Trump calling Greenland “Iceland” and the rest

[ferrisbeullersjacket]

Notwithstanding the fact he is a corrupt, ignorant, sex-offending, narcissistic, lying, bullying, dictator-loving, Putin-supporting, Islamophobic, arrogant, ungracious, rude man-toddler…

even putting all that aside if you can…

Calling Greenland “Iceland” 4 times in his rambling speech yesterday… can you IMAGINE the response of Joe Biden had done that?!!

Where is the uproar (about all of the above) from within the US?

I was seething that Gavin Newson had the gall to say it was down to European leaders to stand up to him. What about the bloody US Congress!!! They are the only ones that can actually stop him (and Vance). Why are there no mechanisms to curtail his wild and dangerous actions? Why do they tolerate it?? Where are all the reasonable Republicans?? At least in the UK we have a Leader of the Opposition, PMQ’s, Parliamentary committees and opportunities for the PM to be grilled and held to account.

All I see in the US is SILENCE, appeasement, or Gavin Newson doing a podcast.

Agree. His long-standing cognitive distortions (presumably the result of a personality disorder) seem to have ramped up.

I've noticed with elderly relatives, and with myself in my early sixties, that as we get older it becomes more challenging to monitor and correct the bad cognitive habits that arise from mental ill-health. In my case, I find it harder to maintain concentration, focus, memory while in the grip of anxiety and rumination. In the case of a relative, I noticed that his longstanding inability to perceive other people's perspectives and use them as a corrective to his rather paranoid and selfcentering thought processes became worse to the point of delusion.

With Trump, the deterioration does seem to have reached the point where constitutional mechanisms for removing an unwell president should kick in. I don't agree that there is silence in the US, but the noise is far, far less than it should be.

He’s probably planning Iceland after Greenland.

There are many reels on Facebook and presumably on Ticktok from Americans talking about the obvious signs of dementia being displayed by Trump. I suspect many Americans are pretty appalled.

There isn't a lot congress can do. The President has pretty substncial powers and can even begin military action without any requirement for congress to approve it.

Even in areas where congress has the power, the Trump administration has just ignored it. He is acting like a dictator in that he has ordered actions be taken even if outwith his powers as he knows it will take the Supreme Court months to get around to determining if it was legal or not. And even then they have packed the Supreme Court with right-leaning judges who are far more likely to come down on their side.

Didn't he also talk about a potential agreement over Greenland being 'consummated', when I think he actually meant confirmed or ratified?!

Also pretty concerning that he accused NATO of being unwilling to lend aid to the US, when the only time NATO has acted on Article 5 has been at the request of the US after 9/11...

Their checks and balances aren't working because Trump fires or arrests anyone who disagrees with him. Despite that, I'm actually surprised no one has removed him for incapacity...but I guess that would depend on Vance actually doing something right instead of acting like a lapdog.

Vance is just hanging on in there as he knows the big job is his soon, doesn’t need to intervene. Rate of trump’s cognitive decline is accelerating

I’ve just heard Rory Stewart suggest that it wasn’t a slip of the tongue, and capturing Iceland has apparently previously been mooted by the White House!

Personally I think the so called checks and balances of having 3 arms of power which has been used as a demonstration of democracy and to avoid absolutism are in fact completely useless when put to the test. Congress, the senate and office of POTUS.
Trump is a useful idiot on behalf of extreme right wing. His cognitive decline is obvious and behaviour clearly narcissistic. The most dangerous human beings are this sort of psychopath who also hold power.

Well he is planning to fuck it over (for mineral extraction, etc.), so perhaps 'consummated' works. His whole strategy is to grab it by the pussy.

I know he's a rambling mess who often mispeaks, but I wouldn't rule out that he also has eyes on Iceland.

Apparently hes concentrating on the wrong area entirely if hes worrying about US security. The Bering Strait is where Russia is at..and the North Pole/Svalbard. I think Trump's confused Greenland which is thousands of miles away from that area.

Newsom did talk about the "supine congress" in his little rant as well. I feel he's right, Congress failing to rein in Trump doesn't mean Europe should bend over.

I'd be concerned if I were from Iceland... might have been a slip of the tongue or it might be next in line.

It has been disappointing to see the failure of checks and balances in the US, but I think those closest to the president are probably quite happy to keep him in power for now - I imagine that they know very well how to manipulate him.

And in any case, if Trump is removed, we get Vance - and that worries me even more than Trump tbh.

Yes it seems that it benefits someone or some people to keep a declining fool in power.

Iceland is a country in its own right, not an autonomous territory of another country. Its a member of the EU and NATO. It would be like Trump taking a fancy to Portgual or something. Deciding it would be helpful to own for "strategic" reasons.

I'm well aware that Iceland is a country.

What makes you think that would put Trump off?

He was definitely confused as he referred to the stock market going down over Iceland.

Rory Stewart had his moments and I really liked his book, but he is a big buyer into every Trump conspiracy theory.

I do think Trump is starting to show cognitive decline, which is a bit scary, but he is nowhere near as bad as Biden was.

Well I suspect its the fact that Greenland is "owned" by another country that makes him think its up for grabs and could be owned by someone else. Technically the UK has first dibs on any sale anyway.

Many apologies for suggesting in some way that you didn't know what Iceland was. Apparently.

I just don't agree that Iceland being a country would put him off. After all, he has made numerous statements about thinking that Canada should become part of the US.

Also, for future reference, Iceland is not part of the EU at present.

I think the USA system is putting in old folk that are past giving a shit about what people think. The Wild West is becoming the Wild West. They knew what they were doing when they voted him in.

Trump threatened to annex Canada, by military means if necessary. So the fully/semi autonomous state distinction doesn't matter to him. He really doesn't think so deeply. He sees or hears and he wants. Like a toddler.

Ok thanks for your correction. Its in the EEA, EFTA and Schengen though. So its a real country!!! 😉I hope you see my point now. No matter anyway.

Actually if we are keen on taking over real countries now, Norway would be a better target for a US takeover as it owns Svalbard. More useful to the US than Greenland. Plus it would get those mean Norwegians back for not giving Big Orange the Nobel Peace Prize.

Well we will see what he does. Italy is the country Id annex rather than Canada. Gorgeous food and weather. Lovely architecture. What's not to like.

I know it is a real country - I have been there and I have never disputed that fact. I have no idea why you seem so keen to insinuate otherwise.

I just don't happen to think that the fact of it being an independent country is relevant.

As for whether Trump genuinely has designs on Iceland or not, or whether it would even be a good strategic move for him if he did, who knows? The guy is a lunatic and doesn't think like any normal person would.