Lots of very clever, well-informed Europeans are trying to rescue relations with the US based on assumptions that, at least to a minimal degree, Trump knows what he's doing. There is no reason to make this assumption. - ThreadSky

ruthdeyermond.bsky.social • 3 days ago

Lots of very clever, well-informed Europeans are trying to rescue relations with the US based on assumptions that, at least to a minimal degree, Trump knows what he's doing. There is no reason to make this assumption.

Reposted from Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

For the second time in the last 24 hours, Trump suggests that he thinks he will be putting tariffs directly on fentanyl smuggled into the United States illegally.

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ggdepa.bsky.social•3 days ago

I know what just might work given he's also a blatant racist: show him the etymologie (yes, i know he doesn't know the meaning of that word) of the word "tariff"

jspieve.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes. It’s so tedious to see serious news media trying to analyse his “strategy” when there quite obviously isn’t one

ruthdeyermond.bsky.social•3 days ago

Another problem is that other people assume even if Trump doesn't understand the basics of government, the economy, defence, foreign relations, it's okay because the actual decision-makers do. But again, there's no evidence for this. Being somewhat better at it than Trump =/= competent.

exotraveller.bsky.social•3 days ago

The only evidence that exists is the overwhelming effort to please the 'dear leader.' From the sycophantic praises to the unquestioning execution of his reckless ideas, it’s a grotesque mix—like handing nuclear launch codes to a toddler and turning Washington into 'Pyongyang on the Potomac.'

erinpsyd.bsky.social•3 days ago

None. None whatsoever at all. They are all seemingly motivate by a few primal emotions/goals that revolve around greed and hate and incredible self righteousness.

guybaddis.bsky.social•3 days ago

Trump47 includes absolutely none of the semi-qualified people from Trump45.

And I assume...
=/= = ≠
😉

josephinemero.bsky.social•3 days ago

LIES LIES LIES

davidnzuk.bsky.social•3 days ago

The best strategy is for the rest of the world to align and not give him a thing. Minimises damage and forces Trump to back down.

alanjstedman.bsky.social•3 days ago

Is Keir Starmer one of them?

🤔🤔🤔

fitzk.bsky.social•3 days ago

He also thinks asylum seekers are mentally ill people who want to come to the US for treatment in an insane asylum. I've worked for people who are that stupid before and it never ends well, for anyone, especially them...

paulmbowes.bsky.social•3 days ago

Let me dissent, mildly. The problem is not that Trump doesn't know what he's doing: we take that for granted. The problem is that many people still don't understand that he doesn't *care* what he's doing, or what the consequences will be. Rational people will always have trouble with nihilists.

fieldbean.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think the aim is to keep him talking while we get the women and children to safety

nikoecon.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes. A lot of energy is being spent rationaling policies which are often performative in intent (although with very real effects).

nikoecon.bsky.social•3 days ago

There is some value in this process of analysis, as it at least makes it clear how useless the policies are for Trump's supposed policy goals. But ultimately it's like trying to make sense of a petty thug's complaints -- the claimed issues are not the real point.

all-a-mort.bsky.social•3 days ago

He is a monkey hammering on the keys of a piano. Every once in a while by dumb luck it sounds tuneful but the monkey can't read music and doesn't know what's doing, it just likes thumping things.

tillyklein.bsky.social•3 days ago

It's just very hard for me to believe he actually thinks this. I have some kind of mental block where I simply can't accept he's this stupid and assume he's doing it to convince other people who he believes are idiots. This has no basis in reality.

ruthdeyermond.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think that's a very common - and completely understandable - reaction. I'm concerned that some people are still making policy partly on that basis.

nickequipechasee.bsky.social•3 days ago

Someone described him last Year as being like ‘a single-celled organism’, who is only capable of ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’ whatever he comes into contact with.

tillyklein.bsky.social•3 days ago

Curse of knowledge, innit

jean-salvati.bsky.social•3 days ago

You can be very cunning and very stupid at the same time. You can have astute political instincts and no analytical ability whatsoever. On a scale ranging from an average fox to a Nobel in economics, Trump is MUCH closer to the fox.

tillyklein.bsky.social•3 days ago

I'm not sure it's even specifically about Trump. It's a really common form of cognitive bias to assume people know what you know, or understand what you understand. If a person is in a high position of authority, and you're in a lesser position, I would imagine it's even stronger.

jean-salvati.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don’t think it’s related to authority. I think the bias is the belief that great success in one area is due to universal qualities that make you competent in all areas. Musk shows the same bias. And Trump is a highly successful politician.

tillyklein.bsky.social•3 days ago

Maybe!

showerabsolute.bsky.social•3 days ago

Also guys we can just include the fact that his mental acuity has very clearly deteriorated substantially since his first term. I.E. he's shot away

tillyklein.bsky.social•3 days ago

And pretty much everyone is in a less senior position of authority that the POTUS.

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