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

Podge_irl · 02-05-2026 09:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124436998#Comment_124436998

Shannon is a convenience, it is not that important for the US.

Their bases in Europe are an entirely different matter. Now, technically he is not allowed reduce the troops below 50k without Congressional approval (they'll be at something like 52k with this 5k withdrawal) but, well, we've seen how much that stops him.

BettyS · 02-05-2026 09:55AM

If they cannot use Europe as bases, that may be why they are fostering “good relations” with the UK. But Don is so capricious that he will turn on them at a minute’s notice. I suspect that depending on elections, the UK will either go down the EU (labour) or American (Reform) route

Jelle1880 · 02-05-2026 09:59AM

I wonder who would benefit from the US pulling out troops from Europe.

Oh, that's right.

FishOnABike · 02-05-2026 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437027#Comment_124437027

The komprimat must be strong in this one.

Stanley 1 · 02-05-2026 10:05AM

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/may/01/donald-trump-urges-pga-tour-welcome-back-liv-rebels-golf

Donald probably wants Saudi Arabia to direct more funds into Trump family businesses Affinity Partners (Ivanka/Jared) and good old voracious appetite Trump Inc., (Eric/Junior).

BettyS · 02-05-2026 10:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437037#Comment_124437037

They don’t even bother to conceal their conflicts of interests these days.

scuba8 · 02-05-2026 10:26AM

In other news, the war with Iran is starting to bankrupt the US. They are paying 1trillion dollars a year in interest.

scuba8 · 02-05-2026 10:27AM

on a lighter note, there is always a meme,

Virgil° · 02-05-2026 10:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437036#Comment_124437036

I genuinely think Trump simply likes and respects Putin. There isn't anything Putin could release that his base would turn on him for.

Thats the way Trump operates his politics. Can you enrich me? Do I personally get along with you? If the answer to both of these questions is yes then you're good. If not ....well we've seen how he treats Zelensky who should be an ally to the US against the rival Russia. But weirdly gets along with Mayor Zohran who's politics are absolutely antithetical to everything Trump is.

aloyisious · 02-05-2026 10:33AM

It's hard to figure out why the average American hasn't woken up to what Trump has done to their country. Yesterday he claimed that he was the only president that the War Powers act has been brought into play against and that it was unconstitutional. That in itself is a loolah statement, a complete lie and a direct statement that a law passed by the US congress in 1973 to lmit the power of the president to wage war without limits is unconstitutional.

It's not open to misinterpretation, he meant that he IS above the laws and constitution of the U.S. He believes that he is the ultimate judge on what he can do with the powers inherent in the U.S presidency. Any suggestion that what he said could mean something else is perfidious. That He has broken with the civil and military allies of the U.S, IMO, risks taking the U.S on the road to war with it's former allies, an action that is totally the act of an insane person.

If I were a U.S citizen, I wouldn't bother arguing any case before SCOTUS on whether the WPA is applicable to Trump in the current situation. That bench has made it plain that it, majorly, sides with the Trump creed and not the constitutional U.S presidency.

LambshankRedemption · 02-05-2026 11:17AM

It's hard to figure out why the average American hasn't woken up to what Trump has done to their country.

Statements like this really annoy me. I have dozens of friends and family in the US all who haven't woken up because they were never asleep to begin with. However, if you watch or listen to US news(not just Fox), lots of people are waking up everyday.

According to Fox News own opinion poll, his approval rating is 42%, which means 58% have "woken" up.

The question should be, what can the average American do? No amount of protests (and they happen regularly with often massive turnouts but get unreported on this side of the pond).

I expect the republicans to get pretty much routed at the upcoming midterms. If the democrats take congress, things will get very sticky for DJT.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-05-2026 11:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124436998#Comment_124436998

At best Donald was palmed off with "Russia controls Europe" and "American keeps America".

Russia has no way to power project to America without a comparable navy and bases. The Chinese have money and trade. The Russian's don't.

Trump sold out Europe for a handful of nothing. And is busy alienating the Canadians and Mexicans.

What would a Russian agent have done differently ?

LambshankRedemption · 02-05-2026 11:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124436998#Comment_124436998

Bear in mind DJT is taking the 5000 marines out of Germany on his own will(out of his own spite I should say), it's not like they were expelled. Plus there's still about 30,000 still in Germany and thats just Germany. The Us is at no risk of 'losing' europe.

everlast75 · 02-05-2026 12:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437104#Comment_124437104

"I genuinely think Trump simply likes and respects Putin"

I don't think it is respect...

aloyisious · 02-05-2026 12:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437189#Comment_124437189

Takes a pace back to read the above, calms down… OK, WTF are CNN and the other US news channels doing then? They do have the capability to let US, as distinct from the U.S viewers, know what is going on. There is a conundrum in the U.S public being aware of what Trump has been feeding them but not rejecting it and him and his Truth Social fake news, enabling him to claim it's authentic. This is, after all, his second term in office, with a gap of four years between them. He's no longer a svengali.

One hopes that if the average American are waking up to what the GOP have been letting Trump, and his sycophants, away with they take action to wipe away his stain. I'd have no problem, encourage it even, with the U.S holding a civil version of the Nurenberg Tribunal judicial hearings into Trump and all his friends and passing an order stripping them of every gain they made betwee 2016 and today when in or linked to the Trump administrations.

Rawr · 02-05-2026 12:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437037#Comment_124437037

So PGA pros who jumped ship (for a large payday) to join a Saudi sports-washing project, now find themselves in the wilderness when the Saudi sovereign fund loses interest in them? I’m sure I have tiny violin here somewhere to play them a tune.

Why am I not surprised to see Donnie No-Mates trying to help them out on this?

odyssey06 · 02-05-2026 12:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437281#Comment_124437281

Well CNN is about to be taken over…

Paramount’s apparent victory over Netflix in securing Warner Bros. Discovery has led to concerns within the CNN newsroom about editorial independence.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/business/media/cnn-paramount-david-ellison.html

LambshankRedemption · 02-05-2026 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437281#Comment_124437281

None of what you have said is going to happen while the Republicans control both the Senate and the House.

OK, WTF are CNN and the other US news channels doing then

Genuine question, do you watch CNN?

RoyalCelt · 02-05-2026 12:25PM

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/05/02/8032777/index.amp

No US funding for the 2027 USAI fund for Ukraine 😡

StarryPlough01 · 02-05-2026 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437189#Comment_124437189

That didn’t work out for Germany in the ‘30s. They are hoping they can bide their time without sticking their neck out. They haven’t paid their taxes, and the last thing they want is for the IRS to come down on them, they don't want to lose their chance for the big promotion…

LambshankRedemption · 02-05-2026 12:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437309#Comment_124437309

Genuinely, I don't know what you are on about.

Patrick2010 · 02-05-2026 12:34PM

Trump said yesterday he only listened to CNN to see what the enemy is saying. CNN reported that Iran had demolished 16 US army bases in the Gulf. He views CNN as the enemy

Glenomra · 02-05-2026 12:35PM

The moment I read chancellor Merz's unguarded comment to a group of students that Iran had humiliated the US in the recent conflict, it was so obvious that Trump would react viciously and unpredictably. This is a major crisis for Europe and imo Merz had made a huge mistake. It allows Trump to pin the blame for his decision to reduce military support to Europe on Germany itself and silences many of his domestic critics who don't like the humiliation comment.

odyssey06 · 02-05-2026 12:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437318#Comment_124437318

Doubtful. If they are so far gone they don't like it being pointed out they are being humiliated they are beyond logic, reason, facts and evidence.

If they don't like the humiliation comment they should have thought of that before humiliating themselves.

How is it a "major crisis" for Europe?
What's the point of those troops with a completely untrustworthy Trump in the White House?

Boggles · 02-05-2026 12:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437318#Comment_124437318

What makes you think they were unguarded?

StarryPlough01 · 02-05-2026 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437312#Comment_124437312

Trump systematically used emergency decrees and legislative intimidation to erode democratic rights; and has established a vengeful regime.

LambshankRedemption · 02-05-2026 12:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437348#Comment_124437348

True. Thankfully, the midterms are six months away, and he only has 2 years left in his term. As I said previously, I expect the Dems to take at least the House and possibly the Senate. If that happens, things will get sticky for him, and he won't be able to Executive Order his way out of the troubles.

For Petes Sake · 02-05-2026 01:31PM

I love the way some people STILL think the way to manage Trump is to be nice to him.

He doesn't give a flying f*ck. He'll f*ck over anyone as long as its in his own personal interests to do so.

Call him out for what he is, sure he'll stop his feet and throw a tantrum but ultimately it's all noise.

BettyS · 02-05-2026 01:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437372#Comment_124437372

I just don’t know if the Republicans will concede peacefully

Glenomra · 02-05-2026 01:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437333#Comment_124437333

Well if meant to say those comments, why has himself and his government tried so hard to 'walk them back' subsequently. Merz has form in making spontaneous remarks that caused him bother including his promise while opposition leader to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. When he became chancellor he then failed to deliver on his promises. Merz imo is a hugely unpopular, failing leader.

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

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