Are Greenland, Minn., and Venezuela Epstein distractions

[BigmanPigman]

Or would tRump pull this BS even if there was no "Epstein Issue"?

[RandySF]

1. No

They’re outlets for Trump’s rage.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Yes and yes

There are some people who here need to stop embarrassing themselves by claiming everything is an Epstein diversion.

Trump II was always going to be about clearing the decks so he could act out his Putinesque strongman fantasies. The (relative) adults who constrained him in his first term such as Kelly, Bolton and McMaster are gone. Pete Hegseth was not named Secretary of Defense for his capacity to provide wise counsel. Ditto Kristi Noem, Kash Patel and Little Marco.

Acquiring Greenland was an idea that was shot down in his first term. Same as weaponizing the military against US citizens. He didn’t just come up with these ideas on the fly to deflect from Epstein. Is he pushing the accelerator a little harder now because of Epstein? Quite possibly, yes. But he also has the midterms, his low poll numbers and the prospect of a Democratic-led House staring him in the face, so it’s also possible none of what’s happening now is because of Epstein.

[Buckeyeblue]

6. I agree with you. These were things he was talking about prior to the Epstein problem

What is somewhat ironic is that he brought the Epstein problem on himself by saying he would release the files during his campaign. And the doing nothing once he was presumably told what was in them.

But I agree that not everything is a distraction. In fact it seems like he is done with Epstein. I'm not sure we'll get anymore files.

[stopdiggin]

3. Quite the reverse.

On the scale of 'consequential' matters ... Epstein is (and always has been) but a pimple on the buttocks ...

And - as the rest of the world watches the dismantling of the most powerful democracy ever known ....

[malaise]

4. Yes and no white supremacy means they can take what they want

wherever it is

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Trump is playing to his poll numbers on immigration

His poll numbers are slightly higher than his toilet rankings on the economy, affordability.

So he's playing to his base and trying to jumpstart this issue by abusing Minnesota. Finding scapegoats - Venezuela, immigrants, Cuba, Somali, etc. Dividing the world into bits is part of the process.

[2naSalit]

7. Both.

He really is a vulgarin; most vulgar of barbarians.