Donald I, emperor of the world.

[Pinno718]

Farage and the German far right party are standing up against Trump in written statements.

We know Fagash is a weasel and perhaps he knows that Trump's popularity is rapidly declining and that, he will probably still get support from certain benefactors. So he's playing the popularist game.

 

[Psamathe]

Of course it's not, but what's the alternative? A trade war or actual war, just to make it feel like we're 'doing something'?

There are absolutely no good answers to a completely mad POTUS being manipulated by evil people, but the politicians' job is to find the least worst way out of the situation.

Except all we've tried is sycophantic fawning to the bully and guess what, bully keeps hitting us.

What we're doing isn't working and we have tried no different approaches. China stands up to Trúmp with success. Canada stands up to Trūmp and not a complete disaster whilst we crawl around begging to he hit again.

Everybody recognises Trûmp respects strong leaders yet we've chosen to present ourselves (incl. EU) as weak and subservient. EU has woken up and now taking a more sensible approach (talking about their Coercion measures).

 

[secretsqirrel]

Farage and the German far right party are standing up against Trump in written statements.

We know Fagash is a weasel and perhaps he knows that Trump's popularity is rapidly declining and that, he will probably still get support from certain benefactors. So he's playing the popularist game.

View attachment 12427

UK voters can be fickle, but sometimes a little quaint. But I don’t think banging the Trump drum is going to be very appealing.

 

[briantrumpet]

Farage and the German far right party are standing up against Trump in written statements.

We know Fagash is a weasel and perhaps he knows that Trump's popularity is rapidly declining and that, he will probably still get support from certain benefactors. So he's playing the popularist game.

View attachment 12427

Though they are both backing Trump on the Chagos thing (which was drafted, incidentally, while Badenoch was in government, in the Foreign Office, and only didn't become law under them because of the election).

 

[Pinno718]

Kurdish forces abandoned by Trump and are being slain by the Syrian govt. In the malaise, hundreds of ISIS prisoners who were being held by the Kurds have been released.

 

[Pinno718]

Except all we've tried is sycophantic fawning to the bully and guess what, bully keeps hitting us.

What we're doing isn't working and we have tried no different approaches. China stands up to Trúmp with success. Canada stands up to Trūmp and not a complete disaster whilst we crawl around begging to he hit again.

Everybody recognises Trûmp respects strong leaders yet we've chosen to present ourselves (incl. EU) as weak and subservient. EU has woken up and now taking a more sensible approach (talking about their Coercion measures).

I was surprised when I looked at the export figures from the UK to the States. It's very high:

The UK generally runs a trade surplus (net exports) with the USA, particularly in services, though figures vary by year and data source; for instance, in 2023, the UK had a £2.5 billion goods surplus, exporting £60.4bn goods and importing £57.9bn,

But the trade surplus between Canada and the US is iro $33bn (2024 data) so Carney has much more leverage than the UK.

 

[Pross]

Of course, that's part of the subtext, but the "sit back, take a deep breath" won't have gone unnoticed either.

That was aimed at those who would dare stand up to the bullies though not to the bullies.

 

[briantrumpet]

Personally, I'm happy to take 'no all-out trade war, and no world war (yet)' as kind of working. If it turns into an unstoppable escalation in a global military or financial emergency, then I'd concede something's not worked.

It's one of those situations I'd apply my risk assessment technique of asking "What's the worst that could happen if we do A or B?" Precipitous and unstoppable escalation now because not-doing-something feels weak pushes me towards the approach that we're seeing, which is playing for time and hoping something turns up.

I'd not realised that Hitler had already made his mind up in 1935 that he was going to go to war. Trump still hasn't really decided, and it could be something else next week. World war, or yet another ballroom... so hard to decide!

 

[Pross]

Thinking aloud, would that be the best way forward?

(My understanding) they can lame duck Trûmp as they hold the purse strings. Remove Trump and get Vance so keep a "lame ducked" President who can do nothing might be safer than putting Vance in the post?

If it were Russia Trump could simply fall off a balcony and happen to land on Vance as he walked past crushing him to death. They have some stuff right over there.

 

[Pross]

I was musing whether the way Trump has been behaving will lead to changes in the US democratic system when they are make under sane and stable governance e.g. reducing the Presidential veto and use of executive orders or possibly moving away from politically appointed judges. You would hope that when / if they get back to being more democratic they'll realise how open their system is to abuse.

 

[secretsqirrel]

I was musing whether the way Trump has been behaving will lead to changes in the US democratic system when they are make under sane and stable governance e.g. reducing the Presidential veto and use of executive orders or possibly moving away from politically appointed judges. You would hope that when / if they get back to being more democratic they'll realise how open their system is to abuse.

That would be the best possible outcome as far as I see it. The constitution has been severely exposed, so a review and lessons learned following what is turning out to be a catastrophic failure would be good thing if not painful.

 

[Psamathe]

I was musing whether the way Trump has been behaving will lead to changes in the US democratic system when they are make under sane and stable governance e.g. reducing the Presidential veto and use of executive orders or possibly moving away from politically appointed judges. You would hope that when / if they get back to being more democratic they'll realise how open their system is to abuse.

I'm unaware of the processes to change things like Presidential powers. But my concern is that many of the powers Trümp has taken might also be appealing to eg a Democrat President (or whoebver follows). They might be vocal about "changes are needed" but then drag their heels as they use those powers and lack of scrutiny.

 

[icowden]

I was musing whether the way Trump has been behaving will lead to changes in the US democratic system when they are make under sane and stable governance e.g. reducing the Presidential veto and use of executive orders or possibly moving away from politically appointed judges. You would hope that when / if they get back to being more democratic they'll realise how open their system is to abuse.

It's going to depend on whether the Dems have a senate majority. Unfortunately actually doing things requires control of the house and senate, or for them to be supine and let the President do things.

 

[Pinno718]

Donnie's words of wisdom. We're all stupid BTW.

Donald Trump
@realDonaldTrump • Truth Social • January 20, 2026 @ 1:38 AM ET
View on Truth Social
Shockingly, our “brilliant” NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before. The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING. Thank you for your attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

 

[Dorset Boy]

Well Donnie is right on this one:
the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.

We all have utter contempt and disrespect for the USA now.