World News

The article is a Trump hallucination.

He’s not wrong that leaders flatter him; but it’s not respect, it’s geopolitical strategy. They’re managing chaos, hedging with China and others, and responding to a weaker US position largely created by Trump himself. This isn’t strength; it’s a soft power collapse that’s opening dangerous doors, mainly for Americans most of all, but likely for everyone else too.

What Trump sees as deference is actually diplomatic triage. World leaders aren’t engaging him because they admire him; leaders are trying to keep the global order from unraveling faster than it already is. The cost of alienating the U.S. is high, but increasingly, so is relying on it. That shift is the real story, and it’s one that leaves America more isolated with each bluster.

I'm sure that's what his handlers tell him while they're changing his diaper.

Pragmatism =/= Kissing ass

Its like a cop thinking: wow, people really respect me

No they don't lol, the moment you're not looking, they are gonna graffiti ACAB on the police car you're driving.

They aren't though

That is not how you spell kicking.

That's what a trillion dollar in "defense" grants you, everyone kissing your ass.

Please die.

And this is why Ireland, France and others weakening the EU response to US tariffs for alcoholic beverages is dangerous. This is only encouraging him and he will use any sign of weakness to bolster himself.

I hope other countries realize that entering into trade agreements with the United States is a meaningless endeavor given that we don’t believe we have any responsibility to abide by agreements that we make anymore. We are an entirely unreliable partner.

Heard it on my morning news program here in Canada. “I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir,” he chuckled. Sounded like he was making fun of an abuse victim. Like that time he mocked the disabled. Filthy predator.

That any media outlet is featuring his latest truth claim in an uncontested headline is wild. Look at the amount of commentary already produced that assumes his version of events is what's actually happening.

They’re very obviously not, though. This is some newspeak bullshit.

At best, world leaders may be trying to salvage their current investments in the US and trade sources in the short term. But they are also immediately starting the process to divest from the US, maybe permanently. He may get a short term gain from a handful of countries, but is tanking us long term as everyone distances themselves from us.

Trade, investments, debts, these things bind countries together and promote better economies the world-wide. The point of Tariffs are to reduce or eliminate these connections to other countries in the effected markets, to isolate and insulate your domestic market from the international market at large. When you put a blanket tariff on all markets on all countries, especially when openly trying to use those as extortion tactics against other countries, you are guaranteeing this isolation. We are well on the way from being isolated from the world, like North Korea, all because of one man without any sense, decency, or limitations. We are fucked.

And sadly the over 50 countries now desperately calling the White House to ~~beg~~ negotiate are just inflating and reinforcing the Trump administration's ego and postponing the inevitable.

Who would have guessed. Said as much in another post this is what happens when you appease to narcissistic bullies. You get further trampled on and they become bolder.

No matter how much it would be better if we all got along well as before. This is the new reality, and even if we hurt right now we'll come out on top in the long run, better and more self-reliant, while the US becomes isolated from the world.

Hope everyone remembers this when the US falls and comes "kissing out collective asses" for sympathy.

And by saying that he is admitting the true reason hes is doing it, narcissism.

Trump doesn't want deals, he doesn't want American success. He wants ass-kissing which he is ostensibly getting a lot of right now. So if tariffs are a huge success in this regard, why take them away?