last week. You don't see much of it in the news because it's going fairly quietly in comparison to Minneapolis.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/is-ice-going-door-to-door-san-antonio-immigration-21298965.php

That said, their activities have garnered local attention. From this week.

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/how-should-san-antonio-move-forward-regarding-ice-cooperation-and-local-enforcement

What you describe is a constant 'risk' where I am. In such a hypothetical scenario, my response would be exactly as it has been with any other encounter I've had with law enforcement when armed: Be polite, be calm, and we all go home.

everlast75 · 27-01-2026 03:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124184792#Comment_124184792

Your president is a fascist ✅

Your president is your commander in chief ✅

You obey, through his subordinates, his orders ✅

You are part of a fascist army ✅

Q.E.D.

That's not name calling. They are facts.

(Incidentally, again you pontificate about ancillary and largely irrelevant material around the cold blooded execution of two citizens, and not discuss their actual murders)

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

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