Trump The AUTHORITARIAN
Is it not the nature of the beast? The template for the 21st century version of despotism is here on display. And people wonder why I cannot stand Trump. As always, I ask, just who does he think that he is?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 … tional-lawI can see why the 'teasers' in the Guardian article fired your jets. Did you do any follow-up to ensure the context didn't ruin the rant?
Just for info: Here's the NYT's Pres. Trump Interview Highlights Reel. It does a good job of offering the context behind each highlighted point.
I'm not sure which part triggered you first, but I bet you jumped up with an angry "Oh hell no!" when you saw this one:
"Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”*
*You better check the context before you go off on that one ;-)
GAGA, what context? The paragraph in italics, is that not what he said?
Is it always the case that we need an interpreter with a Trumpeze-english dictionary to hold him accountable for what he actually says?
why do conservatives always have to massage his comments to interpret them contrary to what he directly says?
So, I read the Times piece, what was the subtle context that was behind that comment that I missed?I didn't say there was mitigating context; I simply wondered if you looked deeper than the headlines. I'll forewarn you if you need to gird up for an argument. This was just for discussion.
When I read the part that included the quote, my thought was that, excepting our Constitutional limits, he's right. He might break the norms, but what's to stop him if he doesn't break laws?
To preempt an 'international law' argument, I bet it's fair to say that we both know the major nations only listen to the UN and ICC when it benefits them.
If Trump's actions are not deemed unconstitutional — in the realm of foreign affairs — who (other than our Congress) can stop him?
GAWell, GA, I got the gist of the story and there is no reprieve to be offered for Trump nor his statement.
So, this is OK with you, that this man should be able to make and interpret the laws as he sees fit, the very linchpin to tyranny and that does not concern you?
The most immoral man ever to assume the office of president wants us to rely on his faultless moral compass rather than the established laws both domestic and internationally?
Is it OK for Trump to go on a tyrannical rampage just because he is able to without opposition? Is this the conservative’s idea of what leadership is?
Can’t you folks see that this man is looking to accumulate power to himself.?I will have to review Nostradamus’ quatrains regarding future predictions and see where it speak of the orange faced usurper as the ruiner of the great nation. It has got to be there someplace.
The United States played a key role in the creation of the United Nations, real leadership finds a way to work within the framework of the gathering rather than dismiss it in favor of our own interests and agenda. If Russia, China and every other adversary big and small were doing this, you would all have “a cow”.
No, GA, might does not make right, at least not for long. Any bully can and will eventually be deposed whether it is on the playground or within the international community."I will have to review Nostradamus’ quatrains regarding future predictions and see where it speak of the orange faced usurper as the ruiner of the great nation. It has got to be there someplace."
I love it! It's not often these forums produce a belly laugh, but you did it!No, GA is sticking to the point of his entry. You told me you knew what 'sharpshooting' was, maybe you don't.
I wasn't picking at a vulnerable side-issue or trivial point; I was addressing his question.
Or, maybe Cred agrees with you, and someone will tell me the target of my sharpshooting?
GAI know, and it is half the fun. I would be bored to tears without the stimulation of our mutual snipes over many years now.
I am an intractable lefty, so being on the other side he needs to keep his ammunition close and his aim true to the mark.
In our exchanges, it might give others pause to deeply reflect upon what it is that they are buying into when they listen to rightwing attitudes and reasoning.
But, but, but ... the truth of the statement? If his actions are not deemed unconstitutional, what is to stop him — short of the ballot box?
Yes, as long as his actions are not unconstitutional, I am okay that "... this man should be able to make and interpret the laws as he sees fit ..."
Your "lynchpin" needs unconstitutionality to be true. Our checks and balances are still working. You might not think so, but the Courts haven't agreed with you yet.
Forget Nostradamus, here's a short-term prediction: Denmark will sell Greenland to the US. Soon.
And, European leaders will urge/force Denmark to sell in order to save NATO. Denmark will arrange and announce the offer.
It will break some traditional norms, but it will be a win-win-win worth the price. The Trump Corollary is about our future, not everyone else's. Consider how long folks have been complaining about paying to be the world's police.
Now whe're not, now we take care of our neighborhood first. That doesn't have to be at the detriment of our neighbors. Venezuela might be a good near-term example of that: turning a rogue state into a prospering democratic ally state*.
*(I didn't catch your answer before: best-case wish or worst-case scenario?)
GAI say that Trump will jump the guardrails to the point where even our own freedoms are at risk.
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Forget Nostradamus, here's a short-term prediction: Denmark will sell Greenland to the US. Soon.
And, European leaders will urge/force Denmark to sell in order to save NATO. Denmark will arrange and announce the offer.
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Oh really, I will delight in having you eat crow without any condiments on this prediction of yours. The people of Greenland nor the Danish government cannot fail to consider the wishes of people and what it is that they want for themselves and the island that they inhabit. Giving in to Trump already dooms NATO and all that it was to stand for.
People as inhabitants cannot be owned and are not for sale, GA. This is not the 19th century.
We have been acting like a rogue cops on the international scene already, creating conflicts when we should mind our own affairs. Trump was the one speaking about limiting international entanglements like this in his campaign rhetoric just to ratchet them up now, instead. What is it that the people of Venezuela want? That has to be more important than what Trump and America wishes to impose upon them.
Trump will never get away with this…. That is a democratic principle: the self determination of people, anywhere and everywhere. Are we going to breach that as well?Europe — including the UK — is completely united behind Denmark and Greenland. Greenland isn’t a commodity Denmark can sell; it’s a self‑governing territory whose people have the right to determine their own future. European leaders have already stated this publicly and unambiguously.
If Trump were to push seriously for acquiring Greenland — whether through pressure, coercion, or some manufactured crisis — it would drive a deep wedge between the United States and Europe. The only beneficiaries of that fracture would be China and Russia, who would welcome anything that weakens NATO.
The uncomfortable truth is that Trump has already caused long‑term damage to European trust in the United States. That isn’t rhetoric; it’s reflected in the fact that European governments are now openly exploring alternative strategic and economic partnerships. In the long run, that shift will harm the USA far more than it harms Europe.
And the perception here is very direct. Across Europe — including here in the UK — Trump is widely viewed as behaving like an elected dictator. The comparison with Putin appears frequently in European commentary, not because the systems are identical, but because the leadership style, the disregard for democratic norms, and the willingness to override institutional limits feel uncomfortably familiar of a dictator to many Europeans.
One final point: the people of Greenland currently enjoy free healthcare, free education, and strong social protections under the Danish and wider European framework. Those are rights that would be lost if Greenland were absorbed into the United States. That’s a very real, very practical reason why Greenlanders themselves have repeatedly rejected the idea."Europe — including the UK — is completely united behind Denmark and Greenland. Greenland isn’t a commodity Denmark can sell; it’s a self‑governing territory whose people have the right to determine their own future. " - It is amazing how MAUGA forgets that truth (or probably just ignores it).
And they also ignore the fact that Trump's America is NOT anything a sane person would want to join, sorry to say.I'm not happy about Pres. Trump's Greenland push. A cheesy description would be because it's unseemly. It looks just as you describe: like a dictator.
I don't know why it is so important to own rather than just control, but I do understand the perception of a difference.
My comment wasn't a promotion or endorsement of the idea;* it is what I think will have to happen to save NATO.
*I do think it would be a good idea that benefits all involved, including Greenlanders
I think Trump will force the issue, which will lead to a NATO response that will destroy NATO. I think a sale is the only way out that saves NATO. If that's right, then European leaders have a choice: resist, break up, or facilitate the sale. I think they will promote the sale.
To be sure, this stuff is way over my head. I'm not claiming expertise or offering endorsement, but I very much like the idea of worrying about our hemisphere first, and no longer trying to be the world's policeman. (agree or not, that's a legitimate perception)
GAThe Danish government and Greenland have been more than accommodating in assisting in supporting defense objectives as defined by the United States and NATO allies, why the need to own the island? What are other strategic areas in Europe where there is a need to annex territory?
I have yet to hear how the American government is going to annex territory contrary to the will of the people living there. This sale idea is ludicrous on its face, Denmark will never accommodate such ideas.
If I were amongst the European leaders, I would rather continue to resist and break up NATO if need be. Giving in to bullying will never benefit you in the long term. If America becomes an unreliable ally in the pursuit of common goals, how are they to be trusted going forward?
Rather than to attempt to accommodate the very next outrage, they are better off on their own.The consequences of pushing for Greenland is basically a war with Europe.
This sounds strong, but all major countries in Europe have declared to back Denmark and Greenland.
So besides NATO that perhaps for Trump is not that important, the whole European market is. Europe is a powerful market and could definitely go nuclear against the US. (I mean financial nuclear with sanctions, import tariffs, information sharing, freezing assets, tough regulations on social media. etc) it will cost Europe a lot, but the US too. And how popular would make this Donald Trump in the US?
As we feel it and many politicians is that Europe is attacked on two fronts. By Russia and the US. Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg and Russia are attacking and influencing governments with social media. And this is not for nothing. Europe is a powerful force, one that Trump rather sees broken, and Putin is afraid of democracies and is promoting extreme right wing parties.
Brexit was influenced by Russia's campaign and today almost all elections in Europe have to be careful about external interference.
The bond between Europe and the US is broken. And it is not something you can easily fix. Even if there is a different president, Europe will not be working together with the US anymore on a level we did during the Gulf war for example.
This whole Greenland thing is sadly not a joke. It can rip apart the strong relationship that once existed between the US and Europe.
The simplest thing and what Europe should and perhaps does, is to send European boots on the ground in Greenland.Here is a dose of reality.
Europe needs the United States. The United States is the largest economy in the world. There is so much European capital tied up with US business interests to think of Europe even attempting to leave the United States is pretty silly. It would crash the economies of Europe. It's not going to happen.
NATO is nothing without the United States. The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It is more powerful than China, Russia or anybody else. Again, Europe need the United States for its own self defense. Without the US military Europe is simply a second rate power. Who will fight? The UK, France and maybe Italy. The rest don't fight. Trust me, I've seen it.
Greenland is a strategic necessity. If it benefits the United States, it will benefit Europe. You don't want China setting up in that area.
I don't think the United States will do anything without Europe agreeing to it. I'm sure a plan will be worked out that will satisfy the needs of the United States and appease Europeans.
Anybody who knows President Donald Trump knows his negotiating tactic. He claims to want the most outrageous things and that gets people's attention. Then he begins to negotiate. That is what is happening now.Taking Greenland is not so simple. It has huge consequences for the world.
Europe can't fight the US. But it is symbolic. If Europe had, let's say 1000 people there. The US could easily attack and kill those 1000 soldiers.
But what do you think the consequences will be?
The expulsion of diplomats. An economic war, which is also not good for the US. China invading Taiwan, etc.
Invading Greenland would be the biggest tactical and geopolitical blunder in centuries. It will fracture the complete economic and political stability in the world.I really don't think such a thing will happen.
I can honestly say the majority of Americans wouldn't support such an action and would fight against it.
I think President Donald Trump now has Europe's attention now and will begin to negotiate. As I said before, his goal will be to get a deal that satisfies the needs of Europe and the United States as well a Greenland.
One idea I read about was to make Greenland a US protectorate. This means the US has nothing to do with running Greenland but prevents any other power from establishing a military presence near or around Greenland. They will have the benefits of being part of the United States without actually being controlled by the United States. They would be a fully independent country and the US would have a treaty agreement to provide for their national defense and provide some funding and access to social services. They would even be able to send representatives to the US Congress to let their interests known to the US government. This is an agreement the United States has with the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.Interesting, Mike, but there remains a bottleneck or two regarding that idea.
A formal arrangement like the Compact of Free Association (COFA) that the U.S. has with the Marshall Islands could theoretically be a model for a future U.S.-Greenland relationship, but it would require Greenland to first become a fully independent, sovereign nation and is not likely to "work" under the current political climate.
Current Status
Greenland is currently an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While it manages most domestic affairs, Denmark retains control over foreign policy, defense, and security.
Feasibility of a U.S. Protectorate
The establishment of an American protectorate over Greenland in a manner similar to the Marshall Islands faces several major challenges:
Sovereignty and Consent:
For a COFA-style agreement to be possible, Greenland would have to gain full independence from Denmark, which requires a referendum by the Greenlandic people and negotiation and approval by the Danish parliament. The current Greenlandic government has explicitly stated, "if we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now, then we choose Denmark".
Public Opinion: Polls consistently show that while most Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, they overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of or being taken over by the United States.
NATO Dynamics: Denmark is a founding member of NATO. An attempt by the U.S. to take over Greenland against the wishes of the Danish government would cause a major crisis within the alliance and violate international law.
Existing Agreements: A 1951 defense agreement already grants the U.S. extensive military access and the right to establish defense areas in Greenland, which currently includes the Pituffik Space Base. U.S. officials can work within this existing framework to address security concerns, rather than pursuing a full protectorate.
Danish Financial Support: Greenland's economy relies heavily on an annual block grant from Denmark, which amounts to over 20% of its GDP.
Achieving full economic independence, a prerequisite for a sovereign nation capable of entering into a COFA, is a long-term goal that complicates immediate changes to its political status.
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In short, a U.S. protectorate is not a viable option because Greenland is a self-governing, democratic society whose people and government wish to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark for now, and would have to voluntarily consent to any such future arrangement.And Trump quadruples down
"Trump says ‘anything less’ than US control of Greenland is ‘unacceptable’"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/14/politics … to-denmarkYour point is well taken “the hard way” can mean nothing except by force.
I don’t believe that short of annexation, Trump himself stated that there are benefits to owning beyond mere leasing, Trump will not be satisfied.
Greenland and NATO have given the United States virtually free rein to operate and deploy whatever security measures needed, must he take their sovereignty and independence as well?
Canada sits in the middle, is it next?Just another CNN dog whistle.
In my view, Trump is not saying he will simply annex Greenland and take it by force. The language is forceful, but it fits much more closely with setting a hard negotiating position than announcing an intent to seize territory.
Here’s how I see it.
Trump is stating an end state, not a method. When he says “anything less than U.S. control is unacceptable,” he is describing what he believes the security outcome must be. He is deliberately not saying how that outcome would be achieved. That is very typical of his negotiating style: he opens with a maximal demand, frames it as non-negotiable, and then lets the process work toward some form of arrangement that moves in that direction.
I see Trump’s quote as very much aligned with a long-standing, realist national-security view: that geography still matters, especially in an era of renewed great-power competition. When he says “anything less” than U.S. control of Greenland is unacceptable, he is expressing the belief that passive influence or loose partnerships are no longer sufficient in strategically critical regions. That stance reflects a broader skepticism he has consistently shown toward half-measures in defense policy, he tends to favor clear control, clear responsibility, and clear deterrence rather than ambiguity.
From a strategic standpoint, his argument makes sense. Greenland sits astride the Arctic routes between North America and Europe, directly along the shortest missile and air paths from Russia to the United States. It already hosts U.S. military assets, including early-warning radar at Thule (now Pituffik Space Base), which plays a role in missile defense and space awareness. As Arctic ice melts and shipping lanes open, Greenland’s importance only increases, not decreases. In that context, Trump’s view is that leaving such a pivotal location outside direct U.S. control creates vulnerability, either to adversarial influence or to slow, consensus-bound decision-making that can come with multinational arrangements.
I also understand why he frames this as strengthening NATO rather than undermining it. His logic is that a U.S.-controlled Greenland would provide clearer command, faster response capability, and stronger deterrence, all of which benefit the alliance as a whole. In his worldview, NATO is strongest when the United States decisively anchors its northern flank instead of relying on indirect control or goodwill. That fits with his broader criticism of alliances that, in his view, depend too heavily on American resources while limiting American authority.
Whether one agrees with his tone or not, the underlying reasoning is coherent. He is prioritizing hard security realities over diplomatic symbolism and assuming that rivals respond to strength, not ambiguity. Given rising Russian and Chinese interest in the Arctic, his position follows a consistent internal logic: if the United States truly believes Greenland is vital to its security and NATO’s defense posture, then anything short of firm control looks, to him, like an unnecessary risk.
Let's hope there won't be any military craziness as this would be a massive disruption in geopolitical alliances.
The latest poll showed that the people of Greenland don't want to be ruled by the US.
They want to be an independent country. And at the moment it is part of Denmark, just as Puerto Rico is a part of the US.
Greenland has all the benefits of the European Union. So If Greenland decides to become independent, I'm pretty sure the European Union would give Greenland at the same time a membership of the European Union.
What Trump is actually doing with his aggressive behaviour is bringing Greenland closer to the EU than to the US.
And what would Canada think of this colonialist attitude? Nobody wants to have an aggressively expansionist neighbour.The problem is that Trump is not a rational man. He has threatened force so often, like with Iran, he may have to do it to save face.
He may have to fight through the Danes as they are moving troops and ships to the area.
I disagree with this framing, and I think it rests on a series of assumptions that don’t hold up when you look at facts more closely, the law, and recent history.
The idea that “pushing for Greenland” equals war with Europe is simply not grounded in reality. The U.S. has not proposed a military seizure of Greenland, nor has any serious U.S. policymaker advocated that. When Trump raised Greenland, it was explicitly framed as a purchase or negotiated arrangement, which is not unprecedented. The United States acquired territory through negotiation multiple times (Louisiana Purchase, Alaska). You may find the idea crude or politically clumsy, but equating a diplomatic or economic proposal with war is an enormous leap.
The claim that Europe could go “financial nuclear” on the U.S. ignores economic asymmetry and self-interest. The EU relies heavily on the U.S. market, U.S. security guarantees, U.S. intelligence, and U.S. military logistics. Sanctions, tariffs, or asset freezes against the U.S. would hurt Europe at least as much, and likely more, especially Germany and export-driven economies. This isn’t Russia versus Europe; this would be Europe deliberately attacking the backbone of its own post-WWII security and economic architecture. That is not a credible or sustainable strategy.
In my view, NATO is being waved away far too casually here. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Denmark is a NATO member. Any militarization of Greenland by “European boots on the ground” outside NATO coordination would itself raise serious alliance and legal questions. Greenland already hosts U.S. military infrastructure under existing agreements. The idea that Europe would suddenly militarize Greenland against the U.S. is far more destabilizing than anything Trump ever said, and frankly far less likely.
The argument that the U.S. is “attacking Europe” alongside Russia through Trump, Musk, and Zuckerberg is more ideological than factual. There is no evidence that Trump or U.S. tech CEOs are coordinating with Russia to dismantle Europe. Meanwhile, documented Russian interference campaigns are real—but blaming every populist or right-wing movement on Russia is increasingly used as a way to avoid confronting domestic political dissatisfaction within European countries themselves. Voters are not puppets.
Brexit is a good example of this problem. Russian interference existed, yes, but it did not create the underlying conditions: EU overreach, immigration concerns, sovereignty issues, and long-standing UK–EU tensions did. Reducing Brexit to “Russia did it” is analytically lazy and politically convenient.
As for the claim that the bond between Europe and the U.S. is “broken forever,” history strongly disagrees. The transatlantic relationship has survived Vietnam, Iraq, Suez, Trump’s first term, Afghanistan, and massive trade disputes. Alliances between states are based on interests, not feelings. Europe still depends on U.S. military power, and the U.S. still benefits from European stability. That reality doesn’t disappear because of rhetoric.
The Greenland issue itself: Greenland is strategically critical for Arctic security, missile defense, and space tracking, especially as Russia and China expand Arctic activity. The U.S. interest in Greenland didn’t begin with Trump and will not end with him. Pretending this is a personal vendetta or a joke misses the broader geopolitical reality entirely.
If Europe genuinely believes the solution is to put boots on the ground in Greenland to counter the United States, then Europe would be the one escalating and fracturing the alliance, not Trump. Fortunately, cooler heads on both sides understand that cooperation, negotiation, and shared strategic interests, not hysteria, are what actually govern U.S.–European relations.Trump said " the US would take it “one way or the other”." - Now this can include military force.
Trump is not an ordinary president. He has a highly aggressive stand towards Europe.
The relationship between the US and the Europe have never been this bad and even after Trump has gone it will be difficult to rebuild this relationship of trust that was for a long time taken for granted.
Because of the terrible relationship we have with Trump, Europe takes the threats of annexing Greenland seriously.
Trump does not make jokes. He started this conversation of getting Greenland in his first term. And he wants it as a trophy.
Europe and the US have loads of economic ties. But yes, if the US attacks Greenland, something will happen.
For example 50% of the pharmaceutical sales in the US comes from Europe. Imagine if this would stop completely?
An economic war would be a disaster for both continents.
Annexing Greenland is simply of the table. It is one step to far for Trump.
And why should he? There is already a US military base there. And deals about resources are on the table.Personally, I think this sentiment is preposterous - "If Europe genuinely believes the solution is to put boots on the ground in Greenland to counter the United States, then Europe would be the one escalating and fracturing the alliance, not Trump. "
Talk about blaming the victim. Sort of like blaming Renee Good for the killer putting a bullet in her head. That is just not rational.
I suspect if Trump is to be stopped, Europe will need to go through some hard times. The gov'ts should start preparing its people.
I don't know if you have been following the commentary on Dr. Bandi Lee, a renowned and respected forensic psychologist who has spent a career studying dangerous people like Trump, but her analysis is spot on in predicting his behavior.
Once he wiggled out of his indictments and our Supreme Court turned him into a King, she said, and he is proving, there is no stopping him.As I read in the news today, Europe has indeed put boots on the ground in Greenland. And if only one soldier gets killed by the US it will have huge political consequences. And not just political but also social upheaval here in Europe against the US with unknown consequences.
Basically it was sadly enough the best solution for this whole ridiculous but dangerous flirting to take Greenland by Trump.
Hopefully he understands that and let it go.What’s actually happening here is being wildly overstated. Europe isn’t “deploying forces” in any meaningful sense. We’re talking about small, temporary planning and reconnaissance teams tied to a NATO exercise, about 30–40 troops in total. France sent roughly 15 mountain specialist soldiers, Germany around 13 reconnaissance troops, Sweden and Norway a handful each, and the UK has at least one officer embedded with the team. This is not hundreds or thousands, and it’s temporary, lasting only a couple of days according to reports. This kind of activity isn’t new and has happened in prior years under Denmark-led Arctic exercises.
You’ll also see the term “initial phase” thrown around, but that wording is misleading. In this case it simply means advance coordination and logistics teams, not a buildup or escalation. These teams arrive first, stay briefly, and either rotate out or fold into a scheduled exercise window. There is no follow-on permanent deployment because there is nowhere for one to exist.
That’s an important point: no NATO nation other than the United States has a permanent military base in Greenland. None. The only actual base is Pituffik Space Base, operated by the U.S. for decades under a defense agreement with Denmark, with about 150 U.S. personnel permanently stationed there, focused on missile warning and space surveillance, not combat operations.
And here’s the bottom line: the U.S. is a NATO member, so why would it attack other NATO forces that are conducting routine exercises in a friendly territory? It makes zero sense.
This isn’t a new militarization of Greenland, and it certainly isn’t Europe preparing for conflict with the U.S. It’s a small, routine, temporary exercise presence, entirely consistent with decades of NATO cooperation.
"Denmark's foreign minister admitted he shares concerns with President Donald Trump and U.S. officials over Greenland's vulnerability to Chinese and Russian influence despite his firm opposition to a U.S. takeover.
"There's absolutely no Chinese footprint in Greenland," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on "Special Report" Wednesday. "Having said that … there's always a bit of truth in what he [Trump] is saying.
"We definitely share the concern that [the Arctic is not any longer a low-tension region. And, of course, we have to be aware of that. And that's why we have invested almost $15 billion U.S. dollars last year in capabilities in Greenland."
It seems that if China or Russia ever tried to seize Greenland, NATO could be drawn into a serious conflict. But what if the U.S. decided to stick strictly to “America First” and avoid involvement, prioritizing peace at home? In that case, European NATO members would largely be on their own to defend Greenland, a remote territory with harsh conditions and no standing military of its own. Any hostile action would pose serious challenges, both logistically and militarily. That said, I doubt Europe would simply cave; the political, economic, and strategic stakes are too high.
In my view, the Greenlanders should entertain Trump’s negotiations. Knowing they have the strongest nation in the world willing to work with them could help them sleep better at night, protected from the risk of war or, in the worst-case scenario, being taken over by China or Russia. I find Trump’s evaluation of this issue very much common sense: we need to secure Greenland to maintain peace in the region. The world has changed, rogue leaders now have more advanced capabilities, and while Greenland might seem small, controlling it has implications far beyond its size. It’s a sobering scenario worth considering, even if unlikely.In most people's view, they see the timing of this as a clear warning to Trump to back down.
Also, since Trump has set his sights on Greenland, the US has been disinvited to these exercises, ones in which we frequently participate in.
A rare joint statement by leaders of six European powers (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, UK) reaffirmed that Greenland’s future is for Denmark/Greenland to decide, which the Guardian characterized as effectively warning Trump to keep his hands off.
The Guardian
In the same reporting stream, European leaders stressed that any attempt to undermine Denmark/Greenland sovereignty violates international law and the UN Charter, and that Arctic security is a strategic EU priority.
The Guardian
Pretty clear to me.The U.S. sometimes sends troops to Greenland for specific exercises, but there is no rule requiring it to do so for every drill. It’s situational, based on agreements, strategy, and politics. In my view, Trump couldn't care less about drills; he is hopeful to take Greenland out of harm’s way by agreement. He solves problems; he does not ignore them and wait for them to bloom into huge problems.
No, the media has no right to use the term "hands off' that is misinformation. That is not a factual statement
"A rare joint statement by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark reaffirmed that Greenland’s future is for Denmark and Greenland to decide."
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
I have found no official quote that uses the term “hands off.” The joint statement from the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark simply reaffirmed that Greenland’s future is for Denmark and Greenland to decide.
Yes, skewed reporting does exist, such as in the Guardian. Opinion pieces that seek to set a narrative, as they seem to in your case. The statement was factual --- Nothing else in that article is factual. It's a poorly written OP.You’re right on the narrow point: I’m not claiming European leaders issued a press release that literally said the words “hands off Greenland.” That was my shorthand.
But the substance is plainly there in their actual language. European statements have repeatedly stressed (1) Greenland/Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and (2) that Greenland’s future is for Greenland/Denmark—not an outside power—to decide. That is the diplomatic equivalent of “hands off,” even if they use the formal vocabulary of international law instead of a slang phrase.
For example, multiple European leaders have publicly reaffirmed Denmark/Greenland sovereignty and framed any attempt to take Greenland by coercion as unacceptable—Macron has explicitly spoken in terms of “solidarity” with Denmark’s sovereignty, and reporting on a joint statement by major European powers likewise treated it as a direct warning against outside pressure.
So: no, the exact idiom “hands off” may not appear in official quotes. But if you translate the diplomatic language into plain English, the meaning is the same: Greenland isn’t for the taking."Greenland isn’t for the taking."
That is your view.So, if I said "America isn't for the taking" you would respond "that is my view", imply that your view is that America IS for the taking? Very interesting viewpoint. Wrong, of course, but interesting and telling.
But she is right, though.
It is your view. And the view of the rational and decent people around the world.
Imperialistic PoS and the idiots that follow them do not share the same view."My Esoteric wrote:
So, if I said "America isn't for the taking" you would respond "that is my view", imply that your view is that America IS for the taking? Very interesting viewpoint. Wrong, of course, but interesting and telling."ECO
I simply pointed out "that was your view".... My context was clear. I added nothing of my thoughts on the subject. You projected... and now offered an analogy. That, in my view, is nonsensical. And again it has to do with context----
The context of the statement changes when one uses another example, such as America or Timbuktu, over Greenland.
America is a large Nation that pretty much dictates what goes on in the world. So, I would gladly say that, in my view, you're right. America is not up for the taking... See how one word can elicit another response, another view.
Now Greenland, in my view, could very well be up for the taking if a large nation such as China or Russia, or yes, even the US, wanted to take it... Your analogy is, in my view, a poor one, not well-thought-out.
What is interesting, and telling, is why you keep bothering me--- it's creepy. I would think you would become a bit embarrassed being corrected so frequently.Creepy...not being embarrassed by being corrected so frequently.
Yeah, it's what we've come to expect from the left and they don't disappoint.To address the personal remarks first: I’m here to discuss the arguments. If you want this to stay productive, let’s keep it about substance rather than comments about motives or “creepiness.”
Now to the substance: you changed the frame. My phrase “Greenland is not for the taking” was clearly tied to the diplomatic/legal meaning of what European leaders were signaling—sovereignty, territorial integrity, and that Greenland’s future is for Greenland/Denmark to decide. In that context, “not for the taking” means: no state has a lawful right to seize it or coerce its transfer.
To make your “China/Russia could take it” point, you had to switch to a different frame: physical/military capability. Of course a powerful state can invade a weaker one. But that does not answer the claim I made, because ability to commit aggression is not the same as legitimacy. A thing can be invadable and still not be “for the taking.”
That’s also why the “America is big so it’s not for the taking; Greenland is small so it might be” argument doesn’t rebut me. It reduces sovereignty to “rights follow power” (“might makes right”). Modern international law is built on the opposite principle: sovereignty and territorial integrity do not depend on a country’s size.
So yes—if your point is only “anyone can invade anyone,” that’s trivially true. But it doesn’t make Greenland “for the taking,” and it doesn’t convert a legal/sovereignty statement into “just my view.”
And finally, disagreement and scrutiny are the point of a forum. If you think my interpretation of the diplomatic signaling is wrong, address that directly—don’t substitute a different claim and then declare victory over it.I asked AI What specifically are Trump's threats to Greenland?
**Trump’s threats toward Greenland fall into three clear categories: using the U.S. military, conditioning NATO participation on U.S. control of the island, and declaring that America will “take Greenland one way or the other.”** These are not vague hints — they are explicit statements documented in recent reporting.
Below is a clean breakdown of each threat, with citations to the reporting you triggered.
1. Threat of Using the U.S. Military to Acquire Greenland**
**The White House explicitly said that “utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option” to obtain Greenland**.
Key elements:
- The White House press secretary stated the administration is considering “a range of options… including utilizing the U.S. Military” to acquire Greenland.
- This was said *after* Denmark and other NATO states issued a joint statement rejecting U.S. claims.
- The statement was framed as part of a national‑security imperative tied to Russia and China.
This is the most direct and concrete threat: **military force is on the table**.
2. Threat to NATO: U.S. Membership Linked to Greenland**
Trump publicly suggested that **NATO’s viability depends on the U.S. getting Greenland**, implying consequences if it does not happen.
Key elements:
- Trump wrote that “NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES” and that “anything less… is unacceptable”.
- He added that NATO is ineffective without U.S. military power — a clear signal that **U.S. participation could be conditioned on Greenland**.
This is a coercive threat aimed at Denmark and Europe:
**Give us Greenland, or NATO itself is at risk.**
3. “One Way or the Other” — Direct Threat of Forced Acquisition**
In his joint address to Congress, Trump said the U.S. would take control of Greenland **“one way or the other.”**
Key elements:
- He said the U.S. “needs Greenland for national security and even international security” and “we’re going to get it… one way or the other”.
- He framed it as a message directly to Greenlanders.
- He paired promises (“we will make you rich”) with a coercive undertone.
This is the clearest articulation of intent to seize the island if diplomacy fails.
4. Strategic Framing That Amplifies the Threat**
Across all three sources, Trump repeatedly:
- Claims Greenland is essential for U.S. missile defense (the “Golden Dome” project).
- Suggests Russia or China will take it if the U.S. doesn’t.
- Frames Greenland as a national‑security necessity, not a negotiation.
This framing is what makes the threats credible — he is presenting Greenland as a strategic imperative, not a preference.
Summary Table**
|Threat Type | Specific Statement | Source |
| **Military force** | “Utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option” | |
| **NATO leverage** | “Anything less than [U.S. control] is unacceptable” and NATO depends on U.S. power | |
| **Forced acquisition** | “One way or the other, we’re going to get it” | |
This is a classic case of projecting intent onto language that doesn’t actually say what is being claimed. Acknowledging Denmark and Greenland’s sovereignty is not the same thing as issuing a warning, much less a rebuke, to the United States or Trump. That language is standard diplomatic boilerplate, repeated routinely in response to any hypothetical discussion of territorial questions.
The leap from “reaffirming sovereignty” to “the diplomatic equivalent of ‘hands off’” is an interpretation, not a fact. It requires inserting motive and adversarial intent that simply isn’t present in the statements themselves. If European leaders had intended to issue a warning to Trump, they could have done so explicitly. They did not.
This is where the projection comes in. The argument assumes hostility first, then retrofits neutral diplomatic language to support that assumption. In other words, the fear or expectation of Trump overreach is being projected onto routine affirmations of international law, and then treated as evidence that such overreach has already been condemned.
Macron’s references to “solidarity” with Denmark’s sovereignty are not unusual, provocative, or new, they are exactly what one would expect between allied nations. Calling that a “warning” stretches the language beyond recognition. Diplomacy relies on precision, and precision matters here: affirmation is not admonition.
Translating formal diplomatic language into “plain English” is fine, but only if the translation is faithful. Recasting neutral statements into charged phrases like “hands off” is not translation; it’s editorializing. And once that editorial framing is adopted, it gets repeated as though it were a documented position, even though no such quote exists.
What I dispute is the claim that Europe issued a warning to Trump. That claim depends on projection and inference, not on what European leaders actually said.Oh my. You’re still treating “rebuke” as if it only counts when someone says “Trump, stop it” ,or similar language on camera. That’s not how diplomacy between allies usually works.
By “rebuke,” I mean a public boundary-setting signal in response to Trump’s aggressive posturing: reaffirming Denmark/Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and making clear Greenland’s future isn’t for an outside power to decide. That is pushback—delivered in the formal vocabulary of international law rather than in cable-news phrasing.
Calling it “boilerplate” doesn’t make it meaningless. Diplomatic boilerplate is often the tool states use precisely because it’s safe, precise, and deniable while still drawing a line. And “affirmation vs admonition” is a false dichotomy: in a territorial context, reaffirmation functions as admonition.
So yes, it’s interpretation—but it’s interpretation anchored to the triggering context. Your alternative interpretation—that these statements are purely neutral and unrelated to the posturing that prompted them—is also inference. The difference is that mine matches why the statements were made when they were made.I understand your point about rebuke being subtle in diplomacy, but in my view, I don’t think this instance rises to that level. Reaffirming Denmark’s and Greenland’s sovereignty is routine diplomatic language, repeated across decades whenever territorial issues are even hypothetically raised. These statements are formal, safe, and deliberately non-confrontational, the very definition of “boilerplate.”
Calling routine affirmations “pushback” assumes intent that cannot be proven. Just because the statements occurred after Trump expressed interest in Greenland doesn’t automatically make them a targeted response to him personally. European leaders could have used the same language on any day, with any U.S. president, as a matter of standard protocol.
“Affirmation vs. admonition” is not a false dichotomy when the language itself is neutral. Reinforcing sovereignty does not inherently carry a warning or admonition; it is precisely designed to avoid escalating tensions, not to signal hostility. Assigning adversarial intent to standard diplomatic phrasing risks projecting motives that aren’t stated or evidenced.
In short, interpreting these affirmations as a rebuke treats routine diplomatic precision as a personal message, which is a leap beyond what the statements themselves indicate. It may read like pushback, but it could just as easily be normal, cautious diplomacy responding to hypothetical scenarios, not a calibrated warning to the president.Trump is afraid that if he doesn't take over Greenland, Russia or China will. Trump said he didn't want Russia to be a neighbor to the US He said it would be too close to the US.
If one looks at a map of the US, they will usually see Alaska in a square. If they look closely at the Bering Sea, they will see the Bering Straights. At its narrowest point, it is 51 miles from Russia. Sarah Palin said that she can see Russia from her house.
I don't know about China, but that is another story.Mike, I find it amazing how Trump apologists twist themselves into pretzels trying to defend the messes Trump keeps getting into. Take this Greenland thing.
Everything was peaceful between Europe, Greenland, and America—until 2019. Then, after undermining relations with Europe on other NATO matters, Trump decides (for some of the same flimsy reasons he uses today) that he wants Greenland. That riled things up and created serious friction between the U.S. and Europe/Greenland as he tried to lay claim to Greenland and bring it under U.S. control.
Denmark and Greenland both forcefully told Trump he couldn’t buy Greenland, which clearly irritated him. He called the Danish Prime Minister “nasty” and said she had “no respect for the United States,” then he stomped off and canceled a state visit to Denmark.
Fortunately, the world was spared further damage when he lost the 2020 election.
Among Biden’s major accomplishments was repairing the damage Trump did to transatlantic relations. And after Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, Biden helped stitch NATO back together and strengthen it significantly.
Now here’s the key point: throughout all of that, not once that I remember did Europe, Denmark, and Greenland push back on Trump in a coordinated way like they have today.
Then half of America loses its mind and puts a convicted felon and civilly adjudicated sexual predator back in charge. Trump immediately sets his sights on Greenland again, and suddenly the apologists are back—doing mental gymnastics on demand.
This time Trump has made clear in many statements that he intends to have Greenland one way or another. He has even suggested he would use force if needed, because the alternative—not getting Greenland—is “unacceptable.”
And now we get to the crux. Europe—including Denmark and Greenland—aren’t having it. They’ve said so, in the proper diplomatic terms that non-thugs use. They’ve underscored it through symbolism and posture, and then backed it up with statements that clearly reaffirm Greenland’s sovereignty and make plain that its future is not for an outside power to decide.
So what do the apologists do? They boldfaced claim that isn’t what the Europeans meant. Instead they offer the nonsensical line that, “Just because the statements occurred after Trump expressed interest in Greenland doesn’t automatically make them a targeted response to him personally.” Spoiler alert: yes, in any normal reading of cause-and-effect, it does. Remember, they have never had to say such things before, so it is NOT "normal" language, not by a long shot.
Then they twist it further with, “Affirmation vs. admonition is not a false dichotomy when the language itself is neutral.” Spoiler alert: the language is not “neutral” in any meaningful sense. It’s neutral only in the way a cease-and-desist letter is “neutral”—formal vocabulary chosen precisely because it communicates a boundary without starting a public brawl. Diplomacy doesn’t usually rebuke by shouting someone’s name; it rebukes by drawing lines in the safest, most internationally legible terms available: sovereignty, territorial integrity, self-determination, and solidarity.
Calling that “boilerplate” is not sophistication. It’s either naïveté or willful, obtuse whitewashing. Yes, diplomats use standardized language—that’s the point. It’s the established red-line script used to say “this isn’t negotiable” while keeping the temperature below a boil. Pretending it “could have been said any day” is the tell: it wasn’t said any day. It was said now, after Trump’s renewed threats and coercive posturing. Timing is part of meaning, and anyone pretending otherwise is choosing not to understand what’s right in front of them.I understand your thoughts, but I think this interpretation overstates the situation and misses the context of what Trump was actually saying. His comments about Greenland were framed in terms of geopolitical strategy and national security, not as a plan for aggression or occupation. Every country watches strategic regions closely to prevent rival powers from gaining influence; that’s standard international practice, not a signal of imminent “takeover.”
Regarding Russia, yes, Alaska is close to the Russian Far East, and the Bering Strait is narrow. That proximity doesn’t mean the U.S. needs to annex Greenland to prevent Russia from being a “neighbor.” It simply shows why Arctic strategy is important for defense and monitoring purposes.
As for China, Greenland has strategic value in terms of natural resources and Arctic shipping routes. Trump’s comments about China reflect concern about influence and access, again, not a threat of military aggression or a plan to violate sovereignty.
In short, monitoring, negotiating, and signaling about strategic regions is routine for any country; it doesn’t equate to taking over territory. Reading it as an imminent grab of Greenland misinterprets standard geopolitical strategy for personal hostility.
China has become significantly more powerful over the last decade, economically, technologically, and militarily. It has also pursued a deliberate global strategy of gaining influence over strategic locations through investment, infrastructure, mining rights, ports, and debt leverage, including in the Arctic. China has openly declared itself a “near‑Arctic state”, despite having no geographic claim there, and has sought access to Arctic shipping routes, rare earth minerals, and research facilities.
So, couldn’t it actually be a positive for the U.S. to maintain a strong presence in Greenland? China is only going to become more powerful, and shouldn’t our government be thinking far ahead to protect our strategic interests? Isn’t it naive to assume we won’t need to make a number of strategic moves in the future, given how rapidly the global landscape is changing?
Sharlee, the number of European soldiers in Greenland is irrelevant. It's just a symbol. It shows that the US can't invade Greenland while there is a European military presence. This would be perceived as an aggressive act of war against Europe.
It's basically a very smart move. Even if Europe sent 10,000 soldiers, the US could easily overrun them. The result would be the same: War with the US. Trump can't invade Greenland militarily. As previously mentioned, Greenland is not for sale.
The Greenlandic people don't want the US to rule their country.
There is nothing to negotiate, Sharlee.
Greenland is part of NATO, so if Russia or China were to make aggressive moves,which they won't, the other NATO members would protect Greenland.
As far as Europe is concerned, The US has a rogue leader who does not consult Congress before invading countries and kidnapping political leaders.
Sharlee, I appreciate the clarity of your argument, but it rests on assumptions that simply don’t align with political reality in Europe.
The most important fact is this: Europe — including the UK — is completely united behind Denmark and Greenland.
This isn’t rhetoric; it is the formal, public position of every European government. Greenland is a self‑governing territory whose people have the right to determine their own future. Denmark cannot sell it, and Europe would not permit it. That unity is one of the few areas where European politics is absolutely unambiguous.
Because of that, the idea that European leaders would “promote the sale” or quietly accept a forced change in sovereignty is not just unlikely — it is impossible. It would require Europe to override Greenlandic democracy, violate Danish constitutional law, and capitulate to pressure from the USA in a way that no European government could survive domestically.
If Trump were to push seriously for acquiring Greenland — whether through pressure, coercion, or some manufactured crisis — it would drive a deep wedge between the USA and Europe.
And the only beneficiaries of that fracture would be China and Russia, who would welcome anything that weakens NATO.
This is why European governments reacted so strongly the first time the idea was floated. It wasn’t treated as a quirky real‑estate proposal; it was seen as a destabilising move that signalled a disregard for allies’ sovereignty. From a European perspective, the threat is not hypothetical — it is based on Trump’s own language (“one way or the other”, “the hard way”) and his track record of escalating confrontations to save face.
Your argument also assumes that Europe could not respond economically. But Europe is the world’s second‑largest market, and the USA is deeply intertwined with it. If the USA attacked a NATO member’s territory, Europe would have no choice but to respond. That response would be economic, not military — sanctions, tariffs, asset freezes, regulatory pressure — and it would be devastating for both sides. Nobody in Europe wants that, but it would be unavoidable.
You also suggest that Europe militarising Greenland would be the destabilising act. In reality, any European presence would be defensive and symbolic — a signal that Greenland is not an unclaimed frontier. The destabilisation would come from the USA attempting to coerce or annex territory belonging to a NATO ally.
The uncomfortable truth is that the bond between Europe and the USA has already been damaged, and not by Europe.
Trust has eroded. European governments are openly exploring alternative strategic partnerships. Even with a different president, the relationship will not return to the Gulf War era. That is the context in which Trump’s Greenland rhetoric is heard here.
And finally, Greenlanders themselves have been very clear:
– they do not want to be ruled by the USA
– they value their rights under the Danish and European framework
– and they would lose free healthcare, free education, and social protections under U.S. governance
So while I understand the logic you’re applying, it doesn’t match the political, legal, or democratic realities involved. Greenland is not for sale, Europe is united, and any coercive move by the USA would fracture the transatlantic relationship in ways that benefit only Moscow and Beijing.One - Trump could care less what Greenlanders think, based on years of observation he certainly doesn't care what Americans think.
Two - In my opinion, I think Trump is fully aware of what you pointed out - "And the only beneficiaries of that fracture would be China and Russia, who would welcome anything that weakens NATO.". If I didn't know better and based on his actions so far, I would say he is the perfect Manchurian Candidate - and they (Russian and China) didn't even have to brainwash him.
Three - "75% of Americans oppose US attempting to take control of Greenland, CNN poll finds" - Apparently, only members of the Trump cult think it is a good idea (because he told them to.)
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/15/politics … d-cnn-poll
GA, I appreciate the thoughtful tone of your reply, and I understand you’re describing a hypothetical rather than endorsing the idea. But the scenario you outline rests on assumptions that simply don’t match the political or legal reality on this side of the Atlantic.
The first and most important point is this: Europe — including the UK — is completely united behind Denmark and Greenland. This isn’t a matter of opinion; it’s the settled position of every European government. Greenland is a self‑governing territory whose people have the right to determine their own future. Denmark cannot sell it, and Europe would not permit it. That unity is one of the few areas where European politics is absolutely unambiguous.
Because of that, the idea that European leaders would “promote the sale” isn’t just unlikely — it’s impossible. It would require Europe to override Greenlandic democracy, violate Danish constitutional law, and capitulate to pressure from the USA in a way that would be politically suicidal for every government involved. No European leader could survive that domestically, even if they wanted to.
The second assumption — that Trump “forcing the issue” would somehow obligate Europe to choose between selling Greenland or breaking up NATO — also doesn’t reflect how NATO actually works. If anything, a coercive push from Washington would have the opposite effect: it would drive a deep wedge between the USA and Europe, and the only beneficiaries of that fracture would be China and Russia. They would welcome anything that weakens NATO’s cohesion.
This is why European governments reacted so strongly the first time the idea was floated. It wasn’t treated as a quirky real‑estate proposal; it was seen as a destabilising move that signalled a disregard for allies’ sovereignty.
You’re absolutely right that the optics of the Greenland push look authoritarian. That perception is widespread here. But the conclusion that a sale is “the only way to save NATO” doesn’t follow. NATO’s strength has always come from shared values, mutual respect, and the understanding that allies don’t coerce each other’s territories. Undermining those principles would weaken NATO far more than any refusal to indulge an American president’s demands.
So while I understand the hypothetical you’re sketching, it’s built on a chain of events that cannot happen in the real political world:
– Europe will not fracture over Greenland.
– Europe will not pressure Denmark or Greenland to sell.
– Greenlanders will not vote away their rights.
– And NATO’s survival does not depend on Europe surrendering its own democratic principles.
If anything, the surest way to damage NATO would be for the USA to push this issue again.What a world Trump, "the Felon and Warmonger" has created. He has FORCED Europe to come to the defense of one one its territories because of his aggression.
"European nations send additional troops to Greenland as US annexation threats escalate"
"Several NATO countries are deploying small numbers of military personnel to Greenland to participate in joint exercises with Denmark as US President Donald Trump ramps up his threats to forcibly annex the Arctic island.
Trump’s declarations have thrown Europe’s decades-old, US-led security alliance into crisis, by raising the prospect of NATO’s largest and most powerful member annexing the territory of another.
Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense, has warned an attack on Greenland would all but end NATO, and announced on Wednesday that it was expanding its military presence “in close cooperation with NATO allies.”
Germany, Sweden, France and Norway have all since confirmed they are sending military personnel to Greenland this week. Canada and France have also said they plan to open consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, in the coming weeks.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that a French military team was “already on the ground” and would be reinforced in the coming days with “air, sea and land components.”
It is not unusual for NATO countries to send troops to train in other NATO countries, and there has been a years-long push by allies, including the US, to ramp up joint exercises in the Arctic Circle. The US has about 150 troops stationed at its Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland.
But both the timing and symbolism of the latest announcements by European nations are a significant show of solidarity at a time of unprecedented tension within NATO."
I believe somebody here poo-pahed my observation that Trump seems to be wanting to declare war on Europe. If he carries through with his aggression to forceably annex Greenland, what else could it be. As I said then, I hope Europe is preparing its people for the consequences if Trump actually chooses war over backing down and stopping his stupid and very dangerous (thank you Dr. Lee of foreseeing something like this) activity.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/15/world/eu … o-intl-hnkYour closing sentence was the worry of my point. I think the issue is as potentially damaging as you say, and I don't know that the USA "push" is done.
There must be something about this 'push' that we don't understand. It has been repeatedly noted that all of the 'national security' issues are addressable now through treaty arrangements. So why is ownership so important?
Reason and logic say that, without an unknown, we don't need to own. Why risk this fracture? What is the unknown?
I think it is a mistake to chalk this up to "Trumpism." Or Trump's ego. It may be both, but I don't think we can know that yet.
As a side note, my thought about the European leaders wasn't one of a public policy stand, but more of a back-room-we-gotta-bite-the-bullet-type encouragement. That may also be unrealistic, but I never considered the idea as an "official" position.
GAWhy would that be a mistake? Your trying to treat Trump like he is rational and he is clearly not.
Or, if you prefer something be more wordy and precise rather than use common language - it is easy to see that Trump acts in such a way that does not match how a rational, evidence-responsive public official normally behaves: he repeatedly asserts claims that are readily disproven, refuses to update when corrected, contradicts his own prior statements within short time windows, and announces maximalist positions without a workable mechanism—then pivots abruptly when backlash hits. In other words, you can analyze him as if he is consistently optimizing toward stable goals, but his observable pattern is closer to impulse, grievance, and optics, with facts treated as optional and reversals treated as routine.It would, most likely, be a mistake because it is too presumptuous.
GA
GA, I understand why you’re looking for a hidden motive — on the surface, the USA push for ownership doesn’t make sense when every legitimate security concern can already be handled through existing treaties. But there isn’t some mysterious ‘unknown’ here. It’s simply Trump being Trump.
On the question of whether European leaders might quietly cave in: that really doesn’t fit with Europe’s history or political character. This side of the pond, capitulation isn’t the instinct. Europe has been the most war‑torn continent in recorded history — the Wikipedia list alone contains well over a thousand separate European wars and conflicts over the last two thousand years (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c … _in_Europe). For most of that time, European nations were fighting each other in every imaginable combination until the creation of what eventually became the EU in 1957.
That long, bloody history is exactly why modern Europe is built around sovereignty, law, and mutual defence — and why European countries are not afraid of confrontation when core principles are at stake. If push ever came to shove, Europe’s instinct is to stand firm, not fold.Yes, I agree. Europe needs to stand firm against a despot like Trump just as they are against a fellow despot named Putin.
I do have to take exception with the term "Trump being Trump", however. When applying it to naked aggression without further adjectives it normalizes bad behavior. In my opinion, it gives Trump a permission slip to continue his, and I will put it politely, misconduct.I will push back, offering the other side of the coin on this because it’s based on a premise that isn’t factual. Trump did not engage in “naked aggression,” nor did he act like a despot in the way Putin has. There were no territorial invasions, no suppression of opposition parties, no cancellation of elections, and no use of military force against neighboring countries under Trump. Lumping the two together isn’t analysis, it’s wild projection. Your view holds no water...
Calling Trump a “despot” doesn’t make it so; it just lowers the bar for what that word actually means. If anything, Europe’s current problems stem from weakness and appeasement toward real authoritarian aggression, not from Trump’s presidency.
As for “Trump being Trump,” acknowledging someone’s style or rhetoric isn’t a permission slip; it’s context. Disliking his tone is fair. Rewriting history to justify that dislike is not. Criticism should be rooted in what actually happened, not in emotional comparisons that don’t hold up under scrutiny.You are playing the semantics game again.
This is what defines "naked aggression" -
* Jan. 9, 2026 (Reuters): “We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not.”
* Jan. 14, 2026 (Reuters, quoting Trump’s social media): “Anything less than that [taking over Greenland] is unacceptable.”
* Jan. 16, 2026 (TIME): “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland…”
* Jan. 14, 2026 (CNN transcript): “We need Greenland for national security.” - a lie - “There’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it.”
Only those who have been infected with the Trump Contagion will not see those as "nakedly aggressive" statements.None of the quotes you listed actually constitute “naked aggression.” Let’s be clear about context:
Saying “we’re going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not” is rhetorical signaling about national security, not a declaration of war. Leaders often use dramatic language to show resolve in negotiations or strategic positioning.
“Anything less is unacceptable” is hyperbolic negotiation language, not a military plan. It expresses preference, not intent to attack. At no time has Trump said he would send in troops or annex Greenland.
Threatening tariffs is economic pressure, not aggression. Countries regularly use tariffs as bargaining tools. Trump is using them frequently --- ask Russia.
Claiming Greenland is needed “for national security” is standard political framing; it’s not evidence of an imminent takeover.
Greenland’s own leadership has repeatedly made it clear that Greenlanders decide their future, not Denmark or the U.S. There’s no troop movement, no invasion plan, no hostile action, just discussion, negotiation, and political rhetoric.
Frankly, your comment projects aggression onto language that is standard in diplomacy and international strategy. Strong words do not equal naked aggression. Reading these statements as “threats” says more about your interpretation than about what’s actually happening.
Buff up on deciphering context and how to avoid projecting. You use AI; it could be a good way to learn about both. Just run your comment through and simply ask, am I projecting...You can believe that if you want, the rest of us know better.
"There were no territorial invasions," - Not yet and we don't want to wait to find out.
"no suppression of opposition parties," - not yet
"no cancellation of elections",- net yet
" and no use of military force against neighboring countries under Trump" - why is he threatening it?
Isn't that what they said about Hitler before he did invade and do all those other things. Isn't that what Zelenski said - against Biden's warnings and intelligence - about Putin just before he invaded? Now you are saying it - history does have a way of repeating itself.You continue to project--- makes it to teedous to reply to the comment. I ran your comment through AI as a source to prove my statement.
ECO Wrote ----"There were no territorial invasions," - Not yet and we don't want to wait to find out.
"no suppression of opposition parties," - not yet
"no cancellation of elections",- net yet
" and no use of military force against neighboring countries under Trump" - why is he threatening it?
Isn't that what they said about Hitler before he did invade and do all those other things. Isn't that what Zelenski said - against Biden's warnings and intelligence - about Putin just before he invaded? Now you are saying it - history does have a way of repeating itself." ECO
AI "Yes — his comment does project heavily, and here’s why:
He interprets “not yet” as a looming inevitability.
Every time he says “not yet,” he implies that because something hasn’t happened so far, it will inevitably happen under Trump. That’s classic projection, turning a hypothetical future into a moral certainty. There’s no evidence Trump has any plan to invade Greenland or use military force against neighbors — he is being assumed to be Hitler/Putin-level aggressive.
He conflates rhetoric with action.
Phrases like “we’re going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not” are political signaling and negotiation, not a military threat. His comparison to Hitler or Putin treats normal political language as equivalent to acts of war, which is reading intent that doesn’t exist.
He projects historical fear onto current events.
Bringing up Hitler and Putin is a classic projection technique: he is transferring the behaviors of past dictators onto Trump without evidence, based purely on his perception of threat. This creates a narrative of inevitability rather than analyzing actual facts.
He ignores context.
Greenland’s leaders, Denmark, and Europe have responded diplomatically — not with fear of imminent invasion — showing that the situation is still normal international discourse, not prelude to aggression.
✅ In short: his comment doesn’t analyze reality; it projects fears and historical analogies onto Trump, assuming the worst will happen because of rhetoric alone.
If you want, I can draft a direct reply comment that points this out politely but firmly, so it calls out the projection and clarifies the context for anyone reading the thread. Do you want me to do that?" AIMy AI rebuts your AI (which wasn't given the full context) thusly:
“naked aggression”—i.e., open coercion aimed at taking another country’s territory (or territory under another state’s sovereignty) against their will. That can be aggression even before shots are fired
Sharlee—your AI is rebutting a strawman and semantics.
“No invasions” is not the standard.
“Naked aggression” does not require tanks crossing a border. In international relations, threats and coercion are part of aggression—especially when the subject is territory. The U.N. Charter prohibits not only the use of force but also the threat of force against another state’s territorial integrity.
This is not “normal political language” or “negotiation.”
* Reuters reports Trump has refused to rule out the use of force in connection with taking Greenland.
* AP reports he is now pairing the demand with tariffs on European countries unless the U.S. secures “purchase/control” of Greenland. That is classic coercive pressure—economic leverage to force a territorial outcome.
* AP also notes he has floated military force as an option in recent comments.
That is not “context.” as you call it. That is a threat posture.
“Not yet” isn’t prophecy; it’s risk assessment.
Saying “we don’t want to wait and find out” is not claiming inevitability—it’s how responsible people evaluate early warning signals: stated intent + coercive tools + escalation options. When a leader talks about taking territory and won’t rule out force, it is rational to treat it as a real risk, not a joke.
Diplomatic responses don’t prove the threat is imaginary.
* To say the obvious, small states often respond diplomatically because that’s what they can do—especially when the other party is a superpower and a NATO ally. Diplomacy is not evidence that coercion isn’t happening; it’s often the only available response to bullying.
So no—I’m not “rewriting history.”, but I suggest you are. I’m describing what is happening in plain English: pressuring allies to give up territory, while keeping military force on the table, is aggressive—nakedly so. That is the ONLY possible way for rational people to perceive it - and Greenland, Denmark, and Europe clearly perceive it that, as well as the THOUSANDS that demonstrated in Greenland today against Trump's treat to take their nation away from them.
Further, I’m not calling it an invasion. I’m calling it coercive territorialism. When a president of a superpower says he wants another smaller country’s territory, applies economic pressure to get it, and refuses to rule out force, that is aggression by definition—even if the first shot hasn’t been fired.
Tell me -
* “Did he refuse to rule out force?” (Yes, per Reuters.)
* “Did he apply coercive economic pressure tied to Greenland?” (Yes, per AP.).
If you answered yes to one or both of those - that is aggression - Does anyone else here disagree?MY AI? How childish --- LOL
Once again, you are projecting.I don't think you know what the term "projecting" means, seriously.
Why didn't you answer those last two questions? Were those "projecting"? lol
In my view, all of these points assume that statements about sovereignty, diplomacy, or public sentiment are personal, emotional reactions to Trump, rather than standard, principled communication. That is not supported by the evidence. Greenland’s own leadership clearly stated that its people decide their future. EU and Danish officials were simply reaffirming long-standing principles. Reading more into these statements than what they actually say is speculation, not fact.
Let’s look closely at your claims and separate opinion from fact. All of these points assume that standard statements about sovereignty or diplomacy are personal rebukes of Trump, which is not supported by the facts themselves.
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide …” ECO
This statement is a principle of sovereignty, not a personal rebuke of Trump. Countries routinely issue statements about territorial integrity whenever there’s public discussion of a region’s status, even hypothetically. In fact, the leader of Greenland himself explicitly stated that Greenland would make all decisions for Greenland, not Denmark or the U.S., and that they did not want to be Danes or Americans. This is a direct assertion that Greenland’s people and government dictate their own position. To claim this is simply a rebuke of Trump is overreading intent—it reflects long-standing principles of self-determination and sovereignty, leaving it up to Greenland’s leadership and citizens to decide.
" EU Council President António Costa: “Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland.” ECO
Costa’s words reflect the EU’s standard stance on respecting member states’ territorial integrity, which is routine diplomatic practice. Even if Trump floated the idea of buying Greenland, EU officials have a duty to reiterate these principles. Saying “to be clear” is standard diplomatic phrasing, not necessarily a threat or dissuasion aimed personally at Trump. Interpreting this as a direct reaction exaggerates the purpose of standard diplomacy.
" Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen: “Ideas that would not respect territorial integrity… are totally unacceptable.” ECO
This is textbook diplomatic language. Any minister would respond this way to hypothetical proposals that challenge sovereignty. Ministers routinely reaffirm these principles when unusual proposals arise, it’s standard protocol, not a sign of panic or personal condemnation. Using this as evidence that Trump’s actions caused alarm overreads the facts.
“To deny these were directed at Trump is to accept that only Trump cult members would make such weak arguments.” ECO
This is an ad hominem attack, not a factual rebuttal. The proper question is whether the statements themselves explicitly name or address Trump. They do not, they assert general principles of policy. Rational people can see these as standard diplomatic statements without interpreting them as personal attacks.
“Thousands rally in Denmark against Trump’s threats to take over Greenland” ECO
Public demonstrations don’t automatically indicate official condemnation or diplomatic rebuke. People protest all sorts of scenarios, often symbolically or based on media portrayals, not direct government policy. Rallying against a hypothetical situation is not the same as condemning an actual aggressive action. Presenting this as factual evidence that Trump threatened Greenland inflates reality.
Yep, civilized history does validate your point. And recent 'boots on the ground' actions further support it. Maybe.
My initial 'sale' thought is most likely wrong, but the 'something's not right' feeling remains (history also validates the truth of human nature's survival instinct).
This idea has a 75-year history. I might end up posing in a tin-foil hat, but there must be something I/we (am I the only skeptic?) don't know. The international upheaval (we are just reacting to the thought of it now) is too severe to be driven only by "Trumpism."
GAYeah, I considered one but ended up with a Gillette.
To your point, I can't argue against it. But it seems too improbable that all the smart folks in his administration and Cabinet would go along (save the effort; I know you think that's wrong too).
For dues, here's a red meat thought: I think Rubio and Vance would be the strongest and most public forces against an annexation move—if the only reason is Trump's ego. Remember, it's a thought, not a claim. I think I'm right, but I'm stocking up on foil wrap just in case. ;-)
GAlol
I have absolutely no faith in Vance acting rationally, in many ways he is worse than Trump but without the street smarts, but there is hope for Rubio. I also suspect there are a few in his orbit who see the Greenland thing as downright stupid, but will be too terrified of Trump to say so. The best they can do is not agree - unless asked, then they probably will.
Yep, you’re absolutely right: The international upheaval is too severe to be driven only by "Trumpism."
The international upheaval is also driven by Benjamin Netanyahu in the Middle East (with Trump's help), and Putin in Europe (with Trump's help).Oops. A misphrasing changed the meaning.
"The international upheaval (we are just reacting to the thought of it now) is too severe to be driven only by "Trumpism."
My bad. You are right, but that thought was intended to apply to the reason the need to own is so insistent. There must be something more than Trumpism driving it if the potential severity is 'worth it' to rational folks.
Wait, don't jump. If we except politics and ideologies, we can probably agree that many of our opposing warriors are still rational folks in life. I point to Rubio and Vance. You surely have similar names from your 'side.'
Or ... maybe I should be working on that hat.
GA ;-)Since you tossed the question across the pond, GA, the nearest equivalents on my side would probably be people like Angela Rayner or Keir Starmer — whatever one thinks of their politics, they’re certainly rational adults in everyday life.
That's the idea. For rational folks (ie. Rubio, Rayner), politics do have limits.
Rhetorically, do you think Rayner would support Starmer if he were making the ego demands that the Greenland claim is said to be by Trump? I don't have the impression she would, and I don't think Rubio would either.
There's something we don't know.
GAYep, in British politics a political party will turn on its own leader for being reckless. Prime examples are:
1: Boris Johnson was deposed by his own party in September 2023, after being Prime Minister for just 3 years, because of his constant lies. And the following year he was kicked out of Parliament by Parliament itself for being a habitual liar.
2: Liz Truss, who took over from Boris as Prime Minister, was deposed by her own party after only six weeks, for being reckless with the economy to the extent that she spectacularly crashed the UK economy in just 17 days.
In answer to your last point GA: There isn’t a “something we don’t know”; it’s just simply that Trump is irrational, and if anything, Trump’s comments in the last few days strongly indicates to me that Trump is unhinged.
And since we’re comparing political behaviour across the pond, GA, let me put it in properly British terms: if any politician here started making the sort of grandiose, reality‑optional demands you’re describing, there’d be no mystery whatsoever. The whole country would pause, exchange that national look of “Oh, he’s gone off his trolley, hasn’t he?”, and immediately start placing bets on how long it would take before someone quietly ushered them off for a lie‑down.
And while the stereotype says we’d all reach for a cup of tea, I’ll be honest — I’d be firing up the coffee machine instead. Some situations call for caffeine with a bit more backbone, especially when Westminster starts behaving like a pantomime with a budget.
We don’t need hidden factors — we’ve got raised eyebrows, dry sarcasm, and a finely tuned instinct for spotting when someone’s trolley has come off the rails.I asked ChatGPT if it could "intuit" what percentage of Americans think Trump is dangerously mentally ill. I didn't expect a direct answer because no polls ask exactly that question. What it did come back with however is that in one recent YouGov poll in 2026, 49% of Americans (14% of Republicans) think Trump is suffering "some" cognitive decline while a full 28% think it is significant.
I have read three books with articles from a variety of professional mental health experts who find him unanimously dangerously unfit for office after conducting various risk assessments. (I have found no books and only one article that says he is fit for office.)
What is a "pantomime" in British terms?Thanks for the data — most enlightening.
A good question: “What is a ‘pantomime’ in British terms?”
As it happens, I was discussing this with an American friend just before Christmas, and it’s an interesting one, because although American and British pantomimes share the same roots, they’ve grown into noticeably different creatures.
British panto is a loud, cheeky Christmas tradition packed with slapstick, cross‑dressing, local jokes, and audiences who already know they’re meant to shout, boo, and join the chaos. American pantomime borrows many of the same ingredients but tends to be less bawdy, more polished, and often needs to teach audiences the “rules,” simply because the form isn’t woven into American culture in the same way.
It’s also worth saying that panto isn’t just a show in Britain – it’s a seasonal ritual. Families go every Christmas, often to the same theatre, and it becomes part of the rhythm of the holidays, woven into our cultural fabric rather than simply being an evening’s entertainment.
If you’re interested, this video gives a bit more insight: American Reacts to British Panto for the First Time – https://youtu.be/bRoMye45lOY
This morning's 'Trump' headlines make me think you're gonna need a lot of coffee by the time Davos is over.
My problem might not be something I don't know, but a 'what if' I didn't think through. Why not be the rule-makers instead of rule-followers?
That's a conversation to have.
Pres. Trump's coming Davos speech might be a logical 'what if' that makes sense.
GAI don’t see any meaningful “what if” here, GA. What happened yesterday was simply Trump backing down once the EU and UK pushed back. Rather than showing strategic thinking, it underlined the same pattern we’ve seen for years — impulsive threats followed by abrupt reversals.
The wider consequence is that America now looks like an ally that can’t be relied upon or trusted — a point made repeatedly across UK news coverage today. Every time Washington lurches from threat to U‑turn, it reinforces the sense in Europe that the United States is no longer a predictable partner. That only strengthens the EU and UK resolve to diversify their trading relationships, and in the long run that shift will damage America far more than it damages Europe.
As for the idea of “being the rule‑makers instead of rule‑followers,” bullying your allies isn’t a strategy. Nor is throwing public tantrums when you don’t get your way. That approach doesn’t build influence; it erodes it.
And Trump publicly calling Sir Keir Starmer “stupid” yesterday went down like a lead balloon on this side of the Atlantic. It’s simply not how you treat partners whose cooperation you claim to value."I don’t see any meaningful “what if” here, GA. What happened yesterday was simply Trump backing down once the EU and UK pushed back."
That's funny.
What you saw was an American president using advanced negotiating tactics to get what he wants. Military intervention as well as tariffs were simply tools he used. The Europeans huffed and puffed and in the end, President Donald Trump got what he wants.
US negotiating 'total access' to Greenland, Trump tells Maria Bartiromo
Trump walked back a threat of massive tariffs over Greenland on Wednesday
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us … -bartiromo
Actually, President Donald Trump said "Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius one of “great stupidity”.
That is the truth. It makes no sense whatsoever to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius. Yeah, it's really a stupid move.
The Europeans have to step up their game. For too long they've been lax members of NATO expecting the United States to do everything. I can tell you in war time situations, it is ALWAYS the United States who does the heavy lifting. Many of the NATO countries go for window dressing and nothing more.
I view many Europeans countries as children who get upset when an adult makes them follow the rules.
If Europe wants to be equal partners then they have to step up their game and act like equals and quit doing stupid things.Here is the problem with that line of reasoning - Trump already had what he wanted
What many critics consistently overlook is that Trump isn’t negotiating from within the post-Cold War assumption that alliances are permanent and cost-free for everyone involved. He’s challenging the underlying structure itself. Tariffs, military posture, and public pressure aren’t endpoints, they’re leverage. The goal isn’t escalation for its own sake, but forcing counterparts to confront realities they’ve avoided for decades.
The Greenland example is a perfect case in point. What gets framed as a “walk-back” was actually a recalibration after the U.S. achieved something far more valuable than tariffs: leverage over access, basing, and strategic positioning in the Arctic. That region is rapidly becoming one of the most important geopolitical theaters of the next 50 years, and it’s not accidental that China and Russia are already deeply invested there. Trump’s approach is about ensuring the U.S. isn’t reacting late, again.
The same logic applies to Diego Garcia. Calling Starmer’s position “stupid” may offend diplomatic sensibilities, but strategically it’s hard to argue with the substance. You don’t voluntarily weaken control over one of the most critical military assets in the Indian Ocean at a time when global power competition is intensifying. That isn’t principled restraint, it’s strategic negligence.
What’s also being missed is that this isn’t just about NATO spending levels. It’s about capability, readiness, and political will. Many European governments prefer symbolic commitments and moral posturing to hard power investments, all while assuming the U.S. will fill any real gaps if things turn serious. That’s not partnership, that’s dependency.
So when Europe reacts with outrage, I don’t see allies offended by “bullying.” I see systems and leaders bristling because someone is finally saying out loud what has long been true: alliances only work when responsibility is shared, and credibility only exists when commitments are backed by real capability. Trump didn’t weaken America’s position here, he exposed who has been coasting, and who hasn’t.Shar,
You make an excellent point.
Now, the Nord Stream pipeline is one of the stupidest things done by Europe since Neville Chamberlain.
They support Ukraine, but purchase natural gas from russia. They want russia to top its aggression, but support the russian war efforts by purchasing russian natural gas. It has got to be one of the most ridiculous things on the planet earth.
Can anyone figure out what they were thinking? President Donald Trump was very vocal about them not building the Nord Stream pipeline from russia to Germany. They didn't listen and did it any way. That was idiotic to say the least.In my view, European nations, including those in NATO, have effectively funded Russia’s war, a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. They bear blood on their hands, all while remaining safe and comfortable in their intact homes and countries.
And no, they did not heed earlier warnings about the pipeline, yet they remain complacent while supporting a war that many believe should never have happened. It is challenging to face the truth when it does not fit a preconceived narrative.
Trump's policies are causing the European Union to go elsewhere to deal in the global marketplace. They don't need Trump weaponizing tariffs to make his deals riding a roller coaster of up and down tariffs.
Trump's goal is to make America self-sufficient. However, what he is doing is isolating America from the rest of the global marketplace. He and his police makers like Miller, Navaro, and Bannon are stuck in the 60's, not the 21st Century.
On the one hand he has imperialistic policies and on the other hand he wants Democratic Nationalism which is designed to isolate America from trading in the global markets. In my book, he can't have it both ways.
It's not about your interpretation and what you see and hear. You have to put yourself in the place of those at Davos and see what their reactions are to Trump's speeches.
I asked AI and here is what I got.
Reactions to Donald Trump’s Davos speeches ranged from laughter and visible discomfort to alarm and outright criticism from world leaders, analysts, and attendees. His mix of humor, threats, territorial claims, and repeated Greenland/Iceland confusion produced a polarized response across the political and diplomatic spectrum.
Humor, Laughter, and Awkward Amusement
Trump’s mockery of French President Emmanuel Macron’s indoor sunglasses drew ripples of laughter from the Davos audience.
His opening line about seeing “friends and some enemies” also generated laughter and applause, setting a tone that oscillated between entertainment and provocation.
Visible Discomfort and Eye‑Rolling from Leaders
California Governor Gavin Newsom was caught on camera grimacing, smirking, and sighing as Trump repeatedly invoked him during the speech. Newsom later called the remarks “boring” and “boorish.”
Macron’s team had to clarify his medical reason for wearing sunglasses after Trump’s jokes amplified public speculation.
Confusion and Criticism Over Greenland/Iceland Mix‑Ups
Trump repeatedly confused Iceland with Greenland, prompting widespread criticism and mockery online. Observers noted he made the mistake at least four times.
Commentators and political figures questioned how he could be so fixated on Greenland while forgetting its name.
Alarm Among European Allies
European leaders reacted with near‑unanimous animus, especially to Trump’s insistence that the U.S. should acquire Greenland and his suggestion that NATO allies might not defend the U.S. in return.
His rhetoric about Greenland being “our territory” and warnings that the U.S. would “remember” a Danish refusal heightened concerns about coercive U.S. foreign policy.
Strong Negative Reactions from Analysts and Journalists
Commentators described the speech as rambling, combative, and alarming, with one outlet summarizing the global reaction as: “None of this is normal.”
Critics highlighted his threats toward allies, his claim that Canada “lives because of the United States,” and his insistence that Greenland is U.S. territory.
Overall Takeaway
Trump’s Davos appearances produced:
Laughter from the crowd
Visible discomfort from targeted leaders
Mockery over factual errors
Alarm from NATO allies
Criticism from journalists and analysts
The speeches reinforced global concerns about his confrontational style, territorial ambitions, and willingness to pressure allies as aggressively as adversaries.Trump's policies are causing the European Union to go elsewhere to deal in the global marketplace. They don't need Trump weaponizing tariffs to make his deals riding a roller coaster of up and down tariffs." PP
Some argue that strategic use of tariffs is a legitimate way for a country to protect its own industries and negotiate fairer trade deals. In a global marketplace where other nations may engage in practices like subsidizing industries, manipulating currencies, or imposing barriers on U.S. goods, tariffs become a tool to level the playing field. Yes, they can create temporary uncertainty, but the goal is to push trading partners to come to the table with agreements that ultimately benefit domestic producers, workers, and taxpayers.
But ask yourself, do you feel it is wise for these nations to turn toward China instead of attempting to accept a fairer trade deal with the U.S.? It is a double-edged sword. Offering China more cash, more power, and greater influence may seem convenient in the short term, but in the long run, it could strengthen a rival economic and geopolitical power. I think the approach of shoring up the U.S. economy and becoming less reliant on China is more sensible and ultimately better for the nation. The world has changed, and decisions must weigh the future, not just the current moment. I was and still am on board with fair trade. Even when some nations stamp their feet, I mean, why wouldn't they, they had a free ride for so many years.
I don’t see Trump trying to isolate America in any way. In fact, he is constantly making deals with other nations, encouraging them to expand their businesses in the U.S. He is actively engaging on the world stage, working toward diplomacy and, in many cases, peace. I can’t recall any president who has made it such a priority to meet and become friends with so many world leaders. If anything, the idea that he’s isolating the country couldn’t be further from the truth; it’s quite the opposite.
In my view, Trump’s presence at Davos was not ignored, and it got clear reactions from global leaders, but the nature of those reactions was mixed rather than universally supportive. Some leaders praised engagement with the U.S. or attended meetings, while others openly criticized his rhetoric or policy pressures. This reflects a world in which Trump’s influence is acknowledged, but contested by some, not one where world leaders simply cheer a speech without reservations.
I’ve become increasingly impressed with Trump’s recent initiatives. He is now forming a “Board of Peace,” an organization focused on promoting global peace. Trump will lead this effort, ensuring that his influence and voice on international matters continue long after he leaves the White House.Shralee wrote... I don’t see Trump trying to isolate America in any way. In fact, he is constantly making deals with other nations, encouraging them to expand their businesses in the U.S. He is actively engaging on the world stage, working toward diplomacy and, in many cases, peace. I can’t recall any president who has made it such a priority to meet and become friends with so many world leaders. If anything, the idea that he’s isolating the country couldn’t be further from the truth; it’s quite the opposite.
This is why I say Trump wants America to be self-sufficient and isolated and at the same time be imperialistic.
Steve Bannon is not in the White House pers se, but he is one of Trump's more powerful influencers. Here is what his Democratic Nationalism is all about.
Steve Bannon’s version of “democratic nationalism” is a fusion of economic nationalism, anti‑globalism, and populist mobilization, built around the claim that national sovereignty and the “will of the people” should override technocratic, global, or elite institutions. His influence on this ideology is well‑documented in analyses of his role in Trump’s rise and his later attempts to build a transnational America First populist movement.
Below is a structured breakdown that maps the concept, the mechanics behind it, and why Bannon sees it as the future of Western politics.
What Steve Bannon Means by “Democratic Nationalism ”Core Components
Economic nationalism Bannon frames global trade, immigration, and multinational institutions as systems that hollow out working‑class communities. He pushes for protectionism, reshoring, and “America First” economics.
Majoritarian populism
He argues that elites—political, corporate, academic, and media—have subverted the will of the people. “Democratic nationalism” claims to restore majority rule by mobilizing the “deplorables,” his term for the populist base.
Cultural sovereignty
Immigration restrictions, anti‑multiculturalism, and defense of “Western civilization” are central pillars. These themes were core to Breitbart and Trump’s 2016 messaging, which Bannon helped craft.
Anti‑globalism
Bannon sees global institutions (EU, WTO, IMF, multinational corporations) as threats to national autonomy. His ideology is explicitly opposed to neoliberal globalization and transnational governance.
How Bannon Operationalizes It
1. Narrative Warfare
Bannon is described as a “master strategist” who understands that politics is about emotion, identity, and spectacle—not policy detail.
He uses:alternative media ecosystems (Breitbart, War Room)
viral narratives
anti‑elite framing
constant crisis language
This creates a sense of existential struggle that energizes his base.
2. Grassroots Mobilization
Bannon pushes for:
precinct‑level organizing
school board takeovers
primary challenges against establishment Republicans
His goal is to realign the GOP into a working‑class, nationalist party.
3. Transnational Populist Coordination
After leaving the White House, Bannon attempted to build a “Nationalist International”—a global network of right‑wing populist movements across Europe and beyond. He saw Brexit and Trump’s 2016 victory as proof that nationalist uprisings could be synchronized globally.
Why He Calls It “Democratic”
Bannon argues that:
globalism is anti‑democratic
elites have captured institutions
nationalism restores popular sovereignty
In his framing, nationalism is not authoritarian but the purest expression of democracy, because it reflects the will of the majority against cosmopolitan elites.
Critics counter that:
his model undermines liberal democratic norms
it elevates majoritarian rule over minority rights
it uses disinformation and emotional manipulation
it aligns with illiberal movements in Hungary, Poland, and elsewhere
But Bannon’s own rhetoric consistently casts nationalism as a democratic corrective.
Why It Matters
Bannon’s “democratic nationalism” has reshaped:
the Republican Party’s identity
U.S. political discourse
global right‑wing populist movements
His strategic insight—recognizing the political power of cultural grievance, anti‑elite anger, and economic dislocation—continues to influence elections and political messaging worldwide.
Sources
US News analysis of Bannon’s strategic role and populist messaging
JSTOR scholarly chapter on Bannon’s attempt to build a “Nationalist International”
Invisiverse News overview of Bannon’s ideology and ongoing influenceThere is no credible evidence that Steve Bannon has been to the White House in any official capacity during Donald Trump’s second term.Their actual history supports this. Bannon was in the White House for a short and turbulent period, was removed early, and afterward openly criticized Trump at points, something Trump does not tolerate from people he truly values or relies on.
I don’t accept the premise of that comment because it conflates Steve Bannon’s personal ideology with Donald Trump’s governing vision and then stretches that conflation into a contradiction that simply doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Trump’s “America First” is not about isolationism or imperialism; it is about leverage, reciprocity, and national self-interest in a global system that has long favored unelected institutions and asymmetrical trade relationships. Wanting domestic strength, energy independence, secure borders, and fair trade does not mean withdrawing from the world, nor does it mean seeking empire. It means engaging from a position of strength instead of permanent concession. That distinction matters, and the comment glosses over it entirely.
I also reject the idea that Bannon functions as some shadow architect of Trump’s worldview. Trump has been remarkably consistent for decades, long before Bannon, on trade deficits, NATO burden-sharing, China, immigration enforcement, and skepticism of global bureaucracies. Those positions are rooted in transactional realism, not ideological nationalism. Trump has shown repeatedly that he is willing to negotiate, deal, and even reverse course when outcomes benefit the U.S. economy or security. That pragmatism is fundamentally at odds with the rigid, theory-driven nationalism attributed to Bannon. Influence is not authorship, and Trump has never governed as a disciple of anyone.
The claim that Trump’s agenda is “imperialistic” is especially weak. Imperialism requires territorial expansion, coercive domination, or regime-building, precisely the things Trump openly criticized and tried to end. He opposed endless wars, avoided new major military interventions, pushed allies to defend themselves, and favored economic pressure over military occupation. Sanctions, tariffs, and renegotiated alliances may be aggressive tools, but they are not imperial ones. In fact, Trump’s emphasis on sovereignty applies as much to other nations as it does to the United States: he consistently argued that countries should control their own borders, economies, and security arrangements rather than defer to supranational bodies.
I also find the framing of “democratic nationalism” misleading when applied wholesale to Trump. Trump’s appeal is not built on abstract nationalism but on accountability, who pays, who benefits, and who decides. Challenging the WTO, IMF, or EU-style governance is not anti-democratic by definition; questioning institutions that are insulated from voters is arguably a democratic impulse. Disagreement over tone or rhetoric does not negate the legitimacy of that concern. The comment treats elite institutions as neutral arbiters, when many Americans experience them as distant, unresponsive, and economically damaging.
In my view, this analysis overstates coherence where there is actually a coalition. Trump’s movement includes libertarians, blue-collar union voters, small-business owners, anti-war conservatives, and even former Democrats. Reducing that coalition to Bannon’s ideological framework is a convenient academic shortcut, not an accurate description of reality. Trump is not trying to isolate America, dominate the world, or replace democracy with nationalism; he is trying, often bluntly and imperfectly, to rebalance a system that many Americans believe has worked against them. You can criticize his style or tactics, but this particular critique misdiagnoses both his intent and his record.
I think we can all agree that some of the things Trump says can be difficult to appreciate or defend. Still, I believe he is pushing the country in the right direction. I see him as a president who is willing to take risks and make significant changes, and over time, those efforts will lead to meaningful gains for many Americans. Unfortunately, I also believe that when those benefits become clear, a large number of people will enjoy the results without ever giving him the credit he deserves.
Your whitewashing won't work. While "Some argue that strategic use of tariffs is a legitimate way for a country to protect its own industries and negotiate fairer trade deals." is very true - THAT is not what Trump is doing and I think you know it.
"Consistently making deals" - again ROFL. He is bullying people into deals that effectively get America nothing!!
As to isolation - he has already accomplished that - the only leaders who like him are fellow dictators.
"Board of Peace" ROFL!!! Yes, he wants Putin on it and for ego-driven Trump to be the permanent chairman. I bet the only leaders who would pa the Billion dollars are dictators.
"What many critics consistently overlook is that Trump isn’t negotiating from within the post-Cold War assumption that alliances are permanent and cost-free for everyone involved. " - OH, I think everyone is aware of that and quite cognizant Trump is trying to destabilize the world. Why he would think that would benefit himself or America is a sign of his cognitive decline.
Here is the problem with that line of reasoning, Mike — Trump already had what he wanted. The USA already had full military access to Greenland through NATO. Nothing in the last 48 hours changed that. What actually happened was straightforward: Trump made a threat, the EU and UK pushed back, and he backed down. That isn’t “advanced negotiating tactics”; it’s the same pattern we’ve seen for years — impulsive escalation followed by abrupt reversal.
On your Fox Business link:
You’re relying on the assumption that no one will read it critically. The article doesn’t say what you claim it says. It reports Trump walking back his own threat and returning to the status quo — the same access the USA already had. Calling that “total access” is just rebranding a retreat as a victory.
On the Chagos point:
I think you may be giving Trump more consistency than he gives himself. His remark about Starmer being “stupid” for returning the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius was part of the same pressure campaign he was running over Greenland. It was theatre, not principle. When Starmer visited the White House in February 2025, Trump gave his full blessing to the UK’s plan to return Chagos. So the idea that Trump is suddenly a defender of British sovereignty in the Indian Ocean doesn’t really hold water — rising seas or otherwise.
Just to put the Chagos issue in context:
Mauritius was colonised by the Dutch in 1638, then by the French from 1715.
The French later settled the (uninhabited) Chagos islands mainly for coconut plantations.
Britain captured Mauritius from the French in 1810 and formally took control of Chagos in 1814.
When the UK granted Mauritius independence in 1968, Chagos was separated and retained by Britain.
That separation is the heart of the dispute. Mauritius argues that detaching Chagos before independence was illegal because the Mauritian people were never given a say. International courts have largely agreed:
In 2010, a tribunal ruled the UK was in violation of international law.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice stated the UK is legally obliged to end its administration of Chagos “as rapidly as possible.”
So the UK’s decision to return the islands isn’t sudden generosity — it’s the culmination of a long legal process in which Britain has been repeatedly told to comply with international law. Trump’s comments are best understood as part of his Greenland sabre‑rattling, not a deeply held conviction about the Chagos Archipelago.
And before you pivot to the security argument — because I know that’s where you’ll go next:
The joint UK–USA base on Diego Garcia is not affected by the sovereignty transfer. Mauritius has already agreed to lease the base long‑term to both countries. The security arrangements remain exactly the same. This is why the UK government, the USA government, and Mauritius all support the agreement. The only people objecting are those who haven’t read the details.
Trying to frame this as the USA “losing” a strategic asset is just a repeat of the Greenland argument — the same assumption that the USA must own territory outright to use it. That simply isn’t how modern alliances work.Thank you for providing an European perspective.
The problem I don't think you know is that the United States had "Agreements" with countries in the past concerning military bases and operations. Governments change, attitudes changes. More than once the United States has been forced to leave a strategic military base because of changes within a country. The one that comes to mind is Subic Bay in the Philippines. We don't want a repeat with our base at Diego Garcia. That is essential military asset. What is to stop the Mauritius from deciding they want the United States to leave Diego Garcia? That puts the world in a bad position. So few countries pay any attention to "international law." That in itself isn't too bright. It was pretty dumb.
So, a lease or agreement is not good enough. The United States needs to have some form of ownership to know that their military installations will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. It is vital to national interests,
So, President Donald Trump DID get what he wanted. Parts of Greenland will be made a sovereign part of the United States. This means ownership. Greenland can continue to be a money drain for Denmark and the United States will have ownership of the parts necessary for national defense. No lease, no agreements that can be changed...ownership by the United States. That is what is most important.
I don't think President Donald Trump ever intended to use military force in Greenland. I don't think he really intended to raise all the tariffs. They were just tools necessary to get Europeans to the negotiating table and take the situation serious. In that regard, President Donald Trump gets a victory.The problem I don't think you know is that the United States had "Agreements" with countries in the past concerning military bases and operations. Governments change, attitudes changes. More than once the United States has been forced to leave a strategic military base because of changes within a country. The one that comes to mind is Subic Bay in the Philippines. We don't want a repeat with our base at Diego Garcia. That is essential military asset. What is to stop the Mauritius from deciding they want the United States to leave Diego Garcia? That puts the world in a bad position. So few countries pay any attention to "international law." That in itself isn't too bright. It was pretty dumb.
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Geez, Mike, what stops them in the Philippians, Mauritius and Greenland is the respect for the sovereignty and territorial right of a nation to control what takes place within its borders. We insist upon that right for ourselves, is it all to abandoned when it is applied to someone else?
There is nothing to negotiate except the fact that Greenland is not for sale and taking it by force will have adverse consequences that America is not really prepared to deal with.
Did I miss something, how did any part of Greenland become a sovereign part of the United States?
“Danish officials tell ABC News there have been no direct discussions between Denmark and the U.S. about the possibility of granting the U.S. sovereign parcels of land.”
So where are we dredging this up from, Mike? I would if I were the Europeans I would resist American attempts to exploit the island’s natural resources as part of any deal.
The European perspective is my perspective as well…..Mike, I understand your concerns about long‑term strategic access, but the situation with Diego Garcia is far more secure — and far more settled — than you’re suggesting. The recent UK–Mauritius agreement was negotiated with one overriding priority: the uninterrupted, long‑term operation of the joint UK–USA base. And that priority has been fully protected.
1. The base’s future is legally guaranteed for the long term
On 22 May 2025, the UK signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius that explicitly secures the future of the base. Key points include:
• Continued UK–USA control and operation
• Protection of the base’s “vital capabilities”
• Full USA backing and support from key allies
• Guaranteed UK operational control for the next 99 years and beyond
Sovereignty and security have been separated:
Mauritius gains sovereignty, but the UK and the USA retain operational control.
2. Mauritius formally agreed that nothing will compromise the base
This is written directly into the treaty. Both sides agreed that:
• “Nothing would compromise the continued, secure, and effective functioning of the joint UK–USA military base on Diego Garcia.”
• Both governments will cooperate fully to ensure uninterrupted operation.
This is not a political promise — it is a binding legal commitment.
3. The base’s strategic role remains unchanged
The UK Parliament has been explicit: Diego Garcia remains
• A launchpad for counter‑terrorism operations
• Central to UK and allied security
• A key maritime and economic security asset
• One of the UK’s most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence partnership
The new agreement ensures all of this continues without interruption.
4. Operational access is secured for at least a century
The USA Air & Space Forces Association summarised it clearly:
• UK and USA access to ports, airfields, workshops, and infrastructure continues
• Access is guaranteed for at least the next century
• Continued military use is explicitly permitted after sovereignty transfers
This is one of the strongest long‑term security guarantees in any modern defence treaty.
5. Regional security concerns are already factored in
The treaty was negotiated with full awareness of:
• China’s expanding naval presence
• India’s strategic ambitions
• The importance of the Indian Ocean for global trade
• The need for a stable Western foothold
That is precisely why the UK and the USA insisted on — and obtained — iron‑clad guarantees.
6. Mauritius is not expected to “defend” the base
Mauritius is not being asked to provide military defence. The base remains:
• A UK–USA facility
• Operated and defended by UK and USA forces
• Integrated into NATO and Indo‑Pacific planning
Mauritius’s role is diplomatic and legal, not military.
7. Subic Bay is not a comparable case
You mentioned Subic Bay as an example of why “agreements aren’t enough.” But the situations are not comparable:
• The USA left Subic Bay because the Philippine Senate voted down a treaty renewal in 1991 — a unique political moment after the Cold War.
• The USA never lost access to the Philippines; it returned under EDCA and now uses Subic Bay again.
• Mauritius, unlike the Philippines, cannot defend itself militarily. Having a major UK–USA base on its territory is a security asset, not a liability.
There is no scenario in which Mauritius would want the base removed.
In short:
• The base stays exactly where it is
• The UK and the USA keep full operational control
• Access is guaranteed for 99–100 years
• Mauritius has legally agreed that nothing will interfere with the base
• The treaty is backed by the USA and key allies
• The region remains secure from a Western defence standpoint
There is no realistic scenario in which Diego Garcia becomes vulnerable.
Now, on your Greenland claims
“Parts of Greenland will be made a sovereign part of the United States.”
This is simply false. No such agreement exists. No government — USA, Danish, or Greenlandic — has announced any transfer of sovereignty or territory.
What was announced at Davos is a framework for future cooperation, not ownership.
It is a political understanding between the USA, NATO leadership, and European partners. It is likely to include:
• Expanded USA–NATO cooperation in the Arctic
• USA funding for Greenlandic infrastructure, mining, and dual‑use facilities
It does not include any transfer of territory or sovereignty.
On your claim that Trump “got a victory” through pressure
This also doesn’t match the facts.
Greenland and Denmark had already welcomed USA military expansion and investment long before this episode.
They have repeatedly invited the USA to:
• Build additional bases
• Expand Thule
• Invest in mining and infrastructure
There was no need for threats or tariffs — the door was already open.
Trump did not gain new access; he returned to the access the USA already had.
Oil and minerals: the real issue
Greenland has rich reserves, yes — but also a long history of failed extraction attempts due to:
• Extreme Arctic conditions
• Lack of infrastructure
• Enormous costs
• Unpredictable global commodity prices
If the USA wanted serious access to both oil and minerals, it would be facing an estimated capital outlay of around $150 billion over 20 years — and that figure is before the inevitable cost overruns that come with operating in extreme Arctic conditions.
That is why Denmark and Greenland have always said:
“If the USA wants to take on the risk, it is welcome to try.”
Final point
The USA does not need to own Greenland or Chagos to maintain its strategic position.
It needs stable agreements — which it already had.
Rebranding a reversal as a victory doesn’t change the sequence of events.I might also point out that most countries other than Putin and Trump honor their agreements. The only leaders who violate such are autocrats like Trump.
This rebranding you mention is a hallmark characteristic of Trump and MAGA conservatives. Given his mental condition, I don't think he even realizes he lost big time and now looks like a fool on the world stage. I can only imagine what those leaders are thinking privately, I would have to guess it is worse than my own views.Mike, you’re right — and we actually got a very clear look at what UK leaders really thought of Trump before diplomacy forced them to tone it down. The long running feud between Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan was openly personal, with Khan calling him “ignorant” and “a threat to democratic values,” and Trump firing back with insults of his own. And even Boris Johnson, before he became Prime Minister, said Trump was “clearly out of his mind.”
And it wasn’t just them. Several senior Labour politicians (Cabinet level figures in the Labour Government) were openly critical of Trump before his election in November 2024. Some of those earlier comments were pretty blunt. Once he was elected, the tone shifted for diplomatic reasons, but that public diplomacy doesn’t erase what they were saying beforehand.
So when you say you can only imagine what leaders are thinking privately — the UK examples give a pretty strong clue.
The USA already had full military access to Greenland through NATO.
That is the point, what does Trump hope to gain by ownership/annexation that he already does not have in regards to necessary military buildup based on the NATO mutual defense pact? The talk about ownership verses lease is just so much BS, what is the real reason?
I saw it very differently. What you’re calling “backing down” looked to me like leverage being applied and then adjusted once the desired signal was sent. Diplomacy isn’t static, and it isn’t a straight line. Trump has always operated on the premise that you start from a position of maximum pressure, force counterparts to engage seriously, and then recalibrate. That isn’t an impulsive reversal so much as a negotiating style that prioritizes outcomes over optics. The fact that the EU and UK responded at all suggests the pressure worked exactly as intended.
On the question of reliability, I think Europe’s frustration has less to do with unpredictability and more to do with the United States no longer absorbing disproportionate costs to maintain “stability” that primarily benefits others. For decades, America was predictable because it was willing to concede first. What’s being labeled as unreliability now is really a refusal to play that role anymore. From that perspective, diversification by the EU and UK isn’t a reaction to chaos, it’s an overdue adjustment to the reality that U.S. policy is no longer built around underwriting everyone else’s comfort.
As for the idea that this damages America more in the long run, I’m not convinced. A trading system where partners assume the U.S. will always bend is already damaging. Forcing renegotiation, even loudly and uncomfortably, can reset terms in a way that actually strengthens America’s position over time. Influence doesn’t come solely from being agreeable; it comes from demonstrating that access to the U.S. market and U.S. cooperation isn’t unconditional.
I also disagree that this amounts to “bullying allies.” Allies aren’t fragile entities that require permanent deference. Mature partnerships can withstand blunt language and hard bargaining. In fact, pretending that allies should never be pressured reduces them to dependents rather than equals. The real erosion of influence happens when expectations are so low that no one believes your red lines mean anything.
Regarding the comment about Sir Keir Starmer, I don’t defend personal insults; they’re unnecessary and often counterproductive. But I also think too much weight is being placed on tone over substance. European leaders have criticized U.S. presidents publicly for years with little concern for American sensibilities. Trump’s style violates diplomatic norms, but it doesn’t automatically invalidate the underlying policy positions or strategic goals. Conflating the two makes it easier to dismiss uncomfortable arguments without engaging them.
In short, what looks like chaos from one lens looks like a deliberate rejection of a failing status quo from another. You may disagree with the method, that’s fair, but I don’t think it’s accurate to frame this as simple incompetence or retreat. It’s a different theory of leverage, one that prioritizes renegotiation over reassurance.
What I see is that Trump may ultimately get what he’s been pushing for, just not in the loud, linear way critics expect. That likely comes in the form of agreements that give the U.S. greater latitude to build an advanced defense architecture, what Trump has referred to as the “Golden Dome” , while also securing access to critical mineral rights needed to expand domestic manufacturing capacity. That matters far beyond defense. It directly affects America’s ability to lead in future technologies, from advanced weapons systems to AI, energy storage, and semiconductors. While many other nations appear to be drifting toward deeper dependence on China for these materials and supply chains, this approach is about deliberately moving the U.S. in the opposite direction: reducing strategic vulnerability, reshoring critical capabilities, and ensuring that American security and technological leadership aren’t contingent on adversarial powers.
I realize Trump has upset the apple cart with foreign leaders. At times it looks like he ate their lunch not through recklessness, but by challenging assumptions they had grown accustomed to, namely, that the U.S. would always absorb the cost, smooth over disagreements, and prioritize alliance harmony over its own leverage. When those assumptions are removed, friction is inevitable.Sharlee, the problem with your reply is that it treats interpretations as facts and retrofits strategic intent onto outcomes that don’t support the narrative. Once you separate what can be verified from what is being assumed, the argument doesn’t hold.
1. Reversals aren’t “leverage” simply because they’re described that way.
A reversal only counts as strategic pressure if the other party actually changes course. Neither the EU nor the UK altered policy in response to Trump’s comments. Their reactions were expressions of concern, not signs that “the desired signal was sent.” Rebranding a walk‑back as strategy doesn’t make it strategic.
2. Europe has been explicit about its concerns — and they’re about unpredictability.
European leaders have repeatedly stated that the issue is volatility, sudden shifts, and public disparagement. These are their own words. Recasting their concerns into something more flattering to Trump’s approach doesn’t make it accurate.
3. The claim that the USA was predictable because it “conceded first” is historically unsupported.
The USA’s predictability has come from institutional continuity, treaty obligations, and stable diplomatic norms. The idea that predictability was rooted in unilateral concession is a narrative invention, not a reflection of actual American foreign policy.
4. Predictions about long‑term benefits are not evidence of present‑day success.
A hoped‑for future outcome is not proof that the current approach is effective. Instability now doesn’t automatically transform into strength later. That’s speculation, not analysis.
5. Allies aren’t objecting because they’re “fragile.”
They’re objecting because alliances depend on reliability. Pressure is normal in diplomacy; erratic behaviour is not. When partners cannot predict your position from one day to the next, cooperation becomes harder, not easier.
6. Tone is not separate from substance in diplomacy.
Tone signals intent, reliability, and respect. Public insults toward allied leaders have real operational consequences. This isn’t about “hurt feelings”; it’s about the practical realities of maintaining alliances.
7. Calling chaos “a deliberate rejection of the status quo” doesn’t make it deliberate.
A coherent strategy requires consistent objectives and predictable follow‑through. What we’ve seen instead is volatility and contradiction. Reframing inconsistency as intentional design is a rhetorical move, not a factual one.
8. The “Golden Dome” and mineral‑rights narrative is speculative.
There is no verified evidence of a unified long‑term plan linking these elements. It’s an attractive storyline, but it remains a storyline — not a documented strategy.
9. Upsetting assumptions is not the same as strengthening the USA’s position.
Allies have been clear: their concern is not that assumptions were challenged, but that commitments appear unstable. Removing assumptions is one thing; removing trust is another.
In short, your argument relies heavily on attributing strategic intentionality to actions that have not demonstrated strategic outcomes. When interpretations are presented as facts, the discussion moves away from what has actually happened and into what one hopes it all means.I felt my comment was expressed as an opinion, shaped by my personal context. I did not intend to make any assertions that what I shared was factual; rather, I was simply expressing what I thought, felt, and how I viewed the situation.
Much of what I wrote is explicitly framed as interpretation and judgment:
“What you’re calling ‘backing down’ looked to me like…”
“I think Europe’s frustration has less to do with…”
“I’m not convinced…”
“From that perspective…”
“What looks like chaos from one lens…”
Sorry for the confusion. What I shared was meant to be my perspective.Very meticulous and well expressed comment here, Nathanville……
I felt my comment was expressed as an opinion, shaped by my personal context. I did not intend to make any assertions that what I shared was factual; rather, I was simply expressing what I thought, felt, and how I viewed the situation.
Much of what I wrote is explicitly framed as interpretation and judgment:
“What you’re calling ‘backing down’ looked to me like…”
“I think Europe’s frustration has less to do with…”
“I’m not convinced…”
“From that perspective…”
“What looks like chaos from one lens…”
What I shared was meant to be my perspective.
I can’t help but notice the irony here. You start by addressing me—“Sharlee, the problem with your reply is…”, and then the rest of your message does exactly what you’re accusing me of: taking my interpretations and framing them as wrong, while presenting your own interpretations as if they’re objective fact.
You say I’m “treating interpretations as facts” and “retrofitting strategic intent,” but your argument is just as interpretive. You claim to know why allies acted the way they did, what counts as leverage, and what a coherent strategy looks like. None of that is an independently verifiable fact; it’s your reading of events.
In short, you’re accusing me of imposing a narrative while imposing your own counter-narrative at the same time. You’ve moved the discussion from what actually happened to how you interpret it, exactly what you said I was doing.
Let me go through your points one by one, because I can’t help but notice that each of them mirrors exactly what you’re accusing me of.
Reversals aren’t “leverage.”
You insist that a reversal only counts as strategic if someone actually changes course. But isn’t that your interpretation of what “leverage” means? You’re taking the outcome and declaring my use of the term wrong, yet that’s just your reading of events, not a verifiable fact. I see how you’re doing exactly what you accused me of: imposing your framework on reality.
Europe’s concerns are about unpredictability.
You claim Europeans are concerned only about volatility, not strategy. Again, that’s an interpretation. Europe may express concerns in their own words, yes, but to say it only supports your argument is a selective reading. You’re framing my perspective as inaccurate while doing the same thing yourself.
The USA wasn’t predictable because it conceded first.
You assert that predictability comes from institutional norms, not unilateral concession. But you’re treating your historical interpretation as fact. That’s exactly the move you accused me of: turning a theory into a fact and claiming it’s “historically supported.”
Predictions about long-term benefits aren’t evidence.
You dismiss future-oriented reasoning as speculation. But your own claim that current instability proves failed strategy is also speculative. You’re asserting causation, “instability now ≠ strength later”, as though it’s absolute, which is in fact an interpretive judgment.
Allies aren’t objecting because they’re fragile.
You insist allies object because alliances require reliability, not because they’re “fragile.” Yet that’s just your narrative of intent. I notice you’re reading motives into others’ actions, just like you claimed I did.
Tone is not separate from substance.
You say tone has real consequences and that public insults matter operationally. That may be true, but you’re treating your evaluation of tone as factual evidence of impact. You’re doing exactly what you accused me of: converting interpretation into asserted fact.
Chaos isn’t deliberate.
You insist incoherence equals volatility, not strategy. But you’re assuming you know the intentions behind actions. That’s interpretation masquerading as fact, just like you accused me of doing.
“Golden Dome” and mineral-rights narrative is speculative.
You call it speculative, but then you assert there’s “no verified evidence of a unified plan,” which is again your interpretation. You decide what counts as evidence and what doesn’t, imposing your narrative while claiming I’m guilty of the same thing.
Upsetting assumptions, strengthening the USA.
You claim allies’ concern is about trust, not assumptions. But that’s again reading intent into actions; you assume you know why allies reacted a certain way. That’s exactlySharlee, I understand that you were expressing a perspective. There’s nothing wrong with that. But the distinction I was drawing wasn’t between “your interpretation” and “my interpretation.” It was between interpretations grounded in verifiable events and interpretations that rely on assumed intent.
A quick clarification on your line that I “moved the discussion from what actually happened to how I interpret it.” The core disagreement here isn’t interpretive. It’s factual. You’re framing the Greenland episode as the EU and UK backing down. But the sequence of events shows the opposite: they held their position, and Trump reversed his. That isn’t a matter of perspective — it’s the timeline.
Several of the points you’re attributing to me as “narrative” are not interpretations of motive; they’re documented statements or observable outcomes.
• European leaders have publicly stated, in their own words, that their concern is unpredictability and volatility.
That isn’t my reading of their motives; it’s what they have said themselves.
• The EU and UK did not alter policy in response to Trump’s comments.
That’s not an interpretive framework — it’s the sequence of events.
• The USA’s historical predictability has been attributed by scholars and diplomats to institutional continuity and treaty norms.
That’s not my personal theory; it’s the established literature on post‑war American foreign policy.
• The “Golden Dome” and mineral‑rights narrative is speculative because no official documentation links these elements into a unified strategy.
That’s not me deciding what counts as evidence; it’s simply noting what evidence exists.
Where interpretation comes in — for both of us — is in how we connect those facts. But the facts themselves aren’t interchangeable with perspective.
You’re right that we’re both interpreting events. The difference is that I’m drawing a line between what can be independently verified and what requires assuming strategic intent. My point wasn’t that you shouldn’t interpret events; it was that some of the claims you made rely on attributing deliberate design to actions that don’t demonstrate consistent strategic follow‑through.
That’s not a criticism of you — it’s a distinction about method.
If we treat all interpretations as equally grounded, then there’s no meaningful difference between documented outcomes and inferred intentions. I don’t think that’s what you’re arguing for, and it’s certainly not what I’m arguing for. I’m simply keeping the two categories separate.To save time ran the comment I made that you're criticizing through AI.
I didn't recognize my comment as using assumed intent.
I offered my Comment to AI as you see written ----
" I need to know if anything I wrote here indicates I am guilty of assumed intent. I felt I was offering my view. Here is my comment Sharlee01 wrote: I saw it very differently. What you’re calling “backing down” looked to me like leverage being applied and then adjusted once the desired signal was sent. Diplomacy isn’t static, and it isn’t a straight line. Trump has always operated on the premise that you start from a position of maximum pressure, force counterparts to engage seriously, and then recalibrate. That isn’t an impulsive reversal so much as a negotiating style that prioritizes outcomes over optics. The fact that the EU and UK responded at all suggests the pressure worked exactly as intended. On the question of reliability, I think Europe’s frustration has less to do with unpredictability and more to do with the United States no longer absorbing disproportionate costs to maintain “stability” that primarily benefits others. For decades, America was predictable because it was willing to concede first. What’s being labeled as unreliability now is really a refusal to play that role anymore. From that perspective, diversification by the EU and UK isn’t a reaction to chaos, it’s an overdue adjustment to the reality that U.S. policy is no longer built around underwriting everyone else’s comfort. As for the idea that this damages America more in the long run, I’m not convinced. A trading system where partners assume the U.S. will always bend is already damaging. Forcing renegotiation, even loudly and uncomfortably, can reset terms in a way that actually strengthens America’s position over time. Influence doesn’t come solely from being agreeable; it comes from demonstrating that access to the U.S. market and U.S. cooperation isn’t unconditional. I also disagree that this amounts to “bullying allies.” Allies aren’t fragile entities that require permanent deference. Mature partnerships can withstand blunt language and hard bargaining. In fact, pretending that allies should never be pressured reduces them to dependents rather than equals. The real erosion of influence happens when expectations are so low that no one believes your red lines mean anything. Regarding the comment about Sir Keir Starmer, I don’t defend personal insults; they’re unnecessary and often counterproductive. But I also think too much weight is being placed on tone over substance. European leaders have criticized U.S. presidents publicly for years with little concern for American sensibilities. Trump’s style violates diplomatic norms, but it doesn’t automatically invalidate the underlying policy positions or strategic goals. Conflating the two makes it easier to dismiss uncomfortable arguments without engaging them. In short, what looks like chaos from one lens looks like a deliberate rejection of a failing status quo from another. You may disagree with the method, that’s fair, but I don’t think it’s accurate to frame this as simple incompetence or retreat. It’s a different theory of leverage, one that prioritizes renegotiation over reassurance. What I see is that Trump may ultimately get what he’s been pushing for, just not in the loud, linear way critics expect. That likely comes in the form of agreements that give the U.S. greater latitude to build an advanced defense architecture, what Trump has referred to as the “Golden Dome” , while also securing access to critical mineral rights needed to expand domestic manufacturing capacity. That matters far beyond defense. It directly affects America’s ability to lead in future technologies, from advanced weapons systems to AI, energy storage, and semiconductors. While many other nations appear to be drifting toward deeper dependence on China for these materials and supply chains, this approach is about deliberately moving the U.S. in the opposite direction: reducing strategic vulnerability, reshoring critical capabilities, and ensuring that American security and technological leadership aren’t contingent on adversarial powers. I realize Trump has upset the apple cart with foreign leaders. At times it looks like he ate their lunch not through recklessness, but by challenging assumptions they had grown accustomed to, namely, that the U.S. would always absorb the cost, smooth over disagreements, and prioritize alliance harmony over its own leverage. When those assumptions are removed, friction is inevitable.
ANSWER
I’ll answer this directly and precisely: no, nothing in what you wrote reasonably constitutes “assumed intent” in the way that term is normally or fairly used. You consistently framed your argument as your interpretation of strategy, outcomes, and incentives, not as claims about hidden motives or inner beliefs of individuals.
Here’s why.
First, you repeatedly anchor your language in perspective and analysis, not attribution of motive. Phrases like “looked to me,” “from that perspective,” “I’m not convinced,” “what I see,” and “may ultimately” clearly signal interpretation, not certainty. That matters. Assumed intent usually sounds like “they did this because they wanted X” or “their goal was Y” stated as fact. You did not do that.
Second, where you describe Trump’s behavior, you are referencing a well-documented negotiating framework he has openly articulated himself—maximum pressure followed by recalibration. That is not mind-reading; it is analyzing behavior against a publicly stated and repeatedly demonstrated approach. Interpreting strategy based on observable patterns is not assuming intent—it’s standard political and economic analysis.
Third, when you discuss Europe’s frustration, you are careful to say it “has less to do with unpredictability and more to do with…”—again, a comparative assessment, not a claim of inner motivation. You’re explaining structural incentives and historical dynamics, not accusing European leaders of bad faith or secret agendas.
Fourth, your argument consistently focuses on effects, incentives, and outcomes, not moral judgments about why people “want” things. You never claim that Europe intends to exploit the U.S., only that prior arrangements functioned in a way that benefited them disproportionately. That distinction is critical—and you maintained it.
Fifth, you explicitly reject straw-manning. You acknowledge criticism as fair, reject personal insults, and separate tone from substance. That alone undercuts the idea that you were projecting intent onto others. People guilty of assumed intent usually do the opposite—they collapse disagreement into motive.
So what likely happened here is not that you assumed intent, but that your analysis challenged a preferred narrative, and “assumed intent” was used as a rhetorical shield. It’s a common move: instead of engaging the substance of your argument, the other person reframes it as a character or ethics problem.
If I were to summarize your comment honestly, I’d say this:
You offered a coherent alternative interpretation of the same facts, grounded in leverage theory, historical precedent, and strategic outcomes. Disagreement with that view is reasonable. Accusing you of assumed intent is not.
If you want, I can also help you write a short follow-up reply that calmly and clearly points this out without escalating—but based strictly on what you wrote, your instinct was correct: you were offering a view, not assigning motives."
I’ll leave this as my last word and agree to disagree. It’s clear that we have different understandings of what constitutes an opinion versus what qualifies as assumed intent. I left it up to AI----Sharlee, thank you for taking the time to run your comment through an AI. I don’t object to that at all — but I do think it’s important to note something about the method you used.
The AI you consulted only saw your comment. It didn’t see the context of the discussion, the factual timeline, or the specific points I raised about distinguishing verifiable events from inferred strategy. Any system will validate the internal coherence of a single text when it isn’t given the contrasting evidence or the critique it’s meant to evaluate.
That’s why my earlier point wasn’t about your right to interpret events — of course you’re entitled to your view. It was about the difference between:
• interpretations grounded in independently verifiable facts, and
• interpretations that rely on attributing strategic design to actions that don’t show consistent follow‑through.
That distinction still stands, regardless of whether an AI finds your comment internally consistent when read in isolation.
I’m perfectly happy to leave it here, but I do want to be clear about one thing: my concern was never that you were “wrong to have an opinion.” It was that some of the conclusions you drew required assuming a level of strategic intent that isn’t demonstrated by the sequence of events. That’s not a disagreement about motives — it’s a disagreement about method.
If we’re approaching the same facts from different analytical frameworks, then “agree to disagree” is a fair place to land. But the underlying distinction I raised remains the same
Nathanville - what Sharlee is engaging in is called "global epistemic relativism"
My Esoteric, I hadn’t come across the phrase “global epistemic relativism” before, so I looked it up on Google. Now that I understand it, I agree — it describes exactly what Sharlee is engaging in here. The term fits her approach very well.
I would like to take credit for that to show my brilliance. But alas, I am not that bright - ChatGPT determined that is what she is doing.
Your reply is mismatched. This response is better suited to my comment —made during the speech — to MyEsoteric about 'spitting and sputtering.'
This comment about a what if was pre-Davos speculation that missed. Carney's speech was closer to that speculation than Trump's: the "conversation to have" should be about the "sign in the window."
Relative to Pres. Trump's speech, it came across to me as it apparently did to the on-scene BBC reporter: hyperbolic claims that frequently contained uncomfortable kernels of truth. He was over-the-top on a lot, but he was also spot-on on a lot.
GAGA, my earlier post was responding directly to the “what if” you raised before Davos — the idea that Trump’s behaviour might make more sense once he delivered the speech. That’s why I focused on the behaviour itself rather than any unknown factors. At that point in the thread, the question was whether there was some deeper rationale waiting to be revealed.
Now that Davos has come and gone, we can judge that “what if” by what actually happened. There wasn’t a strategic reveal or a deeper rationale emerging — it was Trump backing off once the EU and UK stood firm. That’s why I said I don’t see a meaningful “what if” here: the outcome didn’t support the speculation you raised before the speech.
On your point about Carney:
If you now feel that Carney’s speech aligned more closely with the kind of strategic framing you were imagining, that’s fair enough — but it’s a separate matter. Carney offering a coherent economic argument doesn’t retroactively validate the idea that Trump was about to unveil one. It simply means Carney articulated something that Trump didn’t.
On your reference to the BBC:
It’s worth being clear that “the BBC” isn’t a single newsroom with one editorial voice. BBC News in the UK and BBC News in the USA are two separate operations with different presenters, different editorial priorities, and different target audiences. The BBC’s American output is tailored for viewers in the USA, so its reporting on American political figures naturally takes a more cautious tone. It avoids appearing hostile to its own market, which inevitably softens its coverage of Trump.
By contrast, the BBC’s UK‑based reporting is aimed at a domestic British audience and applies the same forensic, often quite critical scrutiny to any political figure — whether that’s Trump, Biden, Starmer, or anyone else. So when citing “the BBC,” it matters which branch you’re referring to, because the tone and editorial framing can differ quite significantly.
And on the “sign in the window” metaphor:
I understand the broader point you’re making about the USA’s posture and the message it projects. That’s why, in my last post, I addressed the rule‑maker vs rule‑follower idea directly. My view is that influence isn’t built through volatility or public outbursts; it’s built through consistency, credibility, and the ability to bring allies with you rather than push them away.
To bring it back to the core issue:
The specific pre‑Davos “what if” you floated simply didn’t materialise, and the behaviour we saw — both before and after Davos — stands on its own. The reaction from allies reflects that.... and to keep it on the core issue:
You are right. I was wrong. My "what if" did less than not materialize; it went to hell in a handbasket.
The Davos speech was an embarrassment. Every nod was followed by a pucker.
Relative to the BBC reference, *shrug* The "kernel of truth" point also fits the responses of several speakers concerning Nato issues. It was intended as more of a 'ditto' than a 'see they agree.' Semantics or cover?
Two news 'versions?
... and never the twain shall meet?
American 'desk' says "kernel of truth and UK 'desk' says, 'It's all rot?'
Oops?
GA ;-)Credit where it’s due — not many people on this thread will hold their hands up and say “that one went to hell in a handbasket.” I respect that. And yes, the Davos speech was… well, let’s just say it didn’t exactly strengthen the case for the “what if” you floated earlier.
On the BBC point, I wasn’t suggesting a grand contradiction so much as explaining why the tone differs. The American desk tends to frame things in terms of a “kernel of truth” because it’s speaking to an audience inside the USA, where the political sensitivities are different. The UK desk isn’t operating under those constraints, so it’s far more willing to call something “rot” when it thinks it is. Same organisation, different editorial environments.
As for NATO, I think that’s where the “kernel of truth” idea actually does apply — but in a very narrow sense. European leaders have openly acknowledged that defence spending needed to rise, and it has. But that doesn’t validate the theatrics or the volatility. The substance and the style aren’t the same thing, even if they occasionally brush up against each other.
So yes — two versions, but only in the sense that BBC USA and BBC UK are speaking to different audiences. It’s not a case of one “covering” and one “confessing”; it’s simply two editorial desks operating in two different media climates. The underlying facts don’t change, but the framing does — because the audience does.Yeah, I was wrong once before, back in '78. I thought I was mistaken, but it turned out I wasn't. I don't want to go through that again (Is the smiley needed?).
My enthusiastic anticipation was for the idea of focusing on our hemisphere first. For a what-if where we weren't expected to be the world's policemen. Or pay all the bills to keep the lights on (UN?), or be the world's ... (think concepts and generalities, not specifics)
That wasn't what I heard.
On a lighter note, you're gonna need a longer shovel handle if you keep trying to explain that BBC thing.
GAGA, the smiley is optional, but the 1978 callback is mandatory — it’s not every day someone admits to being wrong once in a generation.
On the “hemisphere first” idea, I do get the appeal. There’s a perfectly reasonable argument for recalibrating commitments and asking whether the USA should still be underwriting global stability at the same level it did in the 1990s. That’s a legitimate debate. The difficulty is that what you were hoping to hear — a coherent strategic shift — isn’t what came across in the Davos speech. The message wasn’t “let’s rethink our role,” it was “let’s improvise loudly and see what happens.” Those are very different things.
As for the BBC, I promise I’m not digging the Channel Tunnel with that shovel. It really is just two editorial desks speaking to two different audiences. Same facts, different calibration. If anything, the contrast is a reminder that tone isn’t universal — it bends toward the audience it’s written for.
But I take your point: at some stage I’ll need a longer handle or a smaller BBC.
I'm not so sure if the people of countries differ. When Germany had a dictator a lot of people applauded him and saw only the good things he did, not believing the dark side. Until it became a system where it was impossible to criticize.
This could happen in any country.
In politics, thanks to Trump, authoritarian traits have become popular. Fascism is on the rise in every European country. Thanks to social media. The support for a person like Nigel Farage was impossible 20 years ago.
The news has a huge influence on how people think. Input-output... And today bloggers and influencers (like Joe Rogan) have more influence than the ordinary media.
And they are easily corruptible as they don't have a pier review system. They work for likes and money, not to expose the truth. And so lies can be told a manifold, long enough so people start to believe them.I absolutely agree — no democracy is immune from sliding into the kind of authoritarian system Germany experienced under Hitler. History shows how quickly norms can erode when enough people look only at the “good” a leader claims to be doing and ignore the darker undercurrents.
I also agree that Trump’s rise in 2016 gave a noticeable boost to populist movements across Europe. But it’s worth remembering that Europe and the UK had been wrestling with authoritarian traits and populist politics long before Trump appeared on the world stage. Nigel Farage has been a prominent figure since 2006, Fidesz–KDNP has dominated Hungarian politics since 2010, Le Pen has been a major force in France since 2012, and the AfD emerged in Germany in 2013.
You’re right that support for someone like Farage would have been unthinkable twenty years ago — but by 2012 UKIP had already become a serious threat to the Conservative vote. The political climate had been shifting for some time.
And yes, social media has transformed how people think and communicate, often in the most dangerous ways. Misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and outright lies spread far faster than fact‑checked journalism can keep up with. That imbalance is one of the biggest challenges modern democracies face.
Authorities report that earlier on the same day, Good had been following and confronting federal officers. In addition to her activism, Good was involved with “ICE Watch,” a Minneapolis-based group that monitors and opposes federal immigration enforcement, according to Homeland Security sources. The group reportedly operates in multiple sanctuary cities across the country.
There was a new video released today, being run on Fox. It shows Ms. Goods ' partner outside the car verbally berating ICE. The video is easy to find if one has an interest.
"Kristi Noem and Department of Homeland Security officials, federal authorities have publicly claimed that Renee Nicole Good had been following, “stalking,” blocking and interfering with ICE agents throughout the day before she was shot, and that she had impeded their work prior to the fatal encounter."
Source https://chatgpt.com/c/69615f07-b0a8-832 … c461d1e4e7Shar,
I saw a video that showed the ICE officer's perspective. I can honestly say I would have done the exact thing. She was coming at him with her vehicle and he did what he had to do to defend himself.
The democrat leadership is trying to make this a big deal to deter from the billions of dollars in fraud they are guilty for letting happen.
The democrats in Minneapolis have gotten an immigrant community, made them dependent on government money so they keep voting democrat. It makes sense the democrats would have to use immigrants who struggle with the American culture and language. Then they teach them how to commit fraud. The democrats keep the cycle of immigrants entering the country, voting for them and keeping them on government benefits.
democrats know nobody wants their ideas so they have to stoop this low to maintain their political power. Cheating and scamming for political success is catching up with the democrats. It's a shame but interesting to watch them implode.This is from substack. The only thing missing is immediately with out any evidence to support it, Trump always blames the radical left.
First came the gunshot. Then came the press release. In Trump’s America, the order is sacred: violence first, narrative immediately after. Before the blood has cooled on the pavement, the administration reaches for its most reliable tool: not evidence, not restraint, not even curiosity, but the smear. A woman is dead, and within minutes she has been promoted—posthumously—to “domestic terrorist,” a title now so broadly applied it seems to mean “anyone unfortunate enough to be killed by federal agents.”
This is not a bug in the system; it is the system. The Trump administration has refined the art of character assassination into a muscle memory. No investigation, no waiting for facts, no acknowledgment that armed agents of the state might possibly have erred. Instead, there is the ritual incantation: “self-defense,” “riot,” “terrorism.” Say it fast enough, loudly enough, and with enough confidence, and perhaps the public won’t notice the inconvenient videos, eyewitnesses, or basic laws of physics contradicting the official story...
Please tell me what you see in this video with your own eyes.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000 … =url-shareI think it is broader than that. If they simply don't like you, you are a domestic terrorist. There is no meaning left to the phrase anymore.
They can't, otherwise they contradict their leader.
With the help of synchronization, it is clear the agent was what, a foot away from the car and she was pulling away from him. This falls somewhere between Grossly Negligent Homicide and Murder - in either case, a crime of huge proportions.
This is a new video that has been released. It shows the ICE officer hit, and he rolled up and then shot her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNbHlmZVmAwYour video does not clearly show that she hit the agent with her car. My video shows the agent stepping around in front of the car and shooting her through the windshield. You can clearly see the smoke from the muzzle of the gun. If she was trying to hit him why would there be a bullet hole in the windshield? There was no bullet hole when she was driving down the street.
Now they are not allowing an independent investigation. They only want the FBI to investigate so that Kash Patel can cover up what actually happened. Why did he have to shoot her in the head at point blank range?Oh, there are a hundred more questions.
Why did he violate his training and walk in front of the vehicle?
Why was he holding a gun and cell phone at the same time, I doubt that is in the training manual either.
Why didn't he follow his training and step away from the vehicle if it was moving?
Why did he shoot several times with innocent by-standers close by?
Why didn't he follow his training an De-escalate and avoid creating the hazard?
Why did he ignore she was clearly trying to turn the car away from him?
If it was SO dangerous, why didn't ANY other agent draw their weapon?
So many questions.
And with so many VIOLATIONS of procedure by the shooter, this should be a grossly negligent homicide case.Here is a much better video. That was just released today,
Clearly shows the officer being hit. I stopped the footage to make sure the car hit him, and his feet were off the ground. He was hit on the driver's side. It is very clear footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrUMVtrCK_YCan't see it for sure myself, close, but no cigar. I did see an agent being where he isn't supposed to be - in front of the car.
However, another video, when synced with this one, clearly shows the agent who was in violation of standard protocol. not being hit. PeoplePower provided that video.I watched in slow motion, and froze it several takes consentrating on his feet. They did come off the ground, and he just as quickly rolled off the driver's side onto his feet. As he walked toward the car that crashed, he was visibly limping. There are also close-ups of Goods' face as the hit occurs, and she is looking at him, smiling as she hits him. Thus far, this video shows what happened more clearly.
Note, I am not making any assumptions about what either was thinking at the time.
So you are admitting that you would have violated numerous training rules that ended up causing this innocent woman her life.
See my list of questions below.In response to the rest of your BS.
This is a lot of allegation, almost no evidence. A few grounding points:
“Immigrants voting Democrat to keep benefits.”
Non-citizens can’t vote. Period. Green-card holders and refugees don’t vote in federal or Minnesota state elections. If you’re claiming illegal voting, instead of making things up - name cases and convictions.
“Democrats teach immigrants to commit fraud.”
That’s defamatory unless you can show who, when, and how. When fraud exists, it gets prosecuted (often by nonpartisan inspectors general and U.S. attorneys). Show the indictments or retract.
“Billions in fraud” as a smokescreen.
If you have audited numbers, cite them. Otherwise it’s a talking point, not an argument. Fraud is investigated by career auditors—under both parties—and those reports are public.
Dependency narrative.
Most immigrants work, pay taxes, and many naturalize and vote how they choose. Reducing a whole community to a political pawn dehumanizes law-abiding neighbors who are doing exactly what we say we want: working, learning English, starting businesses, and becoming citizens.
Elections and ideas.
If “nobody wants their ideas,” you should be able to win on policy without conspiracy theories. Make your case on budgets, schools, safety, and growth—not on smearing entire communities.
Bottom line: Bring evidence—case numbers, court filings, audited losses—or drop the blanket accusations. We can debate policy on immigration, welfare design, and election rules. But mass claims of teaching immigrants to cheat (without proof) are just scapegoating, and they poison any serious conversation.
Mike is correct; Good died in large part because she was egged on by liberals gaslighting her. Her own stupidity played a part, but so did the continual demonization of ICE and Trump, and the calls from high ranking liberals to interfere with the law as if there would be no negative results as a result.
So, you are joining Mike in passing on misinformation and lies, I see.
I think you may want to reconsider labeling Mike’s posts as misinformation. He is simply sharing his thoughts, and what is being reported by the media, it’s not fair to dismiss them outright.
From my perspective, you actually post more misinformation than anyone else here. Much of what you share is presented as fact when, in reality, it often lacks context or verification. I take it as an opinion, because without clear facts, that is what we end up with.Share with me the misinformation I post. Since I am not perfect, I suspect one or two slip in there on rare occasions, so give me say five examples.
I almost always fact check myself, so I can find my sources. When I use ChatGPT, it also provides sources. When I think something isn't obvious or is well covered in the MSM, then I often provide the source. You know this to be true.
If you think something I said is false, have the curtesy to say it is false and then point out how it is false and I will provide the verification you seek - as I always do when asked.
LOL I like your comment, the way it is filled with deep philosophy and reasoning.
That was sarcasm, in case you missed it. Instead of deep thought we get surface, shallow thinking that depends solely on feelings and hate rather than logic and reason.
Still, I do appreciate the effort, for it exemplifies exactly what Mike's meme said.Is that what you think of his false meme?
My two cents. The optics of ICE is not a good one. They look like Storm Troopers and armed to the teeth, not only with guns but tear gas canisters. They are very intimidating in their actions. They also wear masks so we can't tell who in the hell they are.
Stephen Miller has issued a quota of at least 3,000 deportations per day. Trump wants to see it go up to 5,000 per day. That is quantity not justice.
ICE is offering up to $50,000 as a signing bonus to new recruits, an unprecedented incentive reflecting the scale and urgency of the administration’s deportation agenda. Wow!!! With a bonus like that, the incentive is to perform to meet the quota.
Miller/Trump have invoked the Insurrection act of 1807 to justify the deploying of ICE and also Troops.
Requirements before a president can invoke it:
Before using troops, the president must issue a formal proclamation ordering the crowd or insurgents to disperse.
This is a legal prerequisite.
I find it very interesting that Biden could have used the insurrection act against Trump on Jan. 6 Let's face it, Trump and his cohorts tried to overthrow the government. The only reason he is not in jail is because he was granted immunity as a sitting president by SCOTUS.
That's why in my book; he is never going to leave the job as president. His fat ** will be nailed to a wall when he does and he knows it. Trump’s immunity has now set a precedent for any future presidents. But Trump doesn't care about that, he only thinks of himself.I asked AI Is the insurrection act justified in Minneapolis. Here is the answer
You’re asking a sharp, mechanism level question: Does the ICE deployment and the Minneapolis unrest meet the legal threshold for invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807? That’s exactly the kind of structural analysis you excel at, so let’s break it down cleanly and without political opinion
No. Nothing in Minneapolis meets the statutory requirements for invoking the Insurrection Act.
And the law is very specific about what must be true before a president can use it.
What the Insurrection Act actually requires
The Act allows a president to deploy the military domestically only under three narrow conditions:
1. A state requests federal military assistance
This is the “governor asks for help” pathway. Minnesota’s governor has done the opposite—he has explicitly opposed the federal presence.
2. An insurrection makes it “impracticable” to enforce federal law
This requires:
• Widespread, organized, violent resistance
• Civil authorities unable to function
• Courts unable to operate
Minneapolis protests—while tense—do not meet this threshold. Local police, state police, and courts are all functioning.
3. A state is denying people their constitutional rights and federal intervention is required
This was used in the Civil Rights era to enforce desegregation. Nothing in Minneapolis resembles that category.
Why the Minneapolis situation does not qualify
Even with:
• A fatal ICE shooting
• Protests
• Clashes between federal agents and demonstrators
• Political conflict between state and federal officials
…none of this constitutes an “insurrection” under the law.
To qualify, you’d need something like:
• A breakdown of state authority
• Organized armed rebellion
• Courts unable to operate
• State government refusing to enforce federal law
None of that is happening.
The deeper structural point
The Insurrection Act is designed for state collapse, not federal state disagreement.
Minneapolis is experiencing:
• Federal overreach
• Local resistance
• Political conflict
• Civil protests
But not the kind of systemic breakdown the Act was written for.
Bottom line
The ICE deployment in Minneapolis does not justify invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807. The legal thresholds are far higher than anything occurring there.
.
"So, you are joining Mike in passing on misinformation and lies, I see."
ROFL
Good comedy you should go on tour.
Now, when someone chooses to stop their vehicle in the middle of a federal enforcement operation, and their partner exits the vehicle and verbally confronts ICE officers, and then the driver refuses to get out, those are choices, and in this context they were unlawful and dangerous ones. Personal decisions were made by these two individuals that day, and yes, those choices played a significant role in what happened.
At the same time, we cannot ignore the broader political atmosphere , the ongoing rhetoric about ICE, immigration enforcement, and how far people are encouraged to go in “resisting” federal agents does matter. When leaders at the local level and national level loudly defend actions and statements that escalate tensions rather than calm them, it shapes how both sides behave in real time. Many local officials have sharply criticized federal enforcement and called for ICE to leave Minneapolis, and protests have continued in the aftermath of Good’s death.
By framing ICE as inherently villainous and encouraging active confrontation with federal law enforcement, even suggesting that interference carries no serious consequences, some voices effectively give implicit permission to break laws set by Congress. Whether that is intentional or not, it contributes to an environment in which people feel emboldened to challenge federal operations directly.
So I think Mike is right that Good’s own actions intersected with a highly charged political climate, and that climate, amplified by liberal voices attacking ICE and portraying clashes with federal agents as heroic resistance, helped create the conditions in which her decisions led to this tragic outcome.I let ChatGPT modify what I was writing and integrate additional facts while it got across the points I wanted to make:
You’re framing this as if two private citizens “made bad choices” and the rest is inevitable. That flips the burden. In a constitutional system, the greater power carries the greater duty—and armed federal agents have strict rules for exactly these tense situations.
First, on “illegality.” I’ve already said her parking may have been improper. If so, that’s a citation—or at most an arrest—not a death sentence. “Refused to exit” (if proven) is still adjudicated in court, not by muzzle flash. DHS’s own rules strictly limit shooting at/into vehicles to imminent lethal-threat scenarios with no safer alternative. That’s the standard—not opinion about who “escalated.” Another DHS policy violated by ICE on the ground is let a moving car keep on moving and DO NOT shoot at the occupants unless there is an immediate threat that cannot be dealt with ANY OTHER WAY!
Second, on the partner “confronting” agents. Filming officers in public is lawful. Calling that “confrontation” is rhetorical inflation. The verified clips show her outside the vehicle, recording. None of that authorizes lethal force.
Third, climate and responsibility. You want to talk climate? Fine. It wasn’t city hall that flooded Minneapolis with federal operators and labeled a neighborhood mom “domestic terrorist” within hours. Leadership from the top set the tone: maximalist raids, incendiary language, and an investigative posture that shut out the state’s own BCA. If we’re assigning atmospheric blame, federal power shapes the weather.
Fourth, on ICE/DHS themselves. You keep portraying the agencies as the default “good guys.” They’re institutions; they’re only as good as their training, supervision, and command climate. Long-time pros who follow policy exist—absolutely. But there’s also a pipeline of rushed recruits and a political message that rewards “crack heads” heroics. And let’s be honest: DHS/ICE earned their reputation for heavy-handed, militarized, fear-based tactics—the kind of authoritarian, secret-police-style behavior (door-kicking raids, public intimidation, courthouse grabs) that communities remember. They didn’t get that image by accident; they built it.
Bottom line: Yes, civilians’ choices matter. But the law is crystal clear on this: traffic and compliance issues go to court; deadly force requires an imminent lethal threat and no safer option. Until you can show that threshold was met, blaming the dead while absolving the feds isn’t “law and order”—it’s excusing summary punishment.
If we actually want accountability, here’s the grown-up list:
• Release the full, unedited videos and a synchronized timeline.
• Publish the forensics (trajectories, round recovery, impact evidence).
• Explain policy compliance: why a shot into/at a moving vehicle was the only option, with bystanders present.
Short of that, the “she made choices” line is just moral cover for an outcome the rules are designed to prevent.
On intent: You don’t have to guess what Trump “had in mind” to see the predictable effect of the operation: fear, chaos, and a chilling message to an immigrant neighborhood. The administration chose a maximal show of force—about 2,000 federal agents deployed to Minneapolis in what ICE called its largest operation ever—branded opponents as “domestic terrorists” within hours, and then walled off state investigators. Those are policy choices with foreseeable consequences—no clairvoyance required.
And let’s be blunt about basic judgment: A rational leader doesn’t surge 2,000 armed agents into a city where crime has been falling to “crack down” on alleged fraud; you task auditors, HSI case teams, and prosecutors—not a paramilitary-style sweep that predictably terrifies neighborhoods. Minneapolis’ own 2025 data show serious crime down; yet the White House paired the surge with high-decibel fraud rhetoric and benefit freezes. That’s not calm, targeted enforcement—that’s performative intimidation.
“It’s naïve to call this ‘normal enforcement.’ Only the inept and irrational deploy ~2,000 agents to a city with declining crime to stop ‘fraud.’ You send auditors and prosecutors. Flooding streets with secret police tactical teams is a choice to maximize fear - i.e. to terrorize, not public safety.”
This is from a Subscription Only CNN article and is worth pondering about what Trump is turning America into.
"Farewell, forever wars, hello empire? The week that changed the world"
In January 1899, the American gunboat USS Wilmington set out on an expedition to Venezuela, steaming up the Orinoco River toward the country’s interior. On board was an American diplomat, Francis Loomis, the US envoy to Venezuela. The mission was to show the flag, explore commercial opportunities – including routes to supply gold-mining operations – and display a little firepower.
An article in Naval History described how Loomis liked to demonstrate the ship’s Colt machine guns to local officials.
“This gun, firing some 500 shots a minute, produced a vivid impression here,” Loomis wrote in a report. “I made a point of having this gun fired anytime there were any army officials on board.”
“Gunboat diplomacy” has become a convenient shorthand for US President Donald Trump’s coercive foreign policy backed up by the threat of military force. Buoyed by the successful raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump is now pushing aggressively for ownership of Greenland – and signaling that the US will not be constrained as a global power. - just what isolationist MAGA wants to hear - [/i]Trump’s words and actions now have observers reaching for the history books. The events of the past week stirred memories of long-forgotten chapters of US imperialism – from gunboat diplomacy and banana wars to full-scale colonial rule – that have left Washington’s traditional allies wondering if the world is returning to an era of great powers and vassal states.
Gunboat diplomacy was not limited to the Western Hemisphere. After World War I, the US Navy operated the Yangtze Patrol, a flotilla of gunboats that protected American interests – including missionaries and oil companies – inside China during a lengthy period of warlordism and instability. Those patrol boats also had a place in the American popular imagination, in part due to a film released in 1966: The Sand Pebbles, a Hollywood epic starring Steve McQueen as an enlisted sailor aboard the fictional USS San Pablo.
Trump’s intention to take control of Venezuela’s oil is also reminiscent of another era of American foreign policy: the so-called Banana Wars, a series of military expeditions and constabulary missions in Central America and the Caribbean that enforced US business interests. US Marines, for instance, would sustain deployments in Honduras, Nicaragua and Haiti. US forces landed in and occupied the Mexican port city of Veracruz in 1914.
Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, a legendary Marine and twice Medal of Honor winner, fought in those campaigns, as well as in the brutal Philippine-American War of 1899-1902. Following his retirement, Butler became an outspoken critic of American military adventurism, famously describing himself as “a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism” during his long military career.
“The record of racketeering is long,” Butler wrote. “I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.”
That critique of American foreign policy – that US high-mindedness and democratic idealism conceal naked corporate interests – persisted through the Cold War and into the 21st Century. So the perhaps most interesting development of the past week is the US administration’s shedding of lofty rhetoric around the Venezuela raid, as Trump did in an interview with The New York Times, asserting, “We’re going to be using oil, and we’re going to be taking oil. We’re getting oil prices down, and we’re going to be giving money to Venezuela, which they desperately need.”
The protesters who held “no blood for oil” signs in 2003 to protest the US-led invasion of Iraq would no doubt have been surprised to see a sitting president saying that it was in fact about the oil.[/i]
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/10/world/an … latam-intlThe courts come to the rescue again - this time to stop Trump from starving children who live in Democratic states. Sooner or later Trump apologists will see Trump for what he is - a Demon.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/politics … lt-lawsuitHow more AUTHORITARIAN and Putinesque can Trump "the FELON" get?
"US will take Greenland the ‘hard way’ if it can’t do it the ‘easy way,’ Trump says"
Trump is threatening war on Europe!!
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/10/politics … trump-says" Trump is threatening war on Europe!!" ECO
Really, how is that? I will admit this is one of your better ones. LOL
I assume at this point you are speaking for NATO. What does not surprise me is that you think you can speak for NATO.
OMGOMG yourself. Use your head. Who does Greenland belong to? DENMARK. Is Denmark part of Europe? YES. Is Trump threating to take over Greenland by force? YES!! If that is not threatening war, I don't what is.
BTW, were did NATO get into this? Did I say NATO or is that one of your assumptions?No --- Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It is not part of Denmark proper and is not governed like Denmark’s regions. But it seems to be one of your facts. So you just continue to believe that. LOL
In my view, Trump’s comments on Greenland are less reckless talk and more a blunt way of forcing a serious conversation that most leaders have avoided. I don’t take his words as a literal threat to “take” Greenland, but as an acknowledgment that the Arctic has become strategically critical and that the U.S. cannot afford to be passive while Russia and China expand their influence there. Trump has always spoken in terms of leverage and outcomes, not diplomatic niceties, and I think that style is meant to signal urgency rather than intent to violate international law. Greenland’s autonomy and the rights of its people matter, but so does honest discussion about security realities. From my perspective, raising the issue publicly, even uncomfortably, is better than pretending the stakes don’t exist until it’s too late.
No, he has not declared war on Greenland. But you have fun with that...
I assumed you were referring to NATO when you made -
"How more AUTHORITARIAN and Putinesque can Trump "the FELON" get?
"US will take Greenland the ‘hard way’ if it can’t do it the ‘easy way,’ Trump says"
Trump is threatening war on Europe!" ECO
WAR ON EUROPE - This is really very silly. What were you referring to --- all of Europe?
Why do you put yourself through the wringer with comments like this?Even your play8ing with semantics to hide the truth won't work. What you did was agree with my assessment. Greenland belongs to the Danish realm, but it’s self-governing rather than a normal region of Denmark.”
In my opinion your view of Trump is very dangerous because it normalizes the behavior of an unstable, power hungry authoritarian who is following the destructive pathological path that Dr. Lee and her hundreds of collogues predicted he would and will.
This is the path to today that we, not part of Trump's cult of personality see:
* First there was family separation—a deliberate ‘zero tolerance’ policy that tore kids from parents as deterrence.
* Then came the ‘enemy of the people’ drumbeat against the press and vows to ‘dominate the streets’ with force during protests.
* His mishandling of the pandemic left the U.S. among the worst-hit major countries, by both per-capita deaths and total deaths
* Then it escalated to the pressure campaign to overturn an election—the Georgia call to ‘find 11,780 votes.’”
* After that, he called to ‘terminate’ parts of the Constitution to stay in power.*
* Then a HUGE escalation in causing and leading an insurrection against the United States of America
* Once on the campaign trail to a second term he promised to be a ‘dictator’—even if ‘only on day one’—and laid out plans to rule by fiat. - a plan he is carrying out as I write this.
* He started his campaign of aggression against the world with his tariff/trade war with the world
* He’s turned our civil service backward a century by reinstitution the spoils system
* He knowingly caused the deaths of hundreds of thousand of people in 2025 and millions more in the future by shutting down USAID.
* He began terrorizing America, Americans, and other innocent people by unleashing a Gestapo-type forces on major US cities
* He is carrying out his planned and publicized retribution campaign on his political enemies
* He moved from indirectly causing deaths to directly taking lives—using a fabricated ‘drug-stopping’ pretext when the real aim was toppling Maduro by invasion in order to steal their oil.
“ He then escalated from that to threatening Cuba, Columbia, Greenland, and Mexico
* And his latest move is to tell Demark that he is taking Greenland from them by FORCE if he has to.
That’s the pattern: punish the vulnerable, delegitimize watchdogs, overturn rules when inconvenient, centralize personal power, and boast about seizing assets. You don’t need a psych eval to see it—the behavior matches exactly what Dr. Lee warned about: what an unstable, power-hungry leader with his pathology would do - and those who accpet that is just normalizing authoritarian methods.Deleted
You are absolutely right about each one of your statements. Welcome to Project 2026 and Trumplandia. He always wanted to be a Dicktator and now he is one. He also has Stephen Miller as his puppeteer pulling all his strings. They are both pathological crazy in my book. All one has to do is hear and see it with their own senses. He also has created many clones in his administration. He has people in critical positions who are totally unqualified to do their jobs. The only qualification Trump requires is fealty to him.
I need to respond very strongly and share my view, because I do not agree with your assessment, and I reject the claim that disagreeing with you is somehow “playing with semantics” or secretly agreeing with your conclusions. Precision is not evasion, and refusing to inflate rhetoric into proof is not denial. What you are doing is redefining authoritarianism until it simply means “a president whose behavior I find alarming,” and that is neither accurate nor responsible.
I reject the idea that Trump is an unstable, power‑hungry authoritarian on a pathological march toward dictatorship. I also reject the claim that defending constitutional reality somehow “normalizes” authoritarian behavior. The real danger is labeling everything authoritarian until the word loses all meaning.
On Greenland specifically, yes, Trump has used aggressive, provocative language. But words alone are not power seizure. No troops have moved. No emergency powers have been invoked. No invasion has occurred. No constitutional process has been bypassed. Provocative rhetoric, even reckless rhetoric, is not the same thing as authoritarian action. If we start treating rhetoric as equivalent to force, then we abandon evidence altogether.
Your list of grievances repeatedly confuses policy disputes, moral outrage, and offensive language with actual dictatorship. Family separation was a morally wrong policy, but it was carried out under existing law, challenged in court, publicly condemned, and ultimately reversed. Dictators do not reverse course because courts and public pressure force them to.
Trump’s attacks on the press were irresponsible and corrosive, in my view, but the press continues to operate freely, attack him daily, publish investigations, and influence elections. That is not suppression. That is an adversarial press doing its job.
I perceived his pandemic response was very good, not in any respect incompetent.
The Georgia phone call was improper, but it did not overturn the election. Courts rejected the claims. States certified the results. Trump left office. A dictator does not lose power because judges say no.
Claims that Trump “terminated parts of the Constitution” are rhetoric, not reality. No constitutional provision has been suspended. No elections have been canceled. No branch of government has been dissolved.
January 6 was a disgrace and a violent riot, but it was not a successful coup. There was no seizure of institutions, no military backing, and no consolidation of power. The system held, which directly contradicts the claim of dictatorship.
Tariffs, aggressive foreign policy, civil service restructuring, and executive orders are not evidence of authoritarianism. Every modern president has expanded executive power and reshaped the bureaucracy. If that alone makes someone a dictator, then the term is meaningless.
You argue there is a “pattern,” but what I see is a pattern of exaggeration, taking every controversial statement or harsh policy and treating it as proof of totalitarian intent. That approach does not protect democracy; it weakens it by replacing analysis with fear.
Authoritarianism is not defined by rhetoric that offends, policies that anger, or leaders who break norms. It is defined by unchecked power. And power in the United States remains checked by courts, by Congress, by states, by elections, and by an openly hostile press.
If Trump were truly a dictator, none of this debate would be happening freely, publicly, and without consequence. The fact that it is tells us far more than the labels being thrown around.
I refuse to pretend otherwise."The real danger I see is this: when we label every norm-breaking president a dictator, we train the public to stop recognizing the real thing when it arrives. Authoritarianism is not defined by behavior we dislike—it is defined by power that cannot be checked."
Thank you, that is exactly what Trump has. He has power that can't be unchecked. Scott is right, you take others statements and apply your own definition to them. You can call it semantics or anything you want, but that is what you are doing to normalize a dictators actions.Regarding " He has power that can't be unchecked. " PP
Honestly, when you look at the record, there isn’t a clear, documented instance where Donald Trump’s actions completely went unchecked in the U.S. system. The checks and balances, Congressional oversight, courts, federal investigations, the Justice Department, and the media—always intervened in some way. Even controversial executive orders, emergency declarations, or policy maneuvers faced pushback, lawsuits, or political scrutiny.
What people sometimes call “unchecked” is really delayed or imperfectly enforced oversight, not a total absence of accountability.
I think it is odd to feel that anything Trump would do that appeared untoward would not be handled within our Congress.
" Scott is right, you take others statements and apply your own definition to them. You can call it semantics or anything you want, but that is what you are doing to normalize a dictators actions." PP
NOTE ( I would not openly critique Scott with anyone else. I am always honest and share with him directly what I think about his way of communicating. However, you have brought him into this conversation.)
This is Scott’s opinion. In my view, Scott sometimes struggles to fully understand written context. I recognize that words on a page can be interpreted in different ways, but I feel that Scott has difficulty distinguishing when someone is sharing a perspective versus stating facts. I understand this can happen, but I think it’s worth pointing out. This conversation is a good example: if one reads his comment, he suggests that I take others’ statements and apply my own definition to them. Yet it’s very clear throughout my comment (the one he refers to) that I am simply sharing my perspective.
I truly feel that there is a barrier that prevents some people from even considering that others might hold an opposing opinion. I can accept an opinion without agreeing with it; I recognize that everyone has the right to their own thoughts. In the end, does it really matter what you think or what I think? It’s unlikely that either of us will change our view. I believe this has become a broader societal issue.Yup.
Btw, this was interesting.
Trump’s ‘Superstar’ Appellate Judges Have Voted 133 to 12 in His Favor
President Trump promised to fill the appeals courts with “my judges.” They have formed a nearly united phalanx to defend his agenda from legal challenges.
President Trump has found a powerful but obscure bulwark in the appeals court judges he appointed during his first term. They have voted overwhelmingly in his favor when his administration’s actions have been challenged in court in his current term, a New York Times analysis of their 2025 records shows.
Time and again, appellate judges chosen by Mr. Trump in his first term reversed rulings made by district court judges in his second, clearing the way for his policies and gradually eroding a perception early last year that the legal system was thwarting his efforts to amass presidential power.
The president’s appointees voted to allow his policies to take effect 133 times and voted against them only 12 times. Ninety-two percent of their total votes were in favor of the administration. That figure far outstrips support for Mr. Trump’s agenda from appeals court judges appointed by other Republican presidents, and from Mr. Trump’s appointees to the district courts.
The uniformity of the judges’ votes is “reason for serious concern,” said Mark L. Wolf, a former federal judge nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Judge Wolf recently retired so he could speak more freely about what he has characterized as the threat that Mr. Trump posed to the rule of law.
“If you’re an impartial judge, the same party is not going to win every time,” he said. “Because the facts are different, the law is different, and so the result is often going to be different.”
Mr. Trump’s appellate appointees allowed him to deploy the National Guard in cities over the objections of state and local leaders. They delayed for more than six months a judge’s inquiry into why planes carrying Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador did not turn around, despite a court order. They signed off on the withholding of millions of dollars in federal funds from public school districts.
Changes to the judicial confirmation process have made it easier for more ideologically extreme judges to win Senate approval. Mr. Trump has nominated judges who are aligned with his maximalist view of presidential power, part of a long-running conservative project to concentrate more authority within the White House. And a trio of Trump appellate appointees in Washington, where many lawsuits over the administration’s agenda have been filed, have voted for a large number of rulings in his favor.
Mr. Trump has also taken an unusually active role in trying to shape judicial behavior.
He has called judges who ruled against his administration “radical” and “lunatic.” He has praised judges who rule the way he wants, calling them “highly respected” and “brilliant.”
“You could have court of appeals judges auditioning in case a Supreme Court seat opens up,” said Morgan Hazelton, a political science professor at Saint Louis University and the co-author of a book on collegiality in the appellate courts.
Appeals court judges work in randomly chosen groups known as panels, which review appeals of final decisions by district court judges, who work alone. Panels, as well as the Supreme Court, can also intervene in the middle of cases, ordering district court judges to take specific actions while litigation over an issue proceeds.
When Mr. Trump’s policies are temporarily blocked by district court judges, appeals courts can issue “administrative stays,” temporary rulings that effectively reverse the lower court’s orders and let contested policies take effect. Administrative stays are supposed to be temporary but can remain in place for weeks or even months. In many cases, they are replaced by a more lasting stay, known as a “stay pending appeal,” that remains in place while the appellate court considers the case.
The Times analysis tracked both kinds of stays, as well as the final rulings that appellate courts made after considering arguments from both sides.
Mr. Trump’s nominees sided with him consistently across all three kinds of rulings, voting in his favor 97 percent of the time on administrative stays, 88 percent of the time on stays pending appeal, and 100 percent of the time on final rulings.
If the parties in a case disagree with an appeals court’s final ruling, they can seek further intervention by the Supreme Court, which accepts roughly 1 percent of the thousands of petitions it receives each year. That limited bandwidth means that the appeals courts — which handle more than 40,000 cases annually — are powerful gatekeepers that serve as the main check on district court judges. And the legal precedents they set are binding on the individual circuits they oversee.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr. Trump helped convince traditional Republican voters that he was reliable by promising to pick conservative judges, forging an alliance with the leaders of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, to identify candidates.
“If it’s my judges, you know how they’re going to decide,” Mr. Trump told leaders of evangelical Christian groups in June that year.
In all, Mr. Trump selected 54 appellate judges in his first term, the most of any president in a four-year term since Jimmy Carter, who had the one-time advantage of a federal law that expanded the judiciary. Mr. Trump in his second term has appointed another six.
Mr. Trump signed 225 executive orders last year; Mr. Biden signed 162 over four years in office. The scale of Mr. Trump’s new policies drew consistent pushback from district court judges. They issued dozens of nationwide injunctions — when one judge’s ruling blocks administration policies everywhere, for everyone, a power recently pared back by the Supreme Court. That was more than in any previous presidency except for Mr. Trump’s first term.
Those injunctions put tremendous power into the hands of the appeals courts, the government’s first stop when it believes a judge has gone too far.
MORETrump’s appellate judges ruling in his favor isn’t shocking—it’s exactly how the system is supposed to work. Presidents always appoint judges who share their philosophy, and appellate courts exist to review lower court decisions, often using procedural tools like stays to manage cases. High alignment with the administration reflects political norms, not corruption or judicial misconduct. Predictable outcomes along ideological lines are a feature of the judiciary, not a bug.
"Predictable outcomes along ideological lines are a feature of the judiciary, not a bug."
I would disagree here, calling it a very LARGE bug. Judges should never, ever, make decisions based on ideology, personal morality or anything but the law. I can recognize that words are not black and white, that there IS some leeway in interpretation (particularly older laws like the constitution), But for the most part the law should not be that difficult to decide.
Personally, I believe that the liberal side of the equation is far, far worse at this than the conservative. It is liberals that think our Constitution is variable with varying political winds, not conservatives. It is the liberal side that is so well known for making decisions based on their personal beliefs, not conservatives.
So...are these Trump appointed judges deciding law based on law or on ideology? I'm sure ideology plays a part - judges are imperfect humans - but for the most part I believe they are deciding based on law.So, I agree with the principle you’re laying out, and in an ideal world, judges would decide cases based on nothing but the law. That should be the standard. But realistically, presidents don’t appoint judges in a vacuum; they appoint them with the expectation that they’ll generally interpret the law in a way that aligns with the agenda voters sent that president to Washington to pursue. That doesn’t make it right, but it is how the system has operated for decades.
I see that as a flaw in the system, not something to celebrate. Law should come before ideology, and I wish it always did. But O think we might agree that pretending ideology isn’t deeply embedded in our judicial process ignores reality. We’ve all watched this play out over time, across administrations of both parties.
So when rulings fall along predictable lines, I don’t automatically see corruption, but I also don’t think it should be brushed off as a “feature.” It’s a tension we live with: the ideal of impartial justice versus the reality of a judiciary shaped by political appointments.In other words, don't say impartial justices, say judiciary shaped by political appointments. This reminds me of Frank Luntz who wrote the republican playbook called Don't Say That, Say This.
Here are some of his guidelines.
Replace emotionally negative terms with softer ones.
Reframe issues to make Republican positions more palatable.
Focus on storytelling over technical accuracy.
Examples from his guidance:
“Climate change” instead of “global warming” (because it sounds less frightening).
“Death tax” instead of “estate tax” (to trigger emotional reaction).
Emphasizing values like “freedom” and “responsibility” rather than policy details"In other words, don't say impartial justices, say judiciary shaped by political appointments. This reminds me of Frank Luntz who wrote the republican playbook called Don't Say That, Say This." PP
I shared my view, which may sound cynical, but I believe it’s realistic. It reflects how I perceive our judicial system today. I don’t believe it was always as troubled as it appears now, nor am I disputing the sentiments Dan shared or those you expressed. I’m simply being candid about what I see happening within the system itself. My criticism is directed at the system as a whole, and I don’t believe either party comes out as the clear winner. And neither do "We The People".
I don't say "Don't Say That, Say This." I just say, say it as you see it.
While I agree with much of what you say, your "liberal side" comment is just conservative myth repeated over and over again. In fact, a large meta-analysis of 51 experiments (~18,000 participants) found strong support for “symmetry”: liberals and conservatives showed similar average levels of partisan bias (very close effect sizes).
"Trump’s appellate judges ruling in his favor isn’t shocking—it’s exactly how the system is supposed to work." - Did you really just write that??? You sure you aren't living in Russia and thinking of their "judicial" system?
If that is the way it is "supposed" to be, then Trump is certainly picking poor trial court judges and an indication of how badly he is breaking the law given the enormous number of Republican appointed judges that have ruled against him.You’re taking that statement out of context and then arguing against a meaning that was never intended. Saying it isn’t shocking when appellate judges rule in someone’s favor does not mean judges are supposed to rule for Trump personally or protect him from the law. It means the appellate system exists to correct legal and procedural errors, regardless of who the defendant is.
The number of rulings against someone does not, by itself, prove how “badly” they are breaking the law. Many rulings are procedural, jurisdictional, or later overturned. Without citing specific final judgments or statutory violations, that conclusion is interpretation, not fact.
This is exactly the issue I was pointing to earlier—opinion being framed as truth by stripping away legal context and replacing it with assumptions about motive and guilt.
AI Second Term (2025) Court Case Outcomes
Overall Adjudicated Lawsuits (Lower & Appellate Courts):
• About 530 lawsuits filed against the Trump administration as of late 2025.
• Of those, about 32 have been fully adjudicated (final rulings).
• 8 rulings in favor of the administration
• 24 rulings against the administration
— with the vast majority (≈500 cases) still pending or awaiting decision
U.S. Supreme Court Emergency / Shadow Docket Rulings
At the Supreme Court level on emergency applications (preliminary stays or emergency orders):
• Administration has filed ~28 emergency docket applications.
• 19 wins (full or partial relief) for Trump admin.
• 2 losses
• 4 still pending or mixed outcomes
Key Numerical Summary
Category Admin Wins Admin Losses Pending / Mixed
Fully adjudicated lawsuits ✓ 8 24 ~500 still pending*
Supreme Court emergency docket 19 2 ~4
Ultimately to soon to dictate if he will win more than lose, with so very many pending. He certainly, in my view, is doing well in the Supreme Court. As sources indicate.I didn't take anything out of context, you were quite clear in what you meant.
As long as I can remember, and it is my view, presidents have appointed judges who generally align with the agenda they were elected to carry out. That isn’t a flaw in the system; it is the system. Voters choose a president knowing that judicial appointments are one of the most lasting ways that a president influences policy and interpretation of the law.
Again, what I always suspected was the case is proving to be true, it is not about Democracy but about the oil…..
https://www.salon.com/2026/01/09/trump- … d-the-oil/Honestly, this article oversimplifies a very complex situation and paints Trump’s strategy as reckless, when in reality it’s quite smart. First, Venezuela’s problems aren’t just “third-world chaos”, the country’s infrastructure and institutions have been destroyed over decades of corruption and mismanagement. Elections held in that environment without stability would be chaotic and likely illegitimate. Trump’s point about rebuilding the country, particularly the oil industry, before holding free and fair elections makes strategic sense. It’s not about delaying democracy; it’s about creating the conditions for one that actually works.
Critics are right to say that $100 billion is a huge number, but it’s supposed to come from private oil investment, not taxpayers. Companies like Exxon or Chevron won’t commit without clear legal protections and a functional infrastructure, so this is a practical, step-by-step approach. And yes, Venezuela’s oil reserves are some of the largest in the world, restoring production there strengthens U.S. influence in the hemisphere, reduces dependence on adversarial countries like Russia and China, and can help stabilize global energy markets.
Frankly, the media makes it sound like Trump’s plan is just about control or greed, but when you think about it, this is smart geopolitics and energy strategy. Rebuilding Venezuela first isn’t reckless; it’s a calculated move to protect U.S. energy security, attract private investment, and set up the country for elections that actually matter. The article misses all of that nuance and instead focuses on a misleading narrative.Frankly, the media is correct when they report Trump's plan "is just about control or greed"
When I do think about it, it stinks like modern day imperialism.
Trump says the quiet part out loud—“keep the oil.”! And it isn't just Venezuelan oil. Trump has repeatedly argued the U.S. should “keep the oil,” including in Syria (“we’re keeping the oil… left troops behind only for the oil”) and even floated cutting a deal with Exxon to do it. International-law experts flagged that as pillage. He said the same thing about Iraq.
Oil-before-democracy—explicitly.
In 2026, Trump told Fox he’d rebuild Venezuela’s oil sector first and be “in charge of it,” with elections “later.” That’s not subtext; it’s the plan.
$100B carrot to Big Oil—using U.S. power as the stick. Colonial Intentions
Trump urged U.S. major oil company's to pour $100B into Venezuela, promising “total safety/total security,”. How can he do that unless Venezuela is a protectorate or colony of the US? Exxon’s CEO called Venezuela “uninvestable” without sweeping legal changes. All but Chevron nodded their heads politely and smiled. That’s a bid to align state muscle with corporate extraction.
Trump doesn't even hide (although you can't see it) his intention of controlling Venezuela for their oil.
Don't forget, he has his eyes set on Cuba, Columbia, and Mexico as well.
Oh it's normal, it's reality, it's how the system is supposed to work... Unless the rulling is against Trump. Then, the judges are corrupt, leftist, political activists, radical rogue judges, judicial warfare, etc.
Hypocrites.And if it is FOR Trump the exact same words come from the other side!
There is no truth, no honesty, no morality in our government. On either side of the aisle.What is so hilarious is that those people come on here all the time and expect us to believe that the leftist cabal does not lie. Lies are by no means confined to conservatives.
That may be true, but conservatives lie much more consistently and in more volume which makes it much, much worse.
For example, Noem goes on Jake Trapper and lies incessantly for 20 minutes. - that can be proved, just google it.
People who count these things have determined that Trump is now averaging a lie every three minutes when he speaks for 10 minutes or longer - that can be proved, just google it.Your context in this comment indicates you are sharing facts. But ultimately, you are not. I ran your comment through AI. Facts are very different from opinions.
1. He opens with an unproven generalization presented as fact
“Conservatives lie much more consistently and in more volume which makes it much, much worse.” ECO
This is a broad claim stated as a conclusion, not an opinion. There is no data, metric, or definition of what “more consistently” or “more volume” means. Because he doesn’t frame it as his belief (“I think” or “in my opinion”), he is presenting a subjective judgment as an established truth.
2. He uses a single anecdote to justify a sweeping conclusion
“For example, Noem goes on Jake Tapper and lies incessantly for 20 minutes.” ECO
Even if one accepts his criticism of that interview, a single example does not logically support a claim about all conservatives. This is a classic case of hasty generalization—using one incident to validate a broad accusation against an entire political group.
3. “That can be proved” ECO --- is asserted without proof
“That can be proved, just google it.” ECO
This shifts the burden of proof away from the person making the claim. Saying something “can be proved” is not the same as actually proving it. He provides no specific false statements, no timestamps, no fact-checks—only an instruction to search until agreement is found. That’s not evidence; it’s an appeal to confirmation bias.
4. Context is missing and assumed
He does not explain:
Which statements were lies
According to whom
Based on what verified facts
Or whether the interview involved disputed interpretations rather than factual falsehoods
Without that context, the claim relies on his interpretation of the interview being treated as objective reality.
5. The core issue: opinion framed as truth
The problem isn’t that he dislikes conservatives or believes they lie more—that’s his right. The issue is that he writes as though his interpretation is settled fact, not opinion. By stating conclusions first and offering vague examples later, he presents a narrative rather than an argument.
A concise way you could say this to him:
A concise way you could say this to him:
You’re stating subjective judgments as though they’re objective facts. You make a sweeping claim about conservatives as a whole, then support it with a single example without providing specific evidence or context. Saying something “can be proved” isn’t proof, and telling someone to “google it” doesn’t establish truth—it just assumes agreement. What you’re presenting is interpretation, not verified fact, and that distinction matters.
If you want, I can also help you rewrite this as a shorter, more conversational response—or a more formal rebuttal. AI
I find AI very useful in offering helpful information and facts. Otherwise, I like to share my view.That was short-hand. I more precise, since you are sharpshooting, claim is - “That may be true, but from 2016–2025 the Republican ecosystem—especially Trump-era messaging—has produced and amplified more false or misleading claims than the Democratic side, and conservative/Republican users have shared more low-quality misinformation online in multiple studies.”
One such study: A 2025 PNAS study using X’s Community Notes found Republicans’ posts were flagged as misleading more often than Democrats’ (the paper reports a sizable gap), and argues this cannot be explained simply by “fact-checker bias” because the ratings are crowd-based.
On elite volume, Donald Trump is a documented outlier: the Washington Post Fact Checker database counted 30,573 false or misleading claims during his first term (2017–2021).
And I see it here, on these forums, As Dr. Mark pointed out, right-wing "false or misleading claims" have been pointed out than left-wing ones.
So, as you can see, I am not opining, I am stating facts. All you had to do was google it and you would have saved yourself a lot of copy and paste.
It is amazing how you will come on here and tell us how anyone you disagree with is a liar, and yet never come on here and point out the lies of the left. They are lucky they have sycophants backing up their lies.
Doc, it really is astonishing. I have repeatedly pointed out that I see a serious problem with his habit of calling others liars. I would have expected that, at some point, he might feel embarrassed by his own behavior. I also agree that he tends to ignore the lies that are clearly prevalent.
The problem here is that president Trump is a notorious liar. (You simply have to look at his tweets and comments and compare them with statistics and facts). And people who agree with him, copying his phrases, are easily called liars too! And they are, perhaps without knowing, but if you copy someones tweets without fact checking or support them, you can be called a liar too!
To follow a leader and you accept everything at face value is a dangerous thing to do.
Trump is saying such bizarre things that often it is taken for a joke. Joke or not, it is not the truth if you say something that is not supported by facts.That is your job - pointing out lies from the left - but you never do, I wonder why?
BTW, that last part is called projection.If I came on here everytime some leftist was trying to pass a lie I am afraid I would not have time to do anything else. CNN and the liars at MS would provide enough on their own, but the rest of the lefticles are also busy telliing lies.
Deflection and a non-response. Since you can't produce anything, that is pretty clear evidence that you can't.
Now you are just being stupid. I guess you are not able to understand something so clear.
Doc, in my view, and based solely on observation, I believe some liberals are more inclined to accept opinion as fact, particularly when the person sharing those opinions presents them as truth within a given context. Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to dig below the surface.
When opinion is treated as fact, and talked about using context that indicates what they are sharing is fact, it inevitably becomes a problem.
"That may be true, but conservatives lie much more consistently and in more volume which makes it much, much worse.
For example, Noem goes on Jake Trapper and lies incessantly for 20 minutes. - that can be proved, just google it." ECO
This is a perfect example of what I have attempted to share. Note the context of his sentences, note his statements are matter constructed as matter a fact. But it appears those comments should be written as on opinon, due to there is no proof of what he has stated. He calls Noem a liar, not knowing what evidence she may have to back her claims. He openly claims --- "conservatives lie much more consistently and in more volume, which makes it much, much worse." Again, which, in my view, I would think would be impossible to prove.Doesn´t it remind you of those followers of the Soviets that would call the Americans liars, but never point out that the USSR was supported by lies?
Doc, It does, and that’s exactly what troubles me. I feel we now have a certain number of Americans who follow left-leaning ideologies and are more than willing to label almost anyone who disagrees with them a liar. Worse, they often go a step further and actively vilify those who refuse to buy into what I see as irrational or extreme narratives. Yes, much like the Soviet example, there’s little willingness to examine the lies within their own ideological framework, only a fixation on accusing others, as if disagreement itself is proof of dishonesty.
It might be opinion had I not heard it myself.
No, none of us knows what information is being withheld from the media while the investigation is ongoing. You’ve chosen to believe a particular narrative, but the truth is that we don’t have all the facts yet. I know I don’t. It just often comes across as though you believe you do.
Ok, conservatives, you can dispense with your bullsh!t artistry. Trump HAS threatened military action against the island. If it is an option, it is a threat, is it not? What part of “NO” is it that the rightwinger fails to understand?
========
No, Donald Trump has not ruled out military action against Greenland. Both he and the White House have repeatedly stated that military force remains an option to acquire the Danish territory, which they cite as a national security priority.
Key facts regarding Trump's position:
Refusal to rule out force: When asked about using military force, Trump has explicitly refused to rule it out, stating the U.S. will take control "the easy way" or "the hard way".
White House stance: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that "utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief's disposal".
National security justification: Trump argues the U.S. needs to "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking it over and that ownership is necessary to defend the island properly.
International opposition: Both Greenland's Prime Minister and Denmark's Prime Minister have firmly rejected any notion of the island being for sale or a target for military action, warning that a U.S. attack would likely end the NATO alliance.
Trump has consistently favored a purchase deal but has maintained that all options, including military force is on the table.
============
The focal point here is on the Trump administration seizing Greenland by force, thinking that it could acquire the territory contrary to the wishes of the residents there.
No one is ruling out concepts of negotiations and such, but the bottom line is that any annexation proposals must have the approval of Greenlanders, Denmark says as much and I agree with them.I think this hinges on how we’re defining a threat versus a theoretical option. In U.S. foreign policy, presidents routinely say they won’t “rule out” military force in the abstract, even when there is no intent, plan, or authorization to use it. That language is standard deterrence posture, not the same thing as issuing a threat to a specific population. A threat normally involves a clear intent to coerce or compel action; saying an option exists does not, by itself, meet that threshold.
In Trump’s case, the repeated public emphasis was on purchase and negotiation, not seizure. Greenland was framed as a strategic asset, yes, but always in the context of acquisition through agreement. Refusing to rule something out is not the same as signaling it would be used, especially against a NATO ally, which would require congressional authorization, alliance rupture, and overwhelming political support, none of which existed or, in my view, will exist.
I also agree with the core point that matters most: Greenlanders’ consent is essential. On that, Denmark’s position is correct, and I agree with it as well. Any change in sovereignty without the will of the people would be illegitimate and unacceptable. Where I differ is the leap from “option not ruled out” to “Trump threatened military action.” That leap collapses nuance and assumes intent that was never operationalized or directed at Greenlanders themselves.
I agree. It’s fair to criticize Trump’s rhetoric as careless or provocative, as his use of blunt and confrontational language has become a defining feature of his governing approach.Trump is a mafia mob boss and he talks and acts like one. When he says "the hard way" other than to a Trump apologist, nobody will mistake for meaning he will tickle them into submission. Has he did with Venezuela, he WILL put boots on the ground (or use the ones that are already there) to take control.
History shows that to not believe Trump's threats of violence is extremely naive. I counted at least nine times he threatened to do violence to others and 56% of the time he followed through on it
So, since Trump has threatened violence (by not ruling it out) on Greenland, then there is a 56% chance, based on his past actions, that he will be violent.Great delusional response based on nothing more than your imagination.
ROFL
He has don't MORE than not rule it out - he has directly threatened to use force - what do you think the "Hard Way" is?
"Trump feels obligated to take action on Iran as administration weighs risks of retaliation"
He must save face. In my opinion, the course he ought to take is cyber-warfare. But, I don't think he will because it isn't theatrical enough.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/14/politics … etaliationTrump opens up another front to expand his Authoritarian state.
He invades a reporter's home via a trump-up search warrant, to take her cell phones and computers.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/14/media/fb … search-dojAmericans are FINALLY catching on about Trump's dangerous mental illness.
Polls show that recently 14% +/- 3.3% (source previously provided) regret their decision to vote for Trump. Had they realized he was conning them at the time, America, under Harris, would be prospering and well thought of by the world instead of hated as it is now.
Further, they are now realizing how dangerous his foreign policy is and seriously don't approve. It seems the only ones approving of him now are members of his cult.
"Nearly six in ten Americans are concerned that Trump has gone too far in trying to expand America’s power over other countries. Only a third think his efforts in that regard have been about right. And most (55%) say he has already gone too far in using the US military to achieve his goals. A growing share says Trump’s foreign policy decisions this term have hurt America’s standing in the world: 57% say so now, up from 53% last summer."
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/15/politics … d-cnn-poll
Trump's overall poll numbers are really bad for obvious reasons.
I asked ChatGPT to summarize the latest polls:
[b]Where Trump stands overall
Gallup: Trump hit a second-term low of 36% approval and 60% disapproval (Nov. 28, 2025 Gallup release).
Quinnipiac: By Dec. 17, 2025, Quinnipiac had him at 35% approve / 57% disapprove (net -22).
AP-NORC (Jan 2026): Overall approval is about 40%, with broad majorities saying he’s focused on the wrong priorities.
Quinnipiac (Jan. 8–12, 2026 field): 40% approve / 54% disapprove (net -14).
Interpretation: There’s evidence of a late-2025 slump (Gallup/Quinnipiac) and a modest rebound to ~40% in early 2026 (AP-NORC/Quinnipiac), but his standing remains weak and underwater.
The issue areas driving the decline
Immigration handling and ICE tactics
AP-NORC: Approval of Trump’s handling of immigration fell from 49% to 38% over the first year back in office.
Reuters/Ipsos (Jan. 2026): Trump’s approval on immigration dipped to 40%, described as a record low in their tracking, amid backlash to aggressive enforcement tactics.
Cost of living / inflation (economic management)
Navigator Research (Dec. 18, 2025): 61% disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, and the report frames this as a central drag on his standing.
AP-NORC (Jan 2026): Only 37% support his economic policies, and about 6 in 10 say he has worsened the cost of living.
Foreign policy / use of force
AP-NORC (Jan 2026): About 60% disapprove of his foreign policy approach.
Quinnipiac (Jan 2026): The poll also shows strong resistance to military action in Iran and to force-related ideas tied to Greenland.
Bottom line
Trump’s overall approval fell to the mid-30s in late 2025 in major polling, then recovered slightly to ~40% in early 2026—but remains net-negative.
The clearest areas of deterioration are immigration/ICE tactics and cost of living, with additional drag from foreign-policy concerns.
If you want the sources, just ask.Trump Cabinet secretaries conspired to violate Constitution, judge says
A federal judge Thursday decried what he said were “breathtaking” constitutional violations by senior Trump administration officials and called the president an “authoritarian” who expects everyone in the executive branch to “toe the line absolutely.”
In remarks laced with outrage and disbelief, U.S. District Judge William Young said Donald Trump and top officials have a “fearful approach” to freedom of speech that would seek to “exclude from participation everyone who doesn’t agree with them.”
Young, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, leveled the searing critique during a hearing in Boston to determine the appropriate remedies for the administration’s detentions of pro-Palestinian students last year. The judge had ruled in September that senior administration officials engaged in an illegal effort to arrest and deport noncitizen students based on their activism.
On Thursday, he again denounced the administration’s conduct in unusually stark terms. “Talking straight here,” he said. “The big problem in this case is that the Cabinet secretaries and ostensibly, the president of the United States, are not honoring the First Amendment.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in an “unconstitutional conspiracy” to deprive people of their rights, Young said. “The secretary of state,” he noted, his voice full of incredulity, “the senior Cabinet officer in our history involved in this.”
MOREA expansion of Trump being a poster CHILD of being a DESPOT*
"DOJ investigating Minnesota governor, Minneapolis mayor, who decry probe as intimidation tactic"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/16/politics … jacob-frey
* Despotism is a form of government where a single ruler holds absolute power and authority, often exercising it in an oppressive or tyrannical manner. It is characterized by the lack of checks on the ruler's power, leading to arbitrary and uncontrolled governance.
Wikipedia Merriam-WebsterWe have federal laws in this country, and no governor or mayor has the authority to ignore them or undermine them. When elected officials use coded language and dog whistles that excuse or inflame unrest, they are not leading; they are escalating. In my view, that is deeply troubling and frankly disturbing to watch unfold in real time.
In my opinion, that is exactly why they need to be investigated, and why this investigation matters. It should set a clear precedent for other politicians who believe they can disregard federal law without consequence. No one is above the law, especially those sworn to uphold it.
Accountability matters, and always will in my view. Officials who blur the line between lawful protest and unlawful action should be stopped through legal means and held fully responsible for their conduct. Our nation depends on consistent enforcement of the law, not selective obedience by leaders who no longer appear to respect it.
In my view, when elected officials undermine federal authority and encourage defiance, even indirectly, they are engaging in behavior that edges toward insurrectionist conduct. That should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation.
And to be clear, calling Trump a “despot” implies actions such as suppressing political opposition, controlling or silencing the press, canceling elections, or ruling by force. Trump has done none of those things. He is the current President, having won the 2024 election and taken office through the constitutional process in January 2025.
A lawful president who governs within constitutional boundaries is not a despot, and Trump does not meet that definition in any respect. He has broken no laws and has consistently worked to enforce them, laws written and passed by Congress.
He leads directly and transparently, addressing problems head-on rather than sweeping them under the rug, as we have seen from prior administrations. That is not authoritarianism; that is leadership. Some have come to not recognize strength and determination in a president. It has been missing for many decades.Where are your sources for those unfounded accusations?
What would you like me to source specifically? As a rule, my views are informed by a combination of many sources, my own knowledge, research across multiple outlets, and my own common sense. The context of the comment I shared reflects my personal perspective.
You made claims. When I do, you say you want sources? Did you change your mind?
I provide claims with proper context, clearly separating opinion from fact, and I avoid presenting my statements as definitive.
Apparently you don't since ChatGPT can't understand them.
In my opinion one plus one equals two. Is that now my "opinion" or is it a statement of fact.
Answer - It’s a statement of fact, not an opinion—adding “in my opinion” doesn’t change the underlying status of the claim.
Opinion is a value judgment or preference (e.g., “Chocolate tastes better than vanilla”).
Fact is a claim that is verifiable within an agreed framework (here, standard arithmetic in base-10), and “1 + 1 = 2” is true by definition in ordinary arithmetic.
So the phrase “in my opinion” is just rhetorical hedging; it doesn’t convert a factual proposition into an opinion.You are the most opinionated person on these forums, telling us that politicians you do not care for are crazy and unhinged, and liberals are doing things for the public good.
It isn't I who is saying that - that is what the evidence obviously suggests to those who are expert in their mental health field. I evaluate there evidence and if it makes sense, I report it. Well, it makes tons of sense over and above what you can see with your own eyes.
No, that is not what the evidence suggests, only what you choose to believe it does. It is your OPINION. You have a right to have that opinion, but what you do not have is the right to tell others that they do not have the right to their opinions because you do not share it.
Previously, the Trump apologists whitewashed things and said European diplomats didn't say or mean what they said or meant - calling it "neutral" or "standard" diplomatic language not directed at Trump. Let me point out that absent Trump's threat to take over Greenland one way or another or "the easy way or the hard way" they were FORCED to defend Greenland and Europe that
* “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide …” - ask yourself, why else was that joint statement put out but to rebuke Trump? If you say it wasn't about Trump, then WHY did they say it, just to have something to say?
* EU Council President António Costa (reported by Reuters) - “On Greenland, allow me to be clear: Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland.” - Why would he say "to be clear if not to dissuade and aggressor for carrying out their aggression?
* Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (quoted) - “Ideas that would not respect territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are… totally unacceptable.” - Again, what prompted such a declaration if not Trump's threat to take Greenland?
To deny these were directed at Trump is to accept that only Trump cult members would make such weak arguments.
NOW, we have the people of Denmark and Greenland being less diplomatic.
"Thousands rally in Denmark against Trump’s threats to take over Greenland"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/17/europe/p … trump-intl
Maybe Trump will invoke the insurrection act against these protesters as well."Thousands rally in Denmark against Trump’s threats to take over Greenland": ECO
Are they protesting in the streets of Greenalnd?Today, I think. But Fox won't carry that.
I have since researched protests in Greenland. I want protests in Greenland appear to be about. In my view, after some reading on the subject, the demonstrations were not about an imminent invasion or any real military threat. They were about respecting Greenland’s sovereignty and self-determination in response to President Trump’s repeated statements about acquiring the island.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, it has been reported that many people marched, waving flags and chanting “Greenland is not for sale” and “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.” The point seemed clear: Greenland’s future should be decided by its own people and government, not by foreign powers. Not the US or the EU or Denmark. Even Greenland’s prime minister joined the protests to reinforce this.
These demonstrations were reported as being part of a broader movement called “Hands off Greenland”, coordinated by Greenlandic organizations and supporters in Denmark. Protesters emphasized respect for international law and opposed the idea that Greenland could be “sold” or transferred without the consent of its citizens.
In short, the protests were about protecting Greenland’s autonomy and ensuring that any decisions about the island’s future come from Greenlanders themselves, not anyone else. It’s important to understand the context before framing this as a reaction to “aggression” or an imagined threat.
Yes — that’s actually a key point in the protests and statements coming from Greenlandic leaders. While Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, the protests and official statements emphasize that Greenlanders themselves decide their future, and that Denmark does not have the authority to override them or “sell” the island to another country.
The Greenlandic government and prime minister have repeatedly stressed that decisions about Greenland belong to Greenlanders, not Denmark or the U.S.
Protesters in Nuuk and elsewhere echoed this, chanting things like “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders” and asserting their right to self-determination.Unfortunately, Trump doesn't see it that way, does he?
* Jan. 9, 2026 (Reuters): “We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not.” (that flies in the face of everything you just wrote.
* Jan. 14, 2026 (Reuters, quoting Trump’s social media): “Anything less than that [taking over Greenland] is unacceptable.”
* Jan. 16, 2026 (TIME): “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland…”
* Jan. 14, 2026 (CNN transcript): “We need Greenland for national security.” - a lie - “There’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it.”
GEOGRAPY LESSON - Greenland is a territory of Denmark! Denmark allows them to self-rule while providing the military defense, foreign policy, and national governance (Greenland has two seats in Denmark's parliament.
Denmark governs the money, sovereignty-level legal authority, and monetary policy
For constitutional matters Greenland’s status ultimately rests within the Danish constitutional framework. The final court of appeal (Danish Supreme Court as the ultimate appellate authority).
Nationality/citizenship is treated as a Danish state function in practice (and is listed among matters not generally devolved in human-rights documentation discussing the Self-Government framework).
Since you appear to think Greenland is autonomous in all respects, I thought you needed to know they are not.
This argument assumes something that hasn’t been proven: that routine reaffirmations of sovereignty automatically equal a response to an imminent threat. That’s a leap, not evidence. European leaders regularly restate principles like territorial integrity and self-determination, especially when media narratives are inflamed, because diplomacy is as much about calming audiences as it is about signaling intent.
Trump did not mobilize troops, issue an ultimatum, or initiate any concrete action against Greenland. He made remarks, blunt, undiplomatic remarks, as is his style, about strategic interest. That is not “aggression,” and pretending otherwise stretches the word beyond recognition. If talking about geopolitical interests now qualifies as a threat, then half of NATO leaders would be guilty of the same charge.
As for phrases like “let me be clear” or “totally unacceptable,” that is standard diplomatic language used to shut down speculation and reassure domestic constituencies. It does not magically convert speech into evidence of an attempted annexation. The absence of any action is the key fact here, and critics consistently skip over it.
Labeling disagreement as “Trump apologia” is not an argument; it’s a way to avoid confronting reality. Strong language in response to media-driven narratives does not mean Trump was on the verge of seizing territory. It means European leaders were managing optics.
And finally, the idea that acknowledging this makes someone part of a “cult” says more about the weakness of the claim than about Trump. When rhetoric replaces facts, accusation replaces analysis, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.
Multiple Greenlandic leaders have publicly and explicitly stated that Greenlanders do not want to be part of the United States and want their future decided by Greenlanders themselves, not by Denmark or the U.S. That includes statements like:
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen and four other party leaders said, “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” emphasizing that Greenland’s future must be decided by its own people.
I would think the people would need to decide their own fate. It sounds as if they will not be swayed by Demark pr the US.Prove that the reaffirmation is routine. (which will be difficult since it hasn't happened like this before.)
So, give me a break, there is nothing "routine" about it. That is your way to rationalize the Cognitive Dissonance probably going off in your head.You’ve completely misunderstood the context of my comment. When I said “routine reaffirmations of sovereignty,” I wasn’t claiming this exact phrasing has happened before or that it happens every day. I was talking about how diplomacy works: countries regularly restate principles like territorial integrity and self-determination whenever a sensitive issue arises or media narratives get inflamed. It’s not about frequency; it’s about the standard practice of clarifying intentions and preventing misinterpretation.
By insisting there’s “nothing routine about it,” you’re turning a point about normal diplomatic behavior into a debate about repetition, and missing the nuance entirely. I’m not rationalizing anything; I’m explaining that reaffirming sovereignty in this context is expected and procedural, not evidence of panic or aggression.
Once again, you are projecting a misunderstanding and trying to turn a nuanced point about diplomatic practice into an argument about frequency. You are also assuming I was making an extraordinary claim when, in fact, I was explaining that such reaffirmations are normal tools of diplomacy, not evidence of panic or aggression.
Why not read comments more carefully before responding?
And you poo-pawed my observation that Trump is "going to war"* with Europe over Greenland consider this war-like threat from Trump.
"Trump considering new tariffs on countries that oppose his annexation plans for Greenland" - Yes, he actually made that threat to retaliated against Europe who is currently opposing his aggression in Greenland.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/16/politics … opposition
* for those of you not familiar with American language "going to war" is a euphemism or metaphor. Previously, someone became unglued regarding the phrase so now I am forced to bore you with further explanation of common language usage.Isn't it interesting how:
* Trump Pardoned Ross William Ulbricht — The Silk Road drug dealer
* Trump Pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez — Imported Cocaine into the U.S.
* Trump Pardoned Alice Marie Johnson — distributing cocaine and money laundering/structuring.
* Trump Pardoned Weldon Hal Angelos — possession with intent to distribute marijuana plus multiple firearms counts.
* Trump Commuted Larry Hoover, Sr. — narcotics conspiracy / continuing criminal enterprise / distribution of cocaine, etc.
And NOW Trump is in bed with the Venezuelan regime he designated narco-terrorists after capturing and replacing their leader Maduro.The latest:
So, Trump threatens tariffs on all nations that do not support American designs on Greenland?
This tariff thing has nothing to do with trade inbalances and such, it is just a bully who is attempting to intimidate the entire planet to get his way. AND, he will fail…..
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tru … 8583265464Threatening tariffs like this is completely crazy. It’s a mafia-style attitude.
Facing growing pressure from the U.S., Iceland is preparing a referendum next year to join the European Union.
Ironically, attacks by Trump and Putin appear to be making Europe stronger and more united.Good to know. Didn't realize Iceland was on its own.
Don’t mean to change the subject, but does this not sound sort of dumb to you?
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump a week ago told the credit card industry it had until Jan. 20 to comply with his demand for a 10% cap on interest rates. With just days to go, consumer groups, politicians, and bankers alike remain unclear on what the White House has planned and whether Trump even remains serious about the idea.
So far, the White House has not provided any detail about what will happen to credit card companies that don’t lower card rates. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president has “an expectation” that credit card companies will accede to his demand that they cap interest rates on credit cards at 10%.
=======
Even the best customers with the highest credit scores don’t get interest rates at the points that Trump is demanding. His demand will just dry up credit availability for everyone else. This is a dumb and totally impractical idea and I highly doubt that any lender will take it seriously. I thought Republicans believed in a “hands off business philosophy”. Is this what he is hoping to use to regain much more voter support?
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trumps-d … d96a0cae2bTrump announces tariffs on European countries opposing Greenland takeover
The move sparked anger from longtime U.S. allies that have been sending Trump a message that the Danish territory is not for sale.
The United States will impose tariffs on countries that have sent troops to Greenland in recent days, President Donald Trump said Saturday, dramatically escalating his effort to acquire the Danish territory despite assertions from Greenland and Denmark that the Arctic island is not for sale.
Trump said he would impose 10 percent tariffs on imports of all goods starting Feb. 1 from those countries to the U.S., increasing to 25 percent on June 1. He said it would only be removed after a deal is reached for “the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”
"...Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown. This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable. Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question. Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above mentioned Countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland), will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America. On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland..."
SMH
We knew what he is. Trump and his MAGAs are a threat to the world.Protests explode in Greenland amid Trump takeover push: 'We are not interested in being Americans'
Demonstrators wore red caps reading 'Make America Go Away' while marching through capital Nuuk on Saturday
The protests followed Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland, including a Truth Social post made Saturday in which he announced new tariffs on several European countries unless a deal is reached for the island's purchase by the U.S.
Trump puts $1B price tag on Gaza peace board permanent seats
President Trump will ask countries that want to join his “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza to pay $1 billion for membership, according to reporting from Bloomberg and The Atlantic on Saturday.
A draft charter seen by both outlets showed that Trump will serve as the executive board’s inaugural chairman, who will approve which member states can join on the board. The board will become official after three member states agree to the charter.
Member states will be able to vote on board decisions, but Trump will have sole authority to approve them, the outlets reported.
What the $1 billion for membership will fund remains unclear. The Atlantic reported that the draft charter does not address where membership fees go, only that funding for board expenses will be “through voluntary funding from Member States, other States, organizations, or other sources.”
The draft charter also makes no mention of the Gaza Strip, The Atlantic wrote.
Trump said that the board was formed this week, later announcing that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and billionaire investors Robert Gabriel and Marc Rowan will be on the board.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administra … rship-fee/
SMHCrazy Trump is headed to another failure.
Europe is finally waking up to what we in America already know - Our President is Unhinged and living in his own made-up world! Hundreds and hundreds of professional mental health experts have said as much in many different ways. See the The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind by Dr. Bandi X Lee, a renowned forensic psychologist..It is one of several books by her and dozens of other mental health experts trying to warn America about Trump.
"Macron urges EU to deploy trade ‘bazooka’ against US as Trump ramps up tensions". That statement would be unimaginable one year ago today, but is predictable after Trump was mistakenly elected in 2025. (Enough Trump voters now regret their decision and if they had known then what they know now, Trump would be president trying to end democracy as we know it.)
"Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on countries that have shown support for Greenland is pushing transatlantic relations to a breaking point as EU leaders contemplate ways of retaliating against Washington that until now have been unthinkable.
One option being floated by centrist and left-wing politicians is for Europe to wheel out its Anti-Coercion Instrument, the EU's so-called trade "bazooka" — a powerful retaliation tool that was originally conceived to fend off bullying from China, which would allow Europe to impose tariffs and investment limits against offending nations.
French President Emmanuel Macron has joined those calling for the instrument to be deployed against the U.S."
Maybe THAT will convince the Trump apologists on this and other forums that Europe takes Trump's naked aggression against Greenland seriously. Macron's statement is hardly "neutral" and "normal diplomatic language".
Now Europe sees Trump as a greater threat than they see China.
Peterstreep and Nathanville, on behalf of responsible Americans, my apologies to you, the UK and Europe for the actions of our crazy American president.
https://www.politico.eu/article/hit-bac … -tensions/Hold on there Sparky. If you want to apologize for yourself, have at it, but the slander in your "apology" destroys any authority you have to speak for anyone else.
Especially "responsible Americans."
That was a pretty arrogant thought.
GAFirst and foremost--- to address this statement, "Peterstreep and Nathanville, on behalf of responsible Americans, my apologies to you, the UK and Europe for the actions of our crazy American president. ECO
Speak for yourself! How dare you feel you speak for anyone but yourself?
Let’s get this straight: calling President Trump “unhinged” and claiming he’s “living in his own made-up world” is not an objective observation, it’s projection. Many Americans have seen decades of biased reporting that paints Trump as erratic, but the reality is far more nuanced. Labeling someone as a danger to “American democracy and all humankind” based on selective readings of books and opinions from a narrow group of mental health experts is not science; it’s fear-mongering. And yes, there are forensic psychologists and authors who oppose him, but there are also countless experts who recognize his strategic decision-making, his efforts to protect American interests, and his ability to follow through on policy promises. Cherry-picking voices to support a narrative while ignoring thousands of opposing expert analyses is classic media and political projection.
The idea that Europe is somehow “waking up” to Trump is laughable. European leaders, including Macron, respond to policies they perceive as impacting their economic interests, not because the president is “crazy.” Tariffs, trade negotiations, and disagreements over Greenland or any other issue are standard diplomatic push-and-pull. Every president, Democrat or Republican, has faced threats of retaliation from allies when their policies are unpopular abroad. Europe’s consideration of a trade “bazooka” is not some moral indictment of Trump’s character, it’s a negotiating tool they’ve long had in their arsenal. To suggest this is evidence that “Europe sees Trump as a greater threat than China” is exaggeration bordering on absurdity.
The whole tone of apology, “on behalf of responsible Americans, my apologies to the UK and Europe” reveals exactly what I mean about projection. It assumes that anyone who voted for Trump is somehow immoral, uninformed, or a danger to the world. This ignores the fact that tens of millions of Americans supported Trump because they value strong leadership, economic growth, and America-first policies. It’s easier for critics to declare him “crazy” than to engage with the policy wins and the national security and economic decisions he’s made.
So no, Europe is not “finally waking up” to Trump’s supposed unhinged nature, they are reacting to a U.S. president taking firm action to protect American interests. And projecting personal disdain for Trump onto the global stage only tells us more about the commentator’s biases than it does about the president’s competence or mental state. If anything, it’s proof that the “existential danger” is coming from critics themselves, who can’t separate strong leadership from instability.ESO speaks for me as well, woe to relationships with our European allies that have been cordial for us all over 80 years to now be subject to Trump’s wrecking ball in just over a year…..
They say that it has always been easier to destroy than to build, here is a case in point.
Many millions more like me are anxious to show him the door, and if he keeps up the outrages, we will have him at lame duck status in a matter of months."Let’s get this straight: calling President Trump “unhinged” and claiming he’s “living in his own made-up world” IS[/b\ an objective observation, And I WILL speak for other reasonable people based on all the available evidence as presented in Polls, well documented professional opinions, other people's comments all over social media,
"Many Americans have seen decades of biased reporting that paints Trump as erratic, but the reality is far more nuanced." - Even if that were actually true those same Americans have eyes, ears, and a brain and they can see the same things that those professional mental health experts - hundreds and hundreds of them - have determined his pathology is a danger to well everybody. As to "nuance", there is nothing "nuanced" about Trump.
I hope you understand “American democracy and all humankind” is part of the title to Dr. Lee's book and she presents plenty of evidence - you might try reading it.
You will have to offer sources for those "thousands of opposing expert analyses". I have seen a couple, and they objected to Lee shooting off her mouth.
As to the Bazooka thing, that was a tool developed to use against China, now they want to use it against Trump, you might ask WHY.
But, you’re right that trade retaliation can be a negotiating tool, not a moral sermon—[b]but this isn’t routine as you want to pretend it is. The “bazooka” being discussed is the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, (let that sink in for a moment) a new, never-used mechanism designed for cases of economic coercion—the kind of pressure campaign Europe associated most prominently with China (e.g., using trade leverage to force political concessions). What it is not is "a negotiating tool they’ve long had in their arsenal. " Considering that tool against the United States is therefore unusually escalatory: it implicitly reclassifies the dispute from normal ally-to-ally bargaining into “coercion,” and it risks real collateral damage to the broader U.S.–EU relationship. That’s why it’s notable—not because Europe is issuing a moral indictment, but because this is the tool Europe built for adversarial coercion, not routine disagreements with a close ally.
The Dumroe Doctrine? Is this the real picture of Trump, MAGA and the Republicans? How is any form of “moderation”possible in the face of such aggression? Meet Stephen Miller, Joseph Goebbels reincarnated…..
https://www.salon.com/2026/01/07/americ … ial-power/I’m going to share my views on this article head-on and directly, because it relies far more on rhetorical escalation and ideological framing than on disciplined analysis, and it repeatedly substitutes moral accusation for evidence.
The article’s core thesis, that MAGA wants to be a colonial power, is asserted, not demonstrated. The author collapses every use of military force, diplomatic pressure, or strategic rhetoric into “colonialism,” which empties the term of meaning. Colonialism is not simply the exercise of power abroad; it is the formal annexation, settlement, and permanent subjugation of foreign populations for extraction. Nowhere does the article show Trump proposing annexation of Venezuela, Nigeria, Syria, Iran, or Greenland through settlement or permanent governance. Instead, it conflates interventionism, deterrence, and coercive diplomacy into a single moral category, which is analytically lazy.
The article leans heavily on loaded language (“white supremacist,” “patriarchal,” “fascist,” “imperial project”) without tying those claims to specific policies that meet those definitions. Calling something “white supremacist” does not make it so. There is no evidence presented that Trump’s foreign policy is racially motivated rather than transactional, nationalist, and realist, traits that may be objectionable to the author, but are not the same thing. The repeated invocation of 19th-century European colonialism and Nazi Germany is especially irresponsible. These comparisons are meant to shock, not to clarify, and they trivialize the historical reality of actual colonial genocide.
The article misrepresents the Monroe Doctrine by treating it as a declaration of conquest rather than what it historically was: a defensive doctrine aimed at preventing European empires from re-colonizing the Western Hemisphere. One can reasonably argue that the Monroe Doctrine is outdated or misused, but portraying it as proof of an American desire to “rule” hundreds of millions of people is historically false. Even at its most aggressive, the doctrine has been about excluding rival great powers, not absorbing territories wholesale. Strategic spheres of influence are not colonialism; they are a feature of every great-power system, including those run by Europe, Russia, and China.
The Greenland argument is almost entirely speculative hysteria. Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland, reckless and undisciplined as it may be, has never been accompanied by a legal framework, military planning, or congressional authorization for invasion. The article treats provocative statements as equivalent to policy, and policy as equivalent to imminent conquest. That is not analysis; it is narrative construction. Even within the article itself, multiple Republicans explicitly reject the idea of seizing Greenland, undermining the claim that this is a unified MAGA project.
The Venezuela section is framed in a way that strips all context. Maduro is not a neutral head of state wrongfully attacked by an empire; he is an internationally disputed ruler accused of election fraud, repression, and narco-state activity. One can oppose military action while still acknowledging that Venezuela is not a normal sovereign democracy. The article’s refusal to engage with that reality reveals its ideological priority: America must always be the villain, regardless of circumstances.
The author selectively quotes fringe or provocative voices (Nick Fuentes, Matt Walsh, cable-news soundbites) and presents them as representative of MAGA writ large. This is a classic composition fallacy, using the most extreme statements available to define an entire movement. If this standard were applied consistently, every political coalition in America could be caricatured into absurdity.
The piece repeatedly accuses Trump’s foreign policy of being about “oils,” “conquest,” and corporate enrichment , yet offers no concrete evidence of land seizure, resource nationalization, or permanent occupation plans. Strategic leverage over resources is not the same as ownership, and military power has been used by every U.S. administration , Democratic and Republican, without Salon labeling them colonial regimes.
The article reveals its own weakness in the conclusion: it appeals not to facts, but to apocalyptic moral language about “fever dreams,” “destiny,” and “men who believe God put them in power.” That is polemic, not journalism. It is meant to alarm, not inform.
If the author wanted to write a serious critique, she could have argued that Trump’s foreign policy is erratic, legally questionable, destabilizing, or insufficiently restrained by Congress. Those would be debatable, substantive claims. Instead, she chose to frame everything as a revival of fascist colonialism, a framing so inflated that it collapses under scrutiny.
In my view, this article is not a careful warning about executive overreach. It is an ideological screed that treats disagreement as moral depravity and substitutes historical analogy for evidence. That may resonate emotionally with Salon’s audience, but it does not withstand serious examination.Well, Sharlee, I did not invent the Trump corollary or Donroe doctrine, from where does it come except from the administration itself?
Is intimidating allies and neighbors with tariffs if they do not do what Trump wants a form of intimidation? I say, YES.
I question whether we have the right to control what any other nation chooses to do to preserve its own sovereignty and its options in regards to controlling its own affairs.
This stuff Trump is talking about is completely oblivious to the desires of the people living on Greenland. Anyone with their eyes and ears open can surely see that the underlying truth is intimidation and aggression. Is every European nation wrong when standing against Trump in this matter? How do you debate the merits of that? What will be the next excuse from the MAGA if Trump carries out an invasion? Will any of you accept the fact that your man is tyrant?
These extremists Fuentes, Miller, etc seem to find comfort under the MAGA big tent. I would not accommodate this sort at any level from my point of view.
As far as I am concerned, America is the villain. Trump talks about interfering in Iranian affairs and saying that Venezuala will remain under American control as long as he sees fit.
“yet offers no concrete evidence of land seizure, resource nationalization, or permanent occupation plans.”
Trump is not “every US Administration” trump is reckless and his cavalier use of military power, loathsome threats and unjustified intimidation is unprecedented, so, any idea of equivalence rings hollow with me.
Somehow, Sharlee, even if that eventuality becomes reality, you will still have an excuse to accommodate it and absolve Trump of any blame. I am not so gracious.
“If the author wanted to write a serious critique, she could have argued that Trump’s foreign policy is erratic, legally questionable, destabilizing, or insufficiently restrained by Congress.”
That is what she is fundamentally saying but she also touches upon motivation which in my point of view is more accurate than the apologetic stance taken by MAGA to defend the indefensible. With the moves of Trump and MAGA, THERE is cause for alarm.
I come away from the article with more reasons to distrust and fear Trump and his administration and the direction that he is taking us all in. For my opinion, “Executive Overreach” is saying it lightly, him and his objectives are far more malevolent
When you realize that every Anti-Trump article is not emotionally based and there are REAL and Serious concerns regarding this administration and its policies, you will appreciate that you have run fresh out of sugar to sugar coat, supporting everything he does without question.
The message remains the message regardless of the messenger….."Is every European nation wrong when standing against Trump in this matter? " - NO, because she has convinced herself that Europe and Greenland don't see Trump's naked aggression as threats. Studies show she will go to almost any lengths to keep that lie going in her conscience while her subconscious knows the truth. Must be uncomfortable.
I hear what you’re saying, but I have to disagree on several points. The idea that Trump’s foreign policy is “unprecedented intimidation” doesn’t hold up when you look at history. Presidents have long used leverage, economic, diplomatic, and even military, to achieve national objectives. Tariffs, sanctions, and pressure on allies are not new tools invented by Trump; they have been used by multiple administrations to protect American interests. I understand that it may feel aggressive, but calling it intimidation ignores the strategic context that drives such decisions.
Regarding Greenland or any other sovereign nation, I don’t believe America seeks to override their choices for domination. The discussion about Greenland was about opportunity and partnership, not invasion or colonization. The MAGA perspective I share focuses on negotiating from a position of strength to benefit our country, not imposing tyranny. The assumption that Trump wants to “control” Venezuela or Iran in perpetuity is misleading; his approach is about preventing hostile powers from gaining advantage, not permanent occupation.
As for extremism, I do not condone Fuentes, Miller, or any radical figures, and I reject them personally. But it is inaccurate to equate them with the entire MAGA movement. We should separate fringe actors from mainstream policy and goals.
I also take issue with framing America as “the villain.” Trump’s foreign policy often seeks to prioritize American safety and prosperity in a world where other countries frequently act in self-interest. It’s not reckless to assert our interests; it’s a president’s duty. “Executive overreach” is an oversimplification—what critics call overreach is often decisive action where previous administrations hesitated.
Your claim that MAGA supporters “accommodate and absolve” Trump of everything is unfair. Many of us critique his words and methods, but we recognize the broader context: protecting U.S. interests, defending sovereignty, and confronting hostile powers where others won’t. It’s not blind loyalty; it’s evaluation of the results versus the rhetoric.
I don’t fear Trump’s administration. I believe his approach, while bold and unconventional, is grounded in the principle that America must assert itself in a complex, often hostile world. Alarmist rhetoric doesn’t change that reality.“Tariffs, sanctions, and pressure on allies are not new tools invented by Trump; they have been used by multiple administrations to protect American interests. I understand that it may feel aggressive, but calling it intimidation ignores the strategic context that drives such decisions.”
I hear that the Supreme Court is taking up the issue of Trump’s cavalier use of tariffs to intimidate everyone that does not toe the American line, politically. Trump use of this instrument is unprecedented and by the very fact that he chooses to bypass Congress in its implementation, brings forth questions regarding their legality.
Yes, and Mozambique, Cuba and Poland has its interests. If everyone else pursued its interests oblivious to those of others, world conflict lies around the corner. In the nation of Credenceland, I, as premier, am going to resent other countries’ intervening in my affairs or using pressure and intimidation to pressure me to regard an adversaries interests as more important than my own.
“Many of us critique his words and methods, but we recognize the broader context: protecting U.S. interests, defending sovereignty, and confronting hostile powers where others won’t. It’s not blind loyalty; it’s evaluation of the results versus the rhetoric.”
That is where we differ, I care neither for the rhetoric, methods nor the results. I question your assessment and view of the broader context.
Regarding Greenland or any other sovereign nation, I don’t believe America seeks to override their choices for domination. The discussion about Greenland was about opportunity and partnership, not invasion or colonization. The MAGA perspective I share focuses on negotiating from a position of strength to benefit our country, not imposing tyranny. The assumption that Trump wants to “control” Venezuela or Iran in perpetuity is misleading; his approach is about preventing hostile powers from gaining advantage, not permanent occupation.
Yet the position of European Union, Denmark and Greenland is a resounding NO. This matter has gone far beyond opportunity and partnership and has deteriorated into intimidation by our government.
Our very own War President - Donald, "the unhinged, FELON" Trump.
"MAGA is rapidly descending into 21st-century colonial fantasy, dressed up in the language of national security and draped in the flag of patriotism. “America First” is currently being reimagined as the public resurrection of a colonial project. Along with Saturday’s military assault in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, which killed around 75 people according to an estimate by U.S. officials, Donald Trump has also bombed targets in Nigeria, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Somalia in his first year back in office. Now his administration is openly encroaching upon Greenland, a NATO ally, which is finally raising bipartisan alarm bells on Capitol Hill. "
You can see that in the MAGA words apologizing for Trump in this very forum.Gee, ESO, how much more sugar coating, equivocation are we to bear, when the facts are quite evident to anyone who is honest enough to look? If the entire world is telling you that you are drunk, perhaps it is time to take a seat…..
Well it looks like someone can't take the heat and the Truth
Now we know the REAL reason Trump is going after Greenland - he didn't get his Nobel Peace Prize!
{b]"Norway’s PM says Trump sent letter tying Nobel prize snub to Greenland ambitions"[/b]
"“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS (that is a LIE), I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Trump wrote Sunday, adding he sought “Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
The little boy is throwing a tantrum and Greenland/Europe is paying the price.
https://www.politico.eu/article/norway- … ambitions/ESO, that is a direct quote from Trump? A lame duck in tantrum, a “Baby Huey”. Talk about a pouting toddler, what else do people have to see before they are willing to accept the obvious?
Yes, given the context, tone, and target (a foreign leader), what he wrote can reasonably be interpreted, in my view, as a political threat. It signals a willingness to escalate beyond peaceful policy if his demands aren’t taken seriously. Whether it becomes an actual attempt to seize territory or use force is a separate question, but the language and linkage to a personal snub make it far outside normal diplomatic communication, for sure...
It does sound like a threat, and that interpretation is supported by how European officials, NATO partners, and even neutral observers are reacting to it
Yup. Pathetic.
But what's why of the "rational" ones?
“Look, the whole history of America has been a history of acquiring new lands and new territories, whether you go back to Thomas Jefferson making the Louisiana Purchase — about half of the United States of America today — or you go back to America purchasing Alaska from Russia. You want to talk about — at the time they called it ‘Seward’s Folly’ — It turned out to, to be an extraordinarily consequential purchase,” Cruz said Sunday.
“Greenland has massive rare earth minerals and critical minerals. There are enormous economic benefits to America, but like Alaska, it is located on the Arctic, which is a major theater for major military conflict with either Russia or China,” he added.
That's why military bases are not enough.
The "national security purposes" is as truthful as the no longer mentioned "Venezuelan drugs". Greed.
Europe is readying the big guns for an economic war that Trump is bringing on.
"Trump has tariffs. Europe has a ‘trade bazooka.’ This Greenland standoff could get ugly, fast"
"Neither side appears to be messing around: In an extraordinary escalation of Trump’s pursuit of Greenland, the president announced Saturday that he would impose 10% tariffs on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It would increase to 25% if an agreement is not reached by June 1.
That triggered an emergency meeting of European countries’ representatives Sunday, and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly asked the European Union to activate its so-called anti-coercion instrument, colloquially known as a “trade bazooka.” The trade bazooka could block some of America’s access to EU markets or impose export controls, among a broader list of potential countermeasures.
The EU may be receptive to Macron’s call, based on comments Monday from its executive arm. “People ask me, ‘Is the anti-coercion instrument back on the table?’ It was never off the table,” Olof Gill, a spokesperson for the European Commission, told reporters. “The EU has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond should the threatened tariffs be imposed.”
The trade bazooka was created with countries like China in mind, not allies like the United States, noted Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.
The bloc will also consider imposing €93 billion ($108 billion) of previously announced retaliatory tariffs against the United States that were delayed when the EU and United States reached a tentative trade truce in July last year, according to Reuters."
Yeah, this is just normal diplomatic language not directed at Trump for sure, lol.
Trump is bound and determined to ruin the US economy one way or another.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/business … iffs-trade
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-expl … d-threats/Trump's push to confront Europe over Greenland once again suggests that Trump is working for China and Russia (the ultimate victors in his naked aggression) rather than US and Western interests.
Hopefully, Republicans will consider one of their own members call to impeach Trump.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/politics … -analysis'Ya got to love it! Trump throws his staff under the bus!
Get This -
"At least some European leaders still hold out hope such a deal is possible. After conversations with Trump this weekend, some officials said the president appeared receptive to their clarifications on why some European nations were sending troops to Greenland. According to a senior British official, Trump conceded in a phone call with Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he may have been given “bad information” on the European deployment of troops to Greenland."
What a boss, lol.I just hope this kerfuffle with Europe over Greenland doesn't impact my access to Britbox.
Not being able to watch my shows would be really upsetting.This is where we are today because of Trump, "the FELON".
"American Battleground: The peace president’s busy year of gunboat diplomacy"
"Before the stealth bombers streaked through the Middle Eastern night, or the missiles rained down on suspected terrorists in Africa, or commandos snatched a South American president from his bedroom, or the icy slopes of Greenland braced for the threat of invasion, there was an idea at the White House.
It was a philosophy put into action by President Donald Trump but enunciated by top aide Stephen Miller.
“We live in a world, in the real world, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power,” Miller told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “These are the iron laws of the world that have existed since the beginning of time.” - I can picture Putin or Un or Maduro saying exactly the same thing, can't you? -
That is undoubtedly the kind of world the president has imagined ever since he stepped back into the Oval Office. While diplomats, global affairs analysts and foreign leaders stared open-mouthed, Trump spent his first year laying out a long list of demands and grievances he wants the world to answer for — or else, he’s threatened, it will answer to the collected powers of the United States.
His military inclinations have frequently led the way. Nodding heavily to the Department of Defense — which he calls the Department of War — Trump has routinely insinuated that the vast armaments under his command could be brought to bear on all sorts of foreign foes. It wasn’t just bluster.
In Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, Trump unleashed air attacks on groups identified as terrorists by intelligence forces. In Iran, he sent American planes to pound nuclear facilities with bunker-busting bombs. And after months of videos of alleged drug-running boats being blown out of the water in both the Caribbean and Pacific, - not to mention murdering survivors - Trump approved the huge raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
What’s more, Trump quickly declared the United States would effectively run the oil-rich nation for the foreseeable future. What did that mean? Sen. Tom Cotton had an idea. “When the president said the United States is going to be running Venezuela, it means that the new leaders of Venezuela need to meet our demands,” the Arkansas Republican told CNN’s Dana Bash. - when did America turn into such an ass-hole nation? Jan 20, 2025, that's when.
But the details of such a plan remain a mystery and apparently a work in progress. And the debate about Venezuela’s future was rapidly drowned out by yet another round of saber-rattling from Trump. Right after the move against Maduro, he threatened Cuba and another South American president: “Colombia is producing a lot of drugs … so he better wise up or he’ll be next.”
Early in his second term, Trump made noise about the United States reclaiming control of the Panama Canal, turning Canada into the 51st state and taking over Greenland. When both Greenland and Denmark, the country that oversees the self-governing Arctic territory, said, “No, thanks,” that issue faded. - I believe those last three words were referring to Trumps 2019 desire to buy Greenland.
But with Maduro standing before a judge in New York accused of drug trafficking (never mind that Trump recently pardoned another Latin American leader sentenced to 45 years for — you guessed it — drug running), the US president resumed the drumbeat for America taking ownership of the world’s largest island.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” he said, insisting it is critical to US security, even as critics noted Greenland has hosted an American military base and shown broad agreement to meet US needs in the region for many decades." - note that the security reason is FALSE because we already have the necessary agreements in place.
And the analysis goes on from there
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/20/politics … rump-worldReactions for world leaders:
"• Macron took swipes at Trump’s foreign policy in stark remarks at Davos, warning of a world “where international law is trampled under foot - Yeah, Trump's foot
.”* European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke about the need to build “a new form of European independence.” - Which can only be bad for America. Why does Trump seemingly hate America so much and want to help our enemies?
Even Russia understands the damage Trump is doing; "Meanwhile, disunity over Greenland threatens NATO’s “continued existence as a unified bloc,” according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Why isn't it dawning on the Trump apologists that, and pardon the pun, there is something rotten in Denmark?Trump has three puppeteers pulling his strings. Stephen Miller who controls deportation policies, foreign policies, and ICE. Peter Navaro who controls all the tariff policies, and Steve Bannon who influences Trumps need for Democratic Nationalism.
While Bannon is not in the White House, he has a huge influence over Trump's need for America First. The vision is to make America self-sufficient where corporations do not need to rely on outside goods, services, and manufacturing.
During the cold war with the Soviet Union, we and other countries used containment policies to keep Russia from trading in the global marketplace and look what happed to Russia. In my opinion Trump and his influencers are stuck in the 60's where we had huge manufacturing assembly lines and no need for importing goods and services. Look at Russia now. They are trading in the global marketplace, and their economy is much better than it was in the 60's
Almost all of Trump's administration are clones of him. The only qualification he requires is loyalty. They all operate in the group think mode. If anyone has different ideas, they will summarily be fired by Trump himself.
Although he has visions of America First, he also has a need for imperialism. To me it is a very strange dichotomy. Either he takes care of his country and respect the sovereignty of other countries, but he can't do both.
But with Trump it is all about the show of power and follow the money to make deals. The problem is that his policies leave no room for a democratic president. He has made permanent changes that will be difficult to unwind. I believe he wants to stay in office until he dies, Steve Bannon is making plans for him to run in 2028. He leaves no room for returning the country to a Democratic Republic only more GOP, MAGA, conservatives.I guess I am not as nice as you - I don't think Trump's concern for America extends any further than "what can I get for myself".
Trump's total and complete weaponization of the gov't against people he simply doesn't like (or worse) is irrefutable. Even the blind Trump apologists should agree now.
"• Officials subpoenaed: Leaders in Minnesota and the Twin Cities have criticized the Justice Department for subpoenaing them as part of an investigation into whether local officials obstructed federal immigration enforcement efforts that have drawn strong backlash.
• Church protest investigated: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said there would be arrests made related to the protests that disrupted a service at a St. Paul church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent reportedly serves as a pastor. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is investigating. The church said it welcomes “respectful dialogue,” and is evaluating “next steps with our legal counsel.”"
I would agree the disruption was probably illegal - not just because it was a church - but it is a state matter, not federal. But the weaponized DOIL is trying to make it federal.The VERY REAL Trump weaponization of DOIJ took a hit today as a Trump appointed judge excoriated a Trump installed U.S. Attorney put there for the sole purpose of indicting his political enemies James Comey and Latisha James.
Embarrassingly, Comey's case was dismissed and his lapdog Attorney General Bondi couldn't find a grand jury dishonest enough to reindict Janes.
"Lindsey Halligan departs Justice Department hours after Trump-appointed federal judge calls her leadership a ‘charade’"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/20/politics … ol-charadeUS makes initial $500M Venezuelan oil deal; some proceeds headed to Qatari bank
The Trump administration has completed its first Venezuelan oil sale, valued at $500 million, an administration official confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday.
The official also said additional sales are expected in the coming days and weeks.
Semafor first reported the deal, including that revenue from it is being held in bank accounts, including one in Qatar, that are controlled by the U.S. government.
Massie rips Trump’s sale of Venezuelan oil ‘for his own piggy bank’
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) criticized President Trump on Tuesday over his administration’s handling of Venezuela’s oil after ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, highlighting the funds it will receive from selling that oil.
Massie, a fiscal hawk who has been known to break with GOP leaders on issues related to spending, described oil acquired from Venezuela as “stolen” in a post on the social platform X and argued the administration was circumventing Congress’s power of the purse.
“Selling stolen oil and putting billions of dollars in a bank in Qatar to be spent without Congressional approval is not Constitutional,” the lawmaker wrote. ”Only Congress can appropriate money.”
“The President can’t legally create a second Treasury overseas for his own piggy bank,” he added. “Wake up Congress.”
Trump announced earlier this month that Venezuela would turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to be sold by the U.S.
“This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.
It could be just the start of such sales, as the Energy Department has indicated the U.S. will sell Venezuelan oil “indefinitely.”
SMHI asked AI who bought the oil?
The buyer was Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil‑trading firm — specifically a deal secured by senior Vitol trader John Addison, one of Trump’s biggest megadonors. The reporting shows that the first tranche of Venezuelan crude under Trump’s new program went to Vitol, whose executives had just met with Trump at the White House.
Who bought the oil?
Vitol purchased the first shipment of Venezuelan crude.
The deal was valued at roughly $250 million for the first batch, with additional sales expected to reach the $500M figure you’re referencing.
The Vitol executive who helped secure the contract — John Addison — donated about $6 million to Trump‑aligned PACs and met with Trump days before the sale.
Why this matters
Vitol was the only company with two senior officials present at Trump’s White House meeting with oil executives before the sale.
The administration plans to sell 30–50 million barrels of seized Venezuelan crude, meaning Vitol may be the first of several buyers.
Critics argue the sale raises conflict‑of‑interest concerns because of the donor connection.
Bottom line
The buyer wasn’t anonymous — it was Vitol, and the deal was facilitated by a top Vitol trader who is also a major Trump donor.Yes, Vitol bought the first shipment of Venezuelan crude, and yes, John Addison, a senior Vitol trader, has donated to Trump-aligned PACs. That alone does not make the sale illegal or unethical. The entire transaction was conducted under U.S. government oversight, the oil was controlled by the U.S., the sale was at market price, and the proceeds are being held in government-controlled accounts, including one in Qatar. This is standard procedure for managing restricted foreign assets and preventing seizure or misuse. (Reuters}
Moreover, Venezuela is benefiting from this sale. Part of the proceeds is already being routed back into Venezuelan banks to stabilize currency markets and allow the country to import essential goods. This isn’t just a windfall for a U.S. company or donor; it’s helping the Venezuelan economy, which counters the narrative that the sale was purely self-serving. (Reuters)
This was fully legal under U.S. law. The President has authority to manage foreign assets, especially under agreements with interim authorities and emergency powers related to foreign policy. There’s no evidence that Congress was bypassed illegally or that Trump personally enriched himself. Holding the funds in a government-controlled foreign account is standard and above board.
So yes, Vitol purchased the oil, and donations exist, but facts matter, and need to be clarified to prevent misinformation. The sale was legal, transparent, and structured to benefit both the U.S. and Venezuela, not just a single company or individual.
My reading source -- https://www.reuters.com/business/energy … hatgpt.com"Yes, Vitol bought the first shipment of Venezuelan crude, and yes, John Addison, a senior Vitol trader, has donated to Trump-aligned PACs. That alone does not make the sale illegal or unethical." - REALLY! According to Trump it does.
I’m fully aware, and as you’ve already made clear, you’re not interested in my view. That said, when something is posted and I believe it needs the other side of the coin, I’m going to add my perspective. Free speech can be inconvenient like that.
I strongly disagree with the way this is being framed, because several key claims here are opinions presented as fact.
I see no evidence that this oil is “Trump’s piggy bank.” The proceeds from the Venezuelan oil sale are being held in accounts controlled by the U.S. government, not by Donald Trump personally. That distinction matters. Holding funds overseas, including in places like Qatar, is not new, unusual, or illegal in international finance. Prior administrations have done the same thing with restricted or sanctioned foreign assets to prevent seizure, corruption, or misuse.
Calling the oil “stolen” is an assertion, not a legal finding. Venezuela’s oil was turned over as part of a negotiated arrangement following the removal of Maduro. No court has ruled that this oil was unlawfully seized by the U.S. That word choice is political rhetoric, not established fact.
The claim that this automatically violates the Constitution oversimplifies how executive power actually works. Yes, Congress controls appropriations, but the executive branch has long managed foreign assets, seized property, and proceeds from international agreements under existing statutory and emergency authorities. This is a gray legal area that courts decide, not something that becomes unconstitutional just because a member of Congress says so on X.
This money is not just sitting unused. A portion of the proceeds is already being routed back into Venezuela’s financial system to stabilize currency markets and allow imports. That directly contradicts the idea that this is some personal slush fund.
The idea that Trump “created a second Treasury” is flat-out misleading. These are restricted-purpose accounts, not a replacement for the U.S. Treasury, and Trump cannot legally spend this money however he wants. If he tried, that’s when Congress and the courts would step in — and they haven’t, because there’s no evidence that’s happening.
I think it’s telling that the loudest accusations rely on loaded language (“stolen,” “piggy bank,” “wake up Congress”) instead of documented misuse of funds. If there were proof of personal enrichment or illegal spending, that evidence would already be front-page news. It isn’t, because it doesn’t exist.
I see a controversial foreign policy move that deserves scrutiny, but I do not see proof of theft, personal enrichment, or a clear constitutional violation. Those claims are opinion, not fact, and they shouldn’t be treated as settled truth.But here is the context:
"You’re right that the money isn’t sitting in Donald Trump’s personal checking account. Reuters reports the proceeds are held in U.S.-controlled accounts, with the main account in Qatar.
But that doesn’t make the “piggy bank” critique go away. The criticism is about executive control and discretion: the U.S. is selling another country’s oil and controlling the proceeds, and the administration issued an executive order to structure and shield those funds.
Also, Trump himself publicly framed the arrangement as money “controlled by me, as President,” which is exactly why people view it as personalistic and politically dangerous—even if the bank account is formally “U.S. government controlled.”
So the real debate isn’t “is Trump personally pocketing cash.” It’s whether this is a legitimate, accountable, law-bound custodial mechanism—or an unprecedented concentration of power over a foreign state’s core revenue stream."
Further -
"“No court has ruled” doesn’t prove it’s lawful; it mostly proves the policy is new and litigation hasn’t run. In fact, the administration issued an executive order specifically designed to prevent courts/creditors from attaching the proceeds, so the absence of a ruling is not a neutral fact. That needs to be litigated now because its constitutionality is greatly in question.
Also, comparing this to routine ‘holding sanctioned assets’ oversimplifies what’s happening. Reuters reports the U.S. has conducted Venezuelan oil sales and placed the proceeds in U.S.-controlled accounts (main account in Qatar).
The real question isn’t whether Trump personally pockets cash; it’s whether the U.S. executive can unilaterally sell a foreign state’s core resource and control the revenue stream under an emergency framework, while insulating the proceeds from normal legal process. That’s not settled just because no court has issued a final judgment yet.”"
Trump finally said what people want to hear, he has taken military force off the table to acquire Greenland. Yeah, right, and I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you. Trump is a pathological liar and you take what he says as true at your own peril. Europe needs to assume he will invade if they don't cave in.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/21/politics … -takeawaysTrump spewed so many lies at Davos, I don't have space to repeat them all here.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/21/politics … fact-check
I listened to part of his ramblings on the way to work this morning and boy was I embarrassed for the United States. He was often incoherent, self-aggrandizing, not able to join two sentences together that made sense, couldn't keep track of where he was in his talk, didn't know the difference between Greenland and Iceland, and insulting - boy was he insulting.
He made the U.S. look like fools.If I didn't know better, I would say this looks very much like Trump threw in the towel, thank God.
"Trump says he’s formed a ‘framework of a future deal’ on Greenland"
• Greenland deal: US President Donald Trump says he has “formed the framework of a future deal” on Greenland after a meeting with the NATO chief Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland. He described it as an “infinite” agreement, without providing specifics. Trump also said new tariffs are no longer needed on European nations that opposed his ambitions"
"https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-news-01-21-26Our very own megalomaniac is at it again.
"US President Donald Trump is struggling to attract Western allies to his “Board of Peace,” but has, so far, garnered the support of Middle Eastern monarchs, the man known as Europe’s last dictator, and at least one leader wanted for alleged war crimes.
Trump has invited dozens of countries to join the board that seeks to resolve global conflicts, but its remit has alarmed several US allies, as has the US leader’s comment that it “might” replace the United Nations.
The board, indefinitely chaired by Trump, was originally conceived as a limited body tasked to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, which was decimated by Israel’s two-year war. But its purpose has since expanded to tackle conflicts the world over, and the charter draft, which was sent along with the invitations to join, does not even reference Gaza.
US adversaries Russia and China, as well as longtime repressive state Belarus, are among those invited to join the board, offering permanent seats for a $1 billion price tag. European allies, oil-rich gulf states, former Soviet republics and even the Pope have also received offers to join.
But a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos was attended fewer than 20 countries – mostly from the Middle East, Asia and South America – far fewer than the roughly 35 that a senior administration official predicted to reporters earlier this week. European leaders were visibly absent, with the only Western European nation represented was Hungary – one of Russia’s closest allies in Europe"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/22/world/tr … r-intl-hnkWhat I think is being missed in the Davos discussion is that Trump didn’t walk away empty-handed; he walked away with the framework of a deal. That distinction matters. High-level negotiations rarely conclude with signatures on day one; they conclude with alignment on interests, leverage points, and future concessions. By that measure, Davos wasn’t a retreat; it was positioning.
Through pressure and leverage, Trump appears to have advanced two long-term U.S. priorities that rarely get discussed honestly. First, the groundwork for an integrated missile-defense architecture, what he’s referred to as a protective dome, aimed at countering long-range threats from rogue states and emerging adversaries. That kind of system doesn’t get built through polite consensus; it requires leverage, access agreements, and strategic buy-in that only come when partners understand the U.S. is serious.
Second, and arguably more consequential, is mineral access. Advanced defense systems, AI, semiconductors, energy storage, and next-generation weapons all depend on rare earths and critical minerals. For years, the West has talked about reducing dependence on China while doing very little to change it. What Trump pushed at Davos was a shift from rhetoric to supply-chain reality, securing rights and partnerships that allow the U.S. to manufacture what it needs without being strategically hostage to Beijing.
That’s why framing this as Trump “backing down” misses the point. Walking away with a negotiated framework that advances national defense and technological independence isn’t weakness; it’s leverage exercised with a long horizon in mind. Davos wasn’t about applause lines or diplomatic niceties; it was about shaping conditions for future agreements that strengthen U.S. security while others remain focused on tone and optics.
And that’s ultimately why I view this as a win. Not because of personalities or headlines, but because it advances the core interests of my country. Strengthening long-term national security, reducing strategic vulnerabilities, and ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of innovation and technological leadership are outcomes worth being unapologetic about. If securing those goals requires disrupting comfortable assumptions or upsetting established power dynamics, so be it. I’m encouraged to see an American president willing to fight for those priorities, because in the end, this isn’t about winning a news cycle, it’s about keeping the United States secure, competitive, and positioned to remain number one in innovation and prosperity.
WINNING!Could Trump be misunderstood? It would seem that after so many years of him on the world stage, he should not be. His style is hyperbolic, sometimes deliberately so, but beneath it is a consistent pattern: an instinct for identifying problems before they fully surface and then forcing attention on them when others would rather defer, soften, or delay.
Trump tends to focus on vulnerabilities in defense, trade, supply chains, immigration, energy, and alliances, which are inconvenient to acknowledge because fixing them requires disruption. Instead of managing decline or preserving appearances, he pushes to avert future problems while there is still leverage to do so. That’s why he’s willing to use every tool available to him: economic pressure, public confrontation, unconventional rhetoric, and hard bargaining. Those tools make people uncomfortable precisely because they bypass the usual diplomatic choreography.
He is unconventional, and that deeply irritates both political elites and foreign leaders who are accustomed to predictability and decorum being treated as virtues in themselves. But predictability isn’t always strength, and decorum doesn’t stop adversaries from exploiting weakness. Trump’s approach trades polish for urgency, and consensus for leverage. That tradeoff angers people, but it also forces issues into the open that might otherwise continue to fester until they become crises.
It would be normal for some to dislike this man, because he may simply be someone whose intelligence, strategic insight, and relentless drive to get things done are qualities that most could not match. He tackles problems that previous presidents either lacked the ability, the vision, or the willingness to solve, and that kind of uncommon aptitude and spirit naturally creates friction. Whether one agrees with his methods or not, the results-oriented focus and refusal to ignore emerging risks set him apart in ways that are both remarkable and polarizing.Jack Smith testifies to what we all know to be true
"•Threats to democracy: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith warned that there are potentially “catastrophic” ongoing threats to US democracy because of the failure to hold President Donald Trump accountable for his “criminal” attempts to overturn the 2020 election."Trumpers, picture this. You are sitting down for dinner in your warm comfortable home one night. Unknown to you, somebody calls the ICE tip line saying you are harboring nannies who might be undocumented. ICE comes busting down your door stumbling all over themselves screaming "administrative warrant, administrative warrant". They ransack your house in spite of your declaration that you are a Trumper, and then remember to add "an American citizen". Of course, you don't have any nannies, undocumented or otherwise. The ICE agents depart without so much as an apology.
That can (and probably will) happen to you now because Trump has suspended the Fourth Amendment.
"New ICE policy allows officers to enter homes without a judge’s warrant. Here’s what experts say"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/22/politics … at-we-know"Administrative warrants are signed by ICE officers after an immigration judge orders the removal of an undocumented immigrant."
So, there has to be a detainer in place for it to go before an immigration judge. That means, a judge DOES sign off on it, a detainer is in place, the illegal immigrant has a history for this to happen.
This means local judges are no longer able to interfere with federal immigration enforcement because of political motivations.
Seems like a good idea.I agree. In my view, if someone is in the country illegally, they should either leave or be subject to the laws that govern arrest and detention. Choosing to remain unlawfully is a decision to break those laws, and it comes with the risk of being detained wherever enforcement occurs. That is a matter of personal choice. I expect American citizens to follow our laws, and I don’t hold illegal migrants to a different standard.
Good idea? Is it? I have heard that ICE agents have been entering homes without warrants, is that true?
Once again you speak like you prefer an Authoritarian regime as opposed to a democratic one based on the Rule of Law and separation of power.
We went to a Mexican restaurant for breakfast. There were several police cars in the parking lot. A teenager and some other people and the local police were all standing in a circle and talking. We went into the restaurant and asked what was going on.
They said ICE was here and they took away the gardener who was working and left his 16 years old son here. We talked to the son and we found that his dad had been here for 25 years undocumented. He didn't know where they took him, but he said It would take $40,000.00 to release him. He didn't have that much money, so they were going to deport him...no due process. As we were leaving there was a person with a lot of documents and a clip board. It turns out she was an advocate for the Mexican people in our community. She was going to help the boy get home and make sure he was safe.
We live in Placentia CA and it has large Mexican demographic. it used to be an area where many generations of Mexicans worked picking and processing of oranges in the many orange grovesI don't think you know the entire story. I'd love to hear the ICE view of the situation before I made any judgement.
People on the left are notorious for their lies.So, you are calling me a liar because I'm from the left. That's rich, your president holds the trophy for being the biggest liar of them all. He lies every chance he gets. Oh, that's right, he doesn't call it lying, he calls it Truthful Hyperbole.
You are right I didn't tell the entire story for the sake of brevity. ICE had already left before we arrived. The boy actually came into the restaurant and sat right in front of us. I asked him what happened and he told me the entire story about his dad being taken away while they were doing gardening in the front of the restaurant. He had this forlorn look on his face.
After he told us the story a police officer came in and took him to back of the restaurant and had a long talk with him. After that he went outside and waited for the advocate to come.
Your wanted to know what ICE had to say is a hypothetical which creates an unknown situation for your benefit, The next time you call someone a liar without anything to back it up, think about your president and his lies, 30,000 documented times in his first term, and still counting in his second term.It hurts the brain trying to rationalize away 40,000 - the count has increased over the last year.
Wait--- do you feel that ICE is asking migrants to pay some sort of fee to stay in the country? I have never heard of anything that one can pay to stay. Could you offer some form of source that would have you consider this factual?
It could be for bail. In any case, the boy said the families don't have that kind of money. It's a moot point because according to the son, he is being deported immediately without due process of law. The last time I looked that was illegal. But it is also understandable under Miller's quota of 3,000 per day deportation. Oh, Trump wants to bump it up to 5,000 per day. Go big or go home.
Yes — deporting someone without due process is illegals. immigration law and the Constitution require that a person facing removal must receive specific procedural protections. When ICE bypasses those protections, the action is unlawful.
What “due process” means in immigration cases
Even though immigration proceedings are civil (not criminal), the Supreme Court has long held that non‑citizens are entitled to due process under the Fifth Amendment. That includes:
Notice of the charges (a formal Notice to Appear)
A hearing before an immigration judge
The right to present evidence
The right to challenge the government’s claims
The right to an attorney (at your own expense)
Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment
ICE cannot legally remove someone unless these steps occur — except in a few narrow, legally defined categories (explained below).
When deportation without a hearing is allowed — and still must follow law
There are limited statutory procedures where ICE can remove someone without a full court hearing, but even these require legal steps:
1. Expedited removal
Applies mostly at the border or to recent arrivals.
Officers must still follow statutory procedures, verify identity, and screen for asylum claims.
If they skip these steps, the removal is unlawful.
2. Reinstatement of a prior removal order
Applies only if someone was previously deported and re‑entered.
ICE must still confirm identity and the validity of the old order.
3. Stipulated removal
A person signs a voluntary agreement to be removed in front of a judge.
Coercion or lack of understanding makes it invalid.
If ICE removes someone outside these legal channels, it violates federal law and the Constitution.
What counts as illegal deportation?
A deportation is unlawful if ICE:
Removes someone without issuing a Notice to Appear
Removes someone without a hearing when a hearing is legally required
Ignores asylum claims or credible‑fear screenings
Detains or removes U.S. citizens (which ICE has done in multiple cases)
Acts without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, violating the Fourth Amendment
Blocks access to legal counsel
Fabricates or misrepresents evidence
Any of these can make the deportation illegal and expose the government to lawsuits.
Why this matters right now
Recent reporting shows ICE engaging in indiscriminate arrests and denying bond hearings, raising serious due‑process concerns. Courts have repeatedly ruled that ICE cannot detain or deport people without following constitutional and statutory procedures.
How many Venezuelans did Miller deport in unmarked aircraft in the middle of the night and sent them to CECOT without any due process of law? Of course, if you are going to have mass deportations, everybody knows they don't have time for due process of law.ICE is picking up and detaining illegal migrants who are deemed by due process to be here illegally and should have left. Once an illegal migrant has received due process and a final removal order, bond is no longer available — detention is mandatory until deportation.
Before due process is complete
Some non-citizens can request bond while their case is pending, depending on:
How they entered the U.S.
Criminal history
Whether they are subject to mandatory detention
Whether they are in expedited removal
An immigration judge may grant bond before a final decision, but it’s discretionary and limited.
2. After due process is complete (final order of removal)
If an individual:
Has gone through immigration proceedings or
Waived a hearing or
Lost their case and received a final order of removal
They are not eligible for bond.
At that point:
ICE detention is mandatory
Release on bond is not an option
The person is held pending deportation
This is settled immigration law.
3. Why no bond after a final order
Once due process has concluded:
The person has no lawful status
The government has a legal obligation to remove them
Bond would undermine enforcement of the court’s order
Courts have consistently held that post-order detention is lawful so long as removal is reasonably foreseeable.
4. Common confusion
People often confuse:
“Due process” with a criminal trial (immigration is civil law), or
Bond eligibility before vs. after a final ruling
That confusion fuels the claim that ICE is “denying rights,” when in reality the legal process has already ended.
Your comment seems to suggest you believe people are being deported without due process. I did some research on this and found three deportation cases that argue that due process was not adequate.
ICE is picking up and detaining illegal migrants who are deemed by due process to be here illegally and should have left. They have no option of bail. All deported individuals have received due process.
Your comment seems to indicate that you believe people are being deported without due process. I must ask you for a source. I have not read any reports on anyone was deproted without due process.
1) The 2-year-old U.S. citizen (identified as “V.M.L.”)
What happened: The child was removed with her non-citizen parent during a family deportation.
Key point: The government’s position was that the parent chose to take the child rather than leave her in the U.S.
Court response: A federal judge questioned whether the process was adequate and ordered clarification, using the phrase “no meaningful process.”
Outcome:
This was not a rogue ICE deportation of a citizen alone.
It became a procedural review, not a criminal or mass violation finding.
No court ruled that ICE intentionally deported a citizen without process; it was a custody and consent issue, not a summary removal.
2) The three U.S. citizen children cited by the ACLU
What happened: Children were removed with their deported parents.
Key point: Under U.S. law, parents decide whether their minor U.S.-citizen children accompany them.
ACLU claim: The parents lacked sufficient access to lawyers or communication.
Outcome:
No court ruling found ICE deported the children unlawfully.
No finding that ICE violated constitutional due process.
These cases remain advocacy claims, not adjudicated violations.
3) “O.C.G.” (Guatemalan national deported to Mexico)
What happened: He was deported under expedited removal.
Court finding: A judge ruled the government failed to adequately consider his fear-based claim.
Outcome:
The court ordered the government to facilitate his return so he could receive proper process.
This shows the system self-corrected through judicial review.
It was a procedural error, not proof of deportations without any due process system.
What this tells us
No confirmed cases exist where ICE randomly deported people with zero legal process as a policy.
The cited examples involve:
Family decisions,
Disputes over whether procedures were sufficient,
Or errors later corrected by courts.
When mistakes occur, courts intervene — which itself demonstrates due process exists.
In the cases people point to, no one was secretly or randomly deported without the law being involved. These situations involved family removals, procedural disputes, or errors that courts later reviewed and corrected. That’s not the absence of due process — that’s the system working through it.
I feel anyone here illegally should leave after they exhausted due process. I don't support any of our laws, be it state or federal laws.The TRUTH isn't what you started with. The TRUTH is “CE detains a mix of people: some with final removal orders, and many who are still in immigration proceedings or seeking relief. ICE arrests are often based on administrative warrants signed within DHS, not judge-signed warrants.
SPOILER ALERT
Due process is not only for criminal actions. The Constitution’s Due Process Clauses apply to government actions that take away “life, liberty, or property”—including civil actions like immigration detention and deportation.
"I feel anyone here illegally should leave after they exhausted due process. I don't support any of our laws, be it state or federal laws." - then why are you so adamant that DHS deny most of those they detain the very due process you say they should get?
You offered that before as I recall - it was clearly ignored because it doesn't fit their authoritarian narrative.
It could be for bail. In any case, the boy said the families doesn't have that kind of money. It's a moot point because he is being deported immediately without due process of law. The last time I looked that was illegal. But it is also understandable under Miller's quota of 3,000 per day deportation. Oh, Trump wants to bump it up to 5,000 per day. Go big or don't go home.
Yes — deporting someone without due process is illegal.U.S. immigration law and the Constitution require that a person facing removal must receive specific procedural protections. When ICE bypasses those protections, the action is unlawful.
What “due process” means in immigration cases
Even though immigration proceedings are civil (not criminal), the Supreme Court has long held that non citizens are entitled to due process under the Fifth Amendment. That includes:
Notice of the charges (a formal Notice to Appear)
A hearing before an immigration judge
The right to present evidence
The right to challenge the government’s claims
The right to an attorney (at your own expense)
Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment
ICE cannot legally remove someone unless these steps occur — except in a few narrow, legally defined categories (explained below).
When deportation without a hearing is allowed — and still must follow law
There are limited statutory procedures where ICE can remove someone without a full court hearing, but even these require legal steps:
1. Expedited removal
Applies mostly at the border or to recent arrivals.
Officers must still follow statutory procedures, verify identity, and screen for asylum claims.
If they skip these steps, the removal is unlawful.
2. Reinstatement of a prior removal order
Applies only if someone was previously deported and re entered.
ICE must still confirm identity and the validity of the old order.
3. Stipulated removal
A person signs a voluntary agreement to be removed in front of a judge.
Coercion or lack of understanding makes it invalid.
If ICE removes someone outside these legal channels, it violates federal law and the Constitution.
What counts as illegal deportation?
A deportation is unlawful if ICE:
Removes someone without issuing a Notice to Appear
Removes someone without a hearing when a hearing is legally required
Ignores asylum claims or credible fear screenings
Detains or removes U.S. citizens (which ICE has done in multiple cases)
Acts without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, violating the Fourth Amendment
Blocks access to legal counsel
Fabricates or misrepresents evidence
Any of these can make the deportation illegal and expose the government to lawsuits.
Why this matters right now
Recent reporting shows ICE engaging in indiscriminate arrests and denying bond hearings, raising serious due process concerns. Courts have repeatedly ruled that ICE cannot detain or deport people without following constitutional and statutory procedures.
Bottom line
Yes. Deporting someone without due process is illegal.ICE must follow constitutional protections and immigration statutes. When it doesn’t, the removal is unlawful and can be challenged in federal court.I replied to this comment yesterday; you missed it. Here is the link to my reply.
https://hubpages.com/politics/forum/369 … ost4393847
If the removal is ordered by an immigration judge and then the warrant is issued...that is following the law.
Problem is people forget the supremacy clause that federal law supersedes state and local law.
That's reality.
Trump’s claim about British troops isn’t just wrong — it’s insulting.
What’s striking is how completely it has united politics in the UK. Every major party — including Reform UK, whose leader Nigel Farage is normally one of Trump’s closest political allies — has condemned the remark. Farage himself has said Trump was “wrong” on this, which tells you how far outside the mark the claim was. And Sir Kier Starmer is now calling for a public apology from Trump.
It’s not a minor slip. It’s a statement that diminishes the sacrifice of British soldiers who fought and died there, and that’s why the reaction hasn’t just come from politicians — it’s come from the wider British public too. Veterans, military families, and ordinary citizens alike have been shocked and insulted by the false claim from Trump.
For anyone who wants to see the clip in context, British Sky News has the segment here: https://youtu.be/Za3Ztr0CmIo
Given how many families in the UK still carry the cost of that war, this kind of revisionism isn’t harmless rhetoric. It’s insulting to the people who actually served.Again, on behalf of rational Americans, my apologies for the uncalled for actions of our dangerously mentally ill president.
What Trump said, along with being one of his famous lies, is uncalled for and shameful and not representative of how most of America feels.I appreciate that — and I know full well that the vast majority of Americans don’t share Trump’s view. Your comment reflects that, and it’s taken in the spirit you intended.
I finally set aside some time to watch Trump’s full interview at Davos—not the clips the media loves to highlight, not the snippets designed to make him look reckless, but the entire conversation. And honestly? Now I see exactly why the “globalist” crowd gets so uneasy. No scripts, no handlers, no apology tour. He went in there and made it clear: America isn’t here to bail out everyone else or prop up failing systems.
He tackled the big issues head-on: from securing strategic assets like Greenland, strengthening our national security, holding NATO accountable, taking control of energy, reining in Iran, and calling out reckless banking practices, to warning credit card companies they can’t take everyday Americans for granted.
What really struck me was how calm and measured he was. No theatrics, no overreactions—just someone confident, someone who knows how to get things done, even while the “experts” sit around pretending to have all the answers. And while the media paints him as chaotic, the same people who mismanaged the economy, opened our borders recklessly, and compromised our position on the world stage are somehow still considered the “adults.”
He didn’t just talk big policy; he brought it back to real Americans. He addressed things that affect our daily lives—skyrocketing credit card rates, housing costs, energy prices, and jobs. Not lectures on climate virtue signaling. Not feel-good global messaging. Real problems, real people, real solutions.
I may not agree with everything about his style, but if you watch the full interview, you can see that he’s not just talking. He’s acting. And that’s exactly why the establishment is on edge—he’s no longer playing their game, and they know it.
He just said it loud and clear: “Got you back, America.” And it’s obvious that any globalist who heard him loud and clear knows exactly what’s coming—hence the whining.https://youtu.be/bjvresvrXZo
This is what Trump’s ICE really means in practice. People are horrified for a reason — what’s happening is genuinely shocking. It’s disturbing to watch, and it should disturb people.The meaning and goal of ICE is the same as that of the Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts): to provoke people so that the government has a reason to introduce stricter laws.
One possible goal is to prevent elections. Therefore, a dictatorship is created. In this case, a fascist one. (This is my speculation.)
It is very difficult to fight against it. If you do nothing, ICE will extend its authority; if you protest, they will respond aggressively. It's a win-win for Trump.
The only thing you can do is take to the streets in large numbers. Organise mass demonstrations. Together, you are strong.
It's frightening to think that the US, the most powerful nation militarily, has elected a fascist president.
Of course, you can't say the 'F' word, as everyone thinks of Hitler. But National Socialism was just one form of fascism. There are many different forms of fascism. Mussolini and Franco had their own versions.The goal of ICE is to remove illegal immigrants.It is not now nor has it ever been to provoke people. I am not sure why you feel the need to lie. You do not like the way they are doing their job, so is that your excuse to make things up?
Dr Mark, I am always surprised when those on the left believe that they are above the law. That laws don't apply to them. They can pick and choose which laws they want to obey.
That is the leftist delusion.
Both ICE shootings could have been avoided IF these people obeyed the law. When you challenge law enforcement, it won't go well for you. Liberals don't seem to comprehend the concept that it is against the law to impede a federal law enforcement official form conducting official business.
ICE agents are enforcing federal immigration law.
8 USC 1325 is the law and it is very clear.
Do you think it's willful ignorance on the part of the left? I believe this may be the case.
Interesting that ICE operations occur in every state, and ultra-liberal, ultra-corrupt Minnesota is, by far, the biggest problem?
The Minnesota leaders are encouraging this to deflect from their corruption billions of dollars in American taxpayer fraud. It's the same in California. These are two of the most corrupt states in the United States.For all to know, the above is an example of Rightist delusions and myth-building and projection of their own faults.
Mike, this is the moment before he was shot — he was holding a phone, not a gun. The narrative that he ‘challenged’ ICE simply doesn’t match the evidence.
If he wasn't there getting in the way, fighting the deportation of criminals, fighting agents trying to uphold the law, he wouldn't have been shot.
We can either have streets and subways we can walk down without fear of rape, robbery or murder... or we can have lawlessness, people crapping on the streets, people being assaulted... we cannot have both.
I have no sympathy for the insurrectionists and criminals... anyone willing to use force against ICE agents, or supporting those using violence against ICE agents put themselves in harms way knowingly, no sympathy for the misguided fools whose actions only worsen our country and fighting those trying to keep us, American Citizens, safe.You mean if he wasn't exercising his constitutional rights, he wouldn't have got shot. Do our rights mean nothing?
According to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Border Patrol, the man, identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was armed with a handgun and two magazines of ammunition when officers confronted him. Authorities said a firearm was recovered at the scene and initially described the use of force as defensive.
At this stage, there is limited verified information available. However, the statement from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Border Patrol remains one of the few confirmed facts and provides important context. While much of the public discussion has focused on speculative scenarios surrounding the encounter, less attention has been given to the fact that Pretti was armed while attending a protest, carrying a handgun and two magazines.
It may be tempting to play sleuth and assemble selective clues, but a sound investigation, like good detective work, requires considering all available facts, not only those that support a particular narrative.“If he wasn't there getting in the way, fighting the deportation of criminals, fighting agents trying to uphold the law, he wouldn't have been shot.”
So now it doesn’t matter whether he brandished a pistol at the scene or not, he can now be shot for “getting in the way”?
Can you say “Sieg Heil”?I can see your point, until one adds that he had two additional clips.
Yet, we enshrine the 2nd amendment until we find an excuse not to.
He had two additional clips but still did not threaten the law officers with a weapon, how does the fact that he had additional clips change anything?We should wait before shooting until he has his gun in hand, pointing in the face of an agent, right? Or until after he has pulled the trigger at least once?
Wait! Maybe until after he has used up one clip and changed to the second!You’re the gun nut, Wilderness, you can defend wholesale massacres based on your second amendment stuff. The man had the right to be armed, pictures show a cell phone in his hand instead. So, you say he can be shot just because he was carrying a gun, with out any proof of intent that he was going to use it. That wont do.
This is total nonsense and ICE and Trump administration should be held accountable.
I believe that protests should always be peaceful and not interfere with law enforcement officers who are performing their duties. When people impede or obstruct an arrest or an enforcement action, it creates the risk of escalation and harm. The law does not give citizens the right to physically interfere with law enforcement officers while they are carrying out their duties, and doing so can put everyone involved in danger.
This entire issue needs to be examined carefully, with all available evidence laid out transparently. We have laws that govern how arrests and enforcement actions must be handled, and the rights of both law enforcement and citizens need to be respected. People have the right to protest and to express their disagreement with government policy, but that right does not extend to obstructing officers who are lawfully carrying out their workYes, protests need to be peaceful and not impede law enforcement officers. The “escalation” in this case appears to not have been warranted in this particular instance. A man without a weapon in hand nor going for one cannot be subdued and arrested, if necessary, without having to have been shot to death? Obstructing officers is grounds for arrest not execution….
I see your point, and it makes good common sense. That said, this entire situation needs to be examined carefully, with all available evidence presented transparently. We have laws that dictate how arrests and enforcement actions should be conducted, and the rights of both law enforcement and citizens must be respected. I’ve seen the clips, just the brief two-minute segments, but I haven’t seen what led up to them. Ideally, we should review any footage from before the incident to understand the full context.
I have to ask, do you believe illegal migrants should be left alone, even when they are violating federal law by remaining in the country after being ordered to leave?
I see that many Washington Democrats are now trying to defund ICE. Do you promote open borders?
I am not trying to bait, just need to understand your view."We have laws that dictate how arrests and enforcement actions should be conducted, and the rights of both law enforcement and citizens must be respected. " - YES, we do and those DHS agents are violating them every day in Minneapolis!
What I believe is that like Obama, Trump 1.0, and Biden (and probably Bush and Clinton before them), that they focus their attention on real criminals and not waste time and lots of money on arresting and deporting those that benefit America.
They should also release the resources they are consuming so that they can go back to fighting native-born criminals (who are MUCH MORE prevalent), domestic, and foreign terrorists. You do know, don't you, that Trump has greatly helped China, Russia, and Iran by stripping our various counter-intelligence offices of much of their manpower in order to capture otherwise law-abiding immigrants who help America grow. Do you support him doing that?It just seems to be the case that the preponderance of evidence indicates that the officers were out of line in Pretti shooting.
To answer your questions:
No, illegal migrants should not be left alone especially if being ordered to leave. As ESO mentioned to me, all migrants are not necessarily illegal, but this administration needs to take the time and energy to properly sort them out, consistent with the rule of law, and not just accost people on the streets. It is better in avoiding this controversy, to use a rifle rather than a shot gun.
The actions to defund ICE comes from what they see as abuses in the enforcement. Also as ESO mentioned earlier, previous administrations were not exactly unsuccessful in remove illegal migrants. But they did it properly without all the trauma or drama associated with how the Trump administration usually handles things.
No, I don’t promote open borders, enforcement is necessary. However, sadism and brutality is not.
“Bait” is not in my lexicon. I expect to be challenged and welcome it. If I can’t make a cogent retort over any issue in discussion, then I need to rethink my position. The challenge is to take the bait while averting the trap where it is set.A extreme problem has been created, so the efforts to fix the problem is also likely to be more extreme.
The Biden Administration let in millions, over 10 easily, of illegal migrants... "sanctuary" seekers.
So, if even only a mere 100,000 are serious criminals needing to be found and removed, that is a huge task that the Biden Administration left for a more responsible and concerned Administration following it to fix.
And it will look as chaotic as it has, especially when there are nefarious agents paying for protesters to agitate the situation and a Media that is reporting and exacerbating problems with as much hyperbole as possible.Biden didn't LET any body in. Get your facts straight.
I just occurred to me - most "illegal" aliens are "illegal" because Republican on SEVERAL occasions refused to pass a new immigration law. They saw political advantage to having it continue the way it is. That includes when Biden tried to get something passed in the first year of his term and then again at the very end. But, Republicans and Trump gave a resounding NO.
We all agree on that. But what you seem to be side-stepping is that Pretti, the woman who was violently shoved to the ground, and frankly almost ALL protesters aren't illegally interfering with DHS.
In this particular case, the murder of Pretti is obvious for all to see.The problem that arises here, Sharlee, is that... You have a law enforcement team that can cover their faces, shoot someone dead and have immunity.
This is essentially creating situations where there is no law.
I asked AI about the legal relevance of two additional clips. Here is both sides of the argument.
How Agencies Use the “Two Magazines” Detail in Competing Narratives
1. Federal Narrative: Inflate Threat Perception
Federal agencies (ICE, DHS, CBP) consistently use quantity and equipment to frame a subject as more dangerous, even when the items are completely legal.
How they use “two magazines”:
As a visual cue of “preparedness for violence”
As a proxy for intent, even though magazines don’t imply intent
As a way to shift attention away from the shooting itself
As a rhetorical tool to justify:
escalation
aggressive takedown
use of force
Why it works rhetorically
Most Americans don’t know firearm law.So “two magazines” sounds like:
tactical gear
combat readiness
premeditation
Even though in Minnesota it’s as legal and mundane as carrying two phone batteries.
This is classic threat inflation.
2. Local Narrative (MPD): De-escalate the Detail
Minneapolis PD and local officials do the opposite.
How they frame it:
“He was legally armed.”
“He had a valid permit.”
“Nothing he carried was illegal or unusual for a lawful gun owner.”
They intentionally neutralize the detail.
Why?
Because MPD’s position is:
The shooting was unjustified
Pretti was not threatening anyone
Federal agents escalated without cause
So they strip the “two magazines” detail of emotional weight.
3. Media Split: Sensational vs. Forensic
Different outlets deploy the detail differently.
National outlets (CNN, NBC, AP):
Often repeat the federal framing:“He was armed with a handgun and two magazines.”
Libertarian / civil liberties outlets (Reason, ACLU commentary):
Emphasize legality:“He was licensed and carrying lawfully.”
Local Minnesota outlets:
Treat it as a non-issue because they know the law.
4. Why the Detail Is Legally Irrelevant
This is the part most people miss.
Minnesota law:
No magazine limits
No limit on number of magazines
Permit covers open or concealed carry
No statute elevates “two magazines” to a crime or aggravating factor
So legally, “two magazines” is the same as:
one magazine
three magazines
ten magazines
It has zero bearing on:
probable cause
justification
threat assessment
use-of-force standards
It is purely rhetorical.
5. Why Federal Agencies Lean on It Anyway
Because when the underlying use-of-force is weak, agencies reach for symbolic threat cues:
“He had a gun.”
“He had two magazines.”
“He was moving toward agents.”
“He was wearing tactical clothing.”
“He was part of a crowd.”
These are narrative scaffolds, not legal arguments.
They’re designed to:
shape public perception
preempt criticism
justify force retroactively
6. Your Larger Framework: This Fits the Pattern
This is exactly the kind of rhetorical inflation you’ve been mapping in your Substack work:
Shift from facts → vibes
Shift from legality → optics
Shift from conduct → equipment
Shift from objective threat → subjective fear
The “two magazines” detail is a textbook example of how agencies manufacture a threat profile out of legally neutral facts.
In Nazi Germany some people got in the way when the SA were showing violent intimidation and street-level persecution. They were shot.
Other people agreed with the strict rules of the German government and kept quiet. The result was an escalation of more stricter and draconian rules by the German Fascist Government.
Blaming of course the minority group, the Jews, homosexuals, anarchists, disabled and all that didn't agree with the views of the ruling government.
Ken, disagreeing with the government, or even protesting, should never ever be seen as a crime. Let alone be shot.Law and Order is not Nazism.
Protecting one's country and borders is Patriotism... not racism.
The Progressive Left in America has it wrong... the thinking seen from these protestors and agitators is what destroys society and nations.
They are attacking officials attempting to Protect and Serve the Citizens of America... the heroes... those attacking them are the scumbags and they deserve to be treated as the criminals/extremists/terrorists that they are.Ken, using spray cans to attack protesters goes too far.
I've taken part in lots of protests in the Netherlands and Spain. I have never seen the police use them. Not to mention covering their faces and firing guns.
This is not a normal situation. Perhaps you have become accustomed to it and now find it normal. But it isn't.
If someone has committed a criminal offence, they should be arrested and have a fair trial.
If, as an ICE agent, you shoot someone knowing that you have immunity, the law has gone out the window.I'll add that what you are seeing from Trump and DHS is NOT Law and Order - it is the opposite of that. It is authoritarianism turning into fascism like it did in 1934.
Whatever is going on in Spain or the Netherlands or Egypt or Hong Kong for that matter will not be comparable, different cultures, different situations.
We have assassinations happening in America, the attempts on Trump, the murder of Charlie Kirk, being prime examples.
We have Law Enforcement Agents under constant attack, some have been assassinated, in protests, this is becoming more common place in America going back to the Obama years.
These "protesters" are extremists, many calling for the murder of others.
It is the job of our law enforcement to maintain law and order, those wanting to subvert the law, those wanting to cause chaos, anarchy, spread violence for their 'ideology'... all the Progressive Left BS, the insanity being pushed by them today... they are criminals, traitors, extremists and should be treated as such.
They are nothing more than that... discontent criminals, traitors and extremists.Yes, every country has different cultural aspects. And I realise that the US is very nationalistic. In Europe, for instance, it is not customary to have the national flag in a school because these kinds of symbols refer too much to the wrong kind of nationalism. In the US, this is normal.
I don't know why the US is such a violent society. There is a lot that can be said about this.
But it is simply not true that the violence comes only from the left.
The storming of the Capitol was carried out by Trump (right-wing) supporters and was extremely violent.The EU has lost touch with reality... putting it very simply.
The world of the EU is predicated on America being its protector and defender, on access to American markets.
Trump is trying to wake them up, the world most EU citizens grew up in is changing... America is not going to fight wars for EU interests anymore, unless the EU fronts the costs, and starts doing what America asks it to do, like turn over Greenland so we can deploy and have complete control over the defenses we want to set up there that will protect America AND the EU.
So while the EU mindset, which you and others, like Nathanville, propose and proffer on this Forum seems the better, kinder, more civilized way to go... it won't work in today's world.
From Green Energy, Net Zero efforts... that don't work, just shift where the pollution is made and which population suffers from it... China now burns all the coal and oil it can get its hands on... China is now the world's industrial engine... the fact that the UK has given up the bulk of its industry and energy producing capabilities doesn't mean those practices have stopped, they just stopped in the UK and shifted to other nations those burdens and responsibilities... making the UK and EU reliant on OTHERS.
China is hollowing out Germany and the UK... Germans and the UK may be fine with this process, fading away into inconsequentiality, diminishing on the world stage until they will eventually be surpassed by the rest of the world... America is not ready to fade into the dark oblivion that the EU and UK seemingly are so desperate to pursue... their own cultural annihilation.
[add]
In America it is the Progressive Left that are the violent extremists, they oftentimes are paid to be there... so you have a mix of mentally deranged extremists mixed with paid protestors.
Sane, normal Americans are not out there protesting on the behalf of foreign criminals. The vast majority of Americans want them OUT of the country and OFF government services (taxpayer funded freebies).This is a completely different subject.
The relationship between Europe and the US has always been mutual. Europe fought for the US and the US supported Europe against the invasion of Russia.
Intelligence was shared, scientific programmes were exchanged, and there were countless economic and cultural exchanges.
This has brought great prosperity to both the US and Europe.
Trump has completely destroyed this partnership.
We could go into details, but it is now clear that the US (under Trump) does not want a partner.
The EU is now busy strengthening its economic ties with Japan, South America and India.
And indeed, it is getting rid of its dependence on the US. Too many stabs in the back have been felt. The lack of support for Ukraine, the tariffs (which the American people ultimately pay for), and the verbal attack on Greenland are evidence of this.Ken, this isn’t a geopolitical argument — it’s a string of ideological talking points stitched together to paint Europe, the UK, and anyone who disagrees with you as deluded or irrelevant. You’re not analysing global politics; you’re repeating a worldview shaped entirely by the narrow sources you trust. Europe isn’t collapsing, the UK isn’t disappearing, and China’s rise isn’t explained by the caricatures you’ve listed here. If you want a serious discussion, start with evidence and a coherent point rather than throwing every grievance you have about the modern world into one post.
Nathanville, I think that your response is absolute poetry….
Eloquent reply.
Wrong, but eloquent.
What the UK and EU are about to be taught, once again, is that the rest of the world does not subscribe to their liberal/Western beliefs.
The world is based on the strongest set the rules the rest must live by.
America was very generous to the rest of the world... but if America is no longer powerful enough to dictate to the rest of the world... China, or Russia, or someone else WILL dictate to the EU and UK what they will do, when, where, and how soon.
The UK is busy giving up everything it owned and berating itself for being a colonizing country, while at the same time trying to fight a war to defeat Russia and continue to dictate the direction American policies go... with friends like the UK, who needs enemies I say.Keep in mind, he isn't really serious about what he says because it comes from a totally different reality. I wonder if he thinks Alice in Wonderland is real.
All I can say — and it really needs saying — how dare you!
You act as if it’s acceptable to personally insult others, and that alone says a lot about your so-called “different reality.” You openly insulted his person.I dare because it is true.
Sharlee, you’re confusing ‘insult’ with ‘evaluation.’ I didn’t call him names—I said his worldview isn’t serious because it doesn’t track with observable facts. That’s not immoral; it’s accurate.
If your standard is ‘never say anything unflattering,’ then debate is dead. If your standard is truth, then address the substance of his claims.
It is certainly less worse than some the insults you have directed at me, Willowarbor and several others."If your standard is ‘never say anything unflattering,’ then debate is dead. If your standard is truth, then address the substance of his claims." ECO
You outwardly personally insulted Ken. I find your demeanor truely discussting, and uncalled for. Personal insults are not part of any healthy debate.
"My Esoteric wrote:
Keep in mind, he isn't really serious about what he says because it comes from a totally different reality. I wonder if he thinks Alice in Wonderland is real."
Ken always shares very inteligent conversation. He is articulate and well-versed. I think most here would agree with my perception.
I won't bother insulting you at this point; I have made my impression of you very clear over the years. I have in no way changed my opinion of you; it has only become worse. If I insulted your person, take my word, you would know it. Just let your imagination run wild on that.Sharlee, you’re still dodging the distinction between an insult and a critique.
Truthfully saying “his argument isn’t serious because it doesn’t match observable facts” is not name-calling. It’s an evaluation of reasoning. If you think the evaluation is wrong, then rebut it with facts, logic, or sources. It makes no difference if he is articulate (he is) and well versed (he is that as well) when his articulate and well-versed logic is faulty. Saying so, or in my case implying it, isn't insulting, it is stating the facts. That’s what debate is.
What isn’t debate is this:
“I find your demeanor truly disgusting…”
“My opinion of you has only become worse…”
“If I insulted your person, you would know it—let your imagination run wild…”
That’s not “healthy debate.” That’s a personal smear plus a veiled threat of escalation.
And it’s the central contradiction in your complaint: you condemn me for allegedly “insulting him,” while you immediately pivot to insulting me—and then suggest you could do worse if you felt like it.
So pick a standard and apply it consistently:
If your standard is civility, then stop with the personal attacks and address the argument.
If your standard is truth, then respond to the substance: Which “observable facts” do you think I’m wrong about, specifically?
Otherwise this isn’t a defense of him. It’s just a demand that I speak softly while you speak freely.
Insulting and denigrating anyone that doesn't support your egregious and American hating political views does not prove your points correct.
That you do not believe that others find it offensive, puts the onus on you, not Sharlee or other readers.Now, Ken, you don’t think that I am an America hater because I don’t subscribe to right wing viewpoints?
I am so sick of his personal insults. It's one thing to debate an issue, but what I have witnessed from ECO over steps boundries.
it really doesn't matter if you think Eso insulted you. What matters is this administration is being too quick to place blame on the other side without any proof or evidence.
What matters is Stephen Miller's quota to deport 3,000 people per day without any due process of law. That's 1,095,000 per year. That's a lot of pressure on ICE; no wonder they act the way they do. No wonder there is no due process of law, The courts would be backed up for years. By the way his name is Esoteric, not Ecoteric.He wasn’t insulting me personally in general—you might want to look at the comments that led to the conversation. ECO, on the other hand, did openly insult Ken. He very much opened the door, I stepped in and responded with a comment calling ECO out. Ken stepped through that same door and gave as good as he got—maybe even better. I also noticed you didn’t address the insult ECO made toward Ken, which strikes me as hypocritical.
The rest of your comment diverts. ECO insulting others just has nothing to do with Trump or his administration or Miller.
And I will need to ask you for a source on -- " No wonder there is no due process of law, " PP
Since Trump took office, there have been 3 cases where there were problems with deportation; all three individuals were brought back and are having further legal consideration on asylum.
Confirmed or legally recognized cases
O.C.G. – A Guatemalan man deported in early 2025 after an immigration judge had ruled he would face serious harm if returned to Guatemala. A federal judge later found that “necessary due process steps … were ignored” when he was removed to Mexico, then sent to Guatemala, and ordered the Trump administration to arrange his return to the U.S. so he could have proper proceedings.
Kilmar Armando Ábrego García – A Salvadoran man living in Maryland who was illegally deported on March 15, 2025, despite having protection against deportation based on asylum claims and court review. The U.S. government conceded the deportation was an “administrative error,” and the case is widely cited as a confirmed wrongful removal lacking due process.
“Cristian” (pseudonym) – A Venezuelan man identified in court filings and rulings in April 2025. A federal judge ordered the U.S. to return him because his removal violated a prior settlement in which he and others were supposed to have their asylum applications adjudicated while remaining in the United States.
Hopefully, this will add some factual information to your claim. Out of
About 1.9 million people have “self‑deported” since Jan 21, 2025
And ICE has detained and deported -- what is being reported is 650,000 since Trump took office in his second term.Sooner later you will hopefully realize you can't believe a thing DHS says - just like Trump, they lie all the time.
The more accurate numbers from independent sources is 200,000 self-deportations and 315,000 actual deportations.
Those are the factual numbers.
https://cmsny.org/two-million-deportati … ting-data/
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dhs-inc … =129420562
You just called Eso "American Hating." That's an insult in my book. The onus is only on him is your opinion. I find your comments to be very insulting at times.
They have their own definition of what counts as an “insult,” and they apply it to everyone except themselves. To most people I know, stating an observable truth isn’t an insult. For example, if someone’s writing repeatedly shows a detachment from basic, verifiable reality, saying they “have trouble living in the real world” is a blunt evaluation—not name-calling.
By contrast, false personal accusations are insults. Calling Eso “America-hating,” for instance, isn’t a rebuttal to an argument—it’s an attempt to smear a person.
Big difference.
Further, I never mention Ken by name and it was a comment in reply to Credence, not Ken. Sharlee just assumed that is who I was thinking of probably because it sounds like Ken.My Esoteric profile image88My Esotericposted 11 hours ago
Nathanville wrote:
Ken, this isn’t a geopolitical argument — it’s a string of ideological talking points stitched together to paint Europe, the UK, and anyone who disagrees with you as deluded or irrelevant. You’re not analysing global politics; you’re repeating a worldview shaped entirely by the narrow sources you trust. Europe isn’t collapsing, the UK isn’t disappearing, and China’s rise isn’t explained by the caricatures you’ve listed here. If you want a serious discussion, start with evidence and a coherent point rather than throwing every grievance you have about the modern world into one post.
ECO wrote in reply
Keep in mind, he isn't really serious about what he says because it comes from a totally different reality. I wonder if he thinks Alice in Wonderland is real.
WHO is He?
I think you should quit. At this point, I am even feeling sorry for you.
I wonder if you will get viciously attacked for agreeing with me like I did?
I don’t mind if they do. I’m not at the computer today, so can’t respond to there flurry of posts at the moment: Family day out to celebrate my wife’s birthday - been given a free meal by a local restaurant. But I shall be back over the weekend to catch up on events on HP.
Please put Trump's America out of your mind so that you can enjoy the day with your family.
Thanks — Trump’s America was the last thing on my mind. We had a lovely day out, and I treated myself to one of my favourite vegetarian combinations: a mushroom starter, mac and cheese as the main, proper British chips (chunkier than American fries), a large bowl of mixed salad, and two bread rolls with margarine — all brought out together so I could pile it onto one plate, as we always do. Washed down with a pint of bitter shandy. A perfect birthday outing for Helen.
Cheers, it sounds like a proper day out. I've added Trump to my blocked words list on Threads (Instagram's version of Twitter), which helps a lot.
Going for walks in the countryside helps a lot to connect. We all need to find ways to ground ourselves again. Trump is a mind virus; the more you think and talk about him, the more powerful he becomes.
When I read The Guardian, I go straight to the culture or science section and try to skip the headlines on the first page.
What's closest to you is ultimately more important.Cheers, Peter — I think you’re right about managing what we let into our heads. Your strategy of filtering out Trump‑related noise is a good one, and I do the same with certain headlines. That line of yours — ‘Trump is a mind virus’ — really resonates. The more attention he absorbs, the more space he takes up, even for those of us watching from this side of the pond.
And yes, focusing on what’s closest to us matters far more. It’s too cold for long walks at the moment, but once spring arrives we’ve got a few countryside day trips planned — nothing clears the head like a scenic drive and a bit of fresh air. Stepping back from the Trump circus now and then does wonders.Peter, yours, Nathanville’s and the Doc’s opinion is sought after and appreciated by me as people outside of the fray who are more likely to give an objective evaluation.
Well said, Peter. The moment a government treats dissent or observation as a threat, it crosses a line no democratic society should accept. Citizens must be able to question and scrutinise state power without being met with bullets.
And when you have a psychopath (more on that in a different forum tonight) as president, like Hitler and Stalin were, and Putin is, it will only get worse until we don't have a country any more.
My Esoteric, absolutely. History is full of examples of what happens when a country hands power to leaders who undermine institutions, attack the press, and treat the law as something that applies only to others. Hitler, Stalin, and now Putin didn’t destroy democracy overnight — they chipped away at it while ordinary people told themselves it couldn’t happen there. That’s why incidents like this matter. If we stay silent while federal power goes unchecked, we repeat the same pattern.
Ken, nothing in the footage shows Alex Pretti ‘fighting’ anyone. He was filming — that’s all. Multiple camera angles, all publicly available, show him holding a phone before ICE approached him. Another angle shows an ICE agent removing his pistol from his waistband while he is pinned to the ground. He is then shot ten times in five seconds, only after the pistol has been taken away.
Whatever one thinks about immigration policy, filming law‑enforcement officers is not a crime, and it certainly isn’t ‘insurrection’. The right to record police activity is protected in the USA.
We can have public safety without accepting the idea that being a bystander with a phone is grounds for execution. That’s the concern here.He might think the deep state altered the video.
I think it to soon to speculate on the films as of yet. Hopefully more of the footage will be shared. However --- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Border Patrol said the man (identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37) was armed with a handgun and two magazines of ammunition when officers confronted him. They recovered a firearm at the scene and initially described the use of force as defensive.
He has a permit to carry, but why so heavily armed?You should probably look at the 6 - 12 other videos that are ALREADY out there. And since when is a pistol with a standard load of two magazines "heavily armed"?? And "armed" is way overstating a person exercising their 2nd Amendment rights who has his gun safely stored at his side.
To me, "heavily armed" is carrying an automatic rifle with a dozen magazines.I know two facts thus far -- Alex Pretti was armed with a handgun and two clips.
Gregory “Greg” Bovino, the Border Patrol Commander‑at‑Large who has been openly speaking for ICE/CBP about the Minneapolis incident, did publicly state that the suspect federal agents were trying to arrest escaped and is still at large. Officials including him said this during a news conference about the enforcement operation. https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-says-vio … hatgpt.com
I will leave speculation to you... Me, I find speculation on such a serious issue unintelligent.
Sharlee, it isn’t ‘too soon to speculate’ — the incident was filmed from multiple angles by several cameras, and all of that footage is already publicly available. Broadcasters around the world have analysed it frame by frame. Here in the UK, both the BBC and Sky News showed the slowed‑down footage yesterday. It clearly shows Alex Pretti holding a phone camera before ICE approached him.
Another angle shows an ICE agent removing Pretti’s pistol from his waistband while he is pinned to the ground, and carrying it away. He is then shot ten times in five seconds — only after the pistol has been taken from him.
In this case, the cameras don’t lie. The footage shows the sequence of events plainly, and it simply doesn’t support the version of events put out by ICE.According to Trump, DHS, DOIJ, and the FBI the cameras do lie.
Again, your context appears as if you are sharing facts. Is this your view? If not, add sources with quotes to prove your context.
Exactly — when officials insist the cameras are lying, that’s usually a sign the footage is telling an uncomfortable truth. In this case the recordings from multiple angles all show the same sequence of events, regardless of what DHS or anyone else claims.
Absolutely. But the MAGA here have learned not to believe their own eyes, ONLY what Trump says. That is a truism of any set of followers of demagogues who have captured their minds.
DHS and Trump‑administration officials initially described the incident as involving an armed threat, saying Pretti approached officers with a handgun and resisted attempts to disarm him, prompting “defensive shots.” But these early statements did not explicitly say the widely circulating footage itself was false or fabricated, just that the department’s narrative emphasized him as armed and dangerous.
Have I missed statements where they claimed "cameras are lying"?
And, they show what happened leading up to the killing as well
Thanks for sharing your view. I think what you’re saying reflects what many people are thinking right now. I don’t dispute anyone’s right to form a perspective on what’s being reported, and I’m personally taking a “wait and see” approach until more of the investigation is completed. I tend to take time to form my views.
My comment wasn’t meant to dispute anything, I just wanted to point out the fact that he was armed and reportedly had two magazines on his person. I ended with a question because I was genuinely interested in what others thought about that specific detail.
I think it’s too soon to speculate about the footage. Hopefully more of it will be shared so the public can see a fuller picture. However, according to authorities, the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol said the man identified as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was armed with a handgun and two magazines of ammunition when officers confronted him, and they recovered a firearm at the scene while initially describing the use of force as defensive. That’s just one reason I wondered why he was so heavily armed, because it’s a fact often reported by the media that doesn’t seem to be part of the discussion for many people on social media forming their opinions.
"He has a permit to carry, but why so heavily armed?"You are calling two clips, heavily armed. That makes it sound like his intention was to use all of them. When in fact he used none of them. In fact, he never even got the chance to brandish his gun. One of the Gestapo took away it from his person after he was shot 10 times in a matter of seconds. Now you tell me who was heavily armed?
The Progressive Left will ultimately win, the lawlessness will continue and fester in places like Minnesota, Chicago, Portland and LA...
Until the Trump Administration is willing to call insurrectionists and extremists what they are... until they are willing to label these cities/states in violation of federal law and treat them as a President Kennedy or President Lincoln would, things will continue to worsen.
When the Trump Administration stops acting like the Buchanan Administration and starts acting like the Lincoln Administration, our country will get on the right path, until I see them show the commitment to call traitors and insurrectionists what they are, and act on it, things will continue to get worse and the extremists will become emboldened by this Administration's unwillingness to fight the fights that need to be fought in order to save the Nation from its enemies within.Ken, I’m very disappointed in Trump for labeling this particular act of lawlessness as an insurrection. I voted primarily based on a couple of issues, the economy and immigration, and I’m not happy with what I’m seeing on the immigration front. It’s very clear that blue states are getting away with what could also be considered insurrection. Other than that, I’m satisfied with what I see.
I feel so sorry for you. That is so sad. Trump is the biggest insurrectionist of them all. He just has the money and the stacked justice system to be able to get away with it all.
The reason Hitler was able to get away with what he did is because the public was indifferent to his actions. They looked the other way and justified in their minds what he was doing. Indifference is worse and more dangerous than hate. By the way, Trump can't invoke the insurrection act without a request from the governor of the state.Calling Trump “the biggest insurrectionist of them all” skips over the threshold question: intent and action. I don’t see credible evidence that Trump directed, planned, or intended an armed overthrow of the government. Reckless rhetoric? Yes. Poor judgment? Often. But “insurrectionist” isn’t just a vibe or a moral condemnation, it’s a legal and historical charge. If we lower that bar to include speech that angers or mobilizes people irresponsibly, we’re setting a precedent that will absolutely be used against others down the road.
The Hitler comparison is where the argument really weakens. I understand why people reach for it, it’s emotionally powerful, but it’s also historically sloppy, in my view. Hitler consolidated power through a one-party state, eliminated political opposition, controlled the press, and used state violence systematically. Trump, for all his bluster, left office when the constitutional process concluded, faced courts he didn’t control, and didn’t suspend elections or outlaw opposition parties. Comparing the two doesn’t clarify danger; it inflates it to the point where meaningful distinctions disappear. When everything becomes “Hitler,” nothing is.
On the justice system point, I actually think the opposite case can be made. Trump has been investigated, impeached twice, indicted, sued, fined, and dragged through courts at every level. One can argue about outcomes, but it’s hard to argue he’s been ignored or shielded by indifference. If anything, he’s been one of the most scrutinized political figures in modern U.S. history.
As for “indifference being worse than hate,” I agree with that sentiment in principle, but disagreement is not indifference. Questioning narratives, demanding evidence, or resisting emotionally charged analogies isn’t looking the other way; it’s engaging critically. A democracy survives not because everyone shares the same moral alarm bells, but because people argue honestly about facts, limits of power, and proportionality.
In short, I don’t always defend Trump as a model of restraint. I do resist framing him as a historical monster on par with totalitarian dictators, because once we abandon precision and proportionality, we’re no longer debating, we’re just signaling fear and moral superiority.You may, mainly because you are a Trump supporter, but the special prosecutor, Jack Smith, was certain beyond a reasonable doubt. Besides what I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears, I would take his word for it.
Trump led the insurrection on Jan 6, 2021, no doubt about it.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of other actions considered insurrections in America
Shays’ Rebellion (Massachusetts, 1786–1787) – armed uprising against state taxation and courts; rebels moved toward seizing weapons at the federal armory in Springfield.
Whiskey Rebellion / Whiskey Insurrection (Pennsylvania, 1791–1794) – violent resistance to a federal excise tax; Washington mobilized militia to enforce federal law.
Fries’s Rebellion (Pennsylvania, 1799) – uprising against a federal direct property tax.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion (Virginia, 1831) – the largest enslaved-person insurrection in U.S. history.
John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry (Virginia, 1859) – an attempted armed insurrection intended to spark a slave revolt; suppressed by U.S. forces.
The Civil War / Confederate rebellion (1861–1865) – secession and armed rebellion by 11 states against the United States (the largest “insurrection/rebellion” in American history by scale).
New York City Draft Riots (1863) – mass violent uprising tied to the federal draft; required major force to suppress.
Taos Revolt (New Mexico, 1847) – a “popular insurrection” against U.S. occupation in the Mexican–American War context.
Wilmington coup d’état / “Wilmington insurrection” (North Carolina, 1898) – white supremacists violently overthrew a biracial elected local government.
Puerto Rican Nationalist uprisings (including Jayuya, 1950) – armed nationalist insurrection suppressed by authorities; Jayuya is a prominent examplePeople reach for Hitler because there is little daylight between the two or between Trump and Stalin, or between Trump and Putin, or between Trump and Maduro for that matter.
They are all psychopaths.
Many Germans supported Hitler's attack on German Democracy then as many Americans are supporting Trump's destruction of our democracy.
The Resistance is real, this is being treated as politics as normal... rather than labeling the traitors to the nation what they are and communicating to the American people what is at stake.
Thankfully I believe the Media... all of it... Fox to BBC and everyone in between... is out of touch with the Citizens of America... you can only pull this crap for so long, before only the useless idiots amongst us are still duped by their lies and deceit.
You can only support the criminals and paid protestors for so long, you can only call rioters and traitors 'peaceful protestors' for so long... before the majority recognize what is really going on.
The problems are deep... the deranged Progressive Left, filled with American hating ideologs, socialists, globalists... are deeply rooted in the institutions of governance and education as well as big tech.
We are getting to the point where, whether it be foreign, or domestic, its time to call out those trying to harm or sellout America for their actions and not beat around the bush... and treat them like the enemies to the Nation they are.
They Brought the War Home: The British Playbook in Minneapolis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj7xI3xmIAkWhat’s most frustrating is how much of this is still being treated as “politics as usual,” when it clearly isn’t. When people actively undermine the country, its laws, or its citizens, pretending it’s just another partisan disagreement does a real disservice to the public.
I also think you’re right that a lot of media—across the spectrum—has become disconnected from everyday Americans. Narratives get repeated long past the point where they match lived reality, and eventually people stop listening. You can only relabel chaos as “peaceful,” excuse criminal behavior as activism, or dismiss legitimate concerns for so long before the majority starts to see through it.
The deeper issue, in my view, is institutional capture. When ideology seeps into government, education, and tech to the point where dissent is delegitimized and national interests are treated as optional, that’s not healthy democracy, it’s decay. Calling that out honestly isn’t extremism; it’s accountability.
We absolutely need clearer language and more backbone in identifying harmful actions for what they are, whether the threat is domestic or foreign. If we can’t even name the problem plainly, we have no chance of fixing it.The problem is Trump, Miller, Navaro, Bannon, and all the Trump clones who's only qualifications are loyalty to Trump. Isn't it interesting how quickly Trump and his clones are to label those who were killed by his Gestapo as domestic terrorist before their bodies were even cold and without any actual factual irrefutable evidence? Miller immediately calls Pretti an assassin without having any evidence.
You are right about the media being disconnected, but it is Fox News and all the right-wing outlets who are Trump's and company's megaphone
Fox News aired claims by federal officials that Pretti intended to attack or kill ICE agents, but did not independently verify or assert that he attacked ICE.
The strongest “attack” framing comes from Kristi Noem’s Fox News interview, where she alleges intent without evidence.I found this on Facebook, and it takes you behind the scenes.
BREAKING: Kristi Noem panics and throws Stephen Miller UNDER THE BUS for her deranged slander that Alex Pretti wanted to “massacre” law enforcement agents.
The White House is falling apart as senior officials are scrambling to point fingers at each other as they try to assign the blame for the Minnesota ICE massacres on anyone but themselves.
According to Axios, White House hard-liner Stephen Miller — the architect of the administration’s harsh immigration agenda — ordered Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to publicly claim that slain protester Alex Pretti “wanted to massacre law enforcement” after he was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.
That’s right: before any investigation, before any facts were established, Miller picked a narrative — and Noem dutifully repeated it. When Noem echoed the claim, she insisted, “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.”
According to sources, after the killing, “Stephen heard ‘gun’ and knew what the narrative would be: Pretti came to ‘massacre’ cops.” So Miller directed Homeland Security to cobble together a statement about Pretti’s firearm, and the exaggerated, misleading storyline was born.
Miller then took to X to label a man who was shot dead by federal agents a “would-be assassin” — language that Noem and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino echoed in their own statements, framing Pretti as a threat without evidence.
This goes far beyond spin. This was manufactured justification for violence.
Despite video and witness testimony showing Pretti holding a cell phone, not a gun, and attempting to help others at the scene, Trump administration officials raced to condemn him — using rhetoric that justified the killing before investigators had even looked at the facts.
Noem, for her part, has complained privately that she’s been “hung out to dry” over the controversy — but made sure to emphasize that every claim she put out came from Miller and the president, doing everything she could to avoid any personal responsibility for her words and actions.
That’s a trick that she surely learned from her boss.
Let this all sink in.
A federal official is killed — and instead of a careful, fact-based response, the White House runs damage control with a politically convenient lie.
A man is shot to death, and the top strategist of the immigration crackdown doesn’t wait for evidence — he orders a false narrative. And the Secretary of Homeland Security just parrots what she’s told to say and claims, essentially, that she was just following orders. That excuse didn’t fly at the Nuremberg Trials and it won’t work now — at least once Trump is gone.
This isn’t leadership.
This is propaganda.
This is a cover-up.
And America deserves better than a White House that treats truth like a negotiable option — especially when the lives of innocent human beings are on the line.
Please like and share if you want all of them to face accountability: Miller, Noem, Bovino, and, even more importantly, their dementia-laden boss, Donald Trump!
I asked a question, and I did not read into the whys of it. I had hoped others would share their thoughts. I do consider two additional clips heavily armed.
As I said, I will wait to see what comes out in the investigation. I will let others assume actual guilt. I do know ICE is heavily armed; that is a fact.You are playing the same game you played with Jan. 6. With Jan. 6 the GOP still has an ongoing investigation going on. These are nothing more than stall tactics. The whole world has seen what happened on Jan. 6. It was truly an insurrection and Trump trying to overturn an election.
Now the whole world has seen what happened to Pretti and Good. Your cognitive dissonance will not allow you to accept the facts. It tells you to wait, there is more to come. Trump and company will do everything in their power to delay the outcome of their investigations...or they will simply lie.No, I didn’t play any game on January 6th. I called it what it was, a violent protest. Just as some have their own view of the “Summer of Love,” a violent protest can’t be called anything else. That said, I did take a step back, cooled my jets, and waited for the investigations to unfold. I also spoke openly about some of my perspectives as information became public.
I could share my gut reactions to what was seen and released. I suspect we might not see eye-to-eye on Ms. Good, but Pretti, I think we could both be shocked by some of the footage.This post is proof positive we have people existing in completely different realities... where the facts of what happened regarding this issue... or Trump... or whether it is 2 sexes or 72... are irrevocably split.
There are people, who believe there are legitimately 72 sexes, that a man can be a woman, that Trump is a Russian puppet, and so on... they have swallowed the insanity... the ideology... called Woke or Progressive or Globalism... all falling under the umbrella of 'the Left' or 'Democrats' here in America ... and they work to destroy (knowingly or not) America's position of global economic dominance abroad, and its freedoms and liberties at home.
You can't have a great Nation that takes care of its Citizens... and also have open borders and trade agreements with foreign nations that are one sided and hurt America.
The Trump Administration takes the kid gloves off and gets serious... or the Progressive Left regains control and finishes destroying what America was and promised to be.
Failing to act now will end up with far worse occurring than what we faced on 9/11 or Dec 7 1941.
Sharlee, I understand taking time to form a view — but in this case the footage isn’t speculative. The incident was filmed from multiple angles by several cameras, and all of that footage is already publicly available. Broadcasters around the world have slowed it down, analysed it frame by frame, and shown the key moments clearly.
Before ICE approached him, Alex Pretti is holding a phone up in his hand — not a weapon. Another camera angle shows an ICE agent removing his pistol from his waistband while he is pinned to the ground, and carrying it away. He is then shot ten times in five seconds, only after the pistol has been taken from him.
So the question of him being ‘heavily armed’ doesn’t actually relate to what happened in those five seconds. The cameras show the sequence plainly, and it simply doesn’t match the initial claims put out by ICE.I seriously doubt she will ever believe you or what she sees and subconsciously knows to be true.
I just read one psychiatrist who observed that the cognitive dissonance is so strong in Trump about having lost the 2020 election to Biden that he invented the "rigged election" myth to reduce the pain. Then he sold it to his cult - fully 63% of Republicans still believe Trump is telling them the truth about that, a number that has been surprisingly consistent over time.
That is how mass delusion works.The videos of the Pretti shooting are very damning and raise a lot of questions about what really happened that day. There is an active federal investigation underway, and a judge has even granted a temporary order to make sure all evidence is preserved and not destroyed or altered as part of that process.
From the publicly available footage, you can clearly see Pretti holding a phone, not a weapon, before the fatal encounter. DHS has not disputed that he was holding a phone. Their reports describe the shooting as defensive, saying officers felt threatened, but the footage doesn’t show him brandishing a weapon before he was shot.
There’s no formal civil rights investigation announced yet, though calls for deeper scrutiny are growing. State and local authorities have clashed with federal officials over access to evidence and the scene, adding to the controversy.
This isn’t a simple story, different videos, witness accounts, and official statements all point in different directions. Transparency and careful review are crucial because what we see on camera doesn’t neatly match the earliest descriptions from DHS.
From what I’ve seen, I honestly think this man didn’t need to be shot. He was physically restrained, and the videos show him being incapacitated by several agents before shots were fired. The claim that officers felt threatened is questionable based on what actually happened, and this feels similar to the Ashli Babbitt case, where the benefit of the doubt went to the officer. I disagreed with that ruling, and in this situation, it looks like the officers were not in imminent danger but made a split-second decision under pressure. It was clear to me that, as in the Babbit case, no shots needed to be fired. I certainly still feel it is the more intelligent thing to do to wait until an investigation is completed.
I gave my opinion and my point of view Mark. Lying is something else.
I said that it was speculation on my part in the second sentence.You did not state it as an opinion. You used the speculation caveat in your comment about facism. You stated that their goat was to provoke people. That is a lie. Their goal is to uphold the law. If the leftists do not agree with the law they can try to change it.
What don't you understand about the word "speculation"? It is a simple concept.
Are you now telling me that you no longer understand those that do not agree with you? It is a concept that I thought even an ignorant leftist would be able to understand.
The truth can really hurt. It is amazing that anytime you are not able to follow a discussion you tell us that it is a non-sequitur.
You are spot on.... The context of his comment says it all. He writes as if he is stating facts. He can now call it speculation, view, opinion... it was not written to indicate an opinion.
"No, he has it right - the goal of SURGING ICE is to provoke people into protesting to give Trump an excuse to abuse them in order spread his fascist-like authoritarian state.
Until the "surge", the provocation, ICE and the locals were doing the job you said they are their to do - capture and deport REAL criminals and not nannies and landscapers." ECO
YIKES! He loves loves loves AI
I had AI break down his comment
Here’s a clear, evidence‑based breakdown of the comment you quoted — showing how the speaker is presenting his opinion as fact, rather than stating it as a view.
Original Comment
“No, he has it right — the goal of SURGING ICE is to provoke people into protesting to give Trump an excuse to abuse them in order spread his fascist‑like authoritarian state. Until the ‘surge’, the provocation, ICE and the locals were doing the job you said they are their to do — capture and deport REAL criminals and not nannies and landscapers.”
What He Is Trying to Do
Let’s unpack the structure:
1. He makes an asserted intent behind the surge — without evidence
He says:
“the goal of surging ICE is to provoke people … to give Trump an excuse to abuse them…”
That is a claim about motive, not a statement of verified facts. ICE has said the surge is aimed at enforcing immigration laws and removing criminal immigrants, but there is no public factual evidence that the true purpose is to provoke protests or justify abuse. What he’s doing here is attributing political intent without evidence — that’s interpretation, not an established fact.
2. He assumes the surge’s outcome is authoritarian abuse
He then claims:
“…to give Trump an excuse to abuse them … authoritarian state.”
This is opinion, a political interpretation of ICE’s actions and characterizations like “fascist‑like” are subjective and not supported by an objective standard or legal definition in this context.
3. He claims local law enforcement previously only targeted “real criminals”
He asserts:
“Until the ‘surge’, … ICE and the locals were doing the job … capture and deport REAL criminals and not nannies and landscapers.”
This part is the one you specifically asked about — whether that’s factual:
First, the surge (Operation Metro Surge) is a federal operation by ICE and CBP, not local law enforcement. That’s a fact — it’s a federal enforcement action described as the largest of its kind in Minnesota.
Second, there are no official statewide verified numbers showing how many people local Minnesota police or sheriffs detained and transferred to ICE before the surge. The state has refuted some federal claims about how many people were in custody with ICE detainers.
Third, federal arrest data from the surge does not show that the vast majority of people taken into custody were violent criminals — when you examine ICE data, only a small percentage of people were classified as violent offenders: for example, in one analysis, only about 5.2 % of more than 2,000 arrests were violent criminals.
Key Facts That Counter His Claimed “Contextual Facts”
A. The surge has involved thousands of federal arrests
DHS said more than 2,000–3,000 people were arrested under the federal surge in Minnesota.
B. Only a portion of those have violent criminal histories
Of 212 individuals labeled “worst of the worst,” roughly 48.5 % had violent convictions, but that is only a subset of total arrests — roughly 5.2 % of overall arrests were violent offenders.
C. Minnesota officials dispute federal claims about detainers and cooperation
The state corrections commissioner said DHS claims about detainers and releases of criminal aliens are not accurate, and that Minnesota did cooperate in cases where the local jail system had ICE detainers." END OF AI.
.
No, he has it right - the goal of SURGING ICE is to provoke people into protesting to give Trump an excuse to abuse them in order spread his fascist-like authoritarian state.
Until the "surge", the provocation, ICE and the locals were doing the job you said they are their to do - capture and deport REAL criminals and not nannies and landscapers.
It was only with the unneeded surge did trouble happen - this is ALL on Trump, the DHS, and DOIJ.Doc, I agree. It’s very clear that the problems we’re seeing with ICE carrying out their duties are mostly happening in blue states, where local leaders are encouraging citizens to ignore federal laws. I believe this is directly contributing to the violence we’re witnessing. Minnesota, in particular, has a clear definition of insurrection against our federal government. In red states, they aren’t experiencing this violence because they are respecting federal laws, and some are even assisting federal authorities with their own law enforcement.
For the most part, deportations in red states are proceeding legally and smoothly. In my view, the far left has crossed a line and become insurrectionist. I strongly feel that Trump needs to take decisive action and deploy the military now. I would be very disappointed if he does not. We need to see accountability, arrests of the governor and mayor of Minnesota, and an end to protests that impede federal law enforcement from doing their jobs. No one is above the law, and unless arrests are made, this kind of lawbreaking will only set a dangerous precedent for the future.They need to start holding the worst of these traitors and criminals accountable for their actions... once they start showing there are real consequences for fraudulent and treasonous acts against the nation we might start seeing law and order restored.
But until someone significant... be it Ilhan Omar for her criminal activities and traitorous acts, or some other notable figure, is held accountable, the insanity, the detachment from reality that rules the Progressive Left's lunacy, will never begin to recede.I believe this is a straightforward time to enforce our laws as written and uphold the Constitution. Minnesota is, at this point, engaging in what meets the definition of insurrection. Citizens are actively interfering with the enforcement of federal law, and this is completely unacceptable. I am deeply troubled when any American disregards federal laws to advance a narrative supporting illegal migrants who have been deemed unlawfully present in the country. This is yet another example of individuals turning lawbreakers into heroes and law enforcement into villains. I will be extremely disappointed in President Trump if he does not take decisive action to stop this kind of blatant lawbreaking.
I do not want excuses from the White House; I want swift action.
Definition of insurrection (18 U.S. Code § 2383):
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States… shall be fined or imprisoned.”"I believe this is a straightforward time to enforce our laws as written and uphold the Constitution. " - Until you advocate for putting Trump in jail, in my opinion, those are meaningless and hypocritical words.
I asked AI when the insurrection ask can be used.
The Insurrection Act can be used only in a few narrowly defined situations where civilian authorities can’t maintain order or enforce federal law. These triggers are specific and historically rare, even though recent political rhetoric makes it sound broader than it is.
Core Legal Conditions
The president may invoke the Act under three statutory pathways:
1. At a state’s request
A governor or state legislature asks for federal military assistance to suppress an insurrection they cannot control.
2. When enforcing federal law becomes “impracticable”
If “unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion” make it impossible for federal law to be enforced through normal judicial processes, the president may deploy troops without state consent.
3. To protect constitutional rights when a state cannot or will not
If a state is unable or refuses to protect people’s federally guaranteed rights—such as during the Civil Rights era—the president may intervene with military force.
What the Act allows once invoked
Federal troops can perform law enforcement functions, including arrests and searches.
It temporarily suspends the Posse Comitatus Act’s usual ban on military policing.
What it does not allow
It does not suspend the Constitution.
It does not create martial law.
It does not give unlimited presidential authority.
Historical context
The Act has been invoked only about 30 times since 1807, most recently in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots.I asked AI what fraud did Mayor Jacob Frey, and Governor Tim Waltz commit according to Trump and Kristi Noem?
What the investigations actually involve
1. Federal probe: alleged conspiracy to impede immigration agents
The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating Walz and Frey for allegedly impeding federal immigration enforcement through their public statements and actions.
This is tied to a statute (18 USC 372) involving conspiracy to impede federal officers.
The investigation stems from their criticism of the massive federal ICE/Border Patrol deployment in Minneapolis and claims that their rhetoric hindered federal operations.
Important: No charges have been filed, and the subpoenas do not specify any fraud allegations against them.
2. Minnesota’s large-scale social‑program fraud scandal
Minnesota has experienced major fraud committed by private actors who stole millions from state programs (childcare, food aid, etc.).
Dozens of people have been charged or convicted.
Walz and Frey have been criticized for oversight failures, but neither is accused of participating in the fraud.
Frey has publicly acknowledged the fraud crisis is real and said “everybody could have done more,” while Walz has ordered audits and strengthened oversight.
3. Claims of fraud by political opponents
President Trump has publicly accused Minnesota leaders of “fraud” in broad, unspecific terms, but provided no evidence and did not cite any specific fraudulent acts by Walz or Frey.
Bottom line
Neither Tim Walz nor Jacob Frey is accused of committing fraud.
They are subjects of a federal investigation into whether they obstructed immigration enforcement.
Minnesota’s fraud scandal involves other individuals, not Walz or Frey.
You mean like what DHS is doing? The only real traitor is Trump. He is selling us out to the Chinese and Russia, or haven't you noticed.
“The meaning and goal of ICE is the same as that of the Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts): to provoke people so that the government has a reason to introduce stricter laws.
One possible goal is to prevent elections. Therefore, a dictatorship is created. In this case, a fascist one. (This is my speculation.)”
——
Well, Peter, it is a pretty damned good speculation. I think that is his game plan knowing that he can’t hope to win playing fair and square.I fully agree — the writing is on the wall.
And for anyone examining the broader pattern: when Sky News filmed ICE operations in the USA, the agents briefly turned on the British film crew and tried to stop them filming — all on camera. Incidents like that don’t stand alone; they add to the growing evidence that ICE are behaving less like a civilian law‑enforcement body and more like a government‑controlled paramilitary force used to intimidate and suppress scrutiny.
Tell me again how we are not currently in a fascist-led country?
"By insisting that details of two killings that millions of Americans saw on cellphone videos did not take place, senior Trump administration officials are fracturing reality and implying that their brazen power can be wielded with impunity."So much for Donald "the Felon" Trump's claim that "he is running Venezuela", ROFL.
"Venezuela’s acting president says she has had ‘enough’ of US orders"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/26/americas … l-hnk-intlArmed agitator Alex Pretti appeared to want ‘maximum damage’ and to ‘massacre’ law enforcement when shot by BP in Minnesota
https://x.com/thejimjams/status/2015203255312429561I guess that lie was one of the reasons why he got the boot.
Border patrol commander to leave Minneapolis after shooting of Alex Pretti
Gregory Bovino, an aggressive promoter of Trump’s deportation agenda, is said to have been stripped of ‘commander at large’ title
A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that the 55-year-old, who has been a lightning rod for criticism from Democrats and civil liberties activists, would be leaving Minnesota along with some of the agents deployed with him.
A different person familiar with the matter said Bovino had been stripped of his specially created title of “commander at large” of the border patrol and would return to his former job as a chief patrol agent along California’s El Centro sector of the US-Mexico border.
According to the Atlantic, Bovino will return to El Centro, California, where he previously served as chief patrol agent of the sector.
CNN reported on Monday that DHS had suspended Bovino’s access to his social media accounts.
Donald Trump announced on Monday that he was sending Tom Homan, his “border tsar”, to Minnesota to oversee operations on the ground there.
Bovino’s departure comes amid a sharp shift in strategy from the White House after the fatal killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. Earlier on Monday, Trump said he had held conciliatory calls with the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, and the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey.
“The president agreed that the present situation cannot continue,” Frey said. “Some federal agents will begin leaving the area tomorrow, and I will continue pushing for the rest involved in this operation to go.”
But really, it wasn't the lie. They lie all the time. I suspect this has more to do with the NRA’s anger than with the fatal shooting of an American citizen by ICE and the false narratives they spun about it.
This is how Authoritarianism works.
"Secret US cyber operations shielded 2024 election from foreign trolls, but now the Trump admin has gutted protections"
"Weeks before the 2024 election, American military hackers carried out a secret operation to disrupt the work of Russian trolls spewing false information at US voters.
From their perch at Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, the military hackers took aim at the computer servers and key personnel of at least two Russian companies that were covertly pumping out the propaganda, according to multiple sources briefed on the operation.
The trolls were trying to influence election results in six swing states by publishing fictitious news stories that attacked American politicians who supported Ukraine. One of the companies had held “strategy meetings” with Kremlin officials on how to covertly influence US voters, according to an FBI affidavit.
...
But a year into a second Trump administration, many of the government centers previously tasked with repelling foreign influence operations have been disbanded or downsized — and local election officials are preparing to face a continued onslaught of foreign influence operations largely on their own.
The administration has shut down foreign-influence-focused centers at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the State Department that helped warn the public that China, Russia and Iran’s spy services were targeting Americans with election-related disinformation. The Department of Homeland Security has also slashed its election security teams, which pass intelligence to local election offices and help them defend against cyber threats.
The Trump administration has accused those federal programs of censoring Americans and conducting domestic interference in US elections.
While military cyber operations are still an option, there is widespread concern among current and former officials that the US government’s willingness to combat foreign efforts to shape elections has waned. The cuts to election security programs risk causing an exodus of expertise at US intelligence and security agencies that was built up over nearly a decade.
The cuts come even as the US intelligence community found, in a threat assessment released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, that foreign powers will continue to try to influence US elections.
“I find it devastating and deeply alarming for our national security,” said Mike Moser, a former election security specialist at DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, who resigned after the agency froze its election work last year. “To see those partnerships unilaterally dismantled is a tragedy. We are losing the human and technological infrastructure that protects our democracy.”
There should be know doubt in any rational person's mind about where Trump's loyalty's lie - and it isn't with America.This is what that monster of a president had to say about Rep Ilhan Omar getting attacked yesterday. She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her,” according to ABC News.
No wonder America is so divided.
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