And he wants Canada for sentimental reasons
Donald Trump's grandfather ran Canadian brothel during gold rush
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/trump-canada-yukon-1.3235254
All,this Greenland nonsense is just a diversion innit!
You say that but wait until he invokes Anschluss on Melton Mowbray as he once had a piggy pie from there
I actually found this article very interesting even though it doesn't paint Trump as the lunatic that we all love to believe he is.
tjagain
Full Member
El shalimo.
Only if you use the dreaded Mercator and anyone still using it needs a stern talking to
What an absolute ridiculous statement.
You are an absolute fool.
I really had no idea that archaic atlas projections generated such strong opinions.
Is this not just his way of negotiating?
Cause a stooshie, ask for the impossible, settle for something more realistic.
So we see another new US base on Greenland, a better (for US) trade deal with Canada, and a better (for US) access to Panama Canal?
Is this not just his way of negotiating?
Cause a stooshie, ask for the impossible, settle for something more realistic.
This is called "sanewashing". He say's idiotic things and then normal people try to rationalize it as, "I think what he really means is..."
If you read the above link to the Times article it doesn't sound quite as idiotic as it might first appear.
And rather than describing it as "negotiating" a bargaining manoeuvre is more likely to be the way that Trump sees it. Which very much reflects his style during his first presidency when things were portrayed as "deals" in a similar way to business deals.
Obligatory West Wing video:
Greenland is also home to a large American space facility and has some of the largest deposits of rare earth minerals, which are crucial in the manufacture of batteries and high-tech devices.
I know someone who might want access to both those things...
Not sure why Trump is ever described as a businessman who makes deals. He inherited the real estate of his dad and his businesses' have filed for bankruptcy 6 times between 1991-2009. if he just stuck all his money in the bank he'd be worth more than he is today.
It's like the "joke" goes (probably already been mentioned on this thread: "How on earth is it that Donald Trump is worth a small fortune?" Because he started with a very large one.
Not sure why Trump is ever described as a businessman who makes deals.
He is constantly described as a businessman who makes deals! And it is certainly how he wants to be described. Obviously whether he has been successful in his business ventures is a whole different question.
Some years back someone calculated that if Trump had not touched his inheritance and simply lived off the interest he would be wealthier today, or something like that.
Edit : Sorry you did actually make that ^^ claim. And here is the confirmation of that point :
Putin must be fairly pleased that Trump is normalising the idea that powerful countries threatening other countries because they want their land or resources is just the way the world works.
It’s like the “joke” goes (probably already been mentioned on this thread: “How on earth is it that Donald Trump is worth a small fortune?” Because he started with a very large one.
Credit there to Richard Branson. He gave a talk where he promised everyone he'd tell them how to become a millionaire. In the presentation he said "first become a billionaire, then buy an airline."
This is called “sanewashing”. He say’s idiotic things and then normal people try to rationalize it as, “I think what he really means is…”
I view it the other way around.
I think he has a fairly dry sense of humor and doesn't filter that through a press secretary. So what we get is "Yeaaaaaaaa ...... we've not ruled out the biggliest invasion of Greenland the world has ever seen" when what he means is "we haven't even discussed this to rule it out". And most of the media loves to directly quote it because it generates clicks.
I'm not saying he's not an imbecill with idiotic ideas, but in 5 years time:
Will he have left NATO - no
Will everyone else be paying more into it (meaning buying US hardware) - yes
Will he invade Greenland - no
Will there be more mining and / or another military base - yes
Will he invade Panama - no
Will charges for US shipping be lower - yes
Will he Annex Canada - no
Will there be changes to their trading relationships - yes.
None of those are necessarily good things, but they're his / the party's policies. Discussions get had behind closed doors, then he comes out and treats journalists with contempt.
Trump is normalising the idea that powerful countries threatening other countries
Trump/the United States doesn't have to threaten Greenland, they just have to offer them a deal which is better than the deal they are currently getting from Denmark.
Which isn't necessarily something that can't be achieved. With a population of about 58000 the United States could easily make them an offer that Denmark could never afford to match, even if they gave a couple of million dollars to each Greenlander.
Look at how the United States subsidizes nine and a half million Israelis so that they can live very comfortable lifestyles because it serves vital US interests.
And Greenlanders are far from hostile in their attitudes towards the United States:
The United States spent over $22 billion on military aid to Israel and related operations between Oct. 7 of last year and Sept. 30, 2024, according to a research article released by the Costs of War project at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.
I make that almost a quarter of a million dollars per each Israeli per year. Imagine if that sort subsidy/support was cut back and redirected at Greenland.
With Middle East oil reducing in importance to the United States, and the growing influence of China, doing so might make sound (geo)political sense. And with Greenland's population of 58k compared to Israel's 9.5 million sound economic sense too.
And Greenlanders are far from hostile in their attitudes towards the United States
There is a strong desire for independence from Denmark amongst many Greenlanders, with talks of referenda etc. They may welcome US investment and jobs etc. but I doubt they would willingly give up their hoped for status as an independent nation to get it.
Regulars on the Ukraine thread will be familiar with the musings of Danish military analyst Anders Puck Nielsen. A voice of calm and measured strategic analysis in a sea of hyperbole and ill informed bluster. Here's his take on Trump's Greenland ambitions. Spoiler, Denmark isn't in any position to "sell" and Greenlanders don't want to be part of the US.
Dementia Don has talked about hugely increasing the number of data centres in America. Now, I find it difficult to imagine Don’s tiny little brain coming up with this idea, however, he’s got three of the world’s richest tech bro’s metaphorically rimming and blowing the Don, so I can imagine them whispering into his delicate shell-like about how much they could show their appreciation for expanding their data processing, especially with the expansion in AI.
Now, one major problem with the huge data farms is the amount of energy they require, which leads to heat, which leads to cooling, which in turn needs power. One thing Greenland has is lots of ice, it’s also very good at producing low-carbon energy…
https://www.worlddata.info/america/greenland/energy-consumption.php
Am I missing something, but assuming the US and Canada merge (which I assume the majority of Canadians would be dubious about anyway), would the 13 Canadian provinces and territories not become states, and given most of these (except maybe the prairie provinces) are waaaay to the left of the US, wouldn’t this just hand the Dems a majority in the House and Senate?
Assuming the US and Canada merge
Would never happen, all the Canadians have to do is look at the US healthcare system, and go....nope!
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-health-care-system.html
Same for greenland:
https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/right-healthcare-services-greenland
Trump/the United States doesn’t have to threaten Greenland, they just have to offer them a deal which is better than the deal they are currently getting from Denmark.
Which isn’t necessarily something that can’t be achieved. With a population of about 58000 the United States could easily make them an offer that Denmark could never afford to match, even if they gave a couple of million dollars to each Greenlander.
A million dollars in you back pocket isn't so appealing if you know its all essentialy gone if you become inflicted with some sort of chronic illness
all, this Greenland nonsense is just a diversion inuit!
FTFY
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Am I missing something, but assuming the US and Canada merge (which I assume the majority of Canadians would be dubious about anyway), would the 13 Canadian provinces and territories not become states, and given most of these (except maybe the prairie provinces) are waaaay to the left of the US, wouldn’t this just hand the Dems a majority in the House and Senate?
Before he disappears, Trudeau should just offer unconditional Canadian Citizenship to every Mexican, just to f++k with Trump... 😉
A million dollars in you back pocket isn’t so appealing if you know its all essentialy gone if you become inflicted with some sort of chronic illness
In fairness I don't think you automatically become an obese, mentally challenged inbred as soon as you take up US nationality. I believe it takes a few years of living there first.
He can have scotland if he gives me a few million. We have great golf courses..
There is a strong desire for independence from Denmark amongst many Greenlanders, with talks of referenda etc. They may welcome US investment and jobs etc. but I doubt they would willingly give up their hoped for status as an independent nation to get it.
Yup, my understanding is that there is easily a majority in favour of independence and the current Greenland Prime Minister is a strong supporter of independence. What I believe appears to be holding back the move to independence are the economic implications of doing so for Greenland.
I guess that a good deal/partnership with the United States might resolve that issue for Greenland. But no, as far as I am aware there is no desire to be absorbed into the United States. Although who knows if each Greenlander was bribed with a couple of million dollars each?
But whilst bribering 58k individuals might be doable there is no possibility of doing that to over 40 million Canadians. And apparently less than 15% of Canadians currently believe that being the 51st State would be a good idea.
So whilst having territorial desires over Greenland might not be totally ridiculous having them over Canada would clearly seem to be. I suspect that Trump's comments concerning Canada were nothing more idle musings but the ones concerning Greenland were probably quite serious.
Putin must be fairly pleased that Trump is normalising the idea that powerful countries threatening other countries because they want their land or resources is just the way the world works.
I dont think we need Putin to tell us that. Thats pretty much how the world(big powers) have conducted themselves for millennia. British empire, German empire etc etc.
In the latest overnight nonsense from the president elects team it appears they agree with many of the STW massive.
They are suggesting we should take back Shamima Begum. Who would have thought the STW collective and Trump would be in agreement
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trump-isis-syria-uk-shamima-begum-b2676288.html
When will Putin decide it's time to take back Alaska?
In the latest overnight nonsense from the president elects team it appears they agree with many of the STW massive.
And the current US president. Joe Biden also supports this "nonsense".
Luckily we have a Labour government which strongly opposes this nonsense of allowing British born citizens into the UK.
are waaaay to the left of the US
I think Canada are far closer to the US politically than they are to European social democracies (that are also far more right wing than they were even 10 years ago).
In the latest overnight nonsense from the president elects team it appears they agree with many of the STW massive.
They are suggesting we should take back Shamima Begum. Who would have thought the STW collective and Trump would be in agreement
A few things here:
- Trump hasn't said that, Gorka has.
- He's right, we should. If roles were reversed and we couldn't deport a suspected Syrian terrorist back to Syria because they'd washed their hands of the problem then there would be fury erupting all over the red tops.
- The phrase "we would all wish to see the 'special relationship' fully re-established" is troubling. The implication being that there is something lost which needs re-establishing. This feels like a veiled threat.
I think Canada are far closer to the US politically than they are to European social democracies (that are also far more right wing than they were even 10 years ago).
I think Canada are far closer to the US politically than they are to Central Asian dictatorships (that are also far more right wing than they were even 10 years ago).
Is anybody else wondering if Elon has got Trump on the ketamine? He does seem to have found another gear of bonkers ideas.
Dementia Don has talked about hugely increasing the number of data centres in America. Now, I find it difficult to imagine Don’s tiny little brain coming up with this idea, however, he’s got three of the world’s richest tech bro’s metaphorically rimming and blowing the Don, so I can imagine them whispering into his delicate shell-like about how much they could show their appreciation for expanding their data processing, especially with the expansion in AI.
I wish the folowing were my words, as it's very succinct... so I'll quote it instead...
a machine that lies? buddy... I will lie to you for f*****g free and I won’t even dry up a lake to do it.
He doesn’t appear to possess a sense of humour at all.
It is always harder to intensely dislike someone who makes you laugh so I can appreciate that his detractors would rather not recognise that he has a sense of humour. But he does.
My favourite two on that list are :
On greed
"The point is that you can't be too greedy"
And
On wealth
"The beauty of me is that I’m very rich."
Well it might a shit sense of humour to you but to someone else it will be funny.
I wouldn't claim to be a fan of Trump's humour but I don't necessarily have a problem with humour that relies on rude and dismissive comments. People like Frankie Boyle have made a comfortable living out of precisely that.
Frankie Boyle is a comedian and has a stage persona. Trump is just a **** and as stated I honestly don't think any of those quotes are him being or trying to be funny. I laugh at him a lot, but not for his humour or lack thereof. Laughing at him definitely not with him.
