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First Post
32 minutes ago
- First Post
How Donald Trump's weapon deal with Ukraine is inviting Maga ire
US President Donald Trump's decision to send weapons to Ukraine to help its defence against Russia has some in the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement irate. Here's what some leading figures in Maga land including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Steve Bannon are saying and the potential fallout read more US President Donald Trump has taken a harsher line on Vladimir Putin recently. Reuters File Since the moment he announced he was running for president, Donald Trump's base has had unshakable faith in him. They stayed with him through the Access Hollywood tape when it looked like his campaign was at an end. They remained loyal after he was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election and during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Trump himself had boasted about his followers' loyalty, saying he could probably get away with shooting someone on 5th Avenue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, seven months into his second term, the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement seems to be growing more upset with Trump. Why is this happening? Because of the Ukraine war, which Trump vowed to end 'within 24 hours' of taking office. But it's not so much as the war continuing itself. More specifically, it's about Washington sending weapons to Kyiv to defend itself. But what happened? What is Maga world saying? Let's take a closer look: What happened? Trump returned to the Oval Office as the 'anti-war candidate'. He claimed that Kamala Harris getting the top job would make World War III an inevitability. He vowed to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly and painlessly. He had criticised the US' proclivity to get into 'forever wars' or endless wars. He repeatedly vowed that he was going to 'stop wars' instead of starting them. As a candidate during the previous elections, he had also taken shots at the 'warmongers and America-last' globalists including his rivals Nikki Haley in 2024 and Jeb Bush in 2016. 'Let's kill people all over the place and let's make a lot of money for those people that make the messes', Trump said of Haley in January 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We should have never been in Iraq,' Trump said in February 2016. 'They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.' However, his actions as president during his 2nd term have been nearly diametrically opposed to what he said on the campaign trail. Not only has Trump supported Israel's war in Gaza, he has also conducted airstrikes on the Houthis. Many in his Maga base, whose patience and love for Israel runs deep, have backed him up on this. Some even supported Trump bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on April 14, 2023. (Representative Photo, Credit: US Air Force) However, it looks like Trump's decision to send weapons to Ukraine to help in its war with Russia may be one war too many for the Maga faithful. Trump on Monday announced that the United States would be sending weapons to Ukraine via Nato. Trump, during a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, announced that the organisation would pay for the weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We've made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they're going to be paying for them', Trump said. He also warned Russia to end the war with Ukraine in 50 days. Trump on Sunday had said the US would send Ukraine 'various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment'. 'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,' Trump added. While Trump didn't specify the number of Patriot batteries to be sent he said 'they're going to have some because they do need protection'. Trump has long since called for other nations in Nato to increase their defence spending. Many in the orthodox wing of the Republican Party, known as the hawks, have erupted with joy. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a huge Trump supporter, said it was a turning point'. 'The game, regarding [Vladimir] Putin's invasion of Russia, is about to change', Graham added. This decision came a week after the Pentagon paused the flow of weapons to Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This decision, seemingly made by the deputy defence secretary and signed off by his boss Pete Hegseth, was initially celebrated by some in the Maga camp. Trump in recent weeks has taken a harsher line on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he previously praised. These recent events have cast a pall over Maga world, many of whom have taken a stance that is just short of being pro-Russia. What is Maga world saying? Some in Maga world are furious with Trump's decision. Republican Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene on social media slammed 'backdoor deals through Nato'. Greene said the development was in stark contrast to what she promised voters on the campaign trail. 'It's not just Ukraine; it's all foreign wars in general and a lot of foreign aid,' she said. 'This is what we campaigned on. This is what I promised also to my district. This is what everybody voted for. And I believe we have to maintain the course.' 'Without a shadow of a doubt, our tax dollars are being used', she added. 'I said it on every rally stage: no more money to Ukraine. We want peace. We just want peace for those people,' she said. 'And guess what? People haven't changed'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Surface-to-air missile launchers of the Patriot (Wisla) system newly added into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) at an army base in Sochaczew, Poland. File image/Reuters Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who many during the first term referred to as 'Trump's brain', also slammed the decision. Bannon on his podcast called the Ukraine conflict a "European war". 'Ukraine is getting so dangerous", Bannon said. 'It's a European war. Let Europe deal with it'. 'They have the resources. They have the manpower'. 'We're about to arm people we have literally no control over', Bannon added. 'This is old-fashioned, grinding war in the bloodlands of Europe - and we're being dragged into it'. A former Trump campaign official said Europe buying the weapons somewhat mitigates the anger from the Maga base. 'But we still hate it,' the official told Politico. 'This is not our war, and escalation isn't in America's interest'. The larger question is if this Ukraine decision will cause Trump's base to turn on him in the long run. Ukraine unpopular with Republicans Data show that Ukraine isn't very popular with Republicans. Just 59 per cent of Republicans think the US is helping Ukraine 'too much,' as per a March poll. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That number was at 56 per cent in another poll. Just 1 in 10 Republicans want the US more involved in the conflict. There are also little concerns about Russia within the party. Rescue workers extinguish a fire of a house destroyed by a Russian strike in Markhalivka village, Kyiv region, Ukraine. AP file/Representative image Only 25 per cent of Republican-leaning Americans said they are 'extremely' or 'very' concerned about Russia defeating Ukraine in a March poll. Only 29 per cent said they were concerned that Russia would invade other nations. A mere 40 per cent think Russia is the 'enemy'. A Reuters poll also showed 58% of Republicans tended to agree with the statement 'the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere.' A majority of Republicans (63-34) also oppose sending weapons and money to Ukraine. Remember, the base right now is already irate at Trump over his handling of the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein allegations. While Trump has called on his supporters to 'move on' from the Epstein saga, many Maga supporters show no signs of being inclined to do so. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, history shows that the Maga faithful have always trailed in the direction that Trump led them in. While the idea of conducting strikes on Iran initially repulsed some on the right, eight in 10 Republicans afterwards backed up their Commander-in-Chief. Since so many in Maga land have stuck with Trump through thick and thin, it is unlikely that Ukraine will be the final straw. With inputs from agencies
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Centre lists eight new bills for the monsoon session of Parliament
For the monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on 21 July, the government has listed eight new bills to be introduced, including the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill. The session is also set to witness the Opposition INDIA bloc parties demanding that the government brief Parliament on Operation Sindoor, India's foreign relations—especially with China, the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, and US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he used trade as a bargaining chip to persuade India and Pakistan to end their military conflict. On Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, met Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. 'The Opposition wants a productive Rajya Sabha session from 21 July. For that to happen, several strategic, political, foreign policy, and socio-economic issues that are of great public concern need to be debated and discussed,' Kharge said in a post on X after the meeting. The government is also set to introduce the Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, the National Sports Governance Bill, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill. According to the government's list of business, the Mines and Minerals Bill will seek to provide for the viable recovery of associated critical minerals, inclusion of contiguous areas in a lease for optimal and scientific mining of deep-seated minerals, and widen the scope of the National Mineral Exploration Trust. The Jan Vishwas Bill seeks to foster ease of doing business and promote ease of living. The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill seeks to include IIM Guwahati in the Schedule of the Act. The Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill seeks to provide for the declaration, preservation, protection, and maintenance of geoheritage sites and geo-relics of national importance for geological studies. The National Sports Governance Bill aims to establish institutional capacity and standards for the governance of sports federations, as well as measures for the resolution of sports grievances and disputes. In addition to these bills, Parliament will also consider some of the pending bills, including the Income Tax Bill, which was referred to a Select Committee during the Budget session for further scrutiny. The government will also seek Parliament's approval for having extended President's Rule in Manipur. Some of the pending bills listed by the government for passage include the Bills of Lading Bill, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, the Coastal Shipping Bill, the Merchant Shipping Bill, and the Indian Ports Bill.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Trump announces trade deal with Indonesia, details yet to be disclosed
The announcement comes after the US president last week threatened to impose a 32 per cent tariff on Indonesian goods starting Aug.1. Bloomberg US President Donald Trump said he reached a deal with Indonesia, without providing any specifics of what is included in the accord. 'Great deal, for everybody, just made with Indonesia. I dealt directly with with their highly respected President. DETAILS TO FOLLOW!!!' the US president posted Tuesday on social media. The announcement comes after the US president last week threatened to impose a 32 per cent tariff on Indonesian goods starting Aug.1. The country afterward sent its top trade negotiator to meet with Trump Cabinet officials in order to to secure an agreement. Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto presented several business deals in meetings with US officials, including US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the ministry. An agreement with Indonesia would be the fourth trade framework Trump has announced with foreign governments, after Vietnam and the UK. The US and China also reached a tariff truce that includes the planned resumption of critical minerals and technology trade between the world's two largest economies. Pacts announced by Trump have thus far fallen short of full-fledged trade deals, with many details left to be negotiated later. Vietnam's leadership was caught off guard by Trump's declaration that Hanoi agreed to a 20 per cent tariff, and the Southeast Asian country is still seeking to lower the rate, according to people familiar with the matter.
