this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2026
822 points (99.4% liked)

World News

52150 readers
3624 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Archive link

Donald Trump on Monday, January 19 threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne over France's intentions to decline the US leader's invitation to join his "board of peace." The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

"I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he'll join. But he doesn't have to join," Trump said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron. A source close to Macron told AFP on Monday that France "does not intend to answer favorably" to the invitation.

The board's charter "goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza," the source close to the French president said.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 276 points 1 day ago (7 children)

USA is so finished, Americans allowing this shitshow to continue is as ridiculous as the shitshow itself.
The checks and balances were never designed to manage a psychotic criminal administration. And that is still what Americans are relying on!

[–] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 130 points 1 day ago (3 children)

This! 👆

He basically is allowed to do whatever he wants. And people thinking that it is a distraction from the Epstein files, don't realize that he'd be able to walk away from anything they hold too. The problem is not Trump it's the enablers who won't stop him

[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 46 points 1 day ago (1 children)

All the smiles behind him in his inauguration are still smiling.

[–] prex@aussie.zone 23 points 1 day ago

I have high hopes for the US population to slapping back at the midterms. Minneapolis has shown the world that ordinary people can stand up to power.
Having said that, the mayor in jaws was still the mayor in jaws 2.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The problem is not Trump it’s the enablers who won’t stop him

Exactly, and there are way to few that are willing to risk anything to try to stop him.
I just saw a video by an analyst (Anders Puck Nielsen) that dismissed the idea that Trump would invade Greenland, because he claimed Trump wouldn't be allowed to do it.
This is a channel I very much respect for usually having very good analysis of the current situation.
But in this case, it was just so far off I was shocked. Because obviously Trump wouldn't ask permission, and the people in the administration actually want him to do it.
And we've seen evidence the military is already preparing, forming the Arctic force under.
Trump has all the support he needs to do it, believing someone would stop him is ridiculous.

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It's normalcy bias. Career analysts, people that have made their living predicting the next major geopolitical shift, are more vulnerable to it than your average Joe. The world has operated one way for their entire lives, and it's very difficult for most people to see that the rules of play have completely and irrevocably shifted.

They assume that the US won't do something this patently self-destructive because the US has (mostly) operated on a logical set of self-interested principles dressed up in the language of "Democracy" and "Freedom". The idea that it would blow its own kneecaps off while overtly and clearly talking the language of imperialism and might makes right is so outside their experience that it's unthinkable until the spell of normalcy bias is broken.

[–] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The mystery for me is that, how does the regime being transparent on imperialism and might makes right doesn't wake up those people from the spell of normalcy bias?

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 7 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Different people have different thresholds. I can say that in my personal experience, the majority of people in Romania have been able to rationalize everything until this point as Trump just running his mouth, but the "real powers" (Romanians in general are very conspiracy-minded) would never let him actually upset the apple cart.

Some people had the spell broken months ago, during the first round of universal tariffs. Some people saw the stories of Europeans being abducted for weeks at the border for no reason and that woke them up. Some explained all that away as a few unfortunate mistakes, not a real pattern. Then the next round of negotiations with the EU, widely considered a capitulation to the US around here put some people back to sleep (we gave him what he wanted, maybe he'll leave us alone now).

The higher tensions get around an actual military engagement, the more worried people are getting, the more people are snapping out of it.

LBC radio host James O'Brien has been shouting from the rooftops about the worst case scenario for months, and unfortunately he's being proven right.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 14 points 1 day ago

Trump is a symptom of a larger completely corrupt government afraid to challenge the status quo because they are still cashing in.

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Sure it was. They just didn't know that all three branches would be filled with psychotic criminals at the same time.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago

Yes, that's kind of true. The problem is not only an insane President, but also that the checks and balances are also to a large degree corrupt and insane.
Especially the supreme court.

One had already been filled with psychotic criminals for a few years by 2024, and Americans voted to fill the other two that November.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago (26 children)

I'm not sure who you are speaking to. Which Americans - all Americans?

Tell me... For those of us who can barely afford rent, who may die if they get sick and the bill is too high, who voted against this man and march against him and ICE. What more exactly do you want from us?

Shall we expedite the process and throw ourselves on the guns of our oppressor? Because that is literally happening. People are being maimed and killed in the streets.

Some of you idiots think we're all a short walk from a castle we can overthrow. It's not the middle ages any longer, though... You can't simply stop the President of America as a citizen. Especially not when you're under attack literally (ICE) and socioeconomically.

The Idiocy and audacity of those who do not understand our situation blanketing blame on an entire people is deafening sometimes. Do better. Support the people fighting tyranny, rather than cut them down.

Say their names, you cowards. Trump. Vance. The Republicans. The GOP. This is our enemy.

[–] BenjiRenji@feddit.org 7 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Where. Are. The. Democrats?

The "opposition party" says nothing about the insane plans on Greenland. What kind of allies does Europe really have in the US?

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 20 hours ago

I agree 100%. Our government has failed to uphold the standards desired by the people. The Democrats are weak and cowardly, and the Republicans are patently insane.

This said, the grand majority of the American people are against this. 75% as of the last poll I saw.

I have a family member that's never said a single negative word against Trump in over a decade... Earlier this week they wrote to their representative to tell them they oppose action against Greenland, and told me they think Trump is crazy. I've not been that taken aback in years... A full MAGA nut-job turning on Trump.

As for Europe, they should absolutely not trust the United States anytime soon. This country is in open turmoil, and the government emphatically no longer reflects the will of the people.

Maybe some day a relationship can be salvaged, but this is absolutely a sign for Europe to find independence from our fascist leadership.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 18 hours ago

It's hard to tell how much of the houses are Democrat In Name Only. There are precious few that are actually willing to stand against what's going on; it's not clear how many of the remainder are either on the take or just hiding until it's safe enough to show up.

[–] Tja@programming.dev 0 points 11 hours ago

Trump was voted in by a majority of voters. After the shitshow of the first administration. It's mind blowing how dumb one must be to believe the criminal will help you.

Americans consistently vote against Universal Healthcare. Americans consistently vote against taxing the rich, or higher minimum wage. Americans consistently vote against a quality education system for everyone. The protests are tiny and ineffective, everyone having the same excuses. There hasn't been even talks of strikes.

I'm sure the democrats will win in the midterms and in 2028, but they will do nothing in the name of "healing" and "bipartisanship" and a new republican clown will promise chocolate streets and Americans will vote for it in 2032.

As an ally, America is done. Americans are too dumb to be trusted.

load more comments (24 replies)
[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I’m not allowing it. It just doesn’t do any good.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

The American people as a whole is allowing it.
Yes some resist, but in total Trump and his administration is allowed to break the law over and over again. Sometimes even legalized by the supreme court.

USA as a country is finished compared to what it once was, it has descended into complete sociopathy and disregard for the law and human rights, and any decency is long gone, where even legal immigrants and citizens are thrown out the country while illegal immigrants like Elon Musk and Melania Trump get a pass because they are rich. And USA as a country behaves decidedly like a mafia towards other countries and their leaders, even including long time allies.

Like it or not, if you are American you are fucking part of that, and if you aren't actively resisting, you are contributing to the madness. And it is way way far from half the population of USA that is actively resisting. So for sure the majority of the American population is STILL enabling this shit show.

There's a reason Americans are unpopular, not just Trump and the administration.
There are good Americans, but they are such a small minority, when a malignant narcissist which is just about the worst personality disorder that exist can be elected President with half the votes, and about 40% of the population not bothering to vote.
2 thirds of the American population either wanted Trump, or didn't mind enough to vote against him.
That is a very clear indication that USA as a society has gone insane and has become sociopathic.

[–] saimen@feddit.org 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't get why all these billionaires are behind this. Aren't their billions tied to their businesses and stocks and thus are the ones who have to lose the most from the impending economic disaster?

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 19 hours ago

The stock market is booming. Every working person in America is suffering to some degree right now... some are being forced out of their homes, and others closer to the top (but still a million miles from the true wealthy people) are holding off on new purchases.

In short, they control the markets completely. They have nothing to fear because this is only harming those of us on the bottom of society (numerous though we may be).

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yep.

America didn't get invaded by martians. This is the leadership that they chose and it appears to remain the leadership that they want.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Yeah, all Americans, eh? We're all your enemy? We all chose this?

You're fighting a war against your own people if you're working class and your spouting ignorance like this.

Russian and Chinese propaganda mills love this sort of thing, though. Paint an entire people with the brush of the tyrant ruling them. Well done, Comrad.

[–] copd@lemmy.world 0 points 10 hours ago

You put a hell of a lot of emphasis on the word "all" inferring that the commenter you replied to said it.

They didn't, you did.

Pipe down american

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I see. So Russia didn't invade Ukraine and Israel isn't exterminating Palestinians. Its just some of the people in those countries doing it. No one is responsible for what their country does.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

I'm sorry, but where does the responsibility actually end for you? Let's discuss this and fully lay things out...

Are American prisoners on your list of people responsible? Would you capture our children like ICE frequently does and hold them to a trial if you could? What about the adults that voted against this regime three times, who work multiple, grueling jobs to support their families and though struggling, just barely keeping food on the table, and the medical debt to a tolerable level?

Would you blame the immigrants picking fruit in the fields, and constructing houses, all while avoiding being disappeared by the ICE gestapo? What about those Americans that have been deported - are they to blame? How about Renee Good - did she deserve what she got because she was American? MAGA certainly thinks so.

At what point, exactly, does your twisted and cruel logic start to bare moral fruit? Or are you, perhaps, just another person angry at the same people we (the sane Americans) are? Perhaps... just perhaps, we should all focus our energy on them, rather than infighting. If Trump could read this thread, he would be elated at comments like yours. He'd start new narratives about how even the left should hate our allies in and friends in Europe because they paint us all with the same brush.

A divided enemy is a weak enemy. Your argument here is fraught with fear - it's a lashing out at everything and anything because the real enemy is far from reach. Welcome to how every sane American has felt for years now. If you read all of this, then now you might understand us a little, tiny bit better. I hope you find your way, my friend.

Together we can end this - all of this, not just what's happening in America. The billionaires must come down, and the people must find their voice. But to do this, we must first agree to not fight one another, and to focus on the people who truly are destroying this Earth.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 1 points 18 hours ago

Easy. Do you live where bombs will be dropped during the war you are about to be start?

[–] dondelelcaro@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago

So close.

It frequently is just some of the people in those countries doing it.

This doesn't mean that no one is responsible, but that not everyone is responsible to the same degree. Trump and his enablers? Totally responsible. Everyone else? Lesser responsibility depending on what they did to enable in the past and what they're doing now to reaist.

[–] UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sounds like you're well into tariff territory. What do you export? I will make you change that opinion.

load more comments (1 replies)