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Original poster

The Orange Man and the State of his Union - Trump thread #139

1000 replies

Spandauer · 04/03/2025 08:12

Thanks to @JoshLymanSwagger for the thread title.

Trump, Vance and Musk are building a bigly bridge across the Bering Strait...
...and creating a gaping chasm in the Atlantic.

Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5275361-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 | Mumsnet

With a side order of Vance, Zuckerberg and Netanyahu.* (*Other flavours are available) ^Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invin...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5275361-an-unholy-trinity-or-just-a-seedy-threesome-trump-musk-and-putin-trump-thread-138

OP posts:
Thread gallery
123
cakeorwine · 09/03/2025 23:17

Spandauer · 09/03/2025 23:05

Maybe these detentions regularly happened in the past and weren't reported but I feel travel to the USA is going to be more and more unpredictable and potentially unpleasant if your face doesn't fit.

German tourist held in US detention for 8 weeks and now a British tourist also detained at border with Canada - I believe due to a visa mistake. Reports of a 2nd German tourist being held now in separate case.

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trumps-immigration-crackdown-hits-tourists-german-woman-locked-ice-detention-no-charges-1731607

from Bluesky:
Becky Burke of Book Island (a picture book publisher in the UK) was "detained" by ICE at the Canadian border on 2/28. Her father asked that her story be shared in case someone can help her. He writes:
Our daughter Becky, a 28-year-old British tourist, has been caught up in the recent immigration crackdown in the US. What was meant to be a life-changing four-month backpacking trip across North America has turned into a nightmare.
Despite being a tourist with no criminal record, she was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington.
Becky’s current conditions are deeply concerning. She is sharing a cell, surviving on a diet of cold rice, potatoes, and beans (she is vegan), and has limited access to phone calls. Visitors are restricted to speaking through a glass screen via telephone.
All her possessions have been confiscated, and she feels isolated and desperate to come home.

This is the kind of human interest story that will hit the tabloid headlines here.

And will potentially damage US tourism.

BIossomtoes · 09/03/2025 23:55

CaveMum · 09/03/2025 23:01

Wow, just seen the Canadian ballot results - wasn’t even close! Carney got 86% of the votes cast!

That’s astonishing. So there is still some sanity in the world. You played a blinder, Canada! 🍁

user9876543211 · 10/03/2025 00:29

Spandauer · 09/03/2025 23:05

Maybe these detentions regularly happened in the past and weren't reported but I feel travel to the USA is going to be more and more unpredictable and potentially unpleasant if your face doesn't fit.

German tourist held in US detention for 8 weeks and now a British tourist also detained at border with Canada - I believe due to a visa mistake. Reports of a 2nd German tourist being held now in separate case.

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trumps-immigration-crackdown-hits-tourists-german-woman-locked-ice-detention-no-charges-1731607

from Bluesky:
Becky Burke of Book Island (a picture book publisher in the UK) was "detained" by ICE at the Canadian border on 2/28. Her father asked that her story be shared in case someone can help her. He writes:
Our daughter Becky, a 28-year-old British tourist, has been caught up in the recent immigration crackdown in the US. What was meant to be a life-changing four-month backpacking trip across North America has turned into a nightmare.
Despite being a tourist with no criminal record, she was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington.
Becky’s current conditions are deeply concerning. She is sharing a cell, surviving on a diet of cold rice, potatoes, and beans (she is vegan), and has limited access to phone calls. Visitors are restricted to speaking through a glass screen via telephone.
All her possessions have been confiscated, and she feels isolated and desperate to come home.

As you know, pretty much no one is a louder critic of the Trump regime than I am, but I do think these incidents happen pretty regularly but fly below the radar. I know a women whose passport was stolen mid-flight on a flight to the UK, while she was asleep. On arrival, she was detained in a mixed sex immigration detention facility for several days before it got straightened out.

I haven't put my passport in the overhead storage since!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Politics
RafaistheKingofClay · 10/03/2025 00:37

Trump will chair the task force, which will "co-ordinate with federal agencies in planning, organising and executing" the tournament.

That sounds like the potential for absolute carnage. Presumably Musk has sacked half the federal agencies involved anyway.

JoshLymanSwagger · 10/03/2025 05:09

TokyoSushi · 09/03/2025 22:38

Mark Carney to succeed Trudeau as the next PM of Canada.

I quite liked him at the BoE, let's see how he gets on with Trump..,

I just said the same thing to my DH. Smile

JoshLymanSwagger · 10/03/2025 05:25

RafaistheKingofClay · 10/03/2025 00:37

Trump will chair the task force, which will "co-ordinate with federal agencies in planning, organising and executing" the tournament.

That sounds like the potential for absolute carnage. Presumably Musk has sacked half the federal agencies involved anyway.

The United States will also host the 2025 Club World Cup in June and July.

With Man City and Chelsea from the UK. It'll be interesting to see if this goes off without a hitch...

BustingBaoBun · 10/03/2025 08:47

@CaveMum
So agree with the analysis of Trump, I think that was written during the first Administration and never more true now

As for Mark Carney, I really like him, I had a bit of a pash on him when he was Governor of BoE 🤭

user9876543211 · 10/03/2025 09:28

JoshLymanSwagger · 10/03/2025 05:25

The United States will also host the 2025 Club World Cup in June and July.

With Man City and Chelsea from the UK. It'll be interesting to see if this goes off without a hitch...

Show quote history

Since Man City is owned by a sheikh from the UAE and Chelsea is majority owned by an American billionaire, I'm sure the administration will do everything possible to pave their way to a smooth experience - within the limits of what they can accomplish due to ineptitude and doge cuts.

BIossomtoes · 10/03/2025 11:52

I was fascinated by his theory that the only person who can handle Trump is Melania.

CaveMum · 10/03/2025 12:06

BIossomtoes · 10/03/2025 11:52

I was fascinated by his theory that the only person who can handle Trump is Melania.

Yes, his comments about HER being the transactional one and that she enjoys being the one person who could bring him down were very telling.

SerendipityJane · 10/03/2025 12:11

Monopolies can only exist as long as consumers are willing to tolerate them.

They also need to keep innovating or they will get left behind.

(This is why in the long run, any attempts to corner markets will fail)

https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/eutelsat_starlink_ukraine/

Eutelsat looms large to boot Starlink out of Ukraine

Increasingly shaky relationship with the States has Europe considering options

https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/eutelsat_starlink_ukraine?td=rt-3a

user9876543211 · 10/03/2025 12:44

CaveMum · 10/03/2025 11:50

Interesting interview with Michael Wolff on today’s TRIP Leading.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leading/id1665265193?i=1000698268341

I always approach Michael Wolff with a grain of salt and a big pinch of skepticism. Some of his reporting in the past has been, shall we say, loosely accurate.

Yes, his comments about HER being the transactional one and that she enjoys being the one person who could bring him down were very telling.

Although I have no trouble believing this

Talkinpeace · 10/03/2025 14:24

Nobody hates Donald Trump as much as Melania.
She will never EVER forgive him from stopping her being a Bergdorf wife.

Lalgarh · 10/03/2025 15:21

Munroe Bergdorf?

Zonder · 10/03/2025 15:27

CaveMum · 10/03/2025 12:06

Yes, his comments about HER being the transactional one and that she enjoys being the one person who could bring him down were very telling.

Show quote history

I wish she would get on with it then.

user9876543211 · 10/03/2025 15:28

Zonder · 10/03/2025 15:27

I wish she would get on with it then.

Show quote history

I'm sure her NDA will prevent that. She doesn't strike me as someone who would be willing to give up her share of the pie for the greater good.

Talkinpeace · 10/03/2025 15:34

Lalgarh · 10/03/2025 15:21

Munroe Bergdorf?

Bergdorf Goodman.
Where super rich ladies who lunch like to shop.

DuncinToffee · 10/03/2025 15:36

Scaramucci was on the Last Leg (comedy show) last Friday and he said that Trump was mentally unwell and alone in the White House and that Melania nowadays kept as far away from her husband as possible.

Zonder · 10/03/2025 15:50

DuncinToffee · 10/03/2025 15:36

Scaramucci was on the Last Leg (comedy show) last Friday and he said that Trump was mentally unwell and alone in the White House and that Melania nowadays kept as far away from her husband as possible.

I guess if he's mentally unwell, rather than trying to encourage him to step down, those around him might feel more able to gently nudge him in their direction.

JoshLymanSwagger · 10/03/2025 15:57

The Tanker struck and on fire in the North Sea...
The US-flagged Stena Immaculate appears to have been hit while at anchor by the Portuguese-flagged container Solong.
The ship is one of just 10 vessels the US military uses to carry its fuel during conflicts or emergencies.
North Sea tanker: Jet fuel spills into North Sea after tanker collision, as 37 people brought ashore - BBC News

North Sea tanker: Jet fuel spills into North Sea after tanker collision, as 37 people brought ashore

One person is in hospital, the local MP says, with the rest of the crews from both ships reported safe.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq1pwjlqq2t

Talkinpeace · 10/03/2025 16:00

If Trump steps down we get Vance.
Vance is fully in line with Project 2025

JoshLymanSwagger · 10/03/2025 16:18

Talkinpeace · 10/03/2025 16:00

If Trump steps down we get Vance.
Vance is fully in line with Project 2025

Much as it pains me to say it, Trump needs to see out his whole term.

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