Forum Topic

TRUMPING THE QUEEN

Reported today that Johnson is planning to speak to Trump and the Queen - in that order. If this is true, and if I were Her Maj, I'd feel slighted.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2240d29 Comments

Ms HammondYou seem to be getting a bit over sensitive in your defence of the bigly intelligent President Trump.Please cut down on the disinfectant !

John Hawkes ● 2236d

I wonder if during THAT phonecall Trump advised Johnson to drink bleach.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2237d

Clearly, Trump does have his supporters in the US:

Richard Carter ● 2238d

SH: I think you are in a minority on how Trump behaved. That's less important than the absence of an apology by you for that ill-tempered post. Allow me to rephrase a well-known saying: Carry on - but keep calm.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2238d

@AM 22/04/20 11.45"SH: Now, now: no place on this Forum for ill temper and swearing, surely."Boo boo 😩❄️🙄"By the way, re the "facts", I did see Trump blundering ahead of the Queen on that occasion. Not bad manners exactly - just NO MANNERS."Although this YT video has a negative tag it's the best video clip I can find of the event. https://youtu.be/tyBKS-rV4eEThe way I see it, Trump is initially walking in line with the Queen but his steps are considerably longer than hers and some camera angles make it look like he is walking slightly in front of HRH, but imo it seems he is trying to temper his steps to match hers.  When they approach the Guard of Honour the Queen clearly gestures with her right hand for him to go forward to inspect them and this is when Trump IS actually walking in front of her.  No disrespect at all shown by Trump.

Sue Hammond ● 2238d

Of course some in the US will accept a higher level of risk. I guess some in 'Vegas are used to playing for high stakes ... Trump's not the only person who wants to put the economy first ...https://www.newsweek.com/las-vegas-mayor-faces-backlash-after-offering-city-control-group-test-reopening-1499631

Michael Ixer ● 2238d

An article in the Daily Mail caught my eye, about Trump's publically disagreeing with one of the technical advisers: standard stuff, but what was really interesting was to see the comments below the line. I looked,  thinking there'd be overwhelming support for Trump, but exactly the opposite. The best-liked comments were all ones that were very critical of him, for example the top one, "Liar-in-chief," that had 1,957 likes compared with 780 dislikes or "Dr Brix couldn't get off the stage quickly enough once trump started asking her stupid questions. When your administration is running off you know you're out of your depth," 528 to 139.So perhaps even Daily Mail readers have finally seen through the orange fool. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8247257/Trump-coronavirus-briefing-tantrum-CDC-boss-warning-difficult-second-wave.html

Richard Carter ● 2238d

Financial interests mentioned towards end of this article:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-malaria-drug.html

Michael Ixer ● 2238d

This has echoes of the story about the ousted casino analysts, although sidelining and vaccine expert at this time might have more serious consequences than collapse of casinos ...https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/22/coronavirus-treatment-vaccine-doctor-says-worry-about-trump-idea-led-to-ouster.html(I have seen allegations that someone close to the POTUS may stand to gain financially if these drugs are successful but I'm not aware of any specific evidence backing that.)

Michael Ixer ● 2238d

Jonathan, I haven't read Collusion but it sounds worthwhile. Enrich is on the NY Times, having previously worked for the Washington Post. His book reads a bit like a thriller, and  I'm not sure whom he's gunning for most, Trump or DB, though they both deserve it.I ordered it from Waterstones and picked it up the day before the lockdown.Good point Alexander. I think I'd get out of his way if he was anywhere near me. He doesn't really seem to be looking around him, does he.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2239d

Sounds like I need to get hold of Dark Towers!  Did you read Collusion by Luke Harding?  All about Trump’s link with Russia and the extent to which the Russians manipulated not just the election but Trump himself. Deutsche gets its own chapter where he tries to prove a link between Russia, Trump and the Bank.  I am not sure there is such a link but I do know anything to do with the bank’s links with Trump is now in a very secure safe in Frankfurt!  Probably next to another safe with everything to do with the alleged money laundering the bank helped certain Russian parties with.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2239d

Well, Vogue, not usually my news source, seems to considered he's neither a model of chivalry nor a promoter of female equality. Perhaps the Queen thought it better to let him go first to avoid being knocked over? Donald and Melania never look like the happiest of couples ... mind you,she might not be happy with all those donations to porn stars?https://www.vogue.com/article/donald-trump-melania-inauguration-drama

Michael Ixer ● 2239d

Bull in a china shop, that's what he makes me think of.  Perhaps not entirely his fault, he seems to have so little emotional intelligence I almost feel sorry for him. Oh, EXCEPT, he is one of the most powerful people in the world!!Puts me in mind of Chancey Gardiner in Being There. Only more dangerous.

Bunny Payne ● 2239d

Good point Alexander - I was going to comment that other Presidents would no doubt have  acted differently from Trump who wouldn't know how to treat a lady no matter how often he was shown.

Lucille Grant ● 2239d

My thanks to Lucille, Jonathan and Alexander for their supportive comments. Actually, in my first post I was trying to lighten the mood a little!Jonathan, Dark Towers is about Deutsche Bank's involvement with Trump. American banks were reluctant to lend to him, but the powers in Frankfurt were yearning to join the "Bulge Bracket" as Breuer put it and jumped in. The title obviously refers to the bank's Frankfurt HQ.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2239d

Lucille: I have to beg to differ. I've looked at the video too. Trump, with his initial forward step, gave the Queen no choice. The real point is that he should have instinctively deferred to the Queen, but didn't. Remember the adage "ladies first"? That is the rule that should have applied, especially with that particular lady. Odds on that Trump, if he has ever heard of "ladies first",  has chosen to ignore it.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2239d

Elizabeth, I worked in NYC from late 1978 to mid 1981 and I remember Trump’s early forays into the real estate market. He was known to be brash and pugnacious even by the standards of the local real estate developer community.  There were no gentlemen in NYC real estate and quite a few crooks who would all too often buy their way out of trouble by greasing the palms of city officials, lawyers and anybody else who got in their way. As a junior(ish) banker I was warned to stay well away from the lot of them.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2239d

Sue, I worked in New York in the late 1980s. Back then Trump had casinos in Atlantic City. Not very successful. He had to rely on his father for financial help to satisfy the New Jersey Gambling Commission, put money in the slot machines etc. Nevertheless, he opened a third casino, The Taj Mahal, very glitzy. An analyst at a broking firm in Philadelphia who specialised in the casino sector wrote a report saying a third casino would cannibalise the earnings from the other two. Trump went berserk and demanded the firm fire the guy which, to their shame, they did. Then, guess what. The whole caboodle went bust. Trump is not a successful businessman, and he is certainly not a decent man. For a later episode may I refer you to a book published this March, Dark Towers by David Enrich. The casino story, which I remember, was covered in Trumped by John R. O'Donnell.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2239d

Unfortunately Alexander Ms Hammond  may well be right - if you watch this video HM  does indicate where Trump should walk. However I agree with that the language used in her  response to Ms Balsom is rude and unnecessary.  But her idols Trump and Boris must never be criticised, of course.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlnlWgTfG-8

Lucille Grant ● 2239d

SH: Now, now: no place on this Forum for ill temper and swearing, surely.  By the way, re the "facts", I did see Trump blundering ahead of the Queen on that occasion. Not bad manners exactly - just NO MANNERS.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2239d

He didn't actually push in Elizabeth.  The Queen discretely gestured him to go forward to inspect the Guard.  An honour indeed, which he greatly cherished.  I'm sick of this particularly stupid slur that keeps resurfacing from the Trump haters.  Ok you don't like him, that's fine. I get it, but get your bloody facts right. 🙄

Sue Hammond ● 2239d

I'm sure the Queen has Trump's measure. Remember the time a couple of years ago when he was on a state visit and repeatedly pushed in front of her? Whether Johnson remembers that is another matter.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2239d

No, I think that we got the point, but we also like to improvise a bit.

David Ainsworth ● 2239d

It might just be that the POTUS had a free slot in his diary before the Queen did? After all, she's not just head of state in the UK, and there's her role as Head of the Commonwealth. Mr Trump only has one job to do - think of all the time he has to play golf? 

Michael Ixer ● 2239d

Do we know who rang who? BBC seems to be unclear. If Trump rang Boris are we saying he should have rejected the call until he had sought the Queens permission?

Andy Pike ● 2239d

Thread seems to be missing the point. Johnson is the Queen's first minister and governs on her (and our) behalf. Trump is a foreign leader, with zero brain power. It tells you a great deal about who Boris thinks  is the boss. Perhaps he is right, but I still think Her Maj would be right to feel miffed.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2239d

I suppose that Trump could set Johnson's mind at rest with:-Feb. 10“Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.” — New Hampshire rallyFeb. 24“The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. … Stock Market starting to look very good to me!” — TwitterFeb. 27“It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.” — News conferenceMarch 17“I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.” — News conference

David Ainsworth ● 2240d

I doubt very much whether  Her Majesty has any interest in what Trump says. Neither should Boris.

Lucille Grant ● 2240d

I don't think Her Madj will have a hissy fit and anyway, Boris can then tell the Queen what Trump said!!

Bunny Payne ● 2240d