Much of Europe is dying. Trump knows it, and he knows that without the U.S., the bold words about continuing the fight against Russia are so much piffle. From Simplicius at simplicius76.substack.com:
The end of Europe as a serious political power.
The troupe arrived to “daddy’s” DC office for their official dressing down. If nothing else, we must marvel at the fact that the meeting produced some of the most remarkable political optics, perhaps, in history:
Has there ever been anything like this? The entire pantheon of the European ruling class reduced to sniveling children in their school principal’s office. No one can deny that Trump has succeeded in veritably ‘breaking Europe over his knee’. There is no coming back from this turning point moment, the optics simply cannot be redeemed.
But even snide ridicule aside, objectively speaking, we must point to how absolutely defeated and low-energy the delegation looked. Just gander at the body language of ‘eminent statesmen’ like Emmanuel Macron and Alexander Stubb in this photo op meant to convey collegial solidarity and allied ‘authority’:
[see linked article for video]
Hands in pockets, looks of mild confusion or disinterest, vacant eyes, and that bizarre ‘dead-space’ atmosphere like a “TV tuned to a dead station” (hat tip Mr. Gibson). It’s clear that no one wants to be there, and everyone knows the artificial charade looks and feels forced. The real punchline comes at the 1:00 mark where it becomes eminently obvious the entire hollow exercise is nothing more than an ego-stroke for the cunning Ringmaster himself, as he bids his abject pupils to veer their gaze at the carefully-situated artwork presiding over the gilded humiliation ritual.
Read that Ursula was asked to leave for awhile as no one voted her in.
The Don rolled out the Red Carpet for Putin.
Not so much for the rump vassals.
Meloni doodled happy faces?
Her face makes mine happy.