Yet another Trumpwatch episode so soon after my last one, BUT so much is happening in the world where Trump features (and he features in a lot of it). Meanwhile, I watch the Cabaret and, while thinking that this is a central theme of one of my favourite musicals by that name (see here). I thought I would make this episode about another of Cabaret’s themes: Money (see here). The advice to “follow the money” is a sound one to getting to the bottom of things.

One of the many points I made in my last blog, titled: “Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) and the coming Antichrist” (see here), is that Trump (to be fair, just like many world leaders) has said very little about Saudi human rights abuses and something that is in vogue from time to time by virtue signalling governments – ethical foreign policy, and the obvious explanation is he is following the money. If there is an agenda (to be charitable), it is the one written on the tin he often rattles: “America First”. The relationship he has had with the Saudis and MBS has been a long one (I recall him visiting Saudi Arabia soon after he won the 2016 US Presidential election and given a high award that those who understand the Arab mind will understand). I continue to find that relationship, just as he has with the Israeli power brokers, both fascinating and, if I didn’t trust God, worrying. All this to add to my growing list of Trump related concerns – and there is more to come on top of some of the great stuff I firmly believe he is doing.

As for great stuff and if I apply the glass half full rather that half empty metaphor, there is lots of it and I can sit back and watch the Cabaret with enjoyment, something I was not able to do with the previous Biden administration. Lots has happened that is blog worthy since my last Trumpwatch episode (see here), just two weeks ago, and when I wrote “I confess to a perverse pleasure when I see people I came to the view as being scum over the years now in meltdown over his many actions that I see as among other results exposing their hypocrisy”, I continue with that perversity as so much more has happened that I consider necessary and positive since then to lead me to that view.  We have the last of Trumps picks for high office that needed ratification by the elected representatives of Congress and Senate (more than ever along party lines, noting the more than standard vitriolic opposition). I can relish the thought of RFK Junior leading a much needed shake up on health and Kash Patel, along with his deputy Dan Bongino, leading the FBI and completing the team to bring down the Deep State and reverse judicial corruption (although, methinks, there is still a long way to go). We await, for example, on what happens to those accused on corruption and how those on Epstein’s list are dealt with.

But I want to start with DOGE, US(and UK)AID and Elon Musk and what was shaping up to be one of the most important actions of the Trump administration, likely bringing about needed and significant changes, particularly in tackling the Deep State and widescale corruption, and doing something that seems perfectly reasonable – provide full accountability. Two weeks back, I wrote that: “the hot issue of the day under Elon Musk, the brains behind the new Department of Government Efficient (DOGE), exposing the monumental fraud that has been propagated by USAID which, rather than helping the poor and needy, benefitted the rich and greedy, propping up bad causes”. There have been huge developments (with likely more to come) and evidence of billions, maybe trillions of dollars misappropriated  or stolen if Trump’s team is to believed (which I see no reason not to). If that money is behind all the bad stuff Trump claims to want to address, I believe has been going on, then this backs up my earlier “follow the money” and “money makes the goes round” adages. Musk remains an enigma, however. On one hand he is doing this good work along with his providing a free speech platform through ‘X’ etc, yet at the centre of far-reaching projects, if put in the wrong hands for nefarious purposes could lead to what amounts to a technocratic nightmare.

My intention is not to do a deep dive into where money has been misspent and even stolen although there is every indication it has happened big time with more to come. If there are concerns, it is that a small part of that money now being withheld could have gone to worthwhile projects. Another concern raised by critics of what is happening is that of government overreach. It would be lovely if something similar was to happen with UKAID but unlikely in the current climate. Having watched a week of episodes of the Charlie Ward show where evidence is presented, I have little doubt this is a big issue for the UK and come to that in the EU too. As a personal aside, I used to manage projects dependent on UK and EU funding, where I had to account for every penny spent and what was spent had to follow a strict criterion on what was and what was not permissible. Ironic therefore that this did not apply to government.

I now like to turn to the situation Ukraine and Trump’s declaration he will end the war, but before that I want to set out the bigger picture as to how and why the Trump administration and Europe’s leaders see things so different. As we consider how more war or peace might happen, I would like to reflect on the recent speech given by J.D.Vance at a Europe security conference held in Munich (see here). It was of all the speeches I have followed recently given by US politicians (including Trump) one the most outstanding because of the clearly conflicting ideological positions of the delegates and in terms of impact made. Given that I am more sympathetic with the Trump/Vance position on issues raised and, believe parts of their agenda may rightly change the direction in which Europe goes, it has given me hope. I have on my to do list, besides writing a Ukraine blog, doing one on the state of Britain that is in a veritable mess but hoping for a reversal, especially in the light of what is going on in the USA, and hoping there can be a way out.

What Vance did in his speech was speak much needed home truths, like Europe’s main problems are those of their own making, such as letting in too many immigrants whose contribution to the good of their countries is net negative, shutting down dissent and free speech and making sharing thoughts not going along with the narrative a crime, such as the man imprisoned for praying outside an abortion clinic and the warning given to Scottish residents for merely praying, and trying to overturn the will of the populace if the ruling hegemony disapproved, such as in the recent Romanian presidential election. This caused silent and spoken outrage among some and given the peace deal Trump was seeking to have with Putin over Ukraine an emergency summit was convened to possibly oppose, along with UK’s own Keir Starmer saying he would be looking to send British troops to Ukraine. With Macron having just visited Trump in Washington and Starmer just about to, with (I believe) the Ukraine situation being the main item for discussion, we await news of the final agreement (and compromises).  

I have rattled on about Ukraine on several occasions ever since the war began three years ago, and stick by what I said, and especially recently. It still seems many go along with the suggestion that Putin is the villain in the piece (even today Keir Starmer gave a speech re-iterating the point) and while it looks like Zelenski is about to be thrown under a bus, many of the same anti-Putin brigade see Zelenski as a hero instead of one of the many villains who are opposed to Putin. When I come to do my Ukraine deep dive soon, by which time there will most likely a deal having been made between Trump and Putin, with concessions made by both sides, for peace. Whether the man behind the art of the deal is right in what is decided or whether as some fear he will have sold out to the Russian imperialists will no doubt be a matter for debate. I have little doubt that Trump’s claim that the war could have been avoided if he had been in charge is true and it would have prevented the tragic slaughter of many, especially young soldiers (representing both side), and huge amounts of money thrown down a corrupt black hole, often to be siphoned off by the rich and greedy that could have been better spent helping the poor and needy and securing peace.

Those who have followed my Trump watching over the years may well have noted shifting of positions as to where the Donald lies on the good to bad spectrum. This is due to changing perspectives on the way the world is heading, deeper understanding from a God point of view and new information, including both discarding and accepting what might be seen to be conspiracy theories. I have for example come to see Trump more like King Jehu of the Bible, rather than King Cyrus, both of which were specifically anointed by God for a reason. Jehu managed to drain the swamp of his day but tragically created his own. I see Trump right now as being more like Jehu in his early days and hope will not turn out to be a Jehu in his later days. Importantly, I see Trump not only as the medicine (with some reservations) that the world needs and what is needed to help bring about the good part of the Great Awakening and more importantly the spur the Church needs to be Christ’s radiant bride. While I do not rule out Trump turning out as being Satan’s in angel of light mode agent, I see a new confidence the world over, evidenced by various populace uprisings as people have enough with the political establishment, and challenge it, as a result of Trump’s recent rise.  

As generally is the case when I write intense stuff as I have been doing here, not caring about and even relishing the likelihood that I will upset the good and great (especially among Christian leaders) in doing so, I would like to end on a note of hope and since it remains apt I will repeat the same ending of my previous blog: “But I mustn’t over-speculate and neither must I get distracted. There is much we can profitably do that needs doing to help our fellow humans, especially those in need, rather than getting lost going down rabbit holes, as fascinating as the experience might be. Now, having got some of my findings off my chest, I must end with my standard exhortation that, while we ought to be preparing for the worst, we must put our trust in the true Christ, and not in ANY figure arising on the world stage that appears to promise much. As for the Christ (Jesus), He will return soon to planet earth as King of kings and Lord of lords and He will reign forever in righteousness”.

Update 27/01/25

I spent a pleasant hour and a bit watching/listening in the car to Trump’s first cabinet meeting of his second administration (see here) while my dear wife was doing late night shopping. I was part prompted when a friend let it be known that his posting of the prayer that preceded the meeting had been taken down by Facebook for its standard reason of violating its community standards. While no doubt the televising of the meeting, along with the prayer, was done for publicity purposes the meeting was good and the prayer was apt. Sadly, I doubt we could see the like in a Starmer led British cabinet meeting (or any Prime Minister come to that). I hope there may come a day when our leaders lead based upon their fear of God.