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First his protectionist/isolationist policies are putting him outside of the general milieu of nations states.
The USA cannot go it alone, it simply does not have the resources.
His tariff announcement was a complete economic and geo-political game changer.
They brought the USA debt to near collapse, with the realisation that huge bond holders like China could and would exercise their power to bring the USA to its knees.
This has massive implications for Trumps planned big tax cuts next autumn and his ability to fund them through debt.
Trust in the USA has melted away, and very few people will be willing to buy US bonds as a secure bet.
In fact what has happened this week has massive implications for geo-politics in defence, soft power and willingness for countries to cooperate.
Trump has been a disaster for the USA
Churchview
When I think of Trump, Johnson, Farage or others of their ilk I always hear this in my head....
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Good quote!
What was his intention in saying that? Stoking the fire? Hoping China would "lose it? and retaliate in some way - as if they were so daft. So childish.
Well instead, a climb down on computer parts and computers.
Churchview
When I think of Trump, Johnson, Farage or others of their ilk I always hear this in my head....
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Yes, that was a great ending for the book wasn’t it? So true of some very wealthy people in the world.
Churchview
When I think of Trump, Johnson, Farage or others of their ilk I always hear this in my head....
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Indeed. To all of these feckless creatures this is all just a game!
Sparklefizz
Gosh! I thought that was Barron in the photo. His son is the spitting image of Trump as a young man.
God help us- Trump 2.0
Whitewavemark2
One thing I think is pretty certain is that China will not back down.
I see on X how they are reporting Vance and his assertion that the Chinese are all peasants.
They are making Vance look pretty stupid.
That could be because Vance is “pretty stupid”
nanna8
They still love him,though. No one else does.
Many home-grown Americans and those who emigrated there despise him. He was only ever loved by 52% of the voting population!
nanna8
They still love him,though. No one else does.
Who "still loves him". What percentage of the population have changed their minds in the last week? What demographic do those who "still love him" fall into. Where are you getting your information from?
Vance has a tendency as one BBC reporter said "to shoot his mouth off". He blurts out lies about other countries without considering that he could be wrong.
One thing I think is pretty certain is that China will not back down.
I see on X how they are reporting Vance and his assertion that the Chinese are all peasants.
They are making Vance look pretty stupid.
Agree with you Churchview except that Tom and Daisy had a certain louche charm.
Mr Trump has no charm whatsoever.
Silverbrooks
Prophetic as it may sound, Full Fact and Reuters found no evidence that Mary Trump ever said that.
fullfact.org/online/no-evidence-mary-donald-trump-quote/
www.reuters.com/article/world/false-claim-donald-trumps-mother-said-he-would-be-a-disaster-in-politics-idUSKBN21Z29U/
Oh well. My oldest friend in Canada sent this to me. So I assume it is doing the rounds there as well.
I am worried sick about my pension in drawdown I was too scared to check the fund value when the tariffs kicked off I checked it today now he announced the 90 day pause and it has lost 10%.
I don't know whether to reduce my income or not, as I had to do during the pandemic and then after Liz Truss debacle.
Who is to say he will change the 90 day pause and revert back? What will happen after the 90 days?
He is a vile, terrible man and is repugnant narcissist sociopathic personality must be revelling in this but he is causing misery to millions of people. My problem pales into insignificance compared to people in third world countries where he has cut funding and aid.
Churchview
When I think of Trump, Johnson, Farage or others of their ilk I always hear this in my head....
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Fantastic.
Silverbrooks
Good piece from Will Hutton in today’s Observer:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/12/donald-trump-is-now-badly-wounded-europe-and-the-uk-can-seize-an-advantage
Trump’s behaviour reminds me of what journalist Jonathan Lis wrote in 2020 about Boris Johnson:
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/boris-johnson-the-mutant-algorithm
For Johnson, Brexit is less important than an exam. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. He will blame someone else and it was fun to try.
And so the key to this game is failure. Johnson does not set out to fail per se. Rather, failure is just another route to winning. He fails to prove the failure won’t hurt him. He sabotages things because he can.
This thinking sounds perverse because it is. It must be understood within the framework, not of governing, but of a game with one necessary victor. Success, stability and predictability are boring. Why not see how far you can push the people who support you? If you can still win with the most danger, the most excitement, inflicting the most damage, why not try?
Little difference between the cult following of either man other than scale.
Great writing there by Jonathon Lis. Thank You for posting that.
Prophetic as it may sound, Full Fact and Reuters found no evidence that Mary Trump ever said that.
fullfact.org/online/no-evidence-mary-donald-trump-quote/
www.reuters.com/article/world/false-claim-donald-trumps-mother-said-he-would-be-a-disaster-in-politics-idUSKBN21Z29U/
And therein lies the root of his personality problems!
The world is now bearing the brunt of his unhappy past!
Yes Barron is his image.
Gosh! I thought that was Barron in the photo. His son is the spitting image of Trump as a young man.
Mothers know things!
AGAA4
He continues to insult other countries saying smugly " they are lining up to kiss my ass". Such an eloquent way of speaking by the POTUS.
Maybe I misheard and other countries are lining up to kick his ass.
Indeed, there's nothing statesmanlike or dignified about him. He's a lout and a coarse ruffian. This is a man who was
once alledged to have stated that the way to deal with women was "to grab them by the pussy"
Which charm school did HE go to?
When I think of Trump, Johnson, Farage or others of their ilk I always hear this in my head....
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
silverbrooks yes that’s what I read.
It was also interesting reading his comments about a “coalition of the willing” he has clearly been reading Gordon Brown’s writings about the way to go, and I agree very much with the general tenor.
He continues to insult other countries saying smugly " they are lining up to kiss my ass". Such an eloquent way of speaking by the POTUS.
Maybe I misheard and other countries are lining up to kick his ass.
Good piece from Will Hutton in today’s Observer:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/12/donald-trump-is-now-badly-wounded-europe-and-the-uk-can-seize-an-advantage
Trump’s behaviour reminds me of what journalist Jonathan Lis wrote in 2020 about Boris Johnson:
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/boris-johnson-the-mutant-algorithm
For Johnson, Brexit is less important than an exam. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. He will blame someone else and it was fun to try.
And so the key to this game is failure. Johnson does not set out to fail per se. Rather, failure is just another route to winning. He fails to prove the failure won’t hurt him. He sabotages things because he can.
This thinking sounds perverse because it is. It must be understood within the framework, not of governing, but of a game with one necessary victor. Success, stability and predictability are boring. Why not see how far you can push the people who support you? If you can still win with the most danger, the most excitement, inflicting the most damage, why not try?
Little difference between the cult following of either man other than scale.
His followers in USA don't read any of the criticism but only listen to MSM which reflect their world view. And they believe everything he says because they don't see the other point of view. You see people from UK on here who defend him despite the negative press.
It's a cult, isn't it? How far will he go before the penny drops for his followers?
I agree he has been a disaster for USA but might end up being helpful for the rest of the world who are getting their act together about joining together.
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