Trump floats claims for Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

Oh, but he's only joking - well, maybe, so they say. Or sort of joking with Canada, and maybe not joking with Greenland - saying that "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" doesn't sound like a joke . . . and um, not sure about what the about Panama Canal thing is?

Trump Jokes Canada Becoming 51st US State 'A Great Idea'

US President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday it would be "a great idea" for Canada to become the 51st US state, teasing on social media that "many Canadians" welcome the idea, as Ottawa is wracked by a political crisis.

www.barrons.com

Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion

Trump didn't explain how such a takeover would be possible, given that the U.S. relinquished control of the canal to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

apnews.com

 

[fooferdoggie]

Does Trump know where these places actually are? What arrogant idiot thinking candanda wants to be part of America. especially his America.

 

[Sendai]

Does Trump know where these places actually are? What arrogant idiot thinking candanda wants to be part of America. especially his America.

Yeah, Canada is part of America.

 

[brandon]

MNAAA

(Make North America America Again)

 

[MT15]

What is his actual point? Just to distract from the losses in the stock market over the last 30-50 days? Distract from his criminal activities?

He looks like an idiot here with this crap.

 

[Lapaz]

Just about everything in this world is for sale if offered enough money. That is a fact. People are still bought and sold in this world, you need to learn to deal in reality. I don’t know what not being part of North America has anything to do with it.

The problem is that Trump approaches these things like a mafia boss. He attempts intimidation, rather than respectful inquiry. We could float interest, but no American president should claim that is a necessity. If it were truly a necessity, that would justify force, which it seems to suggest. International borders must be respected.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[cuddlemonkey]

If anyone thought the rest of the world was laughing at us the first time around, hold on to your arses this time...

 

[superchuck500]

 

[Optimus Prime]

6.. Acceptance (After Trump double and triple downs on his comment and beyond truth social posts and statements in rallies is putting out behind the scenes feelers about making this happen) "Canada is basically America Junior already why not make it official?" "If America controlled the Panama Canal price for everything would be cut in half" "Only Trump would have the vison and guts to suggest something like this"

****While this is going on during this whole process you hope beyond hope that Trump says something else or is distracted by something else and he and the media moves on and forgets about this

 

[coldseat]

I hope this is what consumes him for the next 4 years and he doesn't think or do anything else. That would be a win for the US.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[brandon]

I, for one, look forward to cheaper maple syrup.

 

[faceman]

Translation - We want to mine your minerals

 

[J-DONK]

Do Republicans not realize adding Canada would be tantamount to adding another California?

You would be giving Democrats another 50 electoral votes.

 

[superchuck500]

Do Republicans not realize adding Canada would be tantamount to adding another California?

You would be giving Democrats another 50 electoral votes.

Yeah - plus, the idea that it would be one state is as idiotic as the idea that Canada could become part of the USA. Canadians are not going to approve a voluntary annexation and the US isn't going to take it by force. The whole thing is just so stupid - and I agree that Trump is doing it because he sees some leverage basis for trade negotiations. It's hard to see how that translates into anything positive.

 

[Lapaz]

At time of the shark comments he was the presidential candidate for Republicans, and now the president-elect. You act like this is John Smith from Burgertown, Ohio.

It's a cope, and a bad one.

Trump apologist conveniently decide what is a joke. I hope the max deportation and tariffs are also a joke. I also hoped the RFK, Musk, Vivek, etc nominations were jokes, but they weren’t.

Yeah - plus, the idea that it would be one state is as idiotic as the idea that Canada could become part of the USA. Canadians are not going to approve a voluntary annexation and the US isn't going to take it by force. The whole thing is just so stupid - and I agree that Trump is doing it because he sees some leverage basis for trade negotiations. It's hard to see how that translates into anything positive.

I think all Trump is doing is hurting the relationship with Canada. If I was Canadian, this would anger me. If Canada would ever consider merging with the U.S., I'm sure they wouldn't do it until we fix our political mess. With Trump as president, we are the last country they would want to merge with. If anything, I would encourage Denmark and Canada to merge. It would make much more sense with Greenland so close to Canada, and together they would become one of the most powerful countries in the world to stand up to Trumpism.

 

[superchuck500]

 

[RobF]

I feel like this is the early stages of a potentially very dangerous path. I would hope that's all it stays as.

At the very least though, I wouldn't be surprised to see further backing of destabilising movements in targeted nations. Not in the sense of, "We'll just install a puppet government and then get what we want," more in the sense of, "These people oppose us, we'll do what we can to hurt them and see where that takes us." E.g. Musk has already been sounding off about the UK government - not for any good, or even vaguely rational, reason as far as I can tell - and talking about backing the so-called 'Reform UK' party (although apparently he's now decided Farage needs to be replaced as their leader). Getting involved in other nations' politics is a line none of this particular mob seem concerned about crossing.

So it's not hard to see the notion of, for example, hijacking the independence movement in Greenland for their own interests occurring to them. Not necessarily successfully, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be damaging.

And that said, recent history is not short of examples showing that people can be persuaded to vote against their own interests.