General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAre Trump and Putin still friends??
Trump is feeling emboldened. Putin is feeling threatened.
For decades, Putin has been the Chief Oligarch of the World. He was the wealthiest with the most billionaires working for him.
But now, the clown from America is challenging his position. He lined up over a trillion dollars to cheer on his god-awful Inauguration speech. And since then, he has been collecting IOU's from the wealthiest people in tech and industry.
So, it is possible that there is some tension between the two old buddies.
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Dennis Donovan
(28,699 posts)gab13by13
(26,214 posts)if we already know he works with Putin?
kentuck
(113,148 posts)Their goal is to destroy our democracy and its institutions.
gab13by13
(26,214 posts)One of Putin's goons sent out a threatening response to Trump so I doubt that Trump will antagonize Putin any more.
Then again maybe it was staged with Putin to make it seem like Trump isn't owned by Putin?
Elon Musk is Putin's shadow making sure that Trump stays on his leash.
Walleye
(37,442 posts)kentuck
(113,148 posts)Putin has to look like the winner, not Trump.
Baitball Blogger
(49,015 posts)China, USA and Russia. Please pushing for cheap labor from India.
How is this happening????
CrispyQ
(38,946 posts)Who knows, he may be. It will be interesting. Trump's not impressing the international elite with his threats of tariffs so they're both unpopular. Putin is at least smart & couth.
gab13by13
(26,214 posts)kentuck
(113,148 posts)The old former KGB Chief prefers poisoning, even over window-shoving.
Polybius
(19,031 posts)But Putin can't do anything to Trump here.
CrispyQ
(38,946 posts)With his SCOTUS immunity he doesn't have to worry about pesky US laws.
riversedge
(74,109 posts)for their private Wallets!!
sop
(12,328 posts)Irish_Dem
(63,080 posts)Blue Full Moon
(1,611 posts)niyad
(121,923 posts)Beringia
(4,800 posts)Tommy Carcetti
(43,690 posts)It's not as if they are good old buddy-buddy, equal co-conspirators.
Trump is a Russian agent. Probably a semi-willing one--he's easily manipulated and he attracted by strongmen. So he gravitated naturally towards Putin and is willing to do his bidding, even if he doesn't think he's doing his bidding.
Europe and Ukraine can--and seem to have--been attempting to sweet talk Trump in order to sway him more towards their interests and away from Putin. But here's the problem--they're democratically minded. That's not "strong" in Trump's mind. "Strong" in Trump's mind is authoritarian. So that's why he kisses ass for Putin, Chi, the Saudis, Kim Jong Un, etc.
Democracies will forever be at a disadvantage when it comes to Trump, no matter what.
This little supposed kerfuffle between Trump and Putin is nothing. Trump's making empty threats of sanctions and tariffs. As I explained in my own thread, Russia has already been heavily sanctioned, and we get very little to nothing from them in imports to tariff. He's "threatening" this not in addition to military aid to Ukraine, but in place of it. When he comes face to face with Putin, he'll gladly fold like a deck of cards.