Sweet

Ah I thought these were new purchases on Friday, didn’t check the date.

Sarcasm otherwise I’m just done

Genuinely can’t tell what is sarcasm anymore.

Because he and his team may have messed up. You want manufacturing to move out you don’t give them a cliff edge with 125% tariffs. You give them a couple of years notice.

Which makes the point of the last month what? This could have been the position from day 1 with some thought and escalation could have been the threat. Now the higher tariffs look like a bluff.

I share similarities with Hitler. I like dogs and women, I also don’t agree with large scale immigration, or believe that all cultures or equal. Yet I loath the Nazis and what they did. I had a great many relatives who fought them in WW2. This guy, the supporter of the H-1b visa programme, believes in ‘racial superiority’ apparently. Maybe of Asians given by the photo. The largest Nationalist government in the world is in India led by Modi. It’s Hindu nationalist and Modi believes in a country for Hindu people. Are there similarity with some Nazi beliefs - sure. But are Modi and Hindu Nationalists Nazis - no, because of the area were they are dissimilar matters (fascism, wars, genocide). We need to stop these silly comparisons. Not only is it unfair to Musk and many others incorrectly labelled as Nazis. It also cheapens what the Nazis were and what they did - which was some of most despicable things ever committed by mankind.

No idea if the quote is real, probably is. You have to wonder, don’t the Trump admin know Xi isn’t under the same pressure as they are? There is no opposition, no critical press and no vote in less than 2 years. The CCP do what they want. The whole thing is a bit of a mess. He could have picked up the phone to many of these countries beforehand and said I want a new deal. I suspect that in the majority of cases if he asked nicely he would have got people around the table. Instead he immediately went to threats.

Luke, please don’t tell me what I can and cannot do, or what opinions I can or cannot hold.

what a strange quote. Why not just phone Xi? Who tell Xi to phone him.

He watches anime and eats sushi, so his connect to Japan is as strong as a Japanese person.

Don't agree. A shared people is not a matter of opinion. It's literally genetic. You have lots of immigrants in the UK here who actively support and want their native countries to do well. Stop pretending such a concept does not exist. Because I don't like one american I must dislike them all? Irrelevant anti-American bs. The Soviets started WW2 on the Nazis side and participated in the invasion of Poland. After the war they tried to gobble up as much of Europe as they could. America today literally budded off a Europe country. The current presidents mother is Scottish. Trump is eligible for British citizenship. Are you serious with your anime and sushi comparision... really? This is true. Trump has been hostile. He is damaging relationships with allies. He is untrustworthy. He is unreliable. He seems to think American must win all the time and that winning comes at the expense of others. He doesn't seem know who his friends are.... all these things yes. And yet, I still love America. Just not Trump. PS - I don't love it anywhere near as much as I love my kids, that was an analogy.

Shared people and a shared set of values. Relatives from a family split by an ocean. Plus more than a smidge of gratitude for favours and help provided by Americans to us Europeans in years gone by. Something you may not understand if you don't share these values, share a culture, or a people, or received such help. Yes I don't like the person in the oval office right, but just because my kid throws a tantrum it doesn't mean I don't stop loving him. You either get it or you don't.

It should be so easy for America. Stop doing silly stuff and you will continue to do well. This is Europe ^

Deficit at 1.5 trillion through the first half of the US governments financial year and expected to be 2.5 ish trillion for the full year - or about 8% of GDP. All while yields on US borrowings are rising. They need to get this under control.

I have, I don’t agree with you. You must not know what the Nazis believed or did. Being a dickhead, being against large scale immigration, does not make you a Nazis - not even close. I’m not being apologist, I’m afraid you need to look at yourself on this one and ask why you need to overreach to Nazis. This is the guy you are talking about: ”“I have been in the same room with Elon, and he always tries to be funny. And he’s not funny. Like, at all,” says a senior Trump administration official. “He makes these jokes and little asides and smiles and then looks almost hurt if you don’t lap up his humor.” And… “With DOGE, Musk has gleefully banished tens of thousands of federal employees, canceled lifesaving aid, and repeatedly threatened America’s safety-net programs, all as part of a purported hunt for waste, fraud, and abuse. He’s governed as an out-of-touch corporate villain, laughing about this carnage while partying, posting, delivering big payments to voters (although the amounts mean virtually nothing to him), and cashing in on new contracts and business opportunities — sometimes appearing high out of his mind.” And… “Talking to the guy is sometimes like listening to really rusty nails on a chalkboard,” says the senior Trump administration official, who adds that Musk is not much of a team player, either. “He’s just the most irritating person I’ve ever had to deal with, and that is saying something.” Is he an edgy, nerdy, cringey, socially retarded, out of touch, asshole. Yes. Is he a Nazis - sorry no - you need to be honestly compare and contrast the two. Sorry Doo, just cannot agree.

This is were I get a bit lost with the whole thing. Musk has never said or done anything that has made me think Nazi. Being against large scale immigration doesn’t make you a Nazi. Throwing a goofy straight arm salute doesn’t make you a Nazi. I mean the guy has Aspergers, he has all sorts of small but observable physical ticks, like the way he blinks, walks, speaks and holds his head. He does all sorts of weird and cringey shit because he is (not joking either) a bit of a social retard. Do I like him - not particularly. Ever since he called the cave diver trying to save kids a ‘pedo guy’ nor do I like his constant (and continued) bs around Tesla capabilities - a long list of outlandish promises never delivered. But Nazi? Come on, it’s not even remotely close to that. Can we please reserve it for people who actually are Nazis?

You’re right it’s not. UK defence to GDP was about 5% when I was born. That’s a bit high in peace time but it should never have been 2%. Same across Europe. The UK is still regarded as one of the strongest militaries in the world - but it’s not. It’s a mess top to bottom, it’s been underinvested, there aren’t enough soldiers or ships and I’m not sure if there is a patriotic feeling about the country anymore.

Agree Agree in much of that. Regarding the security blanket - who is to blame for that? Mostly Europeans but let’s not act like big brother didn’t play a role. French and British pursued their own interest in Suez and got slapped down by America. America threatened them both financially and helped cause a run on the pound. Another instance, British started the nuclear bomb project first (not widely known), then America and British (plus Canada) joined their programmes begetting the Manhattan project. When the war ended the US refused to let the British use the technology - bit of a backstab. The Brits developed their own bomb and then the Americans told them ‘hey use ours’ - which they foolishly did. Now there is talk that the American can turn off support for those nukes…

Hard to know. Most of them tend to be countries ruled by near dictators, so what they stand for is probably quite personal and varied. Problem is Trump, for some reason, seems to be turning on his allies. I get some of the reasons why he would be doing that - NATO for example - but you want to push not alienate or worse push them into hands of your adversaries.

Dimon and Bessent team work?

I’m not talking about those rooting against the US. I am referring to those criticising Trump and his policies, many aren’t rooting against America, they are rooting for America.

In many cases though it’s the opposite. They are rooting for the US. There is a lot of reputational harm being done by this admin which maybe isn’t appreciated unless you are on the other side.

Thanks for the reply. Seems you based it on worst case scenario, and leverage from there. Is it harder to maintain leverage now rates are up?

MAGA - art of the deal. Critics - he caved. It’s all so tiring because it’s not obvious that a) there has been any masterful deal making or even a plan that wasn’t ’let’s just try this’, or b) that he caved empty handed. Just non-stop shilling.