Trump, Musk and the battle for Europe | MCC Brussels Podcast

[@johnl5316]

Of course, European countries CAN ship illegal immigrants back, even "refugees. Nothing stops them but themselves

[@demetripapachristopoulos3295]

Trump's tariffs are a direct response to the fact that the EU imposes substantial non-tariff and tariff barriers to restrict US access to its market, while the US opens it's market wide open to EU products. Combine that with the fact that the US is largely paying for EU defense while its members refuse to pay the minimum 2% of GDP required by the NATO pact, and you can see why the relationship has become uneven. If the EU treats the US fairly then the tariffs would not come.

[@chrishenry5945]

EXACTLY. It’s time for NATO to pay their bills and open their markets to the US industries. If the taxpayers of the US are going to be paying for the defense of Europe then their economy should be wide open to US products.

[@TDeltaZ]

It's said we are in a capitalist free market economy but in reality the EU is an over bearing control freak. In one hand they are too protective of let's say the car market. They don't want USA cars imported because it would undermine germanies market but insanely they also cripple Germany industry with policy. None of it makes much sense to me unless looked through the framing of ideology or inane stupidity

[@mviking39]

Agreed 👍

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

I’m in the USA and Trump mentioned something about raising the percentage to 5% and that’s crazy because there’s no way people in Europe can afford that !! The Europeans have Americans on their side right here because with the economy the way it is over in Europe right now 2% is probably the best countries in Europe can do. Trump is a dealmaker and he needs to get with these companies, making him ammunition and tell them we’ll do business with the ones that offer the best deals and not pay full price for it.

[@mviking39]

@@montrelouisebohon-harris7023 They have a lot of social benefits they spend money on.

[@joshntn37111]

EU: We must save Democracy! Now: AfD surging in polls. EU: We will cancel Democracy in AfD wins! Rest of World: Classic fascism

[@stephan9071]

Both Trump and Musk have grandparents born in Europe, they are not from WASP families with 10 generations of ancestors born in America. The US interests are first for them, but I think they are bothered by the current state of Europe more than the typical American politician, and they would be helpful to Europe, given sane European politicians.

[@philstabler]

Uk

[@lisafisch6380]

Fight, Fight, Fight!

[@SeattlePioneer]

The United States should abandon being the American World Empire and go back to being the United States of America. Let the world solve it's own problems.

[@ralphbernhard1757]

Err...you mean the world should solve the problems the USA created. The USA doesn't retreat. It goes into temporary isolation, then returns again to benefit from large conflagrations.

[@sergesavard636]

Absolutely on point. I think it will happen with the peaceful contraction of the US empire

[@macvena]

I agree. If Europe can expand and add nation after nation to it and China can just move into others and take over by stealth, then the US should do what serves the US. Neither Europe or China care much about the outside world in reality, but America should?

[@macvena]

​@@sergesavard636Europe is an empire. The United States is a country.

[@daniwyatt377]

How come everything in Europe if “FAR RIGHT” but I never once here “Far Left”??

[@tiggerthecat1]

Because the far left is in power!

[@DanWest-i7y]

EUROPE HAS BECOME THE DOMAIN OF HARDENED COMMUNISM.

[@raevj]

Anything Right of “The Left”, including centrists are now labeled “far right” now. JFK today would be labeled Far Right in US & European media.

[@regbs8952]

Because Jews define good as whatever's good for the Jews. Until realization that Jėws comprised 5% of the Russian population during the Jewish Bolshevik Revolution, yet 70% of the Bolshevik leadership that killed more Christians than German Socialists killed Jews, defense of liberty will not be as effective as it could be.

[@sven1925]

We can conclude that Europe has only itself to thank for it's absolute crash. And we will not recover. Not in our lifetime. We are going down... HARD!

[@SeattlePioneer]

> The EcoMarxists have been gnawing at the foundation of the West for many decades. Climate hysteria has been their most powerful and successful political initiative ever. Germany and California are the two places that have really gone off the deep end with Climate Hysteria, with Germany dragging Europe down with it. That's not to say that there isn't a foundation for concern over CO2. But the EcomMarxists have chosen to use the issue to savage economies and strengthen our adversaries, notably China. In the end, the enormous expense of Climate Hysteria is doing real damage to the economies of the West, and not accomplish a damn thing with actual increases in CO2 levels. I think Climate Hysteria is in the process of being rejected, but real damage has been and is being done, in my opinion.

[@jacquitaaffe7104]

András László MEP excellent observations

[@rickp354]

Europe bit off It's nose to spite Russia and didn't heed Trump's warning he gave to Europe in his first administration what would happen to the energy needs being reliant on Russia! In fact European leaders actually laughed about this warning and here you are! I wish you the best

[@agnieszkakolek9374]

Excellent discussion! Great to have two different voices. It forces the guests to think critically and be more precise when presenting their ideas.

[@philippniessen6408]

Yes, well done to MCC. Democracy depends on real debate. Is it only me, but I don‘t recall that distinctly left-wing think tanks even invite distinctly conservative commentators.

[@mviking39]

Innovation not regulation.

[@daylightmoon7285]

The Europeans ignore the fact that the American people have long wanted our military to leave. Over 80 years we have heard many insults like we are uncultured, ignorant, etc. among numerous other negative things from Europe. The EU has forgotten the truth. In WWI America went to Europe and left. After WWII we inherited the #1 spot. We don't have 100s of years of colonizing experience. In addition, we weren't given a blank, clean slate. We were left with what Britain and the French did in the Middle-east, Africa, Sotheast Asia, India, etc. Germans in Nimibia, Belgiums in the Congo, the Dutch colonizers etc. We inherited the aftermath of the brutal Japanese occupation of Korea, China, Phillipines, Java, pacific islands and more. Nobody gave us a manual on how to bring order to this. We also inherited the European continent where there had been a 2,000 year history of attacking their neighbors. We did deliver 80 years of peace and prosperity for the first time in European history. It is evidence of our superior education. We are partially ignorant of European culture because it's just a small part of world culture. However, we do set the modern standard and model for culture world wide.

[@friendlhi]

when energy is back industrie is back - with T wars stop and do no longer drain lives and money to military industrial complex - freedom is back in media and in debates also in national politics to improve Europe, the fugitives should not be abused for wars or as work slaves but with legal migration are precious parts of societies ❤👍

[@huckleberrysfriend]

I think Trump only cares about himself- and Musk is not far behind him that way.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

AMEN!!!!

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

@@huckleberrysfriend not really, but Trump is pretty mercurial. What angers me is Joe Biden has released about $500 billion worth into the economy that was from the infrastructure bill to go out in 2025 and 2026 and he just let it go and God knows who. THIS Half trillion dollars or so flooding the economy is going to make inflation worse and he does this crap on purpose because he’s pissed off. He’s so full of vengeance and if he’s gonna be mad, he should be pissed off at Nancy Pelosi.

[@metgirl5429]

Love hearing both sides Respectful listening and thinking !!!!!!!!

[@joem0088]

Europe only has itself to fear. Decades of under investment in tech and defense, living the easy life is the cause of Europe's current anxieties.

[@statmonster]

Good discussion. Glad to see commentators with alternative views wrestling with this. Re tariffs: Europeans need to end labor suppression and increase the share of national income going to the household sector and get their economies more focused on consumption to generate demand rather than exporting surpluses they can’t sell at home because domestic demand is so low. The ridiculous European energy policies don’t help the situation at all.

[@carla.p2795]

TRUMP TRIUMPHANT 💖 💕 💖 💕 💖 💕 💖 💕 💖 💕

[@johnl5316]

It's good to get such handsome & articulate guests such as András László MEP

[@howardcovert3060]

America first is does not say America against France,England, Germany, Slain, Italy, or any other country.

[@PlanetFrosty]

The reality is with California fires and other issues greatly strengthen GOP position. European elitism is on notice that it needs to pay attention to its vast majority of citizens. The major of EU systems have been moving more controlled Administrative State couched as bipartisan was neither democratic nor bipartisan politics. It cut out the citizen and their voices which you clearly don’t understand. Language you repeat is actually phrases from Soviet propaganda meant to replace common law understanding with regulation of the totalitarian Administrative State which is unelected.

[@katevm-l4v]

Well articulated

[@gracereeves5790]

Thank you.

[@marysarsfield4552]

I personally think Europe has become a dictatorship. And it's heartbreaking

[@marianam8643]

I have to admit I find I feel a bit sorry for European politicians. Being Canadian, we are closer to twitter politics when European politicians. The speech they sought to limit was the speech of people with no platforms or very little platform. And now they have a musk coming at them. They must be petrified. And it is this that makes this whole this so amusing.

[@jessenitzske8617]

European union must be broken up with each country governing themselves

[@HAROLDMOON-g2m]

Europe just Germany and France they seem to think

[@antimobo]

So Europe can only survive with Russia

[@a13xdunlop]

Fascism rising

[@PravdaSeed]

Elonsky ⁉️👇⁉️

[@jacafren5842]

As a European and Dane 🇩🇰 I would say that our reaction in Europe to a second term with the orange president is like European reaction to Kaiser Wilhelm II after the Daily Telegraph interview of 1908. It is clear that a major power is ruled by an unhinged deeply insecure man, who is unable to think or speak coherent thoughts, who oscillates between fits of rage and whining and is unpredictable even for those close to him. So we laugh at him like the world laughed at the Kaiser, but it is also a threat to security and undermining the standing of the US in the world

[@ralphbernhard1757]

In 1907 GB colluded in encirling Germany/Austria-Hungary, with two "ententes." Look at a map. Therefore the 1908 Mad as March Hares comment was a reaction to these actions by GB.

[@sergesavard636]

It’s called American First. Deal with it

[@jacafren5842]

@ I hope you will one day realize that he is consistently putting the wonderful country that he refers to as America 🇺🇸 last (after himself, cf. John Boltom. In the meantime we deal with him with a mix of three reactions: 1. a good laugh (like with the Kaiser; 2. compassion on the American people; 3. hope that the damage he is doing on his country and the world will not be as pronounced as that done by Wilhelm. 👍

[@a.jlondon9039]

Trump is a LIAR. If 🇨🇦Canada was smart it would consider joining the EMERGING BRICS ECONOMIES which include China, Russia, India and UAE which is going off the USD.. As it stands now Canada sells 98% of its LNG and 60% of its Natural Resources to the USA for very low prices. The idea that the United States “subsidizes” Canada to the tune of $200 billion annually is an erroneous interpretation of the economic and energy relationship between the two nations. This claim lacks the analytical rigor necessary to withstand scrutiny when we consider the facts. First, Canada is a critical supplier of energy to the U.S., providing a substantial portion of its crude oil and natural gas needs. Approximately 60% of U.S. crude oil imports come from Canada, most notably from Alberta's oil sands, a resource that represents a significant part of Canada's energy production​ CANADA ENERGY REGULATOR . The United States also imports 98% of Canada’s natural gas, an essential resource that powers homes and industries across the U.S. during the colder months​ EIA . This energy exchange is a matter of mutual necessity, not a one-sided dependency. The term "subsidy" implies one party is providing financial support to the other. In this context, it is crucial to distinguish between a trade relationship and a financial aid arrangement. The energy Canada provides is not given as a charity or a handout; it is sold at market prices, reflecting the value of the resources being exchanged. The United States, in return, exports over $300 billion in goods to Canada annually, including vehicles, machinery, and technology​ EIA . This reciprocal trade benefits both economies and underpins millions of jobs on both sides of the border. Furthermore, Canada’s defense contributions are often undervalued in discussions like these. Canada is not merely a passive recipient of American protection; the two countries cooperate through NORAD and share responsibility for the defense of North America. Canada’s military, though smaller than that of the U.S., plays an active role in peacekeeping and global security efforts. The assumption that Canada "FREELOADS" on the U.S. military is therefore logically flawed and ignores decades of joint action. In sum, this claim of a "$200 billion subsidy" does not withstand scrutiny when examined through the lens of facts. Canada’s role as a supplier of essential resources to the U.S. is a mutual exchange, one that supports both economies. Similarly, the defense partnership is based on shared responsibility, not a hierarchical arrangement where one side is a mere recipient of the other’s generosity. Thus, it is neither logical nor accurate to claim that the U.S. is subsidizing Canada in the manner implied by such statements. Instead, the reality is a balanced interdependence, rooted in economic and security cooperation. 🇨🇦

[@socomxx]

I hope they join BRICS, they can have fun have a party with China Russia and India.

[@regbs8952]

6:44. What a breath of fresh air to hear the description "patriotic" instead of a slander. Trump advisor Steve Bannon believes BREXIT was the same phenomenon that elected Trump. BREXIT happened first.