There’s a Term for What Trump and Musk Are Doing (archive, archive)
^{— Anne Applebaum · The Atlantic · Feb 13, 2025}

Already, the Post reports, candidates for national-security posts in the new administration are being asked whether they accept Trump’s false claim to have won the 2020 election. At least two candidates for higher positions at the FBI were also asked to state who the “real patriots” were on January 6, 2021.

In some government departments, minority employees have set up affinity groups, purely voluntary forums for conversation or social events. A number of government agencies are shutting these down; others are being disbanded by organizers who fear that membership lists will be used to target people.

Ouch. Is that confirmed? The article paints a glooming picture.

Trump’s assault on USAID leaves China soft power opening in Southeast Asia (— Erin Hale · Al Jazeera · Feb 13, 2025)
China rights monitors suspend work, lay off staff after U.S. aid freeze (— Laurie Chen, Antoni Slodkowski, Clarence Fernandez · Reuters · Feb 14, 2025)
Lawmakers worry China could take over after Trump pauses foreign aid (— Chris Boccia · ABC · Feb 14, 2025)

US out, China in.

Take a look at this from the Lowy Institute. It shows trade in terms of US vs China, from 2001 to the year before last.

Watch Mexico and Canada.

So far, P01135809 has followed Putin in some respects:

• (pre-emptive) strong appeal to nationalism
• gathered/appeased/rallied religious conservatives (+ extremists + disillusioned)
• threatened other countries
• efforts to sideline (or remove most) non-loyalists, merits less relevant
• moves to ditch some protection of minorities (or vulnerable)
• lied
• parroted Putin regarding Zelenskyy
• some initial steps to suppress free media (Putin is ahead)
• "our country has a sickness and I'm the cure", or whatever (campaign trails)

(Did I miss any?)

For some reason, I can picture him going "If Putin can, watch me".

EDITED links

Vicepresident Vance gave a speech, well a scolding lecture, where he told Europeans that their threat isn't external, but basically their "pinko-liberalism" and the threat to free speech (from an administration that is defining words not to be officially used). Basically an endorsement for the AfD, just like Musk.

Here's the response from the German Defense Minister. He had a planned another speech, but had to reply to Vance. Notice that he answers to Vance in German (4 min), then continues with English the prepared speech. Worth listening to the rest of the speech (which could be in the Ukraine thread).

The debt spiral might not be able to be stopped. — NOS4A2

The politician's classic move. Promise the moon, to get elected, then admit it's not possible.

Vicepresident Vance gave a speech, — ssu

Some expected him to announce a massive withdrawal of troops from Europe. That didn't happen. Yet.

Some expected him to announce a massive withdrawal of troops from Europe. That didn't happen. Yet. — frank

Trump is the only declaring anything in this administration. But it's great days for Russia and China as Trump is rapidly eroding the US position.

(South China Morning Post, 4th February 2025) US President Donald Trump’s spending freeze for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) could allow China to fill the resultant gap under the aegis of its Belt and Road Initiative, analysts said.

The 12-year-old initiative provides low-interest loans for highways, ports and power plants in scores of developing countries – many of which are also recipients of funding from USAID, an agency whose operations Trump halted this week.

Countries reliant on the 64-year-old aid programme may turn to China for support or other concessional investments in infrastructure projects – unless China offers first.

“There is a vacuum,” said Sharif Naubakhar, a professor of public policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “Even though the belt and road is not aid, it is infrastructure, it is energy, clean water.”

China would be a “winner” of the USAID closure as it seeks “access to vital resources abroad” and tries to “build alliances that are not in US national interests”, said Cornell University applied economics and policy professor Christopher Barrett in a statement on Monday.

Economically troubled Bangladesh is likely to be among the first to approach China if USAID pulls out, according to a January 29 analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations, a US think tank.

Trump really wants to please both the leaders of Russia and China.

But it's great days for Russia and China as Trump is rapidly eroding the US position. — ssu

:up:

Trump really wants to please both the leaders of Russia and China. — ssu

My take on it is that Trump has no favorites, which means he feels exactly the same about the UK or France as he does about Russia or China. So the concept of "allies" is a dead one under the Trump regime.

He's demonstrated that he'll ignore treaties. He may not formally withdraw from NATO (as Bolton predicted), but I seriously doubt he would fulfill a commitment to help if a NATO country were attacked.

JD Vance schools Europe’s overlords. — NOS4A2

Are you under the impression that his "lesson" was well-received by his "students"?

JD Vance attacks Europe over free speech and migration

"The address was met by silence in the hall, and later denounced by several politicians at the conference. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said it was "not acceptable".

"The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, characterised Vance as "trying to pick a fight" with Europe, home to some of the US's closest allies."

"Vance went on to criticise the use of laws enforcing buffer zones, saying that free speech was in retreat and alleging that the Scottish government had warned people against private prayer within their own homes."

Unsurprisingly, his speech was well-received by the leader or the right wing "Alternative for Germany (AfD) party"

So far, P01135809 has followed Putin in some respects:

• gathered/appeased religious conservatives (and extremists, disillusioned)
• threatened other countries
• efforts to sideline (or remove most) non-loyalists, merits less relevant
• moves to ditch some protection of minorities (or vulnerable)
• lied

(Did I miss any?) — jorndoe

Yes. You missed the Trump administration overtly using the DOJ to achieve political objectives, by ordering them to drop the prosecution against Eric Adams.

It looks like Macron may be thinking that as well. This from Politico: Macron calls emergency European summit on Trump, Polish minister says.

This is an interesting move also from the point of view of reducing some of the tension between Poland and France that has developed over the last two decades. Macron has stepped away from being the Trump Whisperer.

Trump is Putin's useful idiot.

In his press conference on Feb 13, Trump made it abundantly clear that he completely agrees with Russia with regard to Ukraine.

He said Russia had to go in to Ukraine, to prevent their joining NATO ("They've been saying that for a long time that Ukraine cannot go into NATO. And I'm Ok with that.")

It's Ukraine's own damn fault ("it was not a good war [for Ukraine] to go into, and I think they have to make peace, that's what I think.")

Russia deserves some of Ukraine's territory ("They took a lot of land, and they fought for that land, and they lost a lot of soldiers").

When asked if he viewed "Ukraine as an equal member of this peace process?" Trump responded, in the negative ("It's an interesting question. I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace." )

Press conference transcript.

My take on it is that Trump has no favorites, which means he feels exactly the same about the UK or France as he does about Russia or China. — Relativist

Lol. :lol:

Seems you don't follow Trump when he sees Putin or see his "allies". Oh, he has favorites.

Trust me, when he believes Vladimir Putin more than his own American intelligence services, that tells something. Now he wants to have Russia (and Putin) back on the G7 (making it again G8). And he is constantly talking to Putin and now meeting him to talk about Ukraine, not with Zelenskyi. And he never says any slightest critique about Putin. Never. The guy has an abnormal fascination on Putin, starting when he tweeted that would Putin be his new friend when hosting a Beauty peasant competition, Miss Universe, in Moscow. Putin didn't see him back then... back then he was a not important.

:D

Nearly 10,000 fired as Trump and Musk step up government purge
^{— Timothy Gardner, Leah Douglas, Nathan Layne et al · Reuters · Feb 14, 2025}
Trump Admin fires nuclear staff—Oops, they were in charge of US weapons stockpile
^{— ET Online · Feb 15, 2025}

No way. Trump and Musk tried to fire 300 nuclear officials—then realized they were the ones overseeing the U.S. nuclear arsenal and scrambled to rehire them?

You can’t make this level of incompetence up. These are the people who claim they’ll “restore order.” — Brian Allen · Feb 14, 2025

EDIT: Wait a second, did I miss an opportunity to steal some nuclear stuff...? Dang.

Trust me, when he believes Vladimir Putin more than his own American intelligence services, that tells something. — ssu

Good point. He does trust authoritarians, and mistrusts democratic leaders. But in terms of making "deals", I don't think he'll intentionally pick Russia over UK. The net result would be the same, because of the trust issue - and his stupidity.

, , maybe it's about power, like you snap your finger and something happens?
In days gone by, he didn't have the power to summon Putin-the-powerful.
Now he does, both, and revels in it?
(Just conjecture on my part, I'm no telepath.)

Trump Names El Chapo Ambassador to Mexico :D
^{— The Borowitz Report · Dec 1, 2024}

:lol:

Are you under the impression that his "lesson" was well-received by his "students"?

Not at all. He dressed them down as the enemy within, and their countries as totalitarian shit-holes.

Meanwhile, the Criminal-in-chief is at home talking about how reasonable it was for Putin to invade Ukraine, and blaming Ukraine for "going into" the war. Not to mention his overt politicization of the DOJ, ignoring laws and the Constitution.

I don't think he'll intentionally pick Russia over UK. The net result would be the same, because of the trust issue - and his stupidity. — Relativist

In days gone by, he didn't have the power to summon Putin-the-powerful.
Now he does, both, and revels in it? — jorndoe

Few things. First about deals, Putin can immediately give him deals (read bribes) or hints of deals which Starmer cannot absolutely do. Dictators can do that. The Prime Minister of UK isn't a dictator, so Trump has a problem with that. This is why he truly can make deals with the Gulf States and Saudi-Arabia, and they surely will play along with that.

Then this mess about personal relations, personal likings and opinions. First of all, what Trump seems to totally forget is that he is the representative of his country, he's not talking as himself. Yet he is talking as he would as a media personality, not the representative of the US about the US policy. Others aren't so direct because of this, but does Trump care, no.

Let's just forget this absolute horse manure of this being a "negotiating tactic" or "4D Chess". It's simple: power simply has gone to Trump's head. He really means what he says. He truly would want to enlarge the territory of the US into Greenland, into Panama. Even to have some kind of arrangement of that wonderful Mediterranean beachfront territory named Gaza strip, without the annoying Palestinians that should go somewhere else. This is what this old man thinks, these are his true objectives. The only "negotiating tactic" is that if he cannot get these territories want he wants, he gets something else. Yet the objective is territorial expansion. There is no hiding of this truth. And this defines everything that Trump is about and what he does. Trump's total ignorance or basically hatred of a "rules based international order" can be understood from this point of view, because all those rules are in his way.

It sounds totally ridiculous, but it isn't. Republicans can attempt to waive off this as acting as in WWE Pro Wrestling, where Vince McMahon puts a sideshow to the wrestling with insane twist plots and always, always stays in character where the fictional character and reality come together. It's a show, even if accidents happen. Yet it's no coincidence that Trump has gotten into the show:



After all, it's World Wrestling Entertainment. Well, international relations isn't entertainment. It's deadly serious. And people will listen to the US president as talking the official line of the state of United States. And territorial annexations or even the talk of them are the Pandora's box that will quickly poison the atmosphere.

Diplomats are diplomatic for a very serious reason as relationship between sovereign nation states can easily sour. Hatred and mistrust can be easily created and hence the act of being "diplomatic". Foreign leaders usually try avoiding commenting the internal politics of another country. But that diplomacy can be then put aside. At some level, being "diplomatic" is stretched too much and the politician has to start to think about his or her domestic appearance. And then the gloves come off.

Secondly, the issue of Trump meeting Putin and possibly making a surrender treaty like with the Taleban in Doha:

The Polish foreign minister summed up quite well the situation in Munich yesterday, when he was asked what he would to tell Trump. Sikorsky responded, as the Polish are quite straight forward:

Biden was your successor and predecessor, but he planted the US flag in downtown Kyiv and declared on behalf of the United States that the US will be with Ukraine as long as it takes until Ukraine secures it's independence. Therefore, the credibility of the United States depends on how this war ends, not just the Trump administration, the United States itself. I would secondly tell him (Trump) that if you allow Putin to vasalize Ukraine, that will send a message to China that you can recover what you regard as a renegade province.

Sikorsky also mentioned that European control the Nobel Peace prize (which Trump, the man of peace, surely wants) and got laughs for that. Yet his statement was very clear about just what it as stake here. This seems to be missing for many Americans that consider that "Ukraine isn't unimportant and is a costly sideshow" or the kind of "forever war" that basically is done only for the military industrial complex or just go along with Trump.

With Trump acting like Trump, the US Superpower status is in a tailspin. I'm afraid that this will continue just like it has now. Some might argue that it's going to be just four years or until a heart attack of an old man, but the damage has been done. There can always come another Trump or the continuation of this hostile attitudes against the allies and basically total lack of understanding how the position of the US has depended on alliances. Just like if Russia would have a revolution tomorrow and Putin would be ousted like Assad and a pro-Western government would be formed there wished to approach the West, there would always be the doubt of how long the Westernizers are in power before the Putinist return. That change takes really decades and a real effort from the people themselves, just as with the Germans.

Biden was your successor and predecessor, but he planted the US flag in downtown Kyiv and declared on behalf of the United States that the US will be with Ukraine as long as it takes until Ukraine secures it's independence.

Now we might need to take another look at Ukraine's independence. Trump and Putin are in the midst of dividing it between themselves. We'll see how that works out.

Now we might need to take another look at Ukraine's independence. Trump and Putin are in the midst of dividing it between themselves. We'll see how that works out. — Metaphysician Undercover

And I would be very happy if I'm wrong and it won't be as bad. Giving up on Putin and giving Putin everything, Trump can be the largest weak dick ever that has been on the US presidency. Because Trump isn't dividing anything to himself. What is he dividing for himself? He will be the biggest surrender monkey in all of history if he goes along with Putin as Neville Chamberlain had far more backbone than Trump. You see, Neville did declare war with Germany later.



But then again, he might just have a photo-op with Putin and then do the right thing and not cave in.

Because Trump isn't dividing anything to himself. What is he dividing for himself? — ssu

Trump has proposed American ownership of some of Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits, and wants to send American troops to stake these claims.

Trump has no interest in the governing of Ukraine, the welfare of the people, or anything like that. He has no interest in people in general. To him, people are either cheering for him to do whatever he pleases, or they are annoying obstacles. He eyes Ukraine merely as assets to be divided, spoils of war. So he'll send armed forces in an attempt to make casualties out of any annoying obstacles. For him, there is no such thing as "Ukraine".

Trump has proposed American ownership of some of Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits, and wants to send American troops to stake these claims. — Metaphysician Undercover

Do you have something for reference on this?

It's like selling the house for way under the market value, but then arguing that you benefit greatly from the "deal", because the new house owner accepted that you can use the lawnmower. :vomit:

And that guy has done more to stop the war in his first month than Europe and the previous administration have done in years.

Giving the aggressor what he wants is a way to "peace" very similar to the 1938 Munich Agreement.

Or like giving NATO what it wants. Finally some leaders willing to grasp the reality of the situation and compromise.

Assisting in the victory of Putin will play only to Putin and the Chinese. What a weak dick loser Trump is.

Oh I found it myself. Zelenskyi publicly stated how he rejected the Trumpian nonsense:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, February 15, he blocked a Donald Trump-led deal that would give the US access to vast amounts of Ukrainian natural resources as it lacked "security guarantees" for Kyiv and "does not protect us." Zelensky's announcement came a day after Ukrainian officials gave the US a draft of the agreement and three days after Trump called Russia's Vladimir Putin, with Europe and Kyiv alarmed the pair will try to end the conflict without them. Trump, a businessman leader highly critical of the money Washington has sent to Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion, has pushed for access to rare earths in Ukraine.

So now we know. Trump would hand over Ukraine if he would get rare earths of Ukraine (or something). Putin will happily give his sidekick that.