Trump's Second Term

[Jack by the hedge]

Kennedy: We’ve already won… We will eventually leave Iran and the good people of Persia will now have an opportunity to pick their own leadership.

Won what? You think you will "eventually" bomb Iran into a power vacuum, and you're declaring whatever random outcome follows as your victory. You people are lethally dangerous lunatics.

 

[jimbob]

Trump couldn't have done more to alienate the MAGA crowd.

Not only are they isolationist and not only were many conspiracy theorists about the elite trafficking children, but there's a strong antisemitic subculture, so it's actually (((elites))), so seeming to be in hock to Netanyahu is going to play into that as well.

 

[Norman Alexander]

Trump couldn't have done more to alienate the MAGA crowd.

Not only are they isolationist and not only were many conspiracy theorists about the elite trafficking children, but there's a strong antisemitic subculture, so it's actually (((elites))), so seeming to be in hock to Netanyahu is going to play into that as well.

Trump doesn't give a ◊◊◊◊ about all that. As long as there's something in this for him, he's golden.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Trump hates to be perceived as the lackey of someone else

 

[Dr.Sid]

Trump hates to be perceived as the lackey of someone else

Unfortunately he just can't hide his admiration for dictators.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Trump hates to be perceived as the lackey of someone else

Good thing it's just his secret, and it isn't clear that he was propelled into this by Netanyahu. Keep it under your hat.

 

[zooterkin]

He won't pay lut if your ship gets sunk.

Donald J. Trump
@realDonald Trump
Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf. This will be available to all Shipping Lines. If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States' ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH - More actions to come. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Free flow, at a very reasonable price.

Is this actually legal? And what is the small print?

 

[Jack by the hedge]

What is "political risk insurance"?

 

[Andy_Ross]

As I posted in the UK politics thread

Post in thread 'General UK politics VIII - The Last Tory'

Mar 4, 2026

Apparently Donald announcing the USA will cover any losses if a ship gets sunk in the Straits is a huge defeat and humiliation for Starmer.
It means Lloyds are finished as the main insurers for worldwide shipping.

It seems to be one of today's Gammon outrages and MAGA victories for the USA.

They all fail to realise Lloyd isn't like their household insurance. it is a global marketplace for insurers.
The fact that nobody is prepared to underwrite cover for ships in the Straits of Hormuz tells you it's considered an unacceptable risk.
Instead the US taxpayer is going to cover it.
But sure...

• Andy_Ross

• 
• 

 

[Andy_Ross]

Carl Higbie
@CarlHigbie
While everyone was focused on bombs:
-Trump cut off 20% of China’s oil
-Stuck it to the UK
-brought in Billions in revenue for shipping insurance
-destroyed the BRICS currency hope
-opened 20 trillion in US oil access

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029000938015326575

 

[zooterkin]

As I posted in the UK politics thread

Post in thread 'General UK politics VIII - The Last Tory'

Mar 4, 2026

Apparently Donald announcing the USA will cover any losses if a ship gets sunk in the Straits is a huge defeat and humiliation for Starmer.
It means Lloyds are finished as the main insurers for worldwide shipping.

It seems to be one of today's Gammon outrages and MAGA victories for the USA.

They all fail to realise Lloyd isn't like their household insurance. it is a global marketplace for insurers.
The fact that nobody is prepared to underwrite cover for ships in the Straits of Hormuz tells you it's considered an unacceptable risk.
Instead the US taxpayer is going to cover it.
But sure...

• Andy_Ross

• 
• 

I don't see that the words that Trump used can justify "the USA will cover any losses".

Not to mention, why would Starmer, or anyone outside America, actually want to play the game of “Make America Great Again chess”?

 

[Andy_Ross]

Apparently Donald is playing strategic global chess while everyone is just trying to keep up

 

[Andy_Ross]

I don't see that the words that Trump used can justify "the USA will cover any losses".

Not to mention, why would Starmer, or anyone outside America, actually want to play the game of “Make America Great Again chess”?

They are all basing it off a single post he made to Truth Social.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Reports of an Iranian frigate being sunk by a submarine off Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has deployed naval ships and aircraft to assist the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena after it reported distress off the coast of Galle.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that 30 of the approximately 180 sailors on board have been rescued so far.
Rescue operations are ongoing just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029084308519243937

 

[Jack by the hedge]

So he intends to re-purpose this agency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._International_Development_Finance_Corporation as a shipping insurer of last resort, to get the oil tankers moving again, at the US taxpayers' risk, when actual insurers won't touch it.

Why would they allow ... oh. Board's Chair - Rubio, Vice Chair - also Rubio, Members - Bessent, Lutnick plus 4 others.

I still don't know what "political risk insurance" is, but I see now that he put it in the post because it's something that agency actually does (suggesting it somehow relates to development projects), whereas shipping insurance is not. Anyone reckless enough to sail a tanker full of oil down the coast of Iran right now does not seem to need "political risk insurance".

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Reports of an Iranian frigate being sunk by a submarine off Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has deployed naval ships and aircraft to assist the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena after it reported distress off the coast of Galle.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that 30 of the approximately 180 sailors on board have been rescued so far.
Rescue operations are ongoing just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029084308519243937

Next up, Trump bombs Sri Lanka.

 

[Tero]

Trump the expert on knocking out, snipers and all kinds of war stuff! He had a guest so they did not get off topic about curtains.
lesson: never negotiate with the USA, we will attack during the negotioations
All the Iranian bad guys are dead! Except the son of the guy Trump killed.
longer (40minutes)

 

[Andy_Ross]

Punching while they are down.

Hegseth: "Death and destruction from the sky all day long. We're playing for keeps. Our warfighters have maximum authorities granted personally by the president and yours truly. Our rules of engagement are bold, precise, and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it ... we are punching them while they are down"

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029182801262633323

 

[Andy_Ross]

Hegseth: "More and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029185387222970708

 

[Andy_Ross]

Suckers and losers making Donald look bad.

Hegseth: "This is what the fake news misses. We've taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways without boots on the ground. But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front page news. I get it -- the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality"

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029183924316918159