Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

Trump mocked for incoherent, low-ratings 1/20 broadcast. For example:

It’s no wonder the Trump show has the worst ratings ever. The combination of boredom and insanity.

- the Lincoln Project

"Well of course, they hate him."

You know who else said it was bad? Trump.

Trump faults own press team as he takes over briefing room for low-energy, nearly 90-minute Year 1 recap

The marathon appearance, which came just hours before he is set to travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, did not include any actual news. For example, there was no effort to walk back the topic of the day, his threats to impose tariffs on allies that have rallied to Greenland’s defense. And he refused once again to rule out using force to annex the autonomous Arctic island, telling a reporter, “You’ll find out” when asked how far he’d go to make Greenland an American property.

Instead, to the extent Trump did acknowledge any problems with how he and his team have handled the issues at the forefront of the public discourse in his first year since retaking the nation’s highest office, he did so by throwing his own people under the bus.

Asked to opine on why as few as only 34 percent of Americans approve of how he’s handling the economy and 30 percent approve of his handling of inflation (according to a recent Reuters-Ipsos poll), Trump first tried to blame the press — then blamed his own people.

“A lot of people are listening to the fake news a little bit,” he said. “And I'm not blaming anybody. I think I blame ourselves.

“I think we've done a much better job than we're able to promote. We're not promoting. We're doing a great job, and we're sort of letting the promotion take care of itself,” he said.

If Trump or his aides came away with the impression that he was successful in his efforts to tout his first year as the raging success that was described in the lengthy press release he read out, they might want to watch the entire appearance again for themselves.

The "news" conference was also marred by Trump being senile and retarded.

Throughout the extended briefing, Trump’s delivery was muddled slurred enough that at one point he appeared to say that ISIS — the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist group based in the Middle East — was “largely Hispanic” while he was attempting to tout the demographic makeup of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, slurring the possessive ‘s’ into one word.

He also appeared to confuse Greenland — the Danish territory he has been obsessing about annexing or purchasing to the dismay of America’s traditional European allies — with Iceland, at another point as he attempted to claim his dubious use of emergency powers to impose import taxes has made the U.S. “the richest we ever were” and “the most secure.”

“As an example, Iceland, without tariffs, they wouldn't even be talking to us about it. So we'll see what happens,” he said

Big surprise, he also lied over and over.

On the economy, Trump said, "Everyone said, ‘Oh tariffs will cause inflation.’ We have no inflation. We have very little inflation." For Trump’s one-year anniversary, we looked at a wide range of price data for the past year and found that overall prices are still increasing, although some specific items, such as eggs and gasoline, have seen price declines.

On immigration, Trump said his administration was prioritizing deporting criminals. "We’re focused on the murderers, the drug dealers,"he said. In his first year Trump has deported somewhere between 300,000 to 600,000 people. The administration hasn’t published detailed deportation data so it’s unclear how many of those people had a criminal history. But about 74% of the nearly 70,000 immigrants in immigration detention have no criminal convictions.

During the briefing, Trump repeated some inaccurate claims he’s made in the past. He said the U.S. has "secured a record-breaking $18 trillion in commitments for new investments." The White House website since mid-November has shown a figure of $9.6 trillion. In addition, experts have cautioned PolitiFact that some of the $9.6 trillion in pledges may not come to fruition and others are unrealistically large compared to the gross domestic product of the countries involved.

*coughs* (points at earlier posts today) *coughs*

Trump also said gasoline is "at $1.99 in many states." In the second week of January 2026, the average price per gallon nationally was $2.78, compared with $3.11 in January 2025. No state has seen its average price fall below $2. The lowest average price in any state in mid-January was $2.34 per gallon, in Oklahoma. Four states — Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming — had at least seven stations selling gasoline for less than $2 on Jan. 20, according to the gas price app Gas Buddy, and a handful of other states had between one and four stations selling gasoline for under $2.

Trump said that under his predecessor, Joe Biden, "one out of four jobs added was a government job." This is exaggerated. Over four years, the economy added more than 16 million jobs, of which about 1.8 million were federal, state or local government positions; that’s about 11% of the total. During Biden’s final year in office, the economy added more than 2 million jobs overall, compared with 473,000 in 2025 under Trump.

In other words, Trump, "hero of the American Worker" is on pace to add the same number of jobs in one term as Biden...in one year. Sad. Pathetic. IMPOTUS.

Trump said 300,000 people died last year because of fentanyl overdoses, but that’s far above the most recent federal data. In the 12 months before August 2025, about 69,000 people in the U.S. died from all types of drug overdoses, not just fentanyl, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Trump repeated his assertion that he’d "ended eight unendable wars in 10 months," an exaggerated claim similar to one we rated Mostly False. He also said "no president’s probably ever settled one war," which we rated Pants on Fire.

Trump has nothing. He might even know he has nothing. Or, he might be so unsalvageable he can't understand reality.

"Why did he even try?"

Trump has nothing but lies and distractions, and he's hit diminishing returns. The DOJ has even admitted DOGE improperly accessed Social Security data.

Members of Elon Musk's DOGE team may have accessed Social Security information that was off-limits under a court ruling and shared agency data on third-party servers, the Department of Justice said in a court filing last week.

At least two DOGE employees, the filing reveals, were in touch with a political advocacy group that asked them to analyze data from state voter rolls as part of its effort to overturn election results.

This is the filing.

One of the employees signed a "Voter Data Agreement" with the group, according to the filing. It's unclear what the agreement entailed.

There was no indication that either employee shared social security data with the group, the filing said.

The Social Security Administration referred both employees for potential Hatch Act violations, per the filing.

The Social Security Administration was unable to determine exactly what data were shared via the unapproved third-party server or whether the data remains on the server.

"It could be nothing, it could be an accident, it could be harmless."

Then why cover it up? And let me add, the correct amount of private information that a judge tells you not to share, that you do share, is "zero". Any amount is dangerous. But since we don't know what or how much, we should assume it's very bad, until people we actually trust can prove it isn't.

We have come to the point where Trump, who did not deny his low ratings by the way (he just blamed them on Fake News and poor advertising) is willing to say DOGE stole SS information, just to hide the fact that he's a child rapist.

[TACOshake]

wow just woke up from a nap, i guess everyone else on Air Force One realized there was a creature on the wing.




Airforce One is crossing many europe airspaces ... please someone do the funniest thing.

[We are covfefe]

Minor electrical issue? Right.

[Tech614]

Unfortunately, and very sadly, I think the US is going to end up with Greenland. Yes, it's a NATO country, but I think other leaders are going to cave and not want to risk a) a military confrontation with the US, or b) not want to destroy their own economies like you said. I think they're going to cave and sacrifice Greenland to Trump to 'save' themselves/own country. They'll say the ROI on opposing it isn't worth it. I just hope if that is the case, it's not through war.

I hope to God I'm wrong. I want to be wrong.

IF Greenland is given to Trump then europe and canada are fucking cooked and might as well just bow down to their supreme leader.

I know these countries like to serve strongly worded letters more than anything but seizing the territory of an "ally" would have to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. If not then all those countries are as cooked as the US is.

[Breccia]

Federal judge to Lindsey Halligan: Stop calling yourself a U.S. Attorney because you're not one.

UPDATE: Bondi announces departure of Halligan from US Attorneys office

She blamed Senate Democrats.

We are living in a time when a democratically elected President’s ability to staff key law enforcement positions faces serious obstacles.

"I thought Senators were also democratically elected?"

They are.

"And you just posted that it was a federal judge who said-"

Look, Bondi is lying. Halligan is not the first Trump appointee to be disqualified by a judge, not the Senate. She, and others, were illegally appointed. That's why the Comey case was thrown out. The Senate would be doing a disservice by filling a role permanently with someone legally ruled out of holding it. The problem is Trump. Bondi would just rather die than admit it.

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I know these countries like to serve strongly worded letters more than anything but seizing the territory of an "ally" would have to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

And Team Trump knows it. That's why they're pulling the biggest What He Meant Was they can find.

First article

“I do not think that there is going to be an upending of any of the trade deals that we have made,” Lutnick told CBS News’s Ed O’Keefe.

“There are things that we will argue about between our two countries, for sure, because that’s the way it works, with friends and allies,” Lutnick said, referring to the U.S. and EU. “But I would say Donald J. Trump understands what he wants, and he will talk to them, and they will work it out.”

“And I think the EU trade deal is solid, firm and will continue,” he added.

Article 2

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged countries not to retaliate but to speak with the president during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this week.

“Everyone, take a deep breath. Do not escalate, do not escalate. And President Trump has a strategy here,” Bessent said during an appearance on CNBC.

Listen to that fear. Nothing says "I just realized what a mistake I made" like saying "This will all blow over, please don't hit me back". Seriously, what is there to talk about? Trump is demanding the surrender of a sovereign country and NATO ally. He's not joking. If there's a plan, the world leaders he's talked to don't know it, so Trump either has no plan or isn't sharing it, which is arguably worse. And what part of announcing new tariffs means that Europe shouldn't respond? Pretty sure that trade deal is already upended, Trump upended it. Why would Europe remain in a deal that Trump isn't honoring?

These two, and likely most of Trump's staff, know this isn't something that can be fixed other than Trump backing out in exchange for nothing. And let's not rule that out - the best way to fight a bully is to remind him he's outnumbered. But the threat alone demands consequences, and Trump seems to be the only one unaware of this.

[Muzjhath]

I’m just making sure people are completely clear that it is indeed “it’s all about business,” and not some moralistic “well we just find trump so morally repugnant we shan’t be doing business with the likes of him!”

It will take at least three decades before I trust the USA as a political entity again. No matter when and how the current regime gets ousted.

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This is from the Department of Labor....Someone remind me again how the American Worker is doing under this regime.

In Minnesota they're planning a strike for the 23rd of January

[zorkuus]

This is from the Department of Labor....Someone remind me again how the American Worker is doing under this regime.

Magahats could be living on the streets and they would still go "president trump is looking out for the little guy!"

[Corvus]

You had Johnson speaking to the British parliament yesterday and it almost sounded like he was begging them to keep the alliance.

Imagine being the speaker of the house when the president he supports was responsible for breaking the UK-US alliance.

[Kaleredar]

It will take at least three decades before I trust the USA as a political entity again. No matter when and how the current regime gets ousted.

That’s nice and all, but it’s not really up to whether you personally trust the US, and whether your government finds it economically conducive to trade with them. Which they likely will in some capacity. Because again, as we’ve established… “it’s all business.” For another example Europe has had a devil of a time economically divorcing themselves from Russia who is not only actively at war with another country but who has also directly and indirectly attacked and sabotaged European infrastructure. And for as duplicitous and odious Trump has been he’s yet to sink to Russia’s levels. If Putin were deposed tomorrow and Russia pulled all troops from Ukraine with a big “I’m sorry” flag, I wonder how long it’d be until countries rushed back to try and reestablish economic ties, despite the hundreds of thousands of people they’ve killed, kidnapped, maimed and otherwise harmed.

And to be clear, that’s not a “condemnation” of Europe exclusively or anything, merely making sure we’re clear and we all keep in mind that foreign opposition to Trump is squarely rooted in “economic dissatisfaction” and has little to nothing to do with all of the egregious and awful things he’s doing domestically.

[Darththeo]

It will take at least three decades before I trust the USA as a political entity again. No matter when and how the current regime gets ousted.

Three decades? Why so short?

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Magahats could be living on the streets and they would still go "president trump is looking out for the little guy!"

The fact that anyone thinks Mr Gold Toilets who slaps his name on every business he owns several which were casinos, who is legally prevented from owning a charitable foundation, cares about the little guy is just sad.

[Nymrohd]

It will take at least three decades before I trust the USA as a political entity again. No matter when and how the current regime gets ousted.

Trust is and had always been stupid. There should be guarantees and there should never be dependency. Europe was simply complacent.

[Mayhem]

If Putin were deposed tomorrow and Russia pulled all troops from Ukraine with a big “I’m sorry” flag, I wonder how long it’d be until countries rushed back to try and reestablish economic ties, despite the hundreds of thousands of people they’ve killed, kidnapped, maimed and otherwise harmed.

Hours, if even. It's capitalism baby, either you are the asshole or someone else will be.

[Gorsameth]

Hours, if even. It's capitalism baby, either you are the asshole or someone else will be.

Yeah, (parts of) Europe are absolutely ok with 'forgiving' Russia is it means they get back access to its cheap gas and oil.

[alach]

I really doubt it. It takes a long time to get established, and companies won't want to invest unless it's proven safe, like what is happening in Venezuela. Russia has shown itself to be utterly untrustworthy and not secure or stable. Can't see western companies being ok with that.
Not to mention the huge investments happening now in Europe setting up new trade corridors and energy infrastructure. That's all to stay.

[Gorsameth]

I really doubt it. It takes a long time to get established, and companies won't want to invest unless it's proven safe, like what is happening in Venezuela. Russia has shown itself to be utterly untrustworthy and not secure or stable. Can't see western companies being ok with that.
Not to mention the huge investments happening now in Europe setting up new trade corridors and energy infrastructure. That's all to stay.

Oo
Russia invests and extracts the gas. The infrastructure to pipe it to Europe is all already there (tho some is a bit damaged)

Its nothing like Venezuela.

[Fugus]

I really doubt it. It takes a long time to get established, and companies won't want to invest unless it's proven safe, like what is happening in Venezuela. Russia has shown itself to be utterly untrustworthy and not secure or stable. Can't see western companies being ok with that.
Not to mention the huge investments happening now in Europe setting up new trade corridors and energy infrastructure. That's all to stay.

All we have to do is look at the economic crisis that keep happening due to banks and businesses doing risky shit and getting bailed out when it doesn’t pan out to show that a lot of them will take that risk even if most are smart enough not to just for access to absurdly cheap stuff or slave labor and will just look to hide that fact or plausible deniability on if they knew that fact when caught.

[alach]

Oo
Russia invests and extracts the gas. The infrastructure to pipe it to Europe is all already there (tho some is a bit damaged)

Its nothing like Venezuela.

You mean that one under the Baltic sea that exploded? No, I was talking about the new interconnections in Greece and Bulgaria, the Baltic Pipe, and Southern Gas corridor. Several more are being worked on as well.
Think if they war ends people will just forget these new ones, "oh let's go back to good old russian oil and gas. Nothing to worry about there?"

[Darththeo]

Has anyone shared the "news" that show that the Trump's tariffs are paid for my Americans?

If not: https://thehill.com/business/5697480...den-us-buyers/

"The study, which analyzed shipment-level data covering over 25 million transactions, found that firms importing goods into the U.S. absorbed only 4 percent of the costs from the levies. The remaining 96 percent was passed on to American buyers, while U.S. customs revenue surged by roughly $200 billion last year."

And the study in question: https://www.kielinstitut.de/fileadmi...-KPB201_EN.pdf

[thilicen]

Has anyone shared the "news" that show that the Trump's tariffs are paid for my Americans?

If not: https://thehill.com/business/5697480...den-us-buyers/

"The study, which analyzed shipment-level data covering over 25 million transactions, found that firms importing goods into the U.S. absorbed only 4 percent of the costs from the levies. The remaining 96 percent was passed on to American buyers, while U.S. customs revenue surged by roughly $200 billion last year."

And the study in question: https://www.kielinstitut.de/fileadmi...-KPB201_EN.pdf

Well no shit lol

[alach]

Sounds like trumps big speech at Davos is just more of the same. No surprises, no grand plan or art of the deal, just more he's the best and everything is terrible.

• NOW: US President Donald Trump is addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he doubled-down on his demand for control of Greenland. He also issued harsh criticism of Europe and touted his economic agenda.

• Greenland showdown: European officials are planning to use the forum to stage a diplomatic intervention to cool tensions over Greenland that have put the continent on edge and may now threaten the survival of NATO, three sources told CNN.

• Bessent’s appeal to Europe’s leaders: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said European countries pushing back on the US attempts to acquire Greenland should “sit down and wait” for Trump and “listen to his argument” at the forum.

CNN

He's still talking.....