To think the USA is on the verge of civil war?

If there was a Calexit (which indeed would cause civil war and is highly unlikely) they would join up with Canada. It's the old Cascadia idea. Might even join the EU (now there's a thought!) - I'm being facetious here...

The new recruits only have 47 days of training & they are coming from selected locations & demographics.

No - the US is not close to civil war.

Funnily enough, many Americans have these exact same thoughts about the UK - that is is unsafe, close to civil war, is becoming an authoritarian state etc.

And what do you think due process is for? Everyone deserves to be given a chance to make their case. ICE behave like mobsters who arbitrarily target innocent people with impunity. If you support stuff like that you shouldn't wonder when at some point you're on the receiving end of it because when rules disappear and a group of people gets 'absolute immunity', everyone is at risk.
If you're not American and are writing this from the safety of the UK, I bloody well hope you don't think it's a good idea to import that shit.

It’s only “simple as” if you’re a simpleton.

It's scarily like the handmaids tale. The US looks like it will become an isolated authoritarian state - possibly with California breaking off and becoming independent (which will cause civil war)

This sounds a lot like you actually want a civil war.

Would they have the numbers to have a presence everywhere, though? The intention could be to encourage compliance everywhere by showing strength in one city.

I agree or at least from what we hear over in the UK.
The US needs to organise structured opposition with military level ability. No idea how that could happen.
I have thought all along that the country may end up rather like occupied France in WW2 with armed resistance.

As regards impeachment as suggested by a previous poster, this will never work. Trump does not follow the rules of law or normality. Anyone who stands against him is in danger. I don’t see anything from the usual playbook stopping him.
All that might work is overwhelming force.

DH and I both did politics of some form at university (him as a main focus, me as a secondary focus). The war has started. It started when fucking Trump just announced tariffs yesterday on NATO allies when they were just doing what he said SHOULD be done (ie that NATO protect Greenland). When Trump put out that Truth Social message implying that all the other members of NATO are suddenly suspect, DH and I both felt sick; that was the end of the world that we know, unless Trump’s government declares him incompetent immediately. A political podcast I listen to said it feels like the Cuban Missile Crisis. THAT message will be the beginning of WW3. Attached for those who haven’t seen it somehow. And I think your husband is being a bit too optimistic @Idontspeakgermansorry . We’re guessing within the next 12-24 months. Maybe sooner.
ATTACHED (in case they take a few minutes) photos of the Truth Social post.

What @Whatafustercluck said. The lack of any real, coherent opposition is really depressing.

And, despite everything, at least half the population still supports Trump.

Moreover, a very large proportion are simply apathetic, don’t care, can’t be bothered - and have little or no knowledge of the outside world or awareness of what is actually going on.

I don't think it is close to civil war at all. The use of troops is very selective and in a small number of places, and most people in the US are not affected at all.

Release the Epstein files

And if innocent people get killed in the crossfire all the better hey!

One day people will open their eyes and see that governments blaming everything on immigrants is a ploy to distract. Oh don’t look here at what we are doing quick look over there, they speak a bit different you it’s them that’s the problem

I'm really conflicted about whether or not to join the team meeting in the US (east coast) next week.

I want to see the team and will have serious FOMO if I do not go but I also feel morally repulsed going there as if Potus hasn't just threatened to march into Europe and take a country by force. (Can't believe I am even typing that tbh)

totally agree with ICE

youre illegal you shouldn’t be in the country
simple as

My American DH thinks it will happen in the next 5-10 years. I hope not, but he's much more clued up on US politics than I am. He's generally very sensible so I don't know.

While I agree that conditions in the US are the kind that trigger civil war, at the moment it's missing a key ingredient that all other civil wars have in common: a large, well structured and organised opposition to the government that is both willing (ideologically) and able (resources) to use violence in an effective and coordinated way. What we currently have is the ideology, but with uncoordinated and sporadic outbreaks of protest. I'm not saying it can't or won't happen, but at the moment any uprising would be quashed pretty quickly. An opposition in a civil war needs structure (leadership) and resources that currently aren't there.