Pretty sure that Musk has realised he alienated his prior fan base by courting this government so publicly and passionately.

Now he is trying to reclaim his former status by attacking the Trump admin thinking the left will love him for it. Trouble with that is, petulent is not a good look, nor is appearing not to have an allegiance to anything but money. His mask has slipped and that won’t be forgotten, he did a nazi salute twice on the international stage ffs. No one is going to see Musk as a champion for the left or the environment again.

Not only has he screwed Tesla by making them unfashionable, he’s now screwed SpaceX by pissing off a major source of income.

But we are still to believe that the guy is a financial genius and not just lucky, right?

Profit like a motherfucker day.

You think he doesn’t have someone buying the stocks he tanked just before his announcement.

I thought trump didn’t like taxes?

And does it grant you immunity from accidentally being deported? Or intentionally for that matter ?

All you need to do to not need the chlorine wash is to not treat the animals so badly that they shit all over each other due to lack of space. Improve their welfare improve the product, but no. Dollars come first.

I meant any incoming administration in 4 years would have to win big in all 3 houses to demonstrate to the world that this 4 years was unwelcome and unexpected. Incidentally that’s also what would be needed to effect the change BUT. A sizable proportion of the US electorate has shown an appetite for what is happening and historically the republicans always seem to do better than they should despite all the horrible shit they do. So I don’t have faith that the next election would go as we hope.

In 2024, despite, or maybe because of his first term, Trump won the popular vote, and project 2025 was also not a secret.

So the question would be, what reform or reforms would convince the rest of the world the USA wouldn’t pull the same moves again?

Donor caps? Media regulation?

The problem is not just getting trump out in 2028, it’s keeping his followers out in 2032, 2036, 2040 etc.

With respect, it will take the US a lot longer than 4 years to rebuild the trust that has been destroyed. Even a return to the norms of the last 75 years, while it would be welcomed by the traditional allies, would mean nothing if it can be reversed so easily again in 8 years and sharing secrets and cooperation with an “ally” like that is dangerous.

Foreign policy changed radically in a matter of weeks. The US is no longer predictable or reliable.

He’s not holding any cards right now. Trump made him a tough guy. He’s gambling with World War 3.

Wait, sounds… Nah forget it.

Let’s say Russia invaded and occupied Alaska. The US tried to get them out but couldn’t. After valiant fighting for years they turn to the international community for help. The EU accuse America of starting the war and start directly negotiating with Russia without the US at the table. The rest of the world says you need to sign this deal to give us your resources but we won’t guarantee your security in return but as part of the deal to end the war swiftly you need to let Russia have Alaska. The US says that is unacceptable and the rest of the world says that they are being disrespectful and don’t really want peace.

I’m glad Europe is backing him.

It was hugely ironic that Trump and Vance sat and told Zelensky how things are based on what they’ve watched on TV, cutting off his attempts to correct them and then called him disrespectful.

It had the feeling of a pupil reporting to the headmasters office for punishment for fighting back against a bully. The headmaster didn’t need to hear his side of the story because violence is not the answer.

I’m conscious that an analogy like this can appear insensitive and diminish the whole thing. Especially as Zelensky tried to say several times. “I’m not playing cards” when Trump made analogies about “you don’t have the cards right now.”