| This is starting out as badly as many feared 08:02 - Jan 27 with 4937 views | StokieBlue |
I'm sure those amongst us who don't agree with him feared this would be the case but Trump has started in an awful fashion:
On Saturday he called the Danish PM demanding they hand over Greenland. For context, this is a NATO ally and has been an ally for 75 years who he is trying to bully into ceding part of their territory. If Putin was doing it there would be outrage [1].
Then on Sunday he said Gaza should be cleared of Palestinians whilst they rebuild [2]. He then changed that to "possibly the longer term" then he said this:
"“I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over.’”
That's all in his first weekend of his second term.
Horrible stuff.
SB
[1]. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/25/trump-greenland-denmark
[2]. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/26/trump-resumes-sending-2000-pound |  | | |  |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:14 - Jan 27 with 3841 views | GlasgowBlue |
His words regarding Gaza is an incitement to ethnic cleansing and it emboldens the ultra right in Israel, such as Ben-Gvir who resigned from the cabinet due to the ceasefire deal. It’s absolutely reprehensible. Trump just thinks he can bully his way through every situation. It’s as if he thinks he can use a compulsory purchase order when building his hotels and golf courses.
And we are only one week in. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:18 - Jan 27 with 3811 views | Horsham |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:14 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
His words regarding Gaza is an incitement to ethnic cleansing and it emboldens the ultra right in Israel, such as Ben-Gvir who resigned from the cabinet due to the ceasefire deal. It’s absolutely reprehensible. Trump just thinks he can bully his way through every situation. It’s as if he thinks he can use a compulsory purchase order when building his hotels and golf courses.
And we are only one week in. |
It’ll be interesting to see what Trump’s domestic opposition does or what they can do. |  | | |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:19 - Jan 27 with 3804 views | Guthrum |
The question being how much of that stuff (plus Panama, Canada, tariffs) is actual policy and how much Trump using exaggerated rhetoric to sow alarm and confusion, wrong-footing those who have to deal with him? He revels in this idea of being a "disruptor", keeping rational players off balance by not playing the game in a normal way. Frightened people are usually more compliant. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:23 - Jan 27 with 3760 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
I didn't read it in an "ethnic cleansing" way, but more like a clueless moron who has an etch-a-sketch view of problems, no idea about context and nuance, and that these are real people.
You might be right of course. The best we can hope is he's just an idiot who likes the sound of his own voice and will be put right by the less-idiotic people behind the scenes. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:25 - Jan 27 with 3740 views | Guthrum |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:18 - Jan 27 by Horsham |
It’ll be interesting to see what Trump’s domestic opposition does or what they can do. |
Virtually nothing. The Democrats control neither house of Congress nor, most crucially, the Supreme Court. The latter having ruled last summer that the President can essentially do what he wants (when acting in an undefined "official capacity").
It relies on Republicans rebelling, which few will as their ranks have been stuffed with MAGA people and the others cowed by threats of support for rival candidates when facing re-election.
Trump has near-dictatorial powers in the present circumstances. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:27 - Jan 27 with 3689 views | Swansea_Blue |
Ah, but he tells it like it is and winds up all the right people. Or something.
I feel a bit daft ignoring him tbh. I was hoping his bark was still going to be worse than his bite and he’d be constrained by those around him. But those around him this time are worse than him. His comments over Gaza and his side-kick Musk’s actions and comments to the AfD were reprehensible especially at a time of commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz. God knows how much this will embolden the fascists and racists/xenophobes.
It’s so blatant that hopefully some then people who’ve naturally sided with the likes of Trump/Musk as part of the ‘culture war’ will now see them for what they really and withdraw their support. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:39 - Jan 27 with 3527 views | Horsham |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:25 - Jan 27 by Guthrum |
Virtually nothing. The Democrats control neither house of Congress nor, most crucially, the Supreme Court. The latter having ruled last summer that the President can essentially do what he wants (when acting in an undefined "official capacity").
It relies on Republicans rebelling, which few will as their ranks have been stuffed with MAGA people and the others cowed by threats of support for rival candidates when facing re-election.
Trump has near-dictatorial powers in the present circumstances. |
Yep. Probably correct but probably a complete misreading on my part but it seems like traditional Republican/Democrat politics isn’t especially relevant. MAGA has eaten the Republicans to a large extent and I dare say a lot of traditional republicans aren’t too pleased about that. Potential for big fractures in politics and society in America I think. | | | |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:43 - Jan 27 with 3485 views | SomethingBlue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:23 - Jan 27 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I didn't read it in an "ethnic cleansing" way, but more like a clueless moron who has an etch-a-sketch view of problems, no idea about context and nuance, and that these are real people.
You might be right of course. The best we can hope is he's just an idiot who likes the sound of his own voice and will be put right by the less-idiotic people behind the scenes. |
Unfortunately I think the people behind the scenes are the even bigger problem. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:45 - Jan 27 with 3470 views | itfcjoe |
It's just the age of outright corruption, a kleptocracy but all happening in plain sight. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:49 - Jan 27 with 3395 views | Dubtractor |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:45 - Jan 27 by itfcjoe |
It's just the age of outright corruption, a kleptocracy but all happening in plain sight. |
With the masses having gleefully voted for it.
It would be funny if it wasn't so scary. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:49 - Jan 27 with 3386 views | Guthrum |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:39 - Jan 27 by Horsham |
Yep. Probably correct but probably a complete misreading on my part but it seems like traditional Republican/Democrat politics isn’t especially relevant. MAGA has eaten the Republicans to a large extent and I dare say a lot of traditional republicans aren’t too pleased about that. Potential for big fractures in politics and society in America I think. |
The traditional GOP have been completely sidelined, because MAGA is where the money is. They don't have power, influence or funding. But they have to go along with things to a large extent, because the alternative in US politics is letting the Democrats in. There is no alternative Republican or other party option. No avenue for registering effective protest. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:00 - Jan 27 with 3279 views | noggin |
And millions of people will agree with him. I fear for the future of our children. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:01 - Jan 27 with 3269 views | ElderGrizzly |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:25 - Jan 27 by Guthrum |
Virtually nothing. The Democrats control neither house of Congress nor, most crucially, the Supreme Court. The latter having ruled last summer that the President can essentially do what he wants (when acting in an undefined "official capacity").
It relies on Republicans rebelling, which few will as their ranks have been stuffed with MAGA people and the others cowed by threats of support for rival candidates when facing re-election.
Trump has near-dictatorial powers in the present circumstances. |
And the Supreme Court 'cover', that he has full immunity for anything he does in office. |  | | |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:01 - Jan 27 with 3278 views | Guthrum |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:49 - Jan 27 by Dubtractor |
With the masses having gleefully voted for it.
It would be funny if it wasn't so scary. |
Because they've been promised they will benefit from it and get revenge on the traditional politicians who've robbed them of the milk and honey they've been waiting in vain for since the 1980s.
I didn't say it was rational, but the other lot weren't delivering either.
In any case, the masses have been taught* not to care about anything which does not directly and immediately affect themselves.
* The masses are not to blame for that, but the media owners and those setting an educational policy which does not equip them for real critical thinking. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:05 - Jan 27 with 3212 views | itfcjoe |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:49 - Jan 27 by Dubtractor |
With the masses having gleefully voted for it.
It would be funny if it wasn't so scary. |
The richest man in the world gutting $2tn of funding to the population whilst taking multi billion dollar subsidises from the same Govt - would be comical if it wasn't actually so sad for the population that voted for it and think they are going to have their lives improved | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:07 - Jan 27 with 3191 views | Swansea_Blue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:01 - Jan 27 by Guthrum |
Because they've been promised they will benefit from it and get revenge on the traditional politicians who've robbed them of the milk and honey they've been waiting in vain for since the 1980s.
I didn't say it was rational, but the other lot weren't delivering either.
In any case, the masses have been taught* not to care about anything which does not directly and immediately affect themselves.
* The masses are not to blame for that, but the media owners and those setting an educational policy which does not equip them for real critical thinking. |
To even begin to break the cycle, someone in government needs to be brave enough to break the link between the media and politics. I can’t see that happening though. A truly independent media is a pipe dream. And that’s only one part of the story now that social media is such a widely used propaganda tool. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:15 - Jan 27 with 2990 views | Swansea_Blue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:05 - Jan 27 by itfcjoe |
The richest man in the world gutting $2tn of funding to the population whilst taking multi billion dollar subsidises from the same Govt - would be comical if it wasn't actually so sad for the population that voted for it and think they are going to have their lives improved |
See also Boris Johnson, with people defending him to the hilt. ‘Oh, he’s not doing it for the money, he doesn’t get paid much’ - meanwhile he rakes in donations and makes £5M from speaking engagements in the 6 months after leaving office in disgrace. And what did he do for ‘the people’. Knowingly made the country worse off by taking us out of the EU and his ineptitude is believed to have led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths.
It’s crackers. They’re snake oil salesmen that people should see through. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:16 - Jan 27 with 2956 views | Guthrum |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:07 - Jan 27 by Swansea_Blue |
To even begin to break the cycle, someone in government needs to be brave enough to break the link between the media and politics. I can’t see that happening though. A truly independent media is a pipe dream. And that’s only one part of the story now that social media is such a widely used propaganda tool. |
That link is as old as media itself.
The real problem is that counter-media does not have the same kind of strong messages to put across in opposition (barring, perhaps, the climate situation). In fact, that lastis a good example of how successful a movement can be at forcing itself into the mainstream when they have a strong message and articulate spokespeople.
"Things are pretty bad and you'll have to tighten your belts" is not a really attractive slogan, especially when accompanied by "We can't/won't do anything about those who have created this situation or who are profiteering from it". It lacks snappiness, appeal and promised ease compared with "You can have all the nice things once we've got rid of the immigrants". | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:30 - Jan 27 with 2737 views | Oldsmoker |
On the home front, Trump is appointing incompetents to run Defense, Education, Health and more.
Hegseth running Defense is laughable because he's a Fox News talking head.
He has never run a business or organisation of any size, yet he will be responsible for over 2 million military personnel.
Betsy DeVos was in charge of Education in Trumps last presidency and failed so badly that there are now calls for the abolition of the department altogether.
By putting an incompetent in charge, like the Tories did with successive Health ministers at the NHS, the department falls apart.
This is how Trump will dismantle the US federal Government and its country-wide laws. Let each state determine their own laws.
The Corporations will then be free to negotiate with each state to relax laws on the Environment and labour laws as a condition for investment in their state. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:39 - Jan 27 with 2600 views | MVBlue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:01 - Jan 27 by ElderGrizzly |
And the Supreme Court 'cover', that he has full immunity for anything he does in office. |
At some point in this new administration, we are going to be rightfully concerned that we use an Internet mostly run by America.
In the sense of Google/Meta/Telco/Streaming
While I work in the industry and am aware of the International cooperation for DNS and networking, the media platform situation needs to be considered, for the misinformation and removal of true journalism and thoguht could come to bear. |  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:39 - Jan 27 with 2599 views | nodge_blue |
He seems intent on land grabs in a way that Putin has. So the West will have no moral high ground. I suspect he wants to carve out deals that see America land grab and at the same time allow Russia and China to do likewise. And Israel.
Its pretty sickening.
And we as a country have no power to affect anything. And Europe also doesn't know how to respond.
I feel sorry for Starmer because there will be consequences for whatever he says one way or the other.
Im afraid its batten down the hatches. Do the best we can as a country and rely on no one.
Edit - in terms of Greenland, a Danish politician pointed out that in the event of a possible sale, that the UK has first dibs based on an agreement signed 100 years ago. Like a Philogene buy back clause. That would be funny if we bought it. Wind Trump right up. [Post edited 27 Jan 9:56]
|  |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:39 - Jan 27 with 2595 views | GlasgowBlue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 08:23 - Jan 27 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I didn't read it in an "ethnic cleansing" way, but more like a clueless moron who has an etch-a-sketch view of problems, no idea about context and nuance, and that these are real people.
You might be right of course. The best we can hope is he's just an idiot who likes the sound of his own voice and will be put right by the less-idiotic people behind the scenes. |
I agree with you. I don’t believe Trump has ethnic cleansing on his mind. He’s a businessman looking for a businessman solution to an issue. He thinks clear the people out of Gaza, they’ll all be happy living in Jordan and Egypt, whilst Gaza is rebuilt. Job done. No more terrorism and fighting.
But the people it incites to ethnic cleansing, such ans the ultra right in Israel, are now emboldened. | |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:45 - Jan 27 with 2550 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:39 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
I agree with you. I don’t believe Trump has ethnic cleansing on his mind. He’s a businessman looking for a businessman solution to an issue. He thinks clear the people out of Gaza, they’ll all be happy living in Jordan and Egypt, whilst Gaza is rebuilt. Job done. No more terrorism and fighting.
But the people it incites to ethnic cleansing, such ans the ultra right in Israel, are now emboldened. |
Indeed. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
| |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:48 - Jan 27 with 2494 views | StokieBlue |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:39 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
I agree with you. I don’t believe Trump has ethnic cleansing on his mind. He’s a businessman looking for a businessman solution to an issue. He thinks clear the people out of Gaza, they’ll all be happy living in Jordan and Egypt, whilst Gaza is rebuilt. Job done. No more terrorism and fighting.
But the people it incites to ethnic cleansing, such ans the ultra right in Israel, are now emboldened. |
Although as per the quote I posted, he's moved that position on from "whilst Gaza is rebuilt" to "You know, it's over".
SB | | | |
| This is starting out as badly as many feared on 09:57 - Jan 27 with 2390 views | Ryorry |
Not to mention reneging on the Paris Climate Agreement with his "drill drill drill" schtick, which U-turn would mean the most fundamental damage of all to the human population of the planet. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
