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An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138

1000 replies

Spandauer · 15/02/2025 20:11

With a side order of Vance, Zuckerberg and Netanyahu.*
(*Other flavours are available)

Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.
George Orwell

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5258416-trumpmusk-folie-a-deux-trump-thread-137

OP posts:
Thread gallery
59
Lalgarh · 02/03/2025 09:47

If not already posted before: this might be why the Trump ambush on Zelensky was engineered: to distract from this very significant news. The US government is leaving the back door open and the laptop on display

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-russia-hacking-cyber-security

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 09:51

And it looks as if the American public agree who overwhelmingly blame Trump & weasel Vance for the débâcle.

79k CNN poll.

Question: Who bears the most responsibility for the Oval Office arguement.

50% Trump.

42% Vance
All equally 4%,
Zelensky 4%

An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138
PerkingFaintly · 02/03/2025 09:58

From @Lalgarh 's link.

Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-russia-hacking-cyber-security
A person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Guardian on the condition of anonymity said analysts at the agency were verbally informed that they were not to follow or report on Russian threats, even though this had previously been a main focus for the agency.
[...]
“Russia and China are our biggest adversaries. With all the cuts being made to different agencies, a lot of cybersecurity personnel have been fired. Our systems are not going to be protected and our adversaries know this [....] People are saying Russia is winning. Putin is on the inside now.”

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Igotjelly · 02/03/2025 09:59

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 09:51

And it looks as if the American public agree who overwhelmingly blame Trump & weasel Vance for the débâcle.

79k CNN poll.

Question: Who bears the most responsibility for the Oval Office arguement.

50% Trump.

42% Vance
All equally 4%,
Zelensky 4%

Whilst I think that’s probably true of lots of decent Americans it’s important to remember that CNN isn’t exactly representative of those who would support MAGA.

cakeorwine · 02/03/2025 10:16

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 09:51

And it looks as if the American public agree who overwhelmingly blame Trump & weasel Vance for the débâcle.

79k CNN poll.

Question: Who bears the most responsibility for the Oval Office arguement.

50% Trump.

42% Vance
All equally 4%,
Zelensky 4%

That seems to be a poll on another website where you select your view.

*Other more reliable opinion poll methods are available.

cakeorwine · 02/03/2025 10:21

"Protesters held signs reading “Vermont stands with Ukraine” and “International embarrassment”, while many waved Ukrainian flags in solidarity. Fox aired video of the protesters, but blurred out signs displaying messages against Vance and in favor of Ukraine."

Would be interesting to see what the messages were on the signs that were blurred out

Spandauer · 02/03/2025 10:24

Igotjelly · 02/03/2025 09:59

Whilst I think that’s probably true of lots of decent Americans it’s important to remember that CNN isn’t exactly representative of those who would support MAGA.

Agreed.
Historically world news and opinions have always been underreported in the US so having an appreciation of global events was difficult to achieve by the 'man in the street'.

Online news sources and 24 hour news channels have made it much easier to engage but the majority of people aren't interested in world affairs. The closest the population have been to "being concerned" about their own safety was after 9/11. There is no perceived outside threat to the US so no reason to engage. But as the report linked to above about cybersecurity reveals, the danger is no longer just boots and bombs.

We have to hope that MAGAs will wake up and take action when Trump's actions detrimentally affect their day to day lives.

OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 02/03/2025 10:31

When we went to Bryce Canyon the boys joined a "junior ranger" activity and the leader was asking where everyone was from of the dozen children only 1 was from the US and the ranger said they get more visitors from the UK or France or Germany than from the US out of State which amazed me. Well worth the visit even if it turned out to be the most expensive 2 days ever as it's where DS2 got hooked on horse riding!

SerendipityJane · 02/03/2025 10:52

PerkingFaintly · 02/03/2025 09:58

From @Lalgarh 's link.

Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-russia-hacking-cyber-security
A person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Guardian on the condition of anonymity said analysts at the agency were verbally informed that they were not to follow or report on Russian threats, even though this had previously been a main focus for the agency.
[...]
“Russia and China are our biggest adversaries. With all the cuts being made to different agencies, a lot of cybersecurity personnel have been fired. Our systems are not going to be protected and our adversaries know this [....] People are saying Russia is winning. Putin is on the inside now.”

At least we in the UK no longer need to come up with clever ways to feed disinformation to the Russians. Just send it to the Pentagon.

Spandauer · 02/03/2025 10:56

cakeorwine · 02/03/2025 10:21

"Protesters held signs reading “Vermont stands with Ukraine” and “International embarrassment”, while many waved Ukrainian flags in solidarity. Fox aired video of the protesters, but blurred out signs displaying messages against Vance and in favor of Ukraine."

Would be interesting to see what the messages were on the signs that were blurred out

Some of the signs. I particularly like the graveyard background.

An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138
An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138
An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138
OP posts:
TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 11:21

I read that the ultimate insult was 'Vance skies in jeans' 😅

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 11:24

.

An unholy trinity or just a seedy threesome: Trump, Musk and Putin? - Trump thread #138
Lalgarh · 02/03/2025 11:52

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 11:24

.

I'm assuming he'd try and weaponise that as proof that Vermont is the um, metropolitan elite looking down on simple MAGA folk from the plains who wouldn't have the right skiing gear.

I could angle for a joke about shell suits but I can't quite manage it.

SNL on Trump Zelensky

H

cakeorwine · 02/03/2025 12:19

Lalgarh · 02/03/2025 11:52

I'm assuming he'd try and weaponise that as proof that Vermont is the um, metropolitan elite looking down on simple MAGA folk from the plains who wouldn't have the right skiing gear.

I could angle for a joke about shell suits but I can't quite manage it.

SNL on Trump Zelensky

H

That's a very good sketch

BustingBaoBun · 02/03/2025 13:05

That was hilarious! Loved DOUCHE....Department of Undoing Child Healthcare and Education 🤣

BlackeyedSusan · 02/03/2025 14:27

Eyesopenwideawake · 02/03/2025 09:08

Well that was a zinger!

They didn't hold back!

CaveMum · 02/03/2025 14:41

Great sketch? I think Lil’ Marco was spot on!

notthisoldlineagain · 02/03/2025 16:44

SerendipityJane · 01/03/2025 12:06

Next step is online, see if there any alternatives to Microsoft/Google...

Quite straightforward to run Linux on a PC (maybe Linux Mint) you might have to swerve some installed MS products, but nearly everything can be run via a browser if you want.

Android is actually open source. It's the playstore that locks you into Google.

Thank you.

There's another thread about boycotting US products and someone recommended this for digital https://european-alternatives.eu/categories

The Russian astroturfers are getting called out on that thread, and on other threads on MN. For saying that's no point/usual standard fare/it's too difficult when there is generally a switch for most things/you have to be perfect or you are a hypocrite. Someone listed lots of US brands and said how can you avoid them? I could only see one on the list that I use. Funny that they don't see the individual votes that elected Trump as pointless and they were all individual actions too.

Spandauer · 02/03/2025 16:50

A lot of ocean between the 2 meetings.

From NYT:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated the Trump administration officials’ discomfort and anger with Zelensky, saying that the Ukrainian president had disrupted efforts toward a peace process with Russia by challenging Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Friday. Zelensky “found every opportunity to try to ‘Ukraine-splain’ on every issue,” Rubio said.

Secretary Rubio, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” leaned heavily on emotive language to justify his administration’s shift in foreign policy over Ukraine. He said that he was “puzzled” by the pushback on the administration after the heated Oval Office exchange with Presdent Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Friday and said that President Trump, who was trying to prevent more destruction, was being unfairly criticized.
“The sooner people grow up and realize that, I think the more progress we’re going to be able to make,” Rubio said. He added that Trump would receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts if he were a Democrat.

Not everyone is on the same page as Lil' Marco... but too late my friend.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, told Fox News on Sunday that he regretted voting to confirm his former colleague Marco Rubio to be secretary of state. Van Hollen said the former senator, a Florida Republican, used to acknowledge that Russia was the aggressor in the war against Ukraine and would never have accused Zelensky of being a dictator as Trump has. But since joining the administration, Rubio has adopted Trump’s talking points. “As a member of the Senate, Secretary Rubio was somebody who stood up for American values, American principles,” Van Hollen said. “Now he’s simply taking his directions at the State Department from Elon Musk and essentially parroting the president’s position.”

OP posts:
Spandauer · 02/03/2025 16:56

More opposing views in Washington.

A top aide to President Trump stopped short of calling for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s resignation but said the Ukrainian leader must be more cooperative. “We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians and end this war,” Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And if it becomes apparent that President Zelensky’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in this country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands.”

However...
Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, also spoke with NBC’s Kristen Welker, saying that Vladimir V. Putin was “a murderous K.G.B. thug” and a “dictator” and that he understood why President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine wanted assurances that the Russian president would actually abide by any cease-fire agreement that he signed.
“Zelensky is rightfully concerned that Putin has violated every single agreement he’s ever signed and that he can’t be trusted,” Lankford said on “Meet the Press.” “He’s looking for some kind of security guarantees.”

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 02/03/2025 16:59

“As a member of the Senate, Secretary Rubio was somebody who stood up for American values, American principles,”

I posted this on another thread. Anyone recognise it ?

...
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americansborn in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritageand unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge--and more.
...

Igotjelly · 02/03/2025 17:05

Mark Rutte just left Lancaster House absolutely beaming and says it was an excellent meeting.

namechangedtemporarily123 · 02/03/2025 18:15

Loving the pics of King Charles and his new BFF Volodymyr. Hope Trump's watching

lifesabitchandthenyoudie · 02/03/2025 18:23

Just saw the coverage of the statement by Starmer. Did anyone else notice Beth Rigby of Sky almost call it the 'oval orifice'??? pmsl.

TopPocketFind · 02/03/2025 20:08

NEW: The Minerva Research Initiative, established by the Pentagon to fund social science relevant to national security, is being gutted. Dozens of researchers studying threats from extremist groups, misinformation or climate change have received notices that their grants are being terminated.

https://www.science.org/content/article/pentagon-guts-national-security-program-harnessed-social-science

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