Also I guarantee that he will say he needs that new ballroom for security reasons after this
From CNN:
President Donald Trump once again made the case for the sprawling ballroom he is constructing at the White House, arguing the shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner “would never have happened” with the planned security measures he intends for the ballroom to feature.
Trump said that the Hilton was "not a particularly secure building", completely forgetting that it's been used since it opened in 1965 for Presidential functions, complete with a President’s Walk, leading to the backstage entrance,
Over the decades, we’ve hosted legacy events such as the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, the First Lady’s Luncheon, and the National Prayer Breakfast, cementing our role as a cornerstone of Washington, D.C.’s historic and cultural landscape.
In 1976, we unveiled our President’s Walk, which leads directly to the backstage entrance of the International Ballroom.
The walkway showcases 100 pictures from the Library of Congress, honoring all the presidents of the United States, first ladies, and White House hostesses.https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcawhhh-washington-hilton/history/
Did anyone else notice Trump collapsed the the ground when they tried moving him?
I am staggered that the shooter is still alive. The security cordon worked well, and they were surprisingly constrained to not empty multiple rounds into him. Goes to show that the Secret Service people are a cut above ICE agents!
I'll start by saying i don't make a habit of reading philosophy.... but this popped up on my phone today and the headline intrigued me enough to read on. I wonder what Kant would make of Trump. Actually, I think i can guess.
Quote of the day by Immanuel Kant: 'If you punish a child for being naughty, and reward him for being good, he will do right just for the reward...' - Why morality should not depend on rewards or fear explained by the German philosopher - The Economic Times https://share.google/odaTGCN7hCn1pP8I3
Leavitt currently playing the victim card. Apparently saying the rhetoric should be 'toned down'.
Hmmm.
This is one of the few times I'm glad I'm not the king. Fancy having to make small talk with that buffoon for 3 days.
Goes to show that the Secret Service people are a cut above ICE agents!
The reports are still confused but there are some saying some, if not all, shots fired were by the security staff.
So might be less a cut above but just worse aim.
That said apparently they arent getting paid currently due to the government shutdown which might prove a bit distracting.
President Donald Trump once again made the case for the sprawling ballroom he is constructing at the White House, arguing the shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner “would never have happened” with the planned security measures he intends for the ballroom to feature.
But in fact everything was in fact fine - the security worked and the attempted attack was prevented
The relaxed security I was referring to was because I read some journalists were surprised that they didn’t even need to show identification to get in - just a cardboard ticket.
That isn’t about building security, just surprisingly casual arrangements.
If you've not seen it yet, this is a great moment "you think he was referring to you?"
https://youtube.com/shorts/q3WtEyEcU5U?si=oSNIzubv7_-NgzBJ
That said apparently they arent getting paid currently due to the government shutdown which might prove a bit distracting
That's a Republican party line blaming Democratic party politicians.
It's wrong. DHS civilian roles aren't being paid.
DHS law enforcement roles are paid, which includes secret service, coastguard, customs & borders and, of course, ICE
The reports are still confused but there are some saying some, if not all, shots fired were by the security staff.
I thought that in my earlier posts - if so many shots were let off, how come only one person got one, allegedly, in their vest?
They must be bloody awful shots, the video I saw had them all standing still, aiming. If they were running around, I could see why they missed, but all were stood up, standing still, and aiming.(but why shoot if you cannot get off an accurate shot?) If the Attacker was firing off, he must be a quick draw expert, as it appears he didnt have a gun in his hand when he ran into the venue.
Fascinating to see that he's allowed the mega-yacht owned by his pal Putin's best mate to happily sail past his "blockade". As if any more evidence is needed that he's in Putin's grip.
I thought that in my earlier posts - if so many shots were let off, how come only one person got one, allegedly, in their vest?
They must be bloody awful shots, the video I saw had them all standing still, aiming.
Or perhaps.....
Video suggests Trump tried his alpha male handshake schtick on the King and lost to old sausage fingers
Trump announces that his mother had a crush on a young prince Charles ... Charles is younger than Trump..
Trump announces that his mother had a crush on a young prince Charles ... Charles is younger than Trump..
Made me want to gag hearing that.
paedophilia runs in the family?
paedophilia runs in the family?
indeed. Especially now someone has found trump is Charles cousin 15 times removec
Just finished watching Charles speech.
I'm very much against the monarchy but it has to be said, it wasn't a bad speech. There were some subtle and not so subtle digs at Trump and his version of what he thinks America should be.
Will it make any difference to the UK's relationship with Trump? Well, for a few hours it might but after that normal serving will resume no doubt.
Still, when an actual King has to politely remind the US of the need for checks and balances of its executive that must be about as controversial (and correct) as he can possibly get.
No mention of Epstein's victims but that was never going to happen in this universe unfortunately.
After November Trump will be just a figurehead too, only with less power and influence.
After November Trump will be just a figurehead too, only with less power and influence.
An animal is most dangerous when cornered, best to put him down before November
The relaxed security I was referring to was because I read some journalists were surprised that they didn’t even need to show identification to get in - just a cardboard ticket.
That isn’t about building security, just surprisingly casual arrangements.
How is it different to say - a rally or any other public appearance by a politician. The White House Correspondents Association organised the event and they are... a group of journalists. The president attends at their invitation. The venue is a hotel becuase thats where ordinary citizens hold events.
Given that thats the case - that it was an event for the public in a public place the only way to increase security arrangements beyond what was already in place would be to extend measures so that they protect all society and public space rather than a presidents private palace.
The guns an ammo were legally owned. They were legally carried to Washington, they were legally brought into the hotel even. It wasn't until he came into contact with trump's security cordon within that building that any special conditions existed.
After November Trump will be just a figurehead too, only with less power and influence.
counting chickens
theres still a very loyal 35% of voters that will back him, so , with all the BS hes pulling around seizing votes , gerrymandering ,using ICE to suppress turnout , its not in the bag yet.
counting chickens
theres still a very loyal 35% of voters that will back him, so , with all the BS hes pulling around seizing votes , gerrymandering ,using ICE to suppress turnout , its not in the bag yet.
.. and thats giving Trump waaaay too much credit. Trump got to be where he is by being what he always has been, a useful idiot. What has he, or those around him, managed to do successfully since being in office aside from fleecing the US for his own benefit?
Tariffs? war on Iran? I think a good example of what Trump does, and only what he is capable of doing, is demonstrated by his ballroom project. From promising the ballroom would not damage the existing east wing, to totally demolishing it. To promising it would be paid for 100% by donations, to now needing US taxpayers money.
Trumps only success is demolishing things as any fool given enough power is capable of doing - he is incapable of building anything.
theres still a very loyal 35% of voters that will back him
Hides the fact that of the people who broadly support him, only half of them approve 'strongly' while the other half only 'somewhat'. While of the folk who don't support him at all, almost 90% disapprove 'strongly'
Trump got to be where he is by being what he always has been, a useful idiot.
I don't think Trump is an idiot, and this attitude that "the power is behind the throne" removes from him the agency he clearly has and as a malignant narcissist - he really does think he's the smartest person in any room, he makes decisions that both enrich him, and chip away at the checks and balance because he wants to run the USA like he runs Trump Inc - as a plaything over which he has total control Apart from one or two people - Miller, and Wiles being the most obvious, the rest aren't mega-geniuses pulling levers to guide the world into proto-fascism by design. They're almost all grifters doing it for money and power, that it looks and performs like fascism is a side effect of the fact Trump is attracted to people who're like himself
I'm very much against the monarchy but it has to be said, it wasn't a bad speech. There were some subtle and not so subtle digs at Trump and his version of what he thinks America should be
I’m no fan of the monarchy either, but old sausage-fingers has played a blinder from the handshake onwards, and the digs would have gone right over Trumps head as he sits there grinning like a chimp
No mention of Epstein's victims but that was never going to happen in this universe unfortunately.
There was an indirect mention. He said “In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today.”
The guns an ammo were legally owned. They were legally carried to Washington
I thought he had been charged with an offence of transporting guns illegally over state lines?
I don't think Trump is an idiot
There's plenty of evidence to the contrary.
By many accounts he can barely read. That's why his language is so basic, because his speechwriters can't use complicated words. And even then he goes off on tangents, because that disguises his illiteracy. Watching him reading a speech at a formal occasion like the state visit when he has to stick to the script is like watching a five year old tell you a story.
Epstein was surprised when he found out that Trump the businessman couldn't read a balance sheet.
I believe that there are stories that he got other people to sit exams for him and the like.
Many of the less discrete people who have stopped working for him have described him as a moron or similar.
I agree that he has some agency. Enough to resist direct manipulation, but unfortunately not enough to recognise when he is being indirectly manipulated by the likes of Putin, through stuff like the loans, purchasing of apartments, and IMO the Steele dossier.
I think it may be fairly described as pin head dancing, but there's a difference between idiocy, stupidity and unintelligent. While Trump can show signs of all three, and I don't think for a minute that he's some sort of intellectual giant - quite the opposite in fact, I think that Trump makes decisions that on the face of them look stupid, but are in fact those that he thinks will either benefit him personally, or will actively disadvantage other people (often the same thing in his head) and I think that's an understated quality that [often quite intelligent] folks ignore about him, he's trying to run a country like he's a CEO (as it's the only thing he knows how to do) and because: USA, he can force other leaders and politicians to react to him operating like that. The only other person like Trump that got to the point of running a country was Bursleconi, and because it was Italy, everyone could essentially just laugh and point. But because it's the USA he forces everyone to pay attention, and Trump understands that.
Stupidity or idiocy is the act of doing things that disadvantage yourself and Trump doesn't do that (quite the opposite in fact), whereas intelligence is just a measure of cognitive capacity. It may be that he can't really read, or understand a balance sheet, but that hasn't stopped him from attaining the most powerful political position the world has to offer.
He's quite the paradox
Whether he’s technically a moron or not, he behaves like one. He’s literally got the mentality of a teenage boy. That weird one in the class who nobody likes, writes his name on all the desks and everyone suspects will end up being convicted of multiple rapes by his late 20’s.
He's just posted this image on Truth Social under the heading ‘no more Mr Nice Guy’
He’s a moron! It’s like the episode of South Park where Cartman gets a police uniform
It may be that he can't really read, or understand a balance sheet, but that hasn't stopped him from attaining the most powerful political position the world has to offer.
He hasn't attained anything apart from showing the world how stupid he is. He's been put in that position by people who want him there because he's easy to manipulate.
Watching him reading a speech at a formal occasion like the state visit when he has to stick to the script is like watching a five year old tell you a story.
I thought exactly this last night, he was (even more) monotone and devoid of any animation in his voice. It looked like he was having to concentrate very hard on the words on the paper to get through it.
He's been put in that position by people who want him there because he's easy to manipulate.
Name them. Also, If you think that Trump is easy to manipulate, I think you've entirely misunderstood him, plus it's pretty obvious that MAGA is a Trump cult, there's no one coming behind Trump to take over once his term ends (or he snuffs it, whichever comes first). If that is the case, then they're equally stupid.
I think a large part of the culture war that has propelled Trump to power is "owning the libs" and that the start middle and finish of it, I don't think there's any grand scheme or conspiracy, and as Trump is beginning to realise it'll only go so far before folks just get tired of it, and Americans are tired of it.
Trump will do anything for enough money. Whether it’s tech bros or big business. The whole point of his presidency is self enrichment
binners
Whether he’s technically a moron or not, he behaves like one.
I agree. 'Stupid is as stupid does', applies here I think.
He's just posted this image on Truth Social under the heading ‘no more Mr Nice Guy’
And yet he’s pursuing opponents via the justice system for jokingly suggesting we’d be better off without him. He can joke about burning civilisations and shooting people in the street (and we have to then watch that happen), but his opponents aren’t allowed any leniency on what they say or post.
Name them.
Vladimir Putin.
I do take your point that he's surrounded by grifters who think that they can benefit from him, until they realise that he's got almost no compunction about doing anything to anyone no matter how faithful they've been to him.
His tragedy is that he treats everyone so badly because he thinks that everything is transactional, that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I dislike writing Trump off as stupid. I think it risks underestimating him and his administration, and also leaves the question of how he managed to become the president of the USA twice if he's so stupid hanging.
I'd say he's not a genius (stable or otherwise) and he's not book smart by some long margin, but he has demonstrated some cunning and an ability to identify how to make himself popular with enough portions of the electorate to win two elections. That said he does seem to be fading on that front, indulging some of his personal obsessions at the expense of some of the positions that appealed to some of his core voters.
I don't think Trump is an idiotThere's plenty of evidence to the contrary.
By many accounts he can barely read.
Just as a side note, I think we need to be careful with language. I don't think illiteracy is evidence that anyone is "an idiot". In most circumstances (not in Trump's case obviously) it's evidence of poor education or lack of opportunity, not poor intelligence.
In his case I suspect it's down to laziness, not having to worry about working hard at school due to any worries about having to graf for a living and a lack of curiosity about the world outside his gilded existence.