Donald Trump - MAGAtwat news and discussion

[NoXion]

Lebensraum. Whether it’s bluster or not, I don’t know. I hope it’s bluster. But it’s straight out of the fascist playbook. It’s like he’s ticking off the bullet points.

More like Bergbauraum in the case of a region as inhospitable as Greenland, but the principle holds. Now Trump is annoying Denmark, a fellow NATO member. It's looking like the road to diplomatic isolation.

 

[Smangus]

As usual it's about money, not anything else, it not even a new idea. No orange originality here.

The island, three times the size of Texas, has vast natural resources, including uranium, rare-earth minerals, and estimated 50 billion barrels of offshore oil and gas.

Proposals for the United States to purchase Greenland - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

US enticed by Greenland’s rare earth resources

Search is on to secure supplies of critical metals that China dominates

www.ft.com

 

[Yossarian]

Trump would probably be trying to reclaim the Philippines for the US as well if there weren't 114 million Filipinos living there

 

[weltweit]

Second term, nothing to lose, expect schemes that might not have been possible in a first term.

 

[breadandcircuse]

Second term, nothing to lose, expect schemes that might not have been possible in a first term.

There were some adults in the room first time who stopped his wild plans. This time it's all about his picks being 100% loyalists. We've seen the crazy suggestions and he has now come out supporting Project 2025, which he previously claimed no knowledge of, despite some of his staffers being part of the plan. Put loyalists in every area of the administration, fire thousands of government workers and install loyalists in their place, and we have America's own dictator. It's scary stuff.

 

[Kris Silver]

There were some adults in the room first time who stopped his wild plans. This time it's all about his picks being 100% loyalists. We've seen the crazy suggestions and he has now come out supporting Project 2025, which he previously claimed no knowledge of, despite some of his staffers being part of the plan. Put loyalists in every area of the administration, fire thousands of government workers and install loyalists in their place, and we have America's own dictator. It's scary stuff.

Really does feel like the US is going through our Boris phase. Although they've voted Trump in twice.

Only those that remained loyal to Boris, stayed. It wasn't a meritocracy. Look what we got. Mediocrity at best. Absolute loonies, unqualified people in most departments, or even working against average workers interests (beneath the bluster). It all brought sheer awful performance and results for the country.

Same will happen here. Just on turbo.

I think single digit percentiles of the UK learnt it's lesson with Boris, in terms of those remotely convinced by him or did support him, shifting away from him, and perhaps even that Tory way.

But it's not enough, and clearly far from enough realising similar in the US, it's gone the other way.

Other parties hold some responsibilities too, sure. But ironically, the Dems and Labour have been so terrified of being too different to their right counterparts, they are serving or offering up luke warm versions of the same thing. It's very difficult to breakthrough with enough of the public with this rational analysis. Especially with 2 horse race, FPTP systems, that are clearly, fairly uniquely, failing UK+US democracies.

 

[Serene]

Trump details plans for draconian crackdown on trans rights in chilling ‘transgender lunacy’ speech. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to stop so-called “transgender lunacy” on the first day of his new administration, vowing to oust trans people from practically every area of public life.​

Trump announces crackdown on trans rights in chilling 'transgender lunacy' speech

Trump has pledged to stop so-called “transgender lunacy” and oust transgender people from practically every area of public life.

www.thepinknews.com

He is a Nazi.

120 anti-trans bills filed in US ahead of 2025 legislative session. The past 12 months have been unprecedented for the sheer number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills lodged in the US, and it looks like 2025 will be no different.​

He has just got off on countless charges because he was voted in. Raskolnikov will be pleased to read about Trump.

 

[pogofish]

Lebensraum. Whether it’s bluster or not, I don’t know. I hope it’s bluster. But it’s straight out of the fascist playbook. It’s like he’s ticking off the bullet points.

The US has made the offer to buy Greenland before - After WW2 when the first treaty that gave them complete military control over Greenland lapsed.

The reason Denmark refused it was partly because Greenland was taking its first steps toward self-determination with the establishment of its first legislative council and because Denmark didn't think the Soviet Union would take too kindly to it putting the US right on to its northern borders!

During the Cold War, a second treaty, Thulesag 2 allowed for the US to take a significant interest in/control of Greenland and gave the US and its troops unrestricted freedom of operation and bases, on land, air and sea, throughout its entire national territory. This included nuclear facilities and the part requiring "respect" for Greenland/Denmark and its citizens was subsequently ignored when the US hoyed-out residents in order to build/expand their facilities, some of which which they had neglected to inform Denmark about.

Then there is a little matter of the US nuclear reactor built under the ice cap to power one of these bases, Camp Century, which must rank amongst the stupidest ideas of the entire Cold War - Reactors get hot and ice moves! Which although eventually removed, left a lot of radioactive waste buried amongst the ice.

Thulesag 2 expired in 2009 in the wake of the Greenlanders massive victory in the referendum on extended autonomy and they required that Denmark took back full responsibility for defence. The US only have one base on Greenland's soil these days and that is a satellite/early warning station operated as part of NATO.

I also have a vague memory that the Danish troops operating in Greenland are the last forces on earth using WW1-era, bolt action Lee Enfield rifles as their primary service weapons. Apparently nothing more modern can reliably operate in the conditions, or reliably take down a Polar Bear or charging Musk Ox..!

 

[Elpenor]

He’s heard there’s a Nuuk on Greenland so wants to make sure it doesn’t fall into Russian hands

 

[Yossarian]

If Canada becomes the 51st state Trump will no doubt complain about the vast quantities of drugs and migrants crossing the land border with Greenland, which exists only on this uninhabited island

 

[pogofish]

He’s heard there’s a Nuuk on Greenland so wants to make sure it doesn’t fall into Russian hands

There may actually be one! From a B52 crash in 1968. Although they consistently deny it, it seems the USAF can only conclusively account for three of the four devices it was carrying and a couple of hundred Greenlanders working on the recovery/cleanup were exposed to a lot of radiation and denied the right to sue the US in the wake of it.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Thulesag 2 expired in 2009 in the wake of the Greenlanders massive victory in the referendum on extended autonomy and they required that Denmark took back full responsibility for the defence.

And this is the reason this idea will go precisely nowhere. There is zero chance Greenlanders would vote for it, and without Greenlanders voting for it, there is zero chance of Denmark agreeing to it.

We should probably start a book on things Trump says he'll do vs things Trump actually does.

 

[pogofish]

We should probably start a book on things Trump says he'll do vs things Trump actually does.

Yes, like his efforts with North Korea, this IMO is yet another attempt to engineer for his base, something/anything that might make it look like Trump has any relevance/standing as an international statesman.

It would be pathetically funny, if it weren't for the potential for things to go wrong and really fuck-up an already somewhat fraught international climate.

 

[Elpenor]

There may actually be one! From a B52 crash in 1968. Although they consistently deny it, it seems the USAF can only conclusively account for three of the four devices it was carrying and a couple of hundred Greenlanders working on the recovery/cleanup were exposed to a lot of radiation and denied the right to sue the US in the wake of it.

Fucking American foreign policy
Fucking nuclear weapons

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Along with his statements regarding the Panama canal he seems to be on a roll:

Trump says US owning Greenland ‘absolute necessity’

but why is it an absolute necessity Donny?

oh

View attachment 456275

"It's the economy, stupid," was a quote used in a Bill Clinton campaign.

He, or any other US politician for that matter, could also say "It's the oil and gas, stupid."

It's the vested interests of the fossil fuel industry.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

It's all bluster and bullshit, hopefully.

His voters don't want war and he'd have a helluva job trying to push through any expansionism) invasions.

The Reagan era is long gone, thank feck.

They might not, but the military-industrial complex will be rubbing its hands with glee at the thought of increased defense spending.

 

[Ax^]

hmm come mtg give us the names of the other sex offenders in the republican party..

looks going for trumps former pick for AG

 

[krtek a houby]

I would still argue that he is a wannabe fascist dictator. I said the same of Trump Mark 1. The US system just about held out that time. We'll see this time. It is much more nakedly an oligarchy this time around.

What people who voted for him might want is neither here nor there really, particularly as nobody will ever be voting for Trump again and he shows precious little inclination to give much of a shit about what might come after him. Being President is the end in and of itself.

I don't quite get your reference to the Reagan era. Trump explicitly and implicitly harks back to Reagan and I think we are very much into Reagan era-style tax cuts for the rich and repression of the poor. As for what action Trump might take abroad, I can easily see him backing covert operations like Reagan did. We have the example of the way he instantly refroze relations with Cuba after the Obama-era thaw in his first term. In his second term, who knows what he'll back? We can know he'll be fully behind Israel's ongoing genocide. What else? I don't know what, but there will be a what. And if things start going tits up domestically, I could easily see him looking for a war somewhere to divert attention.

I do think his sabre-rattling at Denmark is nonsense. But that doesn't mean he won't pick on some poorer, more vulnerable opponent.

By the Reagan era, I mean expansionism/invasions/funding. Trump is supposed to be against wars and involvement in wars.

 

[krtek a houby]

Also in the news, there's been a leek and it's not looking good for Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz ethics report finds evidence he paid for sex with minor

House report finds ‘substantial evidence’ ex-congressman engaged in sex trafficking among other violations

www.theguardian.com

The investigation concludes that Gaetz, Trump’s first pick for attorney general, made payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs across at least 20 separate occasions. The report also states that in 2017 Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex when he was 35 years old, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida law.

 

[HeAthen]

Also in the news, there's been a leek and it's not looking good for Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz ethics report finds evidence he paid for sex with minor

House report finds ‘substantial evidence’ ex-congressman engaged in sex trafficking among other violations

www.theguardian.com

The investigation concludes that Gaetz, Trump’s first pick for attorney general, made payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs across at least 20 separate occasions. The report also states that in 2017 Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex when he was 35 years old, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida law.

Hmm, I wonder why he wanted it to not be released....... of course none of this comes as a surprise.

 

[LakieLady]

Really does feel like the US is going through our Boris phase. Although they've voted Trump in twice.

Only those that remained loyal to Boris, stayed. It wasn't a meritocracy. Look what we got. Mediocrity at best. Absolute loonies, unqualified people in most departments, or even working against average workers interests (beneath the bluster). It all brought sheer awful performance and results for the country.

Same will happen here. Just on turbo.

I think single digit percentiles of the UK learnt it's lesson with Boris, in terms of those remotely convinced by him or did support him, shifting away from him, and perhaps even that Tory way.

But it's not enough, and clearly far from enough realising similar in the US, it's gone the other way.

Other parties hold some responsibilities too, sure. But ironically, the Dems and Labour have been so terrified of being too different to their right counterparts, they are serving or offering up luke warm versions of the same thing. It's very difficult to breakthrough with enough of the public with this rational analysis. Especially with 2 horse race, FPTP systems, that are clearly, fairly uniquely, failing UK+US democracies.

Great post, and I think you're spot on: if the Tory party elected Johnson as leader again, they'd get elected again.

Let's just hope that he finds the odd bit of spouting nonsense in the press more rewarding for less effort than being an MP.

 

[MickiQ]

He's going to have a very busy first day if he does all the things he says he's going to do. Probably get writers cramp.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

By the Reagan era, I mean expansionism/invasions/funding. Trump is supposed to be against wars and involvement in wars.

He's not, though, is he? He will back Israel to the hilt, for example.

And while his wibbling about Greenland will go nowhere, it is nothing if not expansionist.

 

[tim]

He's not, though, is he? He will back Israel to the hilt, for example.

And while his wibbling about Greenland will go nowhere, it is nothing if not expansionist.

So no different from Biden or Harris. And whilst he will back Israel, he won't be sending troops to fight there.

 

[redsquirrel]

Especially with 2 horse race, FPTP systems, that are clearly, fairly uniquely, failing UK+US democracies.

The FdI is in government in Italy, Fidesz is in power in Hungry, the RN has become normalised in France, the Sweden Democrats are the 2nd largest party, etc.

The rise of the populist hard right is not something that is limited to the US and UK (indeed in the UK the populist hard right has had much more limited parliamentary/electoral success than other countries) or FPTP electoral systems.

EDIT: And the rise of that hard right is the outcome of the decades of social harm done by the 'qualified' politicians. A great example being France, where the liberals choice has just appointed another government of 'grown ups' to attack workers. With the inevitable consequence of RN presenting itself as a defender of workers

 

[littlebabyjesus]

So no different from Biden or Harris. And whilst he will back Israel, he won't be sending troops to fight there.

Bit different. Greenland will go nowhere but that shows an expansionist intent.

And in terms of Reagan comparisons, Reagan was all about fighting by proxy not directly sending troops, the odd bloodless invasion of tiny islands aside - mujahadeen, contras, etc.

 

[Yossarian]

Also in the news, there's been a leek and it's not looking good for Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz ethics report finds evidence he paid for sex with minor

House report finds ‘substantial evidence’ ex-congressman engaged in sex trafficking among other violations

www.theguardian.com

The investigation concludes that Gaetz, Trump’s first pick for attorney general, made payments totalling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs across at least 20 separate occasions. The report also states that in 2017 Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex when he was 35 years old, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida law.

His main defense so far seems to be "I didn't pay those women for sex, I just had sex with them, then gave them money"

 

[Dogsauce]

The rise of the populist hard right is not something that is limited to the US and UK (indeed in the UK the populist hard right has had much more limited parliamentary/electoral success than other countries) or FPTP electoral systems.

I reckon one of the reasons that it hasn’t got far in the UK is because we’ve had a fairly hard right government in power for a decade or so, going on about immigration all the time and delivering a ‘hard brexit’ with talk of deregulation. The external forces pushing it in certain EU states (Orban, Bannon etc.) didn’t see that much to push against in the UK. They now have some sort of macronist centrist gonk to fight and I’m expecting stuff to step up. I guess they’re waiting for the right fight, something like fuel protests which they can build around.

 

[JimW]

His main defense so far seems to be "I didn't pay those women for sex, I just had sex with them, then gave them money"

And the investigation's main issue seems to be a breach of congress rules on gifts, not the sex crimes.

 

[JimW]

I reckon one of the reasons that it hasn’t got far in the UK is because we’ve had a fairly hard right government in power for a decade or so, going on about immigration all the time and delivering a ‘hard brexit’ with talk of deregulation. The external forces pushing it in certain EU states (Orban, Bannon etc.) didn’t see that much to push against in the UK. They now have some sort of macronist centrist gonk to fight and I’m expecting stuff to step up. I guess they’re waiting for the right fight, something like fuel protests which they can build around.

Heard it said that was a big part of the decline of the NF, Thatcher stealing a lot of their clothes. Bit before my time.