But then when it comes to sanctions on Russia or continuing military training with European countries who do pay it's always a consideration.
In his first term he would make offhand remarks about military action at times and the next day deny he said it. They established a rule at the pentagon that nothing he said counted unless they got a written and signed order from the white house.
What's there to still gain here? It's clear he's trying to "profit" from situations. Is Russia going to give anything in return? Not likely.
There is a clear pattern at this point. Every move Trump has made since taking power has harmed Ukraine, favored Russia, or both.
Denying the outcome benefits Russia more than anyone else appears contrary to evidence. I have yet to see a reasoned justification of how this benefits the USA beyond the awfully short term trite "saves money"
About why, or how Trump has come to enact these outcomes I cannot speak, but they don't seem to be benign for longterm US political/strategic goals. It's like a retreat to an older isolationist world view combined with a "fuck the liberals" mentality.
I used to believe in the power of the military industrial complex and its beltway lobby. I begin to doubt it, because almost all of the US aide to Ukraine was spent inside the US materiel production industry. Which is also the truly bizarre thing: he's cutting almost Keynsian pump priming domestic spend. It's massively bad for jobs.
The optimistic explanation I’ve heard from the more enlightened MAGAs is that this is an attempt to “toughen Europe up”: get them to spend more on their defense and run ops without the US so that the US can focus on preparing for the war with China while Europe handles Russia.
I think this is cope since Trump has also been acting belligerent towards Japan and Taiwan, but that’s the steelman.
If it talks like a duck, squawks like a duck…
I suppose it could be a tantrum over Zelensky's failure to provide dirt on Biden for the 2020 election as much as it could be about trying to ingratiate himself to Putin, though.
I'm not a pacifist. My parents were in the blitz. I'm pretty sure this won't end well for Europe if they stand down. I also appreciate I am very old, and a long way away from the trouble spots so I have left behind immediate consequences of other people incurring risk burdens. But still: Europe needs to rearm, and cannot depend on US strategic inputs for the next 4 years and probably more.
I am unsure repudiating information sharing or NATO is a good idea but I could understand European and British and Canadian and ANZAC and ASEAN partners reassessing information sharing right now.
US complaints about lack of commitment to funding NATO go back decades. It's not a solely Trumpist position.
One example: https://news.online.ua/en/the-us-is-ending-support-for-ukrai...
The US did not give a single fighter aircraft to Ukraine, not even under Biden. These come from inventories of EU states.
It's 100% cope.
So now it's like "hey you still cannot buy from the others but we won't help you (threats to leave NATO etc). Perhaps the best would be to finally move toward a EuroArmy and be done with papa-US dictating the game.
Meanwhile they have been using those morons in the UK to destabilize the EU in every occasion (such a relief that they commit suicide by leaving).
It is a big messy world. We got a new bully in the list (red, yellow, orange) and as Mearsheimer says they are playing games for global hegemony).
I like Ray Dalio' vid on empires (the 45min version) perhaps it is finally the time to US to fade away and have the next 100-150 years with China and then India running the show...
Did you think the US really gave anyone the keys?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-cease-future-military-exercise...
The U.S. would participate in military exercises in Europe, according to the article, for the rest of 2025. And (contrary to the headline) the article suggests the U.S. still plans military exercises with some countries.
"It has also been reported that the Trump administration is redrawing Nato engagement in a way that favours member countries with higher defence spending. The president is said to be considering prioritising military exercises with member countries that are spending the set percentage of GDP on their defence, officials told NBC."
The article also says the U.S. plans to deploy 35,000 troops in Eastern Europe (possibly Hungary).
Europe was not included in negotiations with USA/Russia concerning NATO or Ukraine. Trump is willing to sell out the entire continent and Ukraine for whatever Putin is offering. This is the state of America under this Administration and their version of "Making America Great Again".
Let's be clear: Putin is offering nothing.
Most Americans consume content alone through their screens and with the exception of social media owners like Musk and Zuckerberg, we don't actually have understanding what people are watching.
We do know however, that after buying Twitter, Musk fully embraced Russia's influence network instead of fighting it.
Administration may be under the impression that they are buying power and goodwill from russia and paying with Europe and NATO.