Board of Peace

 At the Davos Economic Forum President Trump announced his "Board of Peace".

I don't understand

President Trump puzzles lots of people. 

I can understand that he wants to make the USA strong. I can understand he wants to make the USA secure. What I don't understand his insistence on owning Greenland and imposing tariffs on his allies who oppose him. Surely he can achieve all the security he seeks within NATO?  

It looks like he is playing into the hands of the Russia and Chinese leadership by potentially breaking up NATO and probably just walking away from Ukraine.  

In May he was (allegedly) in favour of returning the Chagos Is to Mauritius and leasing back the US airbase. Now he is rude about it.

He is an enigma to so many. 

In the end (in the next 20 years?) much of the world will decide they cannot (as in the past) rely on the USA in future and progressively move trade away from the USA. I can see the US dollar not being the world's reserve currency.   

Greenland

Suddenly this frozen landmass has come into sharp focus with President Trump of the USA wanting to own it. 

He claims he has to own it to defend it, despite Denmark and Greenland being in NATO. It is interesting that it has lots of rare earth materials as well.

Most countries of the world are opposed to the USA owning it unless the people of Greenland agree. They have the right to determine their future.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn90l1dneo .

Really?

Presldent Trump has made some bold claims about the US economy. These have been fact checked by the BBC.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz6yg15lpw9t

Some would appear to be incorrect.

Is it only me, but I have come across not one person (absolutely no-one at all, really) outside of the USA that has a good word to say about the leaders of the USA currently. To many they appear brash and arrogant. This is sad as I have always found Americans kind and generous. Yet very many voted for Mr Trump. What he does in the USA i cannot comment on, but I can express my personal views as an outsider.

Ukraine - is President Trump getting bored?

 Most days I watch Times Radio on YouTube. I get the distinct impression the USA's President Trump is getting bored with Ukraine and is more concerned about deals to make himself even richer than finding a just peace. If true, I find this very sad.

There seems to be a new world order emerging, run by billionaires at a time when we really need leaders who have the interests of the common man/woman at heart.

Ukraine peace?

 According to this video, around 60% of people in the USA believe the USA should be standing behind (my understanding) Ukraine to counter the Russians whereas the peace plan put forward by President Trump appears to favour Russia and not what the majority in the USA want.

We all want peace, but it would appear we don't want a sell-out to President Putin. In my view simply appeasing Putin is not the answer.

From an outsider's perspective, President Trump seems more focused on making deals to make himself even richer than safeguarding democracy? This is how it appears, although I accept I may be wrong.

Trump pardons drug trafficker

Some times (many times actually) I question the motives of US President Trump. 

Allegedly, he has just pardoned the former president of Honduras who was jailed for 45 years on drug trafficking charges. I find this at odds with the "make America great again" movement and keeping drugs out.

Many Americans voted for him, so I would be interested to hear their views.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kpm0rvxepo .

Ukraine

This is being written before Ukraine, the EU and Britain have responded to President Trump's 28 point peace plan, that seems to be heavily weighed in Russia's favour. I hope a mature discussion ensues and it ends with a fair (to all) settlement.

Personal view : I do not trust President Trump

Many people in the USA voted for President Trump. As far as I am aware, this was fair and they elected the person they wanted. I am in no position to comment on matters in the USA.

However, I am perfectly at liberty to express my personal view of his role on the world stage. Others may think very differently.

On the world stage I personally think President Trump has performed badly. This is my personal view. In the Ukraine and Gaza it would appear that the views of the common people have not been well considered.

He seems to be in the thrall of President Putin, the Israeli government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho and Mohammed bin Salman. I get the impression he sees world stage diplomacy as real estate deals, rather than the lives of real people.

President Trump's "private" visit to Scotland

It is reported that this visit is accompanied by huge security. 

As this is a private visit to his golf courses, shouldn't Mr Trump pick up the security costs? It seems grossly unfair if this has to be done by the Scottish taxpayers.

Instead, why does he not try a bit harder in his quest for a Nobel peace prize by helping to get a lasting peace in the Middle East and the Ukraine?

Putin portrait of President Trump - NOT amateur radio

Apparently (according to the BBC)  President Trump has received a portrait of himself sent by Vladimir Putin.

Pussy footing? - NOT amateur radio

It would seem that politicians in the UK are doing everything possible not to offend President Trump. Perhaps he will, at a whim, increase tariffs. 

Yes, the world order has changed and Europe should never again depend on the USA as a backstop. 

However, Europeans are not fools or freeloaders.

What next? - NOT amateur radio

Probably most have seen the very public spat between Presidents Trump and Zelensky . 

Clearly the USA 🇺🇸 wants to stand proud in the world with trade on a fair playing field with other nations around the world. The majority in the USA voted for President Trump. 

What I fail to understand is why the President is falling out with so many in other countries. Surely if you want world peace you don’t want public rows with your allies!

We all want to see the world is a fairer, more peaceful, place.

I wonder what Russia and China make of it?

I have amended the posting in the light of the comment - quite correct. Thank you for putting me right!

Really? - NOT amateur radio

"Apple says it is working to fix its speech-to-text tool after some social media users found that when they spoke the word "racist" into their iPhones it typed it out as "Trump."" .

 See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgq90ke4degt

Tariffs - NOT amateur radio

The USA has already imposed heavy tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. It is threatening tariffs on the EU and UK. Whilst I can (I think) understand the reasons, my view is this is a blunt tool that can do much damage to the world economy.

Like it or not the world is very interconnected with supply chains that go the world over. Whilst I can see the incentives to keep things local, this will come at a cost. Suppliers nearer to home are likely to have higher labour costs, so things are likely to be more expensive.

The USA may be big enough to cope on its own. Much of the world cannot. 

We may be at the start of a new world order with the USA (for now) forging an isolationist policy, unlike the rest of the world. It will be interesting to see what happens.

President Trump - NOT amateur radio

In January, Mr Trump becomes US president for the second time. 

He has won the popular vote and the Electoral College. There is little doubt he has gained a mandate from most in the USA. Clearly the majority in the USA back him. For those in the USA his policies and promises "ring a bell".

Yet the odd thing is I have met not one (really not one in hundreds) outside of the USA that likes him. Most say he is unpredictable, a liar and thinks only of himself. 

I remain puzzled why he is so popular. Perhaps his promise of "the American dream" rings true with the majority in the USA? It is the American people that choose their leader by democratic means, not me. 

However, there are issues on a global scale that need his input as the most powerful man on the planet. No longer can the USA live in isolation. The world is very much interconnected.

USA Elections - NOT amateur radio

The people of the USA have voted and chosen Mr Trump again. I wish them well although I am quite surprised.

Gun culture - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we see on the news that Donald Trump narrowly missed an attempt on his life.

The USA has a gun culture and a very high death rate due to guns. It is sad that political candidates cannot give their "pitch" without the fear of being shot.

Donald Trump - NOT amateur radio

 It is impossible to know if the ex president of the USA is guilty of the crimes of which he is charged. What I do know is unless he is found guilty, his chances of re-election in late 2024 increase. 

At the moment, the USA seems very polarised. I really cannot understand why the USA cannot find younger candidates. If either Biden or Trump stand and get in they would be very old men!

Trump friends - NOT amateur radio

Although ex-President Trump has gone from office, he still seems capable of turning on his (one time) friends. I am amazed that so many voted for him. To those of us outside the USA, he appears to hold grudges. 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56092781 .