| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option 20:00 - Feb 16 with 9765 views | StokieBlue |
This is quite a huge thing if he's serious but in reality who knows if he's serious. Essentially Musk and thus Trump are saying that they don't feel they have to pay back some of the debt the US has issued.
That would be huge and probably not good for the US over the longer term.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/16/forget-trumps-tariffs-the-presi
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 15:54 - Feb 17 with 2010 views | positivity |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 15:51 - Feb 17 by iamatractorboy |
Wouldn't surprise me at all. Or his daughter. |
my money's on X Æ A-XII |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 15:59 - Feb 17 with 1993 views | WeWereZombies |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 15:51 - Feb 17 by iamatractorboy |
Wouldn't surprise me at all. Or his daughter. |
Or his horse...
In the meantime, ponder this ' Great Britain accidentally adopted a de facto gold standard in 1717 when Isaac Newton, then-master of the Royal Mint, set the exchange rate of silver to gold too low, thus causing silver coins to go out of circulation. As Great Britain became the world's leading financial and commercial power in the 19th century, other states increasingly adopted Britain's monetary system.'
"Gold standard - Wikipedia" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_standard
So if the US dollar becomes depleted in value like silver then, which currency rises to become dominant and does it attach to a national power economically ? Or do we return to the Gold Standard (or some other standard of natural resource) ? |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 20:11 - Feb 17 with 1903 views | Churchman |
The attached article is a week old but gives further clarity to what the orange madman is doing, why and where it’s all going.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/trump-viktor-orban-electoral-aut
All rules, decency, standards, old hat democracy: in the bin. All structures and opposition - get rid of or replace with ‘right thinking people’ (his). It’s totalitarianism all to benefit him and his people. That’s why he loves Putin, the Korean bloke, Orban and despises the rest. Like them, he’s a simple man. Easy to read.
The faster we move away from them the better, thought that’s easier said than done. |  | | |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:43 - Feb 17 with 1833 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 20:11 - Feb 17 by Churchman |
The attached article is a week old but gives further clarity to what the orange madman is doing, why and where it’s all going.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/trump-viktor-orban-electoral-aut
All rules, decency, standards, old hat democracy: in the bin. All structures and opposition - get rid of or replace with ‘right thinking people’ (his). It’s totalitarianism all to benefit him and his people. That’s why he loves Putin, the Korean bloke, Orban and despises the rest. Like them, he’s a simple man. Easy to read.
The faster we move away from them the better, thought that’s easier said than done. |
We’ve got strength in numbers if we stand together with other European countries. We could have some sort of union, but I don’t know what we’d call it. He can’t bear others who are stronger, which is why he hates the EU and ‘his sort’ did whatever they could to influence the outcome of the referendum. |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:54 - Feb 17 with 1790 views | J2BLUE |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:43 - Feb 17 by Swansea_Blue |
We’ve got strength in numbers if we stand together with other European countries. We could have some sort of union, but I don’t know what we’d call it. He can’t bear others who are stronger, which is why he hates the EU and ‘his sort’ did whatever they could to influence the outcome of the referendum. |
We should definitely have another referendum on EU membership. The world is very different now and they would probably take us back on the same terms as before. |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:59 - Feb 17 with 1786 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:43 - Feb 17 by Swansea_Blue |
We’ve got strength in numbers if we stand together with other European countries. We could have some sort of union, but I don’t know what we’d call it. He can’t bear others who are stronger, which is why he hates the EU and ‘his sort’ did whatever they could to influence the outcome of the referendum. |
I think you really over estimate the EU clout - or lack of it. EU is toothless IMHO and getting gummier by the day.
EU can try and bully UK but they are nothing to USA.
I think the one thing to halt Trump might ironically be - business. |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:01 - Feb 17 with 1769 views | DJR |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:54 - Feb 17 by J2BLUE |
We should definitely have another referendum on EU membership. The world is very different now and they would probably take us back on the same terms as before. |
I remember though that talk of a supposed European army was a big issue for many Brexiters.
Then again, so was talk of favourable trade deals with the US. |  | | |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:12 - Feb 17 with 1738 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:01 - Feb 17 by DJR |
I remember though that talk of a supposed European army was a big issue for many Brexiters.
Then again, so was talk of favourable trade deals with the US. |
How on earth would an EU army work?
Who would determine when it goes to action? A vote??? You only need one member to put their head down and it can’t be carried. | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:20 - Feb 17 with 1715 views | DJR |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:12 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How on earth would an EU army work?
Who would determine when it goes to action? A vote??? You only need one member to put their head down and it can’t be carried. |
There was never any prospect of an actual European army (which is why I said supposed) but it was something that wound up many Brexiteers.
What was envisaged was closer co-operation between European countries when it came to defence, and given what Trump is up to, it seems it was not a bad idea. | | | |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:23 - Feb 17 with 1694 views | DJR |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:43 - Feb 17 by Swansea_Blue |
We’ve got strength in numbers if we stand together with other European countries. We could have some sort of union, but I don’t know what we’d call it. He can’t bear others who are stronger, which is why he hates the EU and ‘his sort’ did whatever they could to influence the outcome of the referendum. |
My view is that the struggle between the US and China is hegemonic because the US is more than happy to have good relations with many small authoritarian regimes.
It also looks like Trump no longer regards Russia as a rival both economically and militarily. | | | |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 with 1645 views | WeWereZombies |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:59 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
I think you really over estimate the EU clout - or lack of it. EU is toothless IMHO and getting gummier by the day.
EU can try and bully UK but they are nothing to USA.
I think the one thing to halt Trump might ironically be - business. |
Nothing, apart from being a larger market in terms of population and with the probability of adding more nations...who are willing to join rather than being invaded. | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 with 1645 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:20 - Feb 17 by DJR |
There was never any prospect of an actual European army (which is why I said supposed) but it was something that wound up many Brexiteers.
What was envisaged was closer co-operation between European countries when it came to defence, and given what Trump is up to, it seems it was not a bad idea. |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:09 - Feb 17 with 1608 views | positivity |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
mostly right on that, but i think usa are lagging behind poland and estonia on % defence spend | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:12 - Feb 17 with 1604 views | WeWereZombies |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
And Poland especially is upping it's game right now (and they have been doing way more than the United States in housing refugees for a couple of years now, which gives the Ukrainians, you know, the ones on the battlefield, some peace of mind.) Add in the new NATO armed borders that Russia is facing along Finland (who held them at bay from 1941-1946) and Sweden, Turkish brinkmanship, resistance from Georgia and Moldova, Azerbaijan also perhaps and who knows what undercurrents are brewing in Chechnya and South Ossetia,,,but Wagner Group will take care of them (oh, hang on a minute.)
As well as all this and not being able to steamroller across Ukraine there is the recent overthrow of Assad in Syria. Russia is not actually looking insurmountable. | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:22 - Feb 17 with 1584 views | reusersfreekicks |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
I think in the not so distant past it suited the USA's power demands that European countries weren't too powerful militarily |  | | |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:22 - Feb 17 with 1585 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:12 - Feb 17 by WeWereZombies |
And Poland especially is upping it's game right now (and they have been doing way more than the United States in housing refugees for a couple of years now, which gives the Ukrainians, you know, the ones on the battlefield, some peace of mind.) Add in the new NATO armed borders that Russia is facing along Finland (who held them at bay from 1941-1946) and Sweden, Turkish brinkmanship, resistance from Georgia and Moldova, Azerbaijan also perhaps and who knows what undercurrents are brewing in Chechnya and South Ossetia,,,but Wagner Group will take care of them (oh, hang on a minute.)
As well as all this and not being able to steamroller across Ukraine there is the recent overthrow of Assad in Syria. Russia is not actually looking insurmountable. |
Poland may have upped their game but they have the big bear looking at them.
Russia may not look to be insurmountable but do you want to put your greens on? [Post edited 17 Feb 23:27]
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:34 - Feb 17 with 1565 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:43 - Feb 17 by Swansea_Blue |
We’ve got strength in numbers if we stand together with other European countries. We could have some sort of union, but I don’t know what we’d call it. He can’t bear others who are stronger, which is why he hates the EU and ‘his sort’ did whatever they could to influence the outcome of the referendum. |
We could call it the red, white, and blue islands union? |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 06:22 - Feb 18 with 1431 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 21:59 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
I think you really over estimate the EU clout - or lack of it. EU is toothless IMHO and getting gummier by the day.
EU can try and bully UK but they are nothing to USA.
I think the one thing to halt Trump might ironically be - business. |
Largest trading bloc in the world though, that’s what will really grind his gears. He wants to be the bigliest.
(Edit - you might be right about businesses. A lot of his actions so far are also not going to deliver life improvements for his voters. The federal cuts are going to impact his core group and the things they care about hardest. Already there are grumbles coming from various Republican senators because they thought they wouldn’t be affected. He’ll have the same problem Biden had if people don’t feel they’re lives are improving). [Post edited 18 Feb 7:15]
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 07:30 - Feb 18 with 1361 views | noggin |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 22:50 - Feb 16 by Lord_Lucan |
He's got to be neutralised, surely. |
I honestly think that would be the best outcome for everyone, at this point. There would probably be some civil unrest in the States, but Trump cann't be allowed to continue, can he? [Post edited 18 Feb 7:45]
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 07:59 - Feb 18 with 1311 views | noggin |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
Some might say that the US has offense spending, rather than defence spending. It's only right that they pay more for their illegal wars. | |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 08:43 - Feb 18 with 1243 views | itfcjoe |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
Europe has overly relied on the peace dividend and is now in no fit state to come together and stand up to anyone.
But it will need to, and we'll need to be part of that because otherwise Putin, Trump and Xi will just carve up the world how they want it - and it will be how Putin and Xi want it as they are incredibly smart political operators, who have been doing this for years and years, in every facet of their being. Trump, Musk and the Breitbart lot are just people who think they are smarter than they are and will be playing checkers whilst those others play chess.
As people were saying beforehand, Trump is the biggest gift Putin has ever had - and no doubt he has helped with this by their state sponsored social media fiddling, spying, interference etc......Putin has been working on this for years, Trump won't know what has hit him - the Cold War never stopped for Russia |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 09:40 - Feb 18 with 1168 views | DJR |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 23:01 - Feb 17 by Lord_Lucan |
How can they do that when they won't spend a dime.
Europe (and I include UK) has clung on to the coat tails of USA for living memory.
If there is only one thing Trump is correct about it's this.
USA % defence spend against other NATO countries is off the scale.
Personally I have never been a Yankophile but I concede they have been our only real answer against a nasty big neighbour - other people may also want to think about this.
It is 100% right that all other NATO members should completely up their game - either that or stop sitting on the communal pot baby |
The US's defence spending is 3.4% of its GDP which is hardly off the scale given its location in relation to Asia and its extensive military involvement in the Pacific and that region.
And it was more than happy for other NATO members to support it in foolish wars in the Middle East, which have contributed greatly to the issues that Europe has in relation to migration and which Vance has criticised Europe for. [Post edited 18 Feb 11:25]
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 12:20 - Feb 18 with 1059 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 08:43 - Feb 18 by itfcjoe |
Europe has overly relied on the peace dividend and is now in no fit state to come together and stand up to anyone.
But it will need to, and we'll need to be part of that because otherwise Putin, Trump and Xi will just carve up the world how they want it - and it will be how Putin and Xi want it as they are incredibly smart political operators, who have been doing this for years and years, in every facet of their being. Trump, Musk and the Breitbart lot are just people who think they are smarter than they are and will be playing checkers whilst those others play chess.
As people were saying beforehand, Trump is the biggest gift Putin has ever had - and no doubt he has helped with this by their state sponsored social media fiddling, spying, interference etc......Putin has been working on this for years, Trump won't know what has hit him - the Cold War never stopped for Russia |
Trump is absolutely getting his pants pulled down by uncle Vlad and he’s too thick to see it. If there’s one beneficiary to all this - ironically it’s China. Whilst the West is fracturing and Russia is severely economically and militarily weakened, China have been hoovering up cheap Russian commodities which they are selling at a loss. Not only that they’ve strong armed Russia into a future gas pipeline AND getting Russia to pay for it! (a real version of “we’ll build a wall and they will pay for it”).
And where the US steps away with soft power (and military power) China is expanding its influence (e.g Africa). It’s quite remarkable really that Trump’s first few weeks have been WORSE than expected. Nobody is benefitting economically from these ‘deals’ he’s making other than China who will step into the global power vacuum the US is leaving, and we should be very wary of that (if you want to see what Chinese hegemony looks like, ask the people of HK). [Post edited 18 Feb 12:22]
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 13:15 - Feb 18 with 959 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 12:20 - Feb 18 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
Trump is absolutely getting his pants pulled down by uncle Vlad and he’s too thick to see it. If there’s one beneficiary to all this - ironically it’s China. Whilst the West is fracturing and Russia is severely economically and militarily weakened, China have been hoovering up cheap Russian commodities which they are selling at a loss. Not only that they’ve strong armed Russia into a future gas pipeline AND getting Russia to pay for it! (a real version of “we’ll build a wall and they will pay for it”).
And where the US steps away with soft power (and military power) China is expanding its influence (e.g Africa). It’s quite remarkable really that Trump’s first few weeks have been WORSE than expected. Nobody is benefitting economically from these ‘deals’ he’s making other than China who will step into the global power vacuum the US is leaving, and we should be very wary of that (if you want to see what Chinese hegemony looks like, ask the people of HK). [Post edited 18 Feb 12:22]
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China will play a big role in the rebuilding of Ukraine |  |
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| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 13:22 - Feb 18 with 934 views | DJR |
| Trump hinting that "selective default" is an option on 12:20 - Feb 18 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
Trump is absolutely getting his pants pulled down by uncle Vlad and he’s too thick to see it. If there’s one beneficiary to all this - ironically it’s China. Whilst the West is fracturing and Russia is severely economically and militarily weakened, China have been hoovering up cheap Russian commodities which they are selling at a loss. Not only that they’ve strong armed Russia into a future gas pipeline AND getting Russia to pay for it! (a real version of “we’ll build a wall and they will pay for it”).
And where the US steps away with soft power (and military power) China is expanding its influence (e.g Africa). It’s quite remarkable really that Trump’s first few weeks have been WORSE than expected. Nobody is benefitting economically from these ‘deals’ he’s making other than China who will step into the global power vacuum the US is leaving, and we should be very wary of that (if you want to see what Chinese hegemony looks like, ask the people of HK). [Post edited 18 Feb 12:22]
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I wouldn't disagree with any of that but it's perhaps counter-intuitive but Europe imported a record amount of liquified natural gas from Russia in 2024.
https://www.ft.com/content/ef4230c1-befa-4053-97b2-397c69c20002
EU imports record quantities of Russian LNG in 2024
Bloc received 16.5mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas by mid-December despite efforts to reduce supplies from Russia [Post edited 18 Feb 13:27]
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