• Skiluros@sh.itjust.works
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      17 days ago

      I am Ukrainian and I was really proud of Zelenskyy and the way he interacted with new administration. He kept his cool while also letting them the current administration know (in a subtle manner) that there is a big gulf between their pipe dreams and reality.

      • Aviandelight @mander.xyz
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        17 days ago

        I’m American and I am in complete awe of Zelenakyy. Humanity gets so few people of his quality in a lifetime. He is truly inspirational.

        • alanjaow@lemmy.world
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          17 days ago

          I feel like he is closer to the norm than we think. We should all strive to be like that, rather than relegating it to random chance. We should also demand more of our leaders.

          • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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            17 days ago

            The best rulers are those who hate the idea of ruling. The best leaders are those who are thrust into the situation. What we should be taking away from all of this is that no one who wants power should be given any.

  • Saleh@feddit.org
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    17 days ago

    And this is why Ireland, France and others weakening the EU response to US tariffs for alcoholic beverages is dangerous. This is only encouraging him and he will use any sign of weakness to bolster himself.

    • Chainweasel@lemmy.world
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      17 days ago

      Hopefully the optics of them kissing Trump’s ass will piss the populous off enough that they put pressure on their leaders to not take his shit.

  • xenomor@lemmy.world
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    17 days ago

    I hope other countries realize that entering into trade agreements with the United States is a meaningless endeavor given that we don’t believe we have any responsibility to abide by agreements that we make anymore. We are an entirely unreliable partner.

  • StopTouchingYourPhone@lemmy.world
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    17 days ago

    Heard it on my morning news program here in Canada. “I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir,” he chuckled. Sounded like he was making fun of an abuse victim. Like that time he mocked the disabled. Filthy predator.

    That any media outlet is featuring his latest truth claim in an uncontested headline is wild. Look at the amount of commentary already produced that assumes his version of events is what’s actually happening.

    • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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      17 days ago

      We’ve already seen that the media don’t have anyone’s best interests at heart but the elite. We have to stop expecting them to change.

    • gurnu@lemmy.world
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      17 days ago

      Well, Finnish “leaders” are discussing one-on-one deals with the US, it’s not exactly taking a strong stance against Trump’s bullying… More like bending the knee to save their own investments

    • nargis@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      16 days ago

      India is kissing Trump’s arse, unfortunately. They are considering removing tariffs even more than they did before the announcement. Though there’s a UK-India deal floating around as well, and talks with the EU. This might just be anti-China opportunism, though. Apple and Samsung announced that they’re moving their factories to India because of the tariffs.

  • Hikuro-93@lemmy.ca
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    17 days ago

    And sadly the over 50 countries now desperately calling the White House to beg negotiate are just inflating and reinforcing the Trump administration’s ego and postponing the inevitable.

    Who would have guessed. Said as much in another post this is what happens when you appease to narcissistic bullies. You get further trampled on and they become bolder.

    No matter how much it would be better if we all got along well as before. This is the new reality, and even if we hurt right now we’ll come out on top in the long run, better and more self-reliant, while the US becomes isolated from the world.

    Hope everyone remembers this when the US falls and comes “kissing out collective asses” for sympathy.

  • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
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    17 days ago

    Trump doesn’t want deals, he doesn’t want American success. He wants ass-kissing which he is ostensibly getting a lot of right now. So if tariffs are a huge success in this regard, why take them away?

  • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
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    17 days ago

    At best, world leaders may be trying to salvage their current investments in the US and trade sources in the short term. But they are also immediately starting the process to divest from the US, maybe permanently. He may get a short term gain from a handful of countries, but is tanking us long term as everyone distances themselves from us.

    Trade, investments, debts, these things bind countries together and promote better economies the world-wide. The point of Tariffs are to reduce or eliminate these connections to other countries in the effected markets, to isolate and insulate your domestic market from the international market at large. When you put a blanket tariff on all markets on all countries, especially when openly trying to use those as extortion tactics against other countries, you are guaranteeing this isolation. We are well on the way from being isolated from the world, like North Korea, all because of one man without any sense, decency, or limitations. We are fucked.

  • Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world
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    17 days ago

    Every world leader, I image except for a few, want you to fuck off.

    If your ass is being kissed it’s either:

    They are desperate to save their people from harm, and unlike you they can’t just start a world war when they get threatened.

    or

    An American is near and they think you’re superhuman because of your job.