Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[En Sabah Nur]

Literally hurting Americans, but too stupid to actually understand that, even when they tell you.

The Distilled Spirits Council (DSC), a US trade group, is urging President Trump to secure a trade agreement with the EU for its sector.

The industry is getting sucked into the US-EU tariff dispute - as it was in Trump's first term. The EU is planning to put tariffs on American whiskey in response to US steel and aluminium tariffs. That caused Trump to threaten 200% tariffs on EU alcohol entering the US.

"We want toasts not tariffs," DSC president and CEO Chris Swonger says in a new statement sent to the BBC, adding the US spirits sector "supports more than $200 billion in economic activity, 1.7 million jobs".

"We urge President Trump to secure a spirits agreement with the EU to get us back to zero-for-zero tariffs, which will create US jobs and increase manufacturing and exports for the American hospitality sector," he says.

Yesterday, in response to the EU's measures, Swonger said the US and EU spirits sectors enjoyed "fair and reciprocal" and tariff-free access between 1997 and 2018. Swonger says Transatlantic trade in spirits "increased by nearly 450% during this time".

Swonger said the EU's plans to tax the import of American whiskey were "disappointing" and warned they will "severely undercut the successful efforts to rebuild" those exports.

[Breccia]

Trump administration empties Guantánamo of migrants, flies all back to US

So...remember all that shock and awe he tried doing? Yeah, not even two months in and the wheels are so far off the bus they'll have to pay a 25% tariff to get them back.

The Trump administration’s plans to detain migrants in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, hit another roadblock this week after all 40 such individuals held there were sent back to the United States, with no future deportation flights scheduled to the island.

A defense official confirmed to The Hill Thursday there are “zero” migrants being held at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, including a group of 23 “high threat” individuals held at the detention facility on base and 17 others that were detained at the migrant operations center there.

The official did not say where the men had been moved to, but multiple outlets reported they were transported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aircraft on Tuesday and relocated to one or more of the agency’s facilities in Louisiana.

Further questions were referred to ICE, which did not respond to requests for comment from The Hill. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not comment.

This is the second time the administration has abruptly emptied the detention site, with officials on Feb. 20 removing 177 Venezuelans flown in from the United States, with the men repatriated to the custody of their home government.

And two weeks ago, DHS sent another group of 48 migrants to Louisiana from Guantánamo, The Washington Post reported.

It’s unknown if the U.S. government will continue to hold migrants at Guantánamo following costly military flights to the Navy base on Cuba — a plan put forward by Trump and announced in January.

Nothing says "I made an embarrassing mistake in public on purpose" quite like "there will be no further questions".

"But Guantanamo was never really the point!"

Actually, yes it was.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the time called it the “perfect spot” to help carry out the administration’s deportation plans, and assured the public Guantánamo can “absolutely” accommodate 30,000 people “very rapidly.”

But just under 300 migrants have been detained in Guantánamo since Trump took office, far below the tens of thousands he had trumpeted. His plan was quickly bogged down by logistical and legal hurdles, with confusion over who was leading the effort and what would happen to migrants once they arrived.

In the end, 195 tents were set up at the base but were never used due to not meeting ICE standards requiring they have air conditioning and electricity, and their construction was paused in February.

The Trump administration also faced multiple legal challenges, including a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union over the lack of legal access to migrants at the military installation. A D.C. federal court on Friday is scheduled to hear arguments in that case, as well as a separate suit requesting to block the transfer to Guantánamo of 10 migrants detained in the U.S.

I will remind everyone that the difference between 300 and 30,000 is ten thousand percent. Hegseth was off by two full orders of magnitude. To use the same example as always, that's like Trump claiming he has a twenty-five-foot dick.

And, I will remind everyone that the difference between 0 and 30,000 is infinity bazillion percent. Team Trump was off by the entire measurable universe.

The one promise they tried to deliver on, and it's just crumbling like a cheap Chinese MAGA hat.

[Endus]

Welcome to finding out why the average IQ in the US is below the global average.

Stupid people can't help being stupid. And you can boil things down to their level, and they can learn, at least to some extent.

This shit isn't stupidity. It's cult behaviour, and cult behaviour is a choice. And choices are things you can blame people for.

If they're rejecting facts/reality, it's voluntary. Affirming their belief in the fiction demonstrates they belong to the cult, and the us vs them mentality that breeds reinforces that belonging. See also things like churches that get their members to proselytize, especially door-to-door; the goal there isn't ever recruitment, it's to push their members into uncomfortable situations where they irritate/anger outsiders, and then "escape" back into the comforting arms of their church group. It's a tool to ensure they never question you and never leave.

Cult behaviour. That's all this is. It's just that Republicanism has become a cult, and it's spread to a third of Americans at least. You have to approach them like they're Jonestown kool-aid drinkers or Manson family members, not that they're stupid.

[alach]

Heres a good story from the book titled; "The Leopard Won't Eat My Face!"

This South Florida suburb swung to Trump. Now many of its residents are facing deportation

....
Trump’s move has sparked a sense of betrayal in this Miami suburb affectionately known as “Doralzuela” that is home to more Venezuelan immigrants than any other city in the United States. Venezuelan Americans helped deliver Trump a resounding victory in the city, where his margin of victory grew by about 20 percentage points from 2020 to 2024. Voters from the community said they appreciated Trump’s tough line on government abuses in their homeland – and didn’t expect him to deport their relatives.
Noel Ginestra voted for Trump, but now his sister, who is a TPS holder, is facing possible deportation. While he still backs the president, he said he hoped the TPS revocation is blocked in the courts.

“I supported him, but it disappointed us that he decided to end TPS,” Ginestra said, referring to Venezuelans. “It bothered us that he put everyone in the same bucket.”

I especially like the part of the story where the man continues to support the leopard.

[Rennadrel]

Again, what choice does he have? Besides being honest. GDP is forecast negative. Jobs are underperforming. Layoffs are up. Trump has managed to piss off Ukraine, and Russia, and the EU, somehow being on three wrong sides of a war. DOGE is coming up empty. The party with a majority in every branch of government can't stop a shutdown. And they're admitting openly they're going to cut Medicare and Social Security in a recession they caused. Also, Ontario just won a staring contest with a nuclear superpower. Ontario. They have the GDP of one-half an Ohio.

Uhh, what? The GDP of Ontario and Ohio's are about the same. In 2023 our GDP was 887 billion and Ohio's was 873 billion. We also have a lot of automotive manufacturing here supplying American companies so that aspect of our GDP is impacted by sales, which have been sluggish due to interest rates and prices in the last few years. Ford pulling the 7 seater EV definitely had a negative impact on the company I work for, as well as the job opportunities that producing it were going to create.

[Breccia]

Literally hurting Americans

Hey, want to see something funny?

Following the results of the US presidential election, various spirits organisations and bodies weigh in on Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Chris Swonger, president and CEO of trade body the Distilled Spirits Council of the US

You know, I didn't even search for his name specifically. I just typed "liquor CEO backs Trump" before 2025, and this was literally the top story.

released a statement on 6 November congratulating president-elect Trump.

“We stand ready to work with his administration to promote US job growth, manufacturing and exports, which will strengthen the economic vitality of cities and towns across our great country,” Swonger said.

Leading up to the election, Swonger and other industry leaders expressed concern over Trump’s reliance on tariffs to solve the national debt

Oh, no! If only someone had warned him!

In 2018, the EU imposed retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey in response to tariffs the US placed on steel and aluminium. While those tariffs have been suspended until March 2025, if a new resolution isn’t reached, they will be reimposed and doubled. Even the threat of tariffs have had an effect on US exports and the ability for brands to grow.

“The distilled spirits sector is an integral part of the hospitality industry and a significant economic driver in the United States,” Swonger said. “Our more than 3,100 large and small distilleries support jobs, farmers and tourism in states nationwide. In 2023, 44 states exported American spirits.”

The UK’s Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) likewise remains determined to work with officials and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic to advocate for wine and spirits.

“There are some clear concerns inherited from Trump’s first term, such as increased tariffs on wine and spirit products and the sector becoming collateral damage in non-industry-related trade disputes once again,” WSTA chief executive Miles Beale warned. “On the other hand, there is the opportunity of a US-UK free trade agreement.”

Oh, no! If only someone had warned him!

Now I'll be honest that I tried to find specific liquor CEOs that had publicly supported Trump, but gave up when I realized that wasn't the point. Not knowing Trump would get the liquor industry in trouble the first time is at least understandable, even if naïve. The second time? These people should have been actively campaigning for Biden or Harris. I don't think he did, if I'm wrong please correct me. But once there are two candidates left, and one has kicked you right in the hops, it's kind of your fault when you do nothing about it.

[Moralgy]

Heres a good story from the book titled; "The Leopard Won't Eat My Face!"

This South Florida suburb swung to Trump. Now many of its residents are facing deportation


I especially like the part of the story where the man continues to support the leopard.

Bro is out here giving the leopard a pet while him and everyone around him is eaten.

[alach]

Hey, want to see something funny?

Following the results of the US presidential election, various spirits organisations and bodies weigh in on Donald Trump’s return to the White House.



You know, I didn't even search for his name specifically. I just typed "liquor CEO backs Trump" before 2025, and this was literally the top story.



Oh, no! If only someone had warned him!



Oh, no! If only someone had warned him!

Now I'll be honest that I tried to find specific liquor CEOs that had publicly supported Trump, but gave up when I realized that wasn't the point. Not knowing Trump would get the liquor industry in trouble the first time is at least understandable, even if naïve. The second time? These people should have been actively campaigning for Biden or Harris. I don't think he did, if I'm wrong please correct me. But once there are two candidates left, and one has kicked you right in the hops, it's kind of your fault when you do nothing about it.

Hey, that sounds like a story from the same book I just read!

[Breccia]

Uhh, what? The GDP of Ontario and Ohio's are about the same. In 2023 our GDP was 887 billion and Ohio's was 873 billion.

You missed the part where I was posting in a mocking fashion, I compared them to Rhode Island earlier, but yes, this is numerically correct. Ontario's GDP is about a trillion dollars and far smaller than the US, and still stared the US down. I guess I didn't need to exaggerate for comic effect.

- - - Updated - - -

Hey, that sounds like a story from the same book I just read!

Popular book these days. Like, half the country is reading it, despite the other half spoiling the punch line. It's like paying movie theater ticket prices to watch the Sixth Sense after your parents spoiled the twist and saying "No, it can't possibly be that!"

[SAY HER NAME]

https://www.wsj.com/finance/currenci..._copyURL_share


This is hilarious. We finally found a use for Crypto, bribing the presidents family so that you can get a pardon. It worked for one, why not try it yourself?!!

[Belize]

Biggest market for fancy Scotch is in Asia now anyway.

Edit: Just realized it EU, not Europe. Well, there's egg on my face.

Well, Scotland used to be part of the EU :P :P :P

[Breccia]

a use for Crypto, bribing the presidents family so that you can get a pardon. It worked for one, why not try it yourself?!!

Literally everyone saw this coming. Naturally, as soon as he was in the WH, Trump fired the people whose job it would be to find and catch this kind of crime.

[Mekh]

Well, Scotland used to be part of the EU :P :P :P

r/conservative says they're gonna drink American champagne now. I probably don't have to explain the issue with that.

[Edge-]

Trump administration empties Guantánamo of migrants, flies all back to US

So...remember all that shock and awe he tried doing? Yeah, not even two months in and the wheels are so far off the bus they'll have to pay a 25% tariff to get them back.



Nothing says "I made an embarrassing mistake in public on purpose" quite like "there will be no further questions".

"But Guantanamo was never really the point!"

Actually, yes it was.



I will remind everyone that the difference between 300 and 30,000 is ten thousand percent. Hegseth was off by two full orders of magnitude. To use the same example as always, that's like Trump claiming he has a twenty-five-foot dick.

And, I will remind everyone that the difference between 0 and 30,000 is infinity bazillion percent. Team Trump was off by the entire measurable universe.

The one promise they tried to deliver on, and it's just crumbling like a cheap Chinese MAGA hat.

So just how much did this incredible stunt to Americas racism and xenophobia cost?
@Somewhatconcerned are you tired of winning and blowing hundreds of millions on performative politics for neonazis?

- - - Updated - - -

Heres a good story from the book titled; "The Leopard Won't Eat My Face!"

This South Florida suburb swung to Trump. Now many of its residents are facing deportation


I especially like the part of the story where the man continues to support the leopard.

thoughts and prayers for the trump voting folks with undocumented friends/families who are crying their friends/families aren't the ones he's supposed to be deporting

[Breccia]

So just how much did this incredible stunt to Americas racism and xenophobia cost?

So I'll fess up. We all knew the original flights all used military planes, leading to (a) increased costs and (b) yet another situation where a country smaller than Ontario stared down the US, simply by asking for civilian flights as per long-standing tradition. Naturally, I assumed the flights out of a US military installation like Guantanamo were also on US military planes, again, more expensive.

I found no proof of this. However, even if the flights were cheaper civilian flights, it's still funny. Trump turning and sulking with his tail between his legs, not just losing the ability to yell "Guantanamo!" but also not being able to use US military planes?

So, either he learned his lesson after a humiliating demonstration, or he didn't and made things worse. Either way, what a fat sad loser.

[Bwgmon]

Waking up and seeing that the stock market has gone back to plummeting, I assume Somewhatconcerned is "going ghost" for the foreseeable future again.

[Edge-]

Waking up and seeing that the stock market has gone back to plummeting, I assume Somewhatconcerned is "going ghost" for the foreseeable future again.

Red Day! Green Day!

American Idiot!

[hellhamster]

EvErY pUlLbAcK iS aN oPpOrTuNiTy.

[btlcryct]

Waking up and seeing that the stock market has gone back to plummeting, I assume Somewhatconcerned is "going ghost" for the foreseeable future again.

Somewhatconcerned is the opposite of this Einstein story:

https://www.restorationadvisers.com/blog/einsteinlesson

He'll come sing the praises for the one thing out of ten Trump may get right, while ignoring the nine he got wrong. Yes, I used may because broken clock and all.

[Rasulis]

Waking up and seeing that the stock market has gone back to plummeting, I assume Somewhatconcerned is "going ghost" for the foreseeable future again.

It is a sea of red. Although Intel is up 16%. I guess people like their new CEO?

Dollar Tree and Dollar General up 6.19% and 4.92%. Never a good sign of the economy when those two stocks go up.