Paul Krugman: The Call Is Coming From Inside the White House

[applegrove]

The Call Is Coming From Inside the White House

December 12, 2025 at 7:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard 38 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2025/12/12/the-call-is-coming-from-inside-the-white-house/

Paul Krugman: “To update Samuel Johnson, these days national security is the last refuge of a scoundrel. According to Donald Trump, anything he doesn’t like is a threat to national security. Question his clearly illegal tariffs? You’re a dark and sinister force trying to undermine America. When the New York Times reported on signs that age may be taking a toll on Trump’s stamina, he denounced the reporting as ‘seditious, maybe even treasonous.’”

“But some of America’s allies — and many of us here at home — are becoming increasingly open about saying that the real danger is coming from inside the White House: Trump himself has become the biggest security threat facing the U.S. and, indeed, all the world’s democracies.”

[dalton99a]

1. Kick

Even as he imposes 50 percent tariffs to limit the menace of Chinese kitchen cabinets, Trump has decided to allow China to buy the advanced Nvidia semiconductor chips that power many AI models. Bear in mind that the U.S. lead in cutting-edge technology is one of our few advantages in geopolitical competition with China, and this gift to the Chinese has been strongly criticized by every genuine national security expert that I know. (Our other big advantage used to be that we had so many strong allies, but Trump has ended that.)

But the answer is simple: Trump doesn’t care at all about national security, or for that matter America’s national interests. Instead, it’s all about him: reportedly Trump took the decision to allow the Chinese to have the advanced Nvidia chips after personal lobbying by Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia. Clearly Chinese exporters of furniture and kitchen cabinetry need to get coached by Steve Witkoff.

Just to be clear, I am not a free trade purist. I am not saying national security should be ignored or underplayed when setting economic policy. On the contrary, in a world in which China is arguably the world’s leading superpower, in which Putin feels free to launch a war of conquest on Europe’s doorstep, national security considerations are critically important. In fact, it’s arguable that the twin threats from China and Russia have rendered the US far more vulnerable than at any other period in our lifetimes.

Yet the biggest threats to U.S. national security aren’t coming from Beijing or Moscow. They’re coming straight out of the Oval Office.

[rampartd]

36. if we did not know how cozy he is with putin, bin salman and his pther playmates

we should have guessed when the classified documents were seized.

national security is not a factor in the trump decision making process.

[Disaffected]

2. Wow, who would have thought such a thing? nt

[debsy]

11. I know, right?

This is the first time I’ve heard such a mantra.

[flashman13]

3. I know many members of the military and some Rs realize how dangerous this lunatic is.

The question is - are any of them willing to do something about it?

[Justice matters.]

9. The obvious answer to the question is: No.

Not one of them "Brave" enough to do something "effective" (something that will save the world).

[popsdenver]

14. Agreed

The Republican House and Senate, as well as the Republican justices in the USSC all KNEW early on in his first term that he was a pawn of Russia, acting in countless different arenas to satisfy Putin......

They all had the chance, not just once, but twice to take care of the Frankenstein's Monster THEY and the CORPORTIONS created and "installed" in the White House......and now, they don't know how to get rid of him and retain his MAGAot voters........

Soooooo, now they are all now kicking, scratching, biting, and acting out to scramble to try to lock in a place in the upper 1%

We are 10 years past the point of: KATIE BAR THE DOOR

[Dr. T]

19. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson appears to be on Putin's payroll

so he isn't going to stand up to Comrade Donnie.

[flashman13]

31. I will point out that in a large bipartisan vote the Indiana Senate shut Trump down.

Trump put on a full court press and they said NO.

I don't expect the upper echelons around Trump to do anything. He owns them. No one individual will have any effect. But I do see increasing resistance at lower levels. It's beginning to happen in the House because his primary threats are becoming hollow.

And he is clearly crazy and deteriorating fast.

[wolfie001]

23. They're too worried about their business interests and their bank accounts

Those things "trump" any good they should be doing.

[GiqueCee]

4. As vile and despicable...

... as Trump so obviously is, the lowlife, brain-dead skidmarks that still support him are, in a sense, even worse, not least because there are so many of them. But they are not nearly so numerous as they would have us believe; they are seriously outnumbered. And we're fed up to the teeth with their horseshit.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Trump and Putin pose the greatest threat to the world since WWII.

And so many Americans are happy with this.

[orangecrush]

7. According to the latest polls

Many more are not.

[Irish_Dem]

10. 8 out of 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the presidency.

This shows widespread support for Trump by GOP voters.

He is slipping on economy and immigration.
But his general handling of the presidency is solid.

https://apnorc.org/projects/trumps-approval-rating-slips-on-the-economy-and-immigration/

[wiggs]

15. Many will SAY they support him when responding to polls but don't really. Then there's the 30% of gop... cultists. nt

[Irish_Dem]

18. I don't think there will be 50% false reports.

[dem4decades]

26. Americans? No, Republicans!

[Irish_Dem]

29. Yes they don't even deserve to be called Americans any more. They are Russian.

[dem4decades]

30. Remember the two assholes in the t shirts that said "I'd rather be Russian

Than a Democrat"¿ They actually brag about it. 7

[Irish_Dem]

37. They got their wish. Trump has turned us into a Russian colony.

I hope they are happy.

[dedl67]

38. Well, they certainly seem to support Russia..

But most could never really be Russian. Russians are tough people. I have spent time in Russia, in Siberia in fact. Whatever one thinks of Russia, the people are tough and able to endure a lot. Most of these Americans who praise Russia are creampuffs who wouldn't last two weeks in Russia.

[Irish_Dem]

39. You and I know they wouldn't last two days in Russia.

Americans are spoiled and soft.

[Martin68]

6. Great article and right on the money. I subscribe to get all Krugman's posts by email.

[gfarber]

8. The Threats From Inside

There once was a man in D.C.,
For whom “threats” were whoever disagreed.
If you questioned his tariffs,
He’d brand you nefarious,
A foe to the land of the free.

When reporters wrote things he found grim,
Like concerns ’bout the age wearing him thin,
He called it “treasonous!”
“Practically seditious!”
For simply observing on him.

He cried “national security breach!”
At the smallest dissent or critique.
But the world’s growing wary—
Allies openly query
If the threat is Trump's rule, not the meek.

So while warnings of danger he’d shout,
Many folks, here and abroad, point out
That the peril, indeed,
Is the man taking lead—
A concern they no longer doubt.

Thus the irony’s clear as can be:
In protecting “our great liberty,”
He’s the one many fear
Is endangering the sphere
Of democracies, here and at sea.

[Joinfortmill]

25. Awesome!

[frogstar0]

12. For those who want to read the original.

https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/donald-trump-security-threat

For those who want to read the original.

[applegrove]

13. The highlighted link "Paul Krugman" in the body of

the text I posted take you to the original substack too. It is always the case in Political Wire articles that the link highlighted in the body of the text takes you to the original source.

[yellow dahlia]

22. Thanks for sharing.

[wiggs]

16. the number of americans who would disapprove would go up if pundits, journalists, MSM, analysts would

state the obvious about his disorders, limitations, actions, and consequences of his actions. Reporting that TSF has ...'become the biggest security threat facing the US...and the world' is a start.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. Fans of "Yes (Prime) Minister" are well aware of "security issues" as a catchall fallback. nt

[Snackshack]

20. I disagree

DJT is the horrid side effect of a much bigger problem.

That problem being a supreme court that gave him immunity and everything else he has wanted by shadow docket.

Brazil's Supreme Court has more integrity and credibility

[raccoon]

21. TSF has been a clear and present danger to this country since the first time he was

Elected. Maybe since he was nominated for the first time.

[Joinfortmill]

24. He's just figuring that out?

[FakeNoose]

27. No ... but he just grew enough spine to put his true thoughts into print

[applegrove]

33. Krugman has been at the forefront of the inequality end-stage-capitalism

discussion for decades.

[Deuxcents]

28. We've been saying that for years here. We can't be the only ones so it seems too many are out of touch

With the pulse of the country. Maybe get out and start talking to the people and hear what we’re saying.

[Norrrm]

32. By his own standards, Traitor Trump should be arrested for questioning Biden's health and stamina.

Maybe even executed for his own treason?

[Jack Valentino]

34. Trump is a threat to human life on the entire PLANET, with his demented fingers on

the nuclear trigger... Will our top generals and the guys in the missile silos stop
to have a debate about the law
when they have been ordered to open fire ?


If he was a Democrat, Republicans would have been SCREAMING LONG AGO
for him to be removed from the chain of command!

Trump is now the 'poster boy' for the 25th Amendment!

[OldBaldy1701E]

40. ...

[Clouds Passing]

41. And his advisors and cabinet

[Stargleamer]

42. This is like an allusion to a horror movie. . .

and we are living in that horror movie. (I believe the movie was Scream)