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 .

The USA - NOT amateur radio

Ex-president Trump has been cleared of impeachment. This is not too surprising as the senate would have needed a 2/3rds majority.

What I sincerely hope is that the USA can move on peacefully. Judging by the votes, he clearly has a large following in the USA, although I very much doubt most of those would have wanted the violence that erupted.

As a beacon of democracy, the violence that erupted some weeks ago was ugly and self-destructive. Now is a time to heal.

No Comment - NOT amateur radio

This photo arrived earlier. No comment.  I have no idea where it came from.

In the USA many voted for him. Outside the USA I have yet to speak with anyone (not one) who has a good word for him. In 4 whole years I have spoken with, or met, many people. The number must be in the hundreds now. 

Odd, he must have done something right domestically, yet abroad he is the butt of jokes.

USA future - NOT amateur radio

Tomorrow the new USA president is sworn in. I hope that President Trump is magnanimous and his followers respect democracy.

Trump - NOT amateur radio

It amazes me that so many people within the USA voted for Trump. Clearly he has a following in the USA whereas many outside of the USA think him stupid. 

More Trump stuff - NOT amateur radio

It is still true that I have met not one person outside the USA, online or in person, who has a good word to say about President Trump. I appreciate this is not so in the USA where nearly half the people voted for him.  

The more time passes the deeper hole he seems to dig at least for those of us outside of the USA.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55156241  .

Trump and recounts - NOT amateur radio

Assuming this is true and not "fake news",  apparently President Trump has paid $3M to have the recheck done in Wisconsin. The result? More Trump votes, but even more for Biden. 😆

Trump: just what is he on? - NOT amateur radio

OK, as a non-US person I admit that I am not a great fan of President Trump. 

He still seems totally against conceding he lost the presidential election and has tried, in vain, to contest the results in courts alleging "election fraud" despite no evidence. To the rest of the world he comes across as a spoilt child. He has been noticable by his absence of late.

It would be much better for world democracy if he just conceded and went back to running his business empire and playing golf. Hanging on to power does no good for democracy and reminds me of a certain leader in 1936 at the Olympics.

The people of the USA have spoken. Just listen.

USA presidential elections - NOT amateur radio

These are getting very close now. 

President Trump has been out on the campaign trail just 2 weeks after being hospitalised with Covid-19. I have no idea what the election out come will be. The people of the USA will elect the president they want to lead them.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54516324

USA presidents - NOT amateur radio

Although I have no intention of getting involved with the USA presidential election in a few weeks time, I feel obliged to point out a couple of things. In the last few years I have spoken with many people about US politics. The following observations have been made:

• How come the best you can find is old men to lead you? Trump is 74 and Biden 77 I believe. Is there no-one younger who can do the job?
• Everyone, and I mean everyone, I have spoken with thinks Trump is thick and cannot understand how he was chosen as the US president. In the rest of the world he is the butt of many jokes.

Lockdown humour - NOT amateur radio

With many of us in lockdown we are sharing various funny clips to keep our spirits up. This one I have watched many times and I still find it funny as it could be so true! I hope you like it too.