Trumps visit.

To those of you who regard Donald Trump with glazed, adoring, eyes - please accept my commiserations. Surely, your undying faith in the world's greatest showman/conman (read it as you see it) must have taken a knock following the Trump-Putin pow-wow in Helsinki - the summit that never was!

The world reeled as Donald emerged from the wreckage of this diplomatic disaster. It followed a week in which Trump had bullied and insulted his allies in Europe, seemingly, with total disregard for any damage he might do to the western alliance. Coming hot on the heels of his solo performance at the recent G7 meeting in Canada, his supporters might be forgiven for thinking he would prove a formidable leader when confronting Putin. However, at the press gathering that followed his secretive one-on-one with the wily Vlad', we were treated to the unedifying spectacle of a man reduced to a pussy-cat. Contrary to his usual behaviour whereby he always seeks to control proceedings, and in spite of an attempt to keep his act together, Donald's borderline acquiescence gave the impression of an awe-struck schoolboy. This was further underlined as he addressed the media and indeed the whole world. History will record that it was on a par with Chamberlain's 'peace in our time' and no amount of restorative editing will save his a--e this time. Having caused great embarrassment to his own countrymen and despair to the rest of the free world, he has returned to the U.S. to face the justified contempt of so many, regardless of political persuasion. Desperately, he now claims to have made an error in the choice of words he used in Helsinki (admitting a mistake !!! that'd be a first for Donald). Apparently he should have said wouldn't when he said would ??? (for those who choose to accept this explanation, Santa may be late in coming this year... apparently he's having trouble with the troika 'Uncle Vladimir sent him). Fake views instead of fake news...makes a nice change though, doesn't it ?

Meanwhile, Putin has returned to Russia with a smile on his face like the cat that got the cream. He came to the summit holding a weak 'poker hand' whereas Donald had all the aces yet, somehow, he managed to out-trump Trump and exposed the egomaniacal bully for what he is, a diplomatic joke. In so doing, Putin has bathed himself in glory and now receives the accolades of a grateful nation. In one master-stroke he has managed to sow the seeds of further division between America and her close allies. He will delight in the harm the Helsinki 'fiasco' will cause to America's reputation and to the faith and trust once held by so many throughout the free world.

There are those who steadfastly believe Donald Trump is the embodiment of the second messiah. Í think he's more like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, can anybody else see the similarity or is it just me ?

.........Roger

listening to the 04.00 BBC world service news , Donald had a slip of the tongue , he said would when he meant wouldn't , you cannot make it up so we misunderstood what he said in Helsinki

I said right from the start that he would not see his time out, but maybe i was wrong, just maybe the Americans like being the laughing stock of the world. However the bet of £20 with a mate of mine that he would be gone in 3 years is still holding possible, kt

if you had made the bet with Donald Trump it may have been £2 and 3 weeks

Trump is not and never will be a politician, he does not have the slightest understanding of how they operate.
There in lies a problem as he speaks as he see, not as a poli.

But according to many in USA his business experience will see them in a better position long term than they are now.
He may well have upset some NATO allies but if they are reliant upon NATO and USA for protection then they should be paying a fair share, something many do not do.

Employment in USA appears to be higher than ever before if the figures are to be believed.
His actions may in time bring China and a few others to a table to establish better terms of trade and I see nothing wrong in that.

Where to from here, who knows as there have not been that many one term presidents.

I am I fan of him, in business terms yes, as a politician definitely no.
But as with all that is my person choice.

Hi John,

I think you may misunderstand my point, old mate. I don't question Trump's business acumen or deny that he has improved the economy in the U.S. Unfortunately, contrary to what you may think, what is needed at the present time is statesmanship which, in world diplomacy, is sadly lacking at the present time. I know you to be a shrewd old coot, so cannot believe your failure to recognise that, if allowed to continue, the diplomatic recklessness of Donald Trump has a greater propensity to create a military conflict rather than improve the quality of life for the less fortunate of this world. His performance in Helsinki was beyond comprehension. To publicly accept the word of an adversary ( a known fibber)rather than accept the guidance of ones own security and intelligence services, was an act of stupidity.....unless, of course, he is frightened of something. If that is the case, then he's obviously prepared to place his own interests before those of his fellow countrymen and women, the very people he has sworn to serve. I may well be wrong, but I can't help thinking the Donald is heading for a fall and, just maybe, it could come sooner rather than later. There's a lot of angry, troubled, people on Capitol Hill.

.....Roger

I don't the average Americans worry or care about diplomacy , political mistakes or gaffes made by their president. They tend to look inward not outward , if unemployment continues to fall , prices in their stores fall , jobs return to the US and their standard of living improves Trump will be back for four more years.

Well Louis, after al is said and done, its only our own opinions, and how we feel about him, but the one thing is certain, time will tell, watch this space , kt

Call me picky but in his position I would be prioritising.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44865953

I am glad to see you're still posting in this thread Keith 52 posts after you called for it to be closed

I am not and never will be a trump fan the problem is with him is like many politicians he tells lies and I believe it to be a self promoting egotists . After 4 bankruptcies or rather what the Americans call chapter 11 which is filing for bankruptcy so your creditors can't bang you on the head and grab their money I would have voted Irvin on his business acumen because four bankruptcies tell me three isn't that good at it . I certainly wouldn't have voted him him for his charismatic behaviour and his thoughts on equality , but for a lot of reasons I wouldn't have voted Hillary Clinton in either it is fine for her to sit over here criticising the choice of the American electorate and I understand the majority and minority and the way there electoral College works I think Sadly like many other countries they were lacking in the choice of leader . I think that I would firmly retire all the politicians across the world at 70 and let them enjoy some golf