Want to understand what Trump is doing? Part 2

Or of course you could read politicsnerd post😊😊

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Thank you Casdon. Indeed. And the soppy liberals and greens in Europe are about to be reminded that every country needs to arm itself, feed itself and fuel itself. Time to wake up - there’s going to be no more US funded blank cheque NATO.

I disagree with the premise that Europe has been primarily 'US funded' by a blank cheque. Historically, the situation is much more complex.

After the second World War, the UK paid off its debts to the US under the Lend-Lease program for decades. The US's physical involvement in the war came late. Many other countries, often little praised because they don't have a bragging culture, had fought side by side throughout the war.

While lease-lend was crucial, it wasn't a simple act of generosity. The US had strategic interests, including securing access to European markets and preventing the spread of hostile powers. The US has also interfered in the growth of the European market. American States and Euopean countries are interchangeable when it comes to uniting. However, some Americans simply font want the competition.

After WWII, the US did play a significant role in the economic recovery of Europe through initiatives like the Marshall Plan. However, this too was strategically designed to promote stability and create strong trading partners, benefiting the US economy in the long run. It was also an investment in preventing the spread of communism.

NATO operates on a principle of burden-sharing, with member states contributing to the collective defense. Yes, the US has consistently been the largest contributor, but other European nations have also made substantial contributions. The argument that Europe hasn't been contributing and is entirely US-funded isn't accurate. There has been a push for increased European defense spending in recent years, with a growing understanding of shared responsibility. The need for collective security has become more obvious with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

European countries have diversified economies. They have significant trade relationships with many countries. While they rely on others, particularly the US, for certain things, they are not utterly dependent. They also have advanced industries in many sectors that benefit from trade, such as the UK's financial sector. This diversity will need to grow as the USAs current attitude grows.

"Soppy liberals and greens" is an emotive term, but across Europe and within the USA, there are many views on how to defend Europe. Such a comment attempts to simplify a complicated topic.

While the US has a role to play in international politics, the idea that the US has simply funded Europe isn't supported by the facts, and it ignores the European's own contributions and strategic interests.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Thank you Casdon. Indeed. And the soppy liberals and greens in Europe are about to be reminded that every country needs to arm itself, feed itself and fuel itself. Time to wake up - there’s going to be no more US funded blank cheque NATO.

My goodness if only life was that simple!

That is the populist mantra in one simplistic message.

What could go possibly wrong😄😄😄

I'm with you foxie, and am avoiding American goods as much as I can.
A friend and I sought out a Starbucks yesterday.
I just hope that the POTUS' meeting with the Prime Minister doesn't involve negotiating a state visit. I fear that Mr Trump might be in for a bumpy ride in the streets of London.
Also, and I speak as a staunch Republican-;poor King Charles.

Next he will be closing down news outlets and burning books.

On the BBC News today Trump's latest Man Baby tantrum has resulted in certain journalists who refuse to refer to The Gulf of Mexico as The Gulf of America being barred from White House press conferences.

Next he'll be demanding that they acknowledge him as Your Majesty.......

ronib

foxie48 but we are very poor and my mp has confirmed it. That black hole! Meanwhile our local hospital won’t be rebuilt for at least a decade. Maybe even a century. We are so poor.

There is more than enough money in this country ronib but spending has been mismanaged and those with the most money don’t pay their fair share, especially big corp. Is always down to the likes of us to make up the deficit whilst others get away with it every time.
If every big business paid corporation tax instead of wriggling out if it using a myriad of loopholes and the top 1% paid their fair share of tax, there would be no black hole.
Our tax system is antiquated and full of so many holes it is leaking billions every year, it needs to be completely overhauled and made watertight.

foxie48

Can we please stop saying that the UK is "poor". We are not poor, unfortunately leaving the EU has reduced our wealth by any measures but we're still hovering around being in the top 20 wealthiest countries. Add to that we have lost influence. I'd hate to have to crawl to the Trump presidency so I'm having my own little trade war with the US, not visiting, not buying and have cancelled my prime a/c.

Agree with this.
And well done for doing something, no matter how small, to make your protest felt.
My family are not in fact boycotting US goods, though they might, but are - with all friends and relatives - going to Starbucks for their coffee etc., which we never did before because actually the coffee isn’t great, also we like to support small independent cafes, but since Starbucks was sued in the US for being a diverse employer, supposedly employing too many women and minorities, we are supporting Starbucks. It probs won’t change anything but is something we can do.

foxie48 but we are very poor and my mp has confirmed it. That black hole! Meanwhile our local hospital won’t be rebuilt for at least a decade. Maybe even a century. We are so poor.

Can we please stop saying that the UK is "poor". We are not poor, unfortunately leaving the EU has reduced our wealth by any measures but we're still hovering around being in the top 20 wealthiest countries. Add to that we have lost influence. I'd hate to have to crawl to the Trump presidency so I'm having my own little trade war with the US, not visiting, not buying and have cancelled my prime a/c.

Hopefully he will get lost in a hedge maze. He can keep wandering around looking for the out.

Trump has set up a friendly meeting with Starmer. Now how will that work out? The UK is so poor we can only acquiesce? I would love to be a fly on that wall.

Is that rhetorical Wyllow3?

They also fired the team of people at the Epidemic Intelligence Service. 1,300 of them.

We have the highest flu rates since 2010, a tuberculosis and measles outbreaks, bird flu mutating and whatever is happening with Covid.

On Feb 10, the American Bar Association (for lawyers, judges, law students) fired off a message to Trump about his lawlessness.

www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/?login

Today, the FTC put out a memo that says none of its employees are allowed to be ABA members.

www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/02/ftc-chairman-ferguson-announces-new-policy-regarding-american-bar-association

This is the level of immaturity and petty we are dealing with. We have toddlers running our country.

imaround

Trump and Musk fired hundreds of employees in charge of maintaining the nuclear weapons. A judge stopped this from happening, for now.

abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-2nd-term-tariffs-trade-war/?id=118643360&entryId=118833343&fbclid=IwY2xjawIcxltleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRhsz-qwLxgeBJJKKKZjN4aLG1ayr5wjYM6bfvx-LoBtbJ-HgfYc-BzUJA_aem_wiBq3f19sUSTv2p-QlKkuw

Just how stupid can he get?

Trump plan has already failed as his plan for Gazan's to move to Jordan and Egypt have already fallen apart. He also threatened that if all the hostages have not been returned tomorrow (instead of the smaller scale bit by bit swap already planned) then "all hell would break loose". (undefined).

People are beginning to realise its often empty words and threats.

I've been following this name change to "gulf of America" from Gulf of Mexico with some amusement except
Mr Petulant Newspeak has banned the Associated Press (a big player) from the Oval Office and Air Force 1 because they haven't changed the name but

"President Donald Trump said last month that the US government would rename the body of water the “Gulf of America.”

The change has taken effect at government agencies.

But other countries do not recognize the new name, and the AP has customers around the world, so it still refers to the Gulf of Mexico while also acknowledging Trump’s decree.

Other global news outlets have made similar decisions"

edition.cnn.com/2025/02/14/media/white-house-ap-ban-air-force-one-oval-office-gulf-of-mexico/index.html

I mean, FGS, how childish can you get?

Google Maps UK still saying

Gulf of Mexico
(Gulf of America)

The president evidently wants journalists to obey his guidance; repeat his words; follow his rules. Outlets that don’t fall in line might lose access.

Editors and reporters are wondering aloud if the administration will next penalize news outlets that acknowledge the existence of transgender people or women or cite data from purged government databases.

AP considering legal action.

Trump and Musk fired hundreds of employees in charge of maintaining the nuclear weapons. A judge stopped this from happening, for now.

abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-2nd-term-tariffs-trade-war/?id=118643360&entryId=118833343&fbclid=IwY2xjawIcxltleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRhsz-qwLxgeBJJKKKZjN4aLG1ayr5wjYM6bfvx-LoBtbJ-HgfYc-BzUJA_aem_wiBq3f19sUSTv2p-QlKkuw

Gaza ceasefire!!

You mean Gaza genocide.

Trump has had nothing to do with the ceasefire, only guilty of de-stabilising it.

Well, it seems gold prices have taken a beating. Makes me feel something concrete is on the horizon as typically they rise with an uncertain period and backtrack when there is indication of stability. Gaza ceasefire being done. Now Ukraine's turn and this Trump team means business to me.

What I am unclear about however, is how a persons vote in one country can in effect make stateless millions of people in another country, or decide a country is no longer sovereign, but subject to the USA?

That is not democracy.

Yes, that’s right and on more than one occasion.

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

POTUS Trump told the electorate of his intentions during his campaign, he also gave an accurate indication of who he would appoint in key positions.

He won the Presidency on those promises.

No, actually he denied anything to do with project 2025 when he was asked about it.

Project 2025 outlines the programme for the next 4 years, and contains most of what we have seen happening.

I think he dissed part of project 2025 on one occasion.

Despite that he has appointed several project 2025 people to key posts as per his pre-election promises.

Thank you Casdon. Indeed. And the soppy liberals and greens in Europe are about to be reminded that every country needs to arm itself, feed itself and fuel itself. Time to wake up - there’s going to be no more US funded blank cheque NATO.

GrannyGravy13 is right though. Trump is currently riding high with his US supporters, because he is doing what he promised. How long that satisfaction will last is anybody’s guess. Probably until people are hit hard in the pocket and/or his lack of reconnaissance catches up with him.

GrannyGravy13

POTUS Trump told the electorate of his intentions during his campaign, he also gave an accurate indication of who he would appoint in key positions.

He won the Presidency on those promises.

No, actually he denied anything to do with project 2025 when he was asked about it.

Project 2025 outlines the programme for the next 4 years, and contains most of what we have seen happening.