Not sure how either story is making anything great again...
5555624 · 4h ago
That's still cheaper than the current GAO estimate for the new Boeing 747-8 Air Force One replacements. The current estimate, for two, is $5.6 billion and they won't be ready until 2029. (The original cost was $3.9 billion.)
cr125rider · 4h ago
He has stated he will keep it after leaving the presidency. So it’s now a $6.6 billion dollar project.
EA-3167 · 3h ago
He says a lot of things, why should we assume that this is the rare occasion of him telling the truth? Note that I don't particularly want our president flying in a golden jet either, and think he's a complete waste of carbon, but the question remains.
jordanb · 1h ago
The "gift" from Qatar is structured as a loan to the USAF that will be automatically recalled followed by a permanent gift to the "Trump library" the moment he is no longer president.
sundaeofshock · 2h ago
He never lies when it comes to his grifts. He is absolutely planning on keeping that plane.
jrs235 · 4h ago
And what's the cost going to be for delaying nuclear modernization?
cosmicgadget · 1h ago
Certainly this fund reallocation will cover the whole thing.
intermerda · 4h ago
Why not let the Qataris do the renovation themselves? It would be even cheaper! Hell, let's do away with Air Force One altogether - let Trump conduct government business from any gold plated plane he likes to travel on.
I am endlessly fascinated by how almost the entire American elite has just accepted the federal government being couped and at least four years of just self-dealing, corruption, theft and all of policy being driven by whatever idiotic childish whims one senile old man has, completely unrestrained by congress or courts or advisors.
are they just this pathetic? or do they largely see this as personally beneficial?
yongjik · 41m ago
Half of American voters elected an idiot based on such nice slogans as "Drain the swamp" and "Own the libs," and the said idiot is appointing to essential government positions other idiots who would be politely shown the door in any meeting of social "elites" if America was a sane country.
Sure, the elites of America have a lot of power, but they don't have enough power to override the combined force of the POTUS and half of the country. What do you expect them to do?
This has all the same vibe as "How could Democrats let it happen?" (Yes, Democrats does have a lot of faults. But I'm tired of everything somehow being Democrats' fault.)
lazyeye · 19m ago
"But I'm tired of everything somehow being Democrats' fault"....lol
scrubs · 5m ago
It's not wholly the dems fault. Nobody took the manhood and backbone from maga republicans: they gave it up themselves and willingly butt kissed. The dems are partially complicit insofar as they were a weak counterbalance 2016 and 2024. The more culpable entity is the US congress. As i see it it's instiutional stupidity is mainly (not totally) at the heart of the problem.
It is hard to come up with first cause. But a helpful starting point for this mess was when Ross Perot ran as a populist. At that time both parties were at the start of an accelerating run of service to self and corporations over middle America. Then came newt gringrich and a whole bunch of other increasingly hyperbolic nonsense which contributed to fund raising off culture wars.
America won't get fixed until congress gets fixed. A good president can pause decline but it cannot fix root causes
scrubs · 15m ago
I keep writing and in my personal conversations with Trump people and moderates i keep reminding: overshooting stupid far right will lead to stupid far left. We don't need that either. Time and time and time again power structures flaunt justice, due process etc. It never lasts. It's a crap shoot what comes next if what's going goes too far: will it be an enlightenment movement? The political equivalent of luther nailing up his complaints? Or a repeat of 20th century revolutions. Om the whole in the long run people don't put up with run away kings and all the BS of palace intrigue that goes with it.
Guid_NewGuid · 4h ago
I have a theory that this is built into the American system. People are brainwashed into thinking the system of government is perfect and unimpeachable (pledge of allegiance, constitution being this holy scripture). So when the imperfect system inevitably breaks down it is regarded as an unavoidable outcome.
Because the system delivered the outcome it must be the only possibility.
UncleEntity · 4m ago
I think a big part of the problem is everyone just kind of assumed no one would get up to the kinds of shenanigans the current administrations is engaging in.
Kind of like a 'please take one' sign on a bucket of Halloween candy breaks down really, really fast in the presence of bad actors.
Currently, the courts are the only 'checks and balances' on the executive branch and they operate slowly by design. Eventually this will all get sorted out and we'll get back to normalcy assuming, of course, 'free and fair elections' survive the turmoil.
jrs235 · 3h ago
American Exceptionalism, and the belief of the United States superiority and infallibility, is built on quasi-religious beliefs. The holy documents include the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Those that follow it hold up the founding fathers on pedestals and work to cover their negative attributes/sins (being and benefitting from being slave owners, many having adulterous affairs, etc.) To not hold such pride is to be unpatriotic according to followers. Heresy and blasphemy which should get people kicked out or killed.
DangitBobby · 3h ago
Well it's been pretty effectively demonstrated that impeachment is not an option and he has the protection of the SC so I don't know what you think should happen. I guess they could start trying to rip Congress and the Senate apart to make impeachment possible but I think that would take at least a couple of years.
tuna74 · 17m ago
The House of Representatives can impeach Trump (they should), the Supreme Court said that that is the way to deal with a president doing illegal stuff.
bigbadfeline · 47m ago
> are they just this pathetic? or do they largely see this as personally beneficial?
They don't "see this", they control it.
> I am endlessly fascinated by how almost the entire American elite has just accepted... policy being driven by idiotic childish whims
There's nothing idiotic, childish or whimsy - bread for some, circuses for the rest - it's a scheme old as the world. The reality show isn't real.
jrs235 · 4h ago
I'm going to assume both answers are the same and that the answer is "Yes".
jaybrendansmith · 2h ago
Who is the American elite? If you mean billionaires...they are all in on the take. If you mean big business, they are hoping for the destruction of the regulatory state, you know, the one that keeps citizens safe and healthy. If you mean the intelligentsia, they are being cowed, threatened, and fired into submission ... most will start looking for a clean exit to Europe very soon. So which elite do you mean?
catlikesshrimp · 5h ago
Just use reader mode in firefox.
But the title says it all.
freeopinion · 4h ago
Here's a bit that is hard to stuff into a 10-word headline.
"Nuclear modernization" refers to the development of the Sentinel missile to replace the Minuteman III missile. It is arguably not a modernization at all. It is a spectacular example of spreading seemingly endless money around for political ends. It's a $140+ billion boondoggle that has somehow escaped the attention of DOGE while they were hunting down what they claim is $170 billion in fraud and waste in places like the national parks.
actionfromafar · 5h ago
This is genius! No other administration could have come up with this plan! So much winning.
"4k NASA employees opt to leave agency through deferred resignation program"
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44699052
Not sure how either story is making anything great again...
are they just this pathetic? or do they largely see this as personally beneficial?
Sure, the elites of America have a lot of power, but they don't have enough power to override the combined force of the POTUS and half of the country. What do you expect them to do?
This has all the same vibe as "How could Democrats let it happen?" (Yes, Democrats does have a lot of faults. But I'm tired of everything somehow being Democrats' fault.)
It is hard to come up with first cause. But a helpful starting point for this mess was when Ross Perot ran as a populist. At that time both parties were at the start of an accelerating run of service to self and corporations over middle America. Then came newt gringrich and a whole bunch of other increasingly hyperbolic nonsense which contributed to fund raising off culture wars.
America won't get fixed until congress gets fixed. A good president can pause decline but it cannot fix root causes
Because the system delivered the outcome it must be the only possibility.
Kind of like a 'please take one' sign on a bucket of Halloween candy breaks down really, really fast in the presence of bad actors.
Currently, the courts are the only 'checks and balances' on the executive branch and they operate slowly by design. Eventually this will all get sorted out and we'll get back to normalcy assuming, of course, 'free and fair elections' survive the turmoil.
They don't "see this", they control it.
> I am endlessly fascinated by how almost the entire American elite has just accepted... policy being driven by idiotic childish whims
There's nothing idiotic, childish or whimsy - bread for some, circuses for the rest - it's a scheme old as the world. The reality show isn't real.
But the title says it all.
"Nuclear modernization" refers to the development of the Sentinel missile to replace the Minuteman III missile. It is arguably not a modernization at all. It is a spectacular example of spreading seemingly endless money around for political ends. It's a $140+ billion boondoggle that has somehow escaped the attention of DOGE while they were hunting down what they claim is $170 billion in fraud and waste in places like the national parks.