The official Trump thread. It's true. It is. No it's not. The President said it is

[amispartacus]

Because 24 hours is a long time in US politics

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2841897-Trump-thread-6

This will now cause instability in our own country as people question if Turnbull stood up for himself enough. Why should that even be a question though? Why should he even have to stand up for himself in what was intended to be a diplomatic phone call? Not normally a requirement.

On a slightly different note. Here's Farage in the European Parliament and what his fellow MEP thinks of his speech. Made my day!

Brilliant Sign

Re: Trump's tweet, either:

• He honestly doesn't know anything about the deal and is sending out a tweet in advance of knowing what he is talking about - stupid? Dementia?

Or

• He has gone straight to his default 'negotiating' tactic of bullying, belittling and insulting.

How will May react to this? Either as part of the 'anglosphere' or as part of the commonwealth, Australia is supposed to one of the U.K.'s great hopes for a trade deal.

If Trump insults Australia does he also insult the Queen?

I think he is just using a tried and tested strategy that has supposedly working for him in business. However, Australia is a country, not a contractor, and Trump is a serial bankrupt.

I still don't understand why he's allowed such free access to twitter. When an acquaintance won a tv talent show she had to deactivate all social media, in case of trolling, and in case she said anything stupid. Well this guy won a show bigger than that.

U.S. military officials told Reuters that Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations.

Is he trying to fall back on sending tweets to distract from other news? However, surely he can't distract from what has happened in Yemen?

uk.businessinsider.com/us-military-officials-trump-ordered-raid-in-yemen-that-killed-us-navy-seal-was-approved-without-sufficient-intelligence-2017-2?r=US&IR=T

I'm increasingly thinking that the question of whether or not Trump has a state visit may become irrelevant.

pseudo I wonder the same! It's ridiculous isnt it? Maybe he thinks he can distract everyone on social media from real facts by idiotic non-PC tweets whilst he makes more destructive executive decisions?

Because the end is nigh for all of us Merry? Or just Trump?

"Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!"

Without commenting on the content - the veracity of the claim - what world leader does that? So, so wrong.

What would you believe?

Great explanation at the bottom of this link about how the press will have to cope with a White House that blatantly lies....

www.vox.com/identities/2017/2/1/14476676/trump-spicer-frederick-douglass

I think Trump will have gone.

However, assuming he stays, unless things change radically - maybe he gets rid of Bannon? - I can't imagine a future where in 6 month's time things will be calm enough for a state visit.

Anyone else beginning to wonder if we're missing something? It's like he is deliberately doing all the wrong things.

At this rate it will be America First but mostly because they will be isolated.

The agreement with Australia was pathetic to start with. Just over 1000 refugees. And Australia better clean up their act in that respect too.
But it's the principle of it.
And the useless lying (thousands?).

Hopefully other countries like Australia will start to close US military bases. He can keep his massive military at home marching up and down for his delectation

He's more likely to get a state visit to North Korea if he carries on like this

Who's going to stop him tweeting? He's the president. He should have some self control.

My money's on b, merry, this is how a bully behaves.

Pseudo - he already told South Korea he would happily meet with North Korea if South Korea wasn't interested in paying more for US protection/troops

That was from the satirical magazine, The Onion! But, chillingly, didn't seem that shocking after the events of the last week

Oh thank fuck - I was reading that and it seemed entirely possible!

www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-gday-mate-on-call-with-australian-pm-trump-badgers-and-brags/2017/02/01/88a3bfb0-e8bf-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html?pushid=breaking-news_1485984370&tid=notifi_push_breaking-news&utm_term=.0bc54019e525

Washington post

"Trump was also skeptical because he did not see a specific advantage the United States would gain by honoring the deal, officials said.

Trump’s position appears to reflect the transactional view he takes of relationships, even when it comes to diplomatic ties with long-standing allies. Australian troops have fought alongside U.S. forces for decades, and the country maintains close cooperation with Washington on trade and economic issues".

So Iran is on notice and military intervention hasn't been ruled out, he's threatened to send troops into Mexico and now he's publicly antagonising the Australians. In 24 hours? This is insane.

Australia is our friends. Our allly. Also a potential trade partner post Brexit. The UK people are very close to Australia. Oh and the Queen is Head of State there. Do you think he knows that? I wonder if May got woken up to the news.

I was convinced he wouldn't be tweeting from the Trump Twitter account once he became president but clearly I was wrong 😔

GingerIvy - I was wondering too, it's like he's being given enough rope to hang himself or something. I dunno - I hope there's a plan somewhere and we're just waiting this shocking shitblizzard out (thanks Standard Issue for that apt term) until actual adults are back in charge. Or maybe I'm just being naive to think things will get better at some point.

I just realised I forgot China. So much foreign policy. The most foreign policy of any president ever. Because he's like, really smart. America is going to be winning, bigly. There's going to be so much winning, it's gonna be beautiful.

www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/us-says-trump-will-honour-refugee-deal-as-shorten-demands-answers-20170202-gu3x7e.html

Wow! Shocked by the Australia thing. Australia like to imagine they too have a special relationship with the US and were one of the countries who sent out troops to Iraq. This will be seen as so embarrassing. I have Australian family - wonder if they'll go on the ban list?

Do you think Trump knows the Queen - who he thinks is great is Head of the Commonwealth? Do you think he knows the relationship between the UK and many foreign countries - all of whom have people living here in the UK?

The next Commonwealth meeting will be interesting.

I also could have sworn that Trump spoke to Turnbull last week and also that Spicer confirmed the refugees would be coming.

Checks if they are refugees or illegal immigrants...

BBC just said it was 'Mainly Muslim refugees' - 1200