What does President Trump do NOW?

[jusplay4fun]

and:

[Dukasaur]

Trump makes NCAA men’s wrestling championships his latest sports-focused trip

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump attended the NCAA wrestling championships on Saturday night for the second time in three years, the latest example of how he has mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events.

Isn't it fun traveling on other people's money?

[jusplay4fun]

No doubt, Duk. I know I would enjoy that and, most likely, so would you..!

[mookiemcgee]

[jusplay4fun]

First, JUST 4 Fun:

[jusplay4fun]

Super Bowl LIX? CHECK

Daytona 500 in 2025? CHECK

Final Four? (Championship Game?)

NBA Finals?

A college Football Game in the Fall?

FIFA World Cup?
(btw: Sad to say, the USA will be lucky to make it out of Group Play)

NCAA Wrestling Tournament:

President Donald Trump attended the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia on Saturday and celebrated with Wyatt Hendrickson, who upset Gable Steveson for the NCAA heavyweight title. Hendrickson rallied with a late takedown to beat Steveson, an Olympic champion.

Hendrickson, who attended the Air Force Academy for four years, wrapped himself in a flag after his victory and went over to shake Trump's hand.

"I put on a show for him, I wanted that national title," Hendrickson said.

(...)
Trump's attendance at the national wrestling championships was to be expected, though. Not only did Trump attend the championships in 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but much of his presidential campaign had been about keeping transgender women out of female sports, specifically wrestling. Just weeks ago, the NCAA passed an official ban preventing transgender women from competing in sports.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2025/03/23/donald-trump-ncaa-wrestling-wyatt-hendrickson/82545909007/

And OLD Joe could not even do the customary interview during the Super Bowl. PATHETIC, and MORE evidence of the BIG LIE by the silly Liberal Dems that supported, surrounded, and protected Biden.

Biden is skipping a Super Bowl interview for the second year in a row.

President Joe Biden will be sitting on the sidelines this Sunday as the campaign for the 2024 election heats up.

The White House recently informed CBS News that Biden had chosen not to participate in the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview, the second consecutive year that the president has declined an offer to speak directly to the country’s largest assembled live audience.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/media/biden-skipping-super-bowl-interview/index.html

The evidence grows DAILY: President Trump has done more in 3 months than Biden did in 3+ years in the White House. The only thing Biden did was to spend LOTS of money and grow the Federal Deficit.

[Dukasaur]

I hope you're being sarcastic. I can't imagine that you actually think going to sporting events at other peoples' expense is some kind of accomplishment.

[jusplay4fun]

Are you forgetting Trump's work on immigration, tariffs, diplomacy on several fronts, Government efficiency/DOGE (your favorite, right, DUK? ), cutting the BLOATED Federal work force, cutting out Fraud in Federal spending, energy, and MUCH more?

The Sports comparison was to merely show the SHARP contrast between Trump and Biden; Biden could not even do a simple and TRADITIONAL INTERVIEW RECORDED for TV for the Super Bowl. SAD, and even PATHETIC.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Joe Biden did LOTS, in ONE AREA, that of pardons, many PERHAPS using an AUTO-pen, and especially Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, and his other family members FOR CRIMES not yet indicted for. Good Work, Joe. That was magnficient.

Biden was also good at spending LOTS of money. For every (or nearly every) problem Biden saw, his only proposed solution was to throw more money THAT HAD to be borrowed at that problem.

[Silvertop]

Trump is convinced of the success of his far-reaching grip. “This is going to be America’s golden age,” the US president said, promising his audience billions in tax revenues starting “on this historic day.” He said the tariffs would create economic growth. “Factories will return to American soil and prices for consumers will go down.”

However, there are fears that the tariffs will cost US consumers thousands of dollars, likely accelerate the recession, prolong consumer spending and slow the US economy.
After hours, the US stock markets fell sharply on Wednesday, as did several foreign stock markets. The dollar lost more than 1 percent against the euro on Wednesday evening.

Not the sharpest pencil in the pack.

[jusplay4fun]

I think President Trump's Tariffs policies is an attempt to NEGOTIATE a better deal with many trading partner. Such ploys and negotiations are DISRUPTIVE in the short-term, but the overall impact on The US Economy and on our trading partners, such as the EU, is STILL to be determined. I think that there will be CHANGE, more than normal, and Stock Markets do not like the uncertainty NOW and in the near future.

I think the "Jury is still out" and the "verdict is not yet determined" on the outcome of ALL this. About one year from now, someone with a good Economic background will very likely make a good thorough assessment of the impact of these Tariff Ploy(s). I think we need to look at the "bigger picture" and "long-term" before we can declare an overall win or loss, and for whom. I had read YEARS ago that American business (such as those in the Stock Markets, tend to only look to the Quarterly dividends and often fail to look at the Longer and Larger views.

Personally, I do not like tariffs, but I am willing to "let this ride" for the near future. I prefer FREE Trade, but I think that the USA has been "taken advantage of" by many nations for many years, and that was TRUE even before Trump made this the HUGE issue it has now become with the Tariff discussions and actions.

(ANOTHER RELATED factor: The failure of many NATO [and thus EU] members to meet their commitment to defense spending is very apparent. They were happy to be under the US Defense umbrella. The Europeans need to provide more money to defend Ukraine and their territories.)

btw: there were predictions of a US recession in 2025, or a VERY likelihood of this, NO MATTER who was elected POTUS. So the overall impact of this must be viewed from a very Large perspective.

One year out:
By May 2025, it is projected that there is a probability of 51.82 percent that the United States will fall into another economic recession.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/123 ... 0recession.

https://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=237819&p=5331204&hilit=recession+recession+in+2025#p5331204

[bigtoughralf]

I think President Trump's Tariffs policies is an attempt to NEGOTIATE a better deal with many trading partner.

He's pretty consistently said he thinks tariffs will help bring more manufacturing on shore into the US, and has been saying that since before he was ever a politician. If that's his goal then dropping these tariffs as part of trade negotiations would make no sense.

[jusplay4fun]

These shows the HYPOCRISY of the Liberal Dems

[mookiemcgee]

I think President Trump's Tariffs policies is an attempt to NEGOTIATE a better deal with many trading partner.

He's pretty consistently said he thinks tariffs will help bring more manufacturing on shore into the US, and has been saying that since before he was ever a politician. If that's his goal then dropping these tariffs as part of trade negotiations would make no sense.

This seems crystal clear, the numbers on his giant chart yesterday under the 'tariffs levied against the US' column has nothing to do with actual tariffs by other countries against american goods but are just a representation of the trade deficit with a country. It was a simple math equation based on trade imbalances. If we currently have a trade surplus with a country they get the floor rate tariff of 10%. For any country that the US has a trade deficit with they are getting a blanket tariff = (trade deficit/total imports)/2 with a 10% floor

show

Moving forward everything indicates a new floor tariff of 10% moving forward is a critical piece of Trumps 'plan' to reduce gov't debt. Americans can now enjoy a minimum 10% more freedom from lower prices, but the potential high end of 'freedom from low prices' coming in around 100%. It's effectively a new 10%++ federal sales tax unless you buy an american version of the product that already costs 10%+ more than the imported version.

All of this can be true, while having it also be true that this is an attempt to 'negotiate' with other countries... If anyone is expecting all tariffs to simple go away once some new free trade agreements are reached then you are kinda low key regarded at this point. Trump has spend a decade+ now constantly giving anti freetrade speeches. He calls it 'fair trade' which is fine... but don't kid yourself into believing it's all going away soon. This is part and parcel part of his three legged stool of reducing income/corporate taxes on wealthy, increasing spending (making cuts in gov't but increasing spending in other parts of gov't with a net 2B increase in the total budget), and trying to offset all of this with this new sales tax on imported goods. He can't afford to stop tariffs, they are integral to the overall plan.

[Dukasaur]

Are you forgetting Trump's work on immigration,

Are you talking about deporting innocent people whilst pretending that they are criminals? Yes, he has done a marvellous job of that. SOMEWHAT SUCCESSFUL.

tariffs,

Tariffs are a sales tax. Using the euphimism "tariff" doesn't change anything. They are not just a tax, but a regressive tax that falls disproportionately on the poor. If you favour high taxes, then say so. Don't try to muddy the water with euphimisms.
DISASTER.

diplomacy on several fronts,

Promised to end the Ukraine war in one day. After three months, Russia's war in the Ukraine rages on. FAIL.

Promised to end the war in Gaza. War in Gaza rages on. FAIL.

Has managed to piss off most countries in Europe, as well as most of America's friends everywhere, including really, really long-standing allies like France, Canada, and lol, even Denmark. HUGE FAIL.

I'm sorry. Have I missed any diplomatic initiatives?

Government efficiency/DOGE (your favorite, right, DUK? ), cutting the BLOATED Federal work force,

Are you expecting me to deny that the Federal work force is bloated? Of course it's bloated, as are most governments everywhere. Reducing the civil service is generally a good idea. I don't think the chainsaw method is particularly effective. There are going to be a lot of lawsuits, which I suspect will cost a lot of money in the long run. An old-fashioned hiring freeze might have been more effective. But Trump and Musk and their other toadies wanted some chainsaw photo ops.

You'd be surprised, but while I disagree with some of the cuts, I actually agree with many of the others. But the redneck "chainsaw" photo-ops are just stupid.

Also, it's no surprise that the cuts have fallen disproportionately on agencies like USAID that actually help people, while the half of the federal budget that goes to warmaking has so far seen only token announcements of contract cuts (mostly non-renewals of contracts that would end soon anyway.)
SOME SUCCESS. SO FAR NOT IMPRESSIVE.

cutting out Fraud in Federal spending,

So far we've seen lots of allegations of fraud, not much proof. I have no doubt that there is fraud, but I have doubts about how much they'll actually reduce it by.
MOSTLY BULLSHIT. SOME MINOR SUCCESS.

energy,

Not sure what you mean by energy. Do you mean "drill, baby, drill"? Yeah, the nation that is already the world's biggest oil producer is going to produce a little more. When you're already producing a lot more than you need, what is the advantage of racing to crank out more? That's called selling long-term prosperity for a few short-term political points. Really, really, stupid.
JUST PLAIN DUMB.

and MUCH more?

Well, I hope some of your "MUCH more" is a little more successful than some of the other things you've listed.

So far, looking at the scoreboard, I see some success in deporting poor people, some minor success in laying off employees (mostly by shutting down the better agencies), and a long list of disastrous fails. Economy teetering, should go over the edge if the new taxes last long. In foreign policy, he's taken America from being friends with 60% of the world to being friends with about 10%, probably the worst decline in America's influence and prestige, ever.

[jusplay4fun]

I agree with some of your analysis, Duk. I said already that where DOGE, Musk, and Trump applied a chain saw to make cuts (especially job cuts) they needed to use a scalpel and make more strategic, careful and surgical cuts.

I said, previously (2/15/25) in this thread:

Trump is a disrupter, cutting budgets and staff, using mostly a chain saw when a surgical knife is more APPROPRIATE for some agencies and Departments. There needs to be spending cuts in the Federal Budget.

Making cuts is VERY DIFFICULT and Trump is expending LOTS of political capital (the "Honeymoon Euphoria") to take on many "Sacred Cows" in the Federal budget. There are ALL KINDS and MANY stories of the (SNIFF, SNIFF, CRY and more TEARS) of a few selected families, persons, and NGOs being hurt by budget cuts. Of COURSE some will get hurt; that is what Budget CUTS will do. The Leftists, many in the Media, and the DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, are crying ALL over themselves over such cuts.

I think Trump needs to show MORE Waste, Abuse, and Fraud that they have found. I have heard of a few. I want to hear of MORE SUCCESSES in these areas, too. Often, finding and reporting on such is NOT the headlines, but is slow, laborious, and often boring. Al Capone was put away not for one more murder, but for tax evasion, which took a LONG times to prove. These types of efforts do not GENERATE exciting Headlines and does not involve a Big Gunfight that makes DRAMATIC television or fit into a "sexy soundbite."

AND I agree Duk,

Are you expecting me to deny that the Federal work force is bloated? Of course it's bloated, as are most governments everywhere. Reducing the civil service is generally a good idea. I don't think the chainsaw method is particularly effective. There are going to be a lot of lawsuits,...

There already ARE a lot of lawsuits.

How much disruption will happen before they CUTS significantly hurt this country and not JUST a selected interest group? I think at some point most Americans will say this is ENOUGH and we need NO MORE cuts and disruptions. We have heard from the "usual suspects" so far. When will others join in the Chorus?

As far as ending the Wars/Conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza, Trump was up to his USUAL eogtistical hyperbole when saying he will end the conflict in ONE DAY. These conflicts are LONG running and untangling this mess and that one will take more that ONE day. That is what DIPLOMACY is about. BUT unlike Biden**, Trump is INVOLVED and engaged in some of the negotiations and is not mentally OUT OF IT.

Trump wanted the "Sexy Soundbite" and instead that entire photo opp with Zelenskyy turned around quickly on Trump and TOOK a BITE out of Trump's Big ASS. AND, the last I heard, the deal on Rare Earth minerals has NOT yet been signed, sealed, and delivered.

imo, Trump is not perfect and I do not agree with everything he does. Unlike some who claim otherwise, I am not a MAGA follower who has Blindlessly and Mindlessly "Drunk the Kool Aid" of Trumpism.

** btw:I think that most Americans were TIRED of TIRED old Joe; that is why he and Kamala LOST the Election; most Americans saw how ineffective and out-of-touch they BOTH WERE and still ARE.

[saxitoxin]

Another day in the U.S. Congress ... octaganerian Democratic congressman John Larson started to reboot in the middle of a press conference.

https://x.com/kenklippenstein/status/19 ... 9989535194

Last month he had a shutdown followed by a slow reboot while yelling on the House floor.

[mookiemcgee]

Trump is convinced of the success of his far-reaching grip. “This is going to be America’s golden age,” the US president said, promising his audience billions in tax revenues starting “on this historic day.” He said the tariffs would create economic growth. “Factories will return to American soil and prices for consumers will go down.”

However, there are fears that the tariffs will cost US consumers thousands of dollars, likely accelerate the recession, prolong consumer spending and slow the US economy.
After hours, the US stock markets fell sharply on Wednesday, as did several foreign stock markets. The dollar lost more than 1 percent against the euro on Wednesday evening.

Not the sharpest pencil in the pack.

[saxitoxin]

LOL @ JK Rowling

[Pack Rat]

Don't be so hard on yourself...

[jusplay4fun]

Let me focus on one of Duk's recent comment in this same thread in response to me.

Duk said

Has managed to piss off most countries in Europe, as well as most of America's friends everywhere, including really, really long-standing allies like France, Canada, and lol, even Denmark. HUGE FAIL.

One reason the Europeans are not happy with Trump is that he has challenged Europe to spend more on
1) defense and its own security, and
2) more to help Ukraine.

In Trump's first term, he challenged NATO members (who are largely the same as the members of the EU, except for at least one main NATO member, Turkey) to meet their OBLIGATION to spend on Defense. Europe has benefitted from Life under the American Defense Umbrella and the US nuclear Missiles that defend it and the USA. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has also been a factor.

Europe is starting to move to spend more on Defense. It took PRODDING and encouragement and rebuke from Trump in his first term as POTUS.

Takeaways from the EU’s landmark security summit after Trump said Europe must fend for itself

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are trumpeting their endorsement of a plan to free up hundreds of billions of euros to inject into their defense budgets after the Trump administration warned that the continent must look after its own security, including Ukraine, in future.

After more than 12 hours of talks on Thursday, the 27 leaders signed off on a scheme that would ease budget restrictions for defense spending, funnel some of the EU’s unused funds toward security priorities and provide 150 billion euros ($162 billion) in loans for military purchases.

https://apnews.com/article/europe-defense-ukraine-russia-us-military-spending-dbc6133a2412ec02adf87078f2f2f5cc

Over the past decade, European NATO members and Canada have steadily increased their collective spending on defense from 1.43% of their combined GDP in 2014, to 2.02% in 2024, according to figures posted on NATO's website — but many individual member states are still falling well short of the 5% mark that Mr. Trump has called for. Some have yet to even meet the 2% of GDP spending threshold currently set as a target by the alliance.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-nato-article-5-collective-defense-europe-doubt-us-treaty-commitment/

There can be no doubt that Russia’s war on Ukraine has led to a sea change in the way that Europeans view defence. For more than three decades, European states have neglected their defence. This is not to say that they were militarily inactive, as the European Union (EU) in particular embarked on a series of crisis management operations over this thirty-year period. Rather, member states neglected making sizeable investments in key military capabilities and ensuring that the defence technological and industrial base in Europe was fit for purpose. This purpose has become glaringly obvious over the past two years, with deficiencies in how fast (and in what quantity) Europe could produce basic military equipment such as ammunition. For example, even though the EU pledged one million 150mm ammunition rounds to Ukraine over the past year, the reality is that only half this amount was delivered (Pugnet, 2024a).

https://www.intereconomics.eu/contents/year/2024/number/4/article/the-challenges-of-defence-spending-in-europe.html

The European Union has plans to step up its defense spending in a big way — but some leaders want it to go even further as geopolitical tensions heighten.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, earlier this month proposed measures that could bring about 800 billion euros ($867 billion) in new defense spending. These measures have yet to be approved by the various EU capitals, but have been enough to boost EU defense stocks since the plan was announced.

The current measures are “an important step in the right direction,” but “maybe we need to be more ambitious,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on the sidelines of a European Council summit on Thursday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/20/european-leaders-push-for-even-more-defense-spending.html