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IcyPeas

(25,387 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 03:52 AM Yesterday

"Everyone but Trump Understands What He's Done" (The Atlantic)

Allied leaders know that any positive gesture they make will count for nothing

Donald Trump does not think strategically. Nor does he think historically, geographically, or even rationally. He does not connect actions he takes on one day to events that occur weeks later. He does not think about how his behavior in one place will change the behavior of other people in other places.

He does not consider the wider implications of his decisions. He does not take responsibility when these decisions go wrong. Instead, he acts on whim and impulse, and when he changes his mind—when he feels new whims and new impulses—he simply lies about whatever he said or did before.
...
But in Trump’s mind, these threats are justified: He has a problem right now, so he wants other countries to solve it. He doesn’t seem to remember or care what he said to their leaders last month or last year, nor does he know how his previous decisions shaped public opinion in their countries or harmed their interests. But they remember, they care, and they know.

Specifically, they remember that for 14 months, the American president has tariffed them, mocked their security concerns, and repeatedly insulted them.
...
(Continued)

Gift article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/trump-iran-war-allies/686423/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK31dWsRj9tVhI4YolO-4zzIE&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share


Trump does not think strategically, historically, geographically, or even rationally. He does not connect actions he takes on one day to events that occur weeks later. Allied leaders know that if they help him in the Gulf, he won't be grateful, or even remember
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T04:43:40.788Z

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"Everyone but Trump Understands What He's Done" (The Atlantic) (Original Post) IcyPeas Yesterday OP
A malignant narcissistic pedophile UpInArms Yesterday #1
You forgot rapist of children and a lot of other things. punguin54 Yesterday #3
That list is so long... 2naSalit 22 hrs ago #11
Reportedly, the air smells really, really, really bad. Justice matters. 15 hrs ago #19
He is so fucking STUPID he ripped up the Iran nuclear deal for no reason.... AZ8theist Yesterday #2
oh there was a REASON Skittles Yesterday #5
Yeah, I get that. AZ8theist 22 hrs ago #10
As succinct a summary of Trump as there is Deminpenn Yesterday #4
In a normal world, someone like that Aussie105 23 hrs ago #6
Trump does think strategically for himself and the Trump Crime Syndicate. Irish_Dem 23 hrs ago #7
Trump's imagination remains intact! A_Steel_Magnolia 23 hrs ago #8
And yet the republicon party saw fit to put him in the highest office in the land. Again. MLWR 22 hrs ago #9
The author could have stopped after ##### does not think. Period. niyad 20 hrs ago #12
Exactly. There are many comments in the Bluesky post that say this.... IcyPeas 14 hrs ago #21
K&R spanone 20 hrs ago #13
and there are no adults to even attempt to bring reality to him. Jbraybarten 20 hrs ago #14
K&R demmiblue 19 hrs ago #15
K&R Swede 18 hrs ago #16
K&R. nt Wednesdays 17 hrs ago #17
And the result may be: Justice matters. 15 hrs ago #18
Can I get an "Amen" brothers and sisters! SergeStorms 14 hrs ago #20
In other words, he's pure Id. In charge of the most powerful country in the world. Crunchy Frog 13 hrs ago #22
He and Bibi are destroying the World. BarbD 10 hrs ago #23
PSYCHOPATH. slumcamper 8 hrs ago #24
So Why Hasn't The 25th Amendment Kicked In? DallasNE 1 hr ago #25

UpInArms

(54,882 posts)
1. A malignant narcissistic pedophile
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 04:01 AM
Yesterday

Why would anyone get in the same room with it, much less a war?

2naSalit

(102,286 posts)
11. That list is so long...
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 07:30 AM
22 hrs ago

That it would lose the point of the article.

Sometimes it's best to stay closely on topic.

AZ8theist

(7,306 posts)
2. He is so fucking STUPID he ripped up the Iran nuclear deal for no reason....
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 04:37 AM
Yesterday

Thinking it would have no consequences.

Now Netanyahu manipulated him to start a war for Israel.

THERE WAS NO IMMINENT THREAT TO AMERICA.

Our president is a demented FUCKING MORON. If he doesn't die soon, my nation is screwed. I weep for my children.

AZ8theist

(7,306 posts)
10. Yeah, I get that.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 06:54 AM
22 hrs ago

But the so-called "Art of the Deal" imbecile also thought he could negociate a better deal.

While not having a fucking clue about international diplomacy. NOT A FUCKING CLUE.

So sure, rip up the agreement COMPLETED by a stupid N****R, and ....

I....
AND ONLY I....
....can make a deal that is the best the world has ever seen!!!!!

A million suns could not generate the white-hot HATRED I have for Donald John Trump.

A RACIST, IGNORANT, PROFOUNDLY STUPID CHILD RAPIST.

How the fuck did my America end up with this????????

Aussie105

(7,868 posts)
6. In a normal world, someone like that
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 05:50 AM
23 hrs ago

wouldn't be allowed to walk the streets unsupervised in case he did something stupid.

Yet here we are. King Dumb on the throne.

Irish_Dem

(81,034 posts)
7. Trump does think strategically for himself and the Trump Crime Syndicate.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 06:22 AM
23 hrs ago

This is why he sent Kushner to begin negotiations to obtain oil, land, cash, power from Iran
in exchange for not bombing and killing them.

Iran refused and Trump attacked them.

Trump only does things that benefit himself.
He has no concern for the US or Americans in the least.

A_Steel_Magnolia

(119 posts)
8. Trump's imagination remains intact!
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 06:35 AM
23 hrs ago

Trump will remember or make up how he/we have been "victimized" by our historical allies, however. They will forever "owe" us more than they can ever repay (even though we don't need their help).

MLWR

(993 posts)
9. And yet the republicon party saw fit to put him in the highest office in the land. Again.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 06:50 AM
22 hrs ago

IcyPeas

(25,387 posts)
21. Exactly. There are many comments in the Bluesky post that say this....
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 03:40 PM
14 hrs ago

There are many good comments. I liked this one because of the redactions:


Dave Merritt (@goldenseals67.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T07:10:48.940Z

Justice matters.

(9,736 posts)
18. And the result may be:
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 01:58 PM
15 hrs ago


"The plot to destroy Democracy"
"How Putin and his spies are undermining America and dismantling the West"
By Malcolm Nance, New York Times bestselling Author of The Plot to Hack America.

Crunchy Frog

(28,256 posts)
22. In other words, he's pure Id. In charge of the most powerful country in the world.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 03:54 PM
13 hrs ago

Acting about on the same level as an alpha male chimpanzee.

BarbD

(1,414 posts)
23. He and Bibi are destroying the World.
Wed Mar 18, 2026, 06:58 PM
10 hrs ago

The two of them together have started a War that will take a huge uprising against both of them to stop.

DallasNE

(8,001 posts)
25. So Why Hasn't The 25th Amendment Kicked In?
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 04:10 AM
1 hr ago

I just read the 25th Amendment, Section 4, and the first paragraph was all I was aware of, where a VP and majority of cabinet officers may remove the President. But, it goes on. The President may challenge that action. Then it takes a 2/3 vote of both Houses to"convict". It that fails, the acting President is stripped of his power, and the old President resumes office. It is next to impossible for the 25th Amendment to stay kicked-in, so forget about that. Impeachment looks easier.


TWENTY-FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
[81 STAT.
"SEC. 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the
principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as
Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives their
written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers
and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume
the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
"Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro
tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the
powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority
of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such
other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days
to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives their written declaration that the President
is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon
Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours
for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty
one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress
is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to
assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the
President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,
the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting
President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties
of his office."


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