r/AskUS • • 13h ago

I’m genuinely bamboozled - how is the “greatest democracy in the world” not able to hold its president accountable….?

124 Upvotes

….for constantly lying to people, making a fool of himself, ruining peace negotiations with nonsensical social media posts, is so clearly manipulating the markets for his own benefit, AND is named in the Epstein files more times than Jesus is named in the bible, amongst other crimes?

If nothing, it’s a a live case study for countries across the world to put in adequate checks for heads of countries.


r/AskUS • • 5h ago

Which is your favourite Trump issue?

18 Upvotes

The midterms are a moment to look ahead and plan for the future of the nation. However, when looking ahead it’s also a good time to remember where one is coming from. So here is a list of things Trump did. Things of which one may be proud, or may not be.

| 1 | **Attempts to overturn the 2020 election** — fake elector slates, Eastman memos, pressure on Pence to reject certification |
| 2 | **January 6 Capitol attack** — impeached a second time for inciting insurrection; five deaths, hundreds injured |
| 3 | **The Trump–Raffensperger call** — pressuring Georgia to "find" 11,780 votes; racketeering/election-obstruction indictment |
| 4 | **2026 Iran war** — strikes on nuclear sites, assassination of Khamenei, regional escalation, fuel crisis |
| 5 | **COVID-19 response** — downplayed the virus, undermined health science; US recorded the world's highest death toll |
| 6 | **Family separation policy** — asylum-seeking children taken from parents; criticised as child abuse |
| 7 | **The mass-deportation campaign** — ICE raids, deaths in custody, children detained, CECOT / "Alligator Alcatraz", US citizens wrongly deported |
| 8 | **Trump–Russia ties / the Mueller investigation** — campaign links to foreign election interference |
| 9 | **Classified documents kept at Mar-a-Lago** — including nuclear-related files; obstruction of their recovery |
| 10 | **Handling of the Epstein files** — blocking full disclosure of a child sex-trafficking investigation |
| 11 | **Stormy Daniels hush money → falsified business records → 2024 felony conviction** |
| 12 | **E. Jean Carroll** — twice found civilly liable, including for sexual abuse |
| 13 | **The broader pattern of sexual-misconduct allegations** (dozen-plus accusers) |
| 14 | **Access Hollywood tape** — "grab 'em by the…" and the dismissive response |
| 15 | **Firing of James Comey** while he oversaw the Russia probe |
| 16 | **First impeachment — abuse of power over Ukraine** |
| 17 | **Obstruction of Congress** — blanket defiance of subpoenas and witness testimony |
| 18 | **The Trump–Zelenskyy call / withheld military aid** to a country at war |
| 19 | **Using Bill Barr and DOJ to blunt the Mueller probe** |
| 20 | **Pardons and clemency for January 6 defendants**, including those convicted of assaulting officers |
| 21 | **Retribution rhetoric / threats to invoke the Insurrection Act against US citizens** |
| 22 | **Retaliatory prosecutions of Comey, Letitia James and John Bolton** |
| 23 | **Politicisation of the Justice Department**; the 2025 mass DOJ resignations |
| 24 | **Trump Organization civil-fraud verdict** — inflating net worth by hundreds of millions |
| 25 | **Refusal to release tax returns**; years of minimal federal income tax |
| 26 | **Removal of inspectors general** (2020 and 2025) |
| 27 | **Jamal Khashoggi** — refusing to hold Mohammed bin Salman accountable for a journalist's murder |
| 28 | **Rob Porter** — domestic-abuse allegations, security-clearance failures |
| 29 | **Pardon of Joe Arpaio** despite a racial-profiling conviction |
| 30 | **Syria pullback** enabling Turkey's offensive against Kurdish allies |
| 31 | **"Fake news" / "enemy of the people" campaign against the press** |
| 32 | **Press restrictions** — Pentagon press-pass forfeitures, *AP v. Budowich*, the Mario Guevara incident |
| 33 | **Project 2025 / Schedule F** — replacing the nonpartisan civil service with loyalists |
| 34 | **DOGE** — ~300,000 federal layoffs, "Friday night firings", $9.5bn in paid administrative leave, Musk's salute |
| 35 | **University crackdowns** over pro-Palestinian protests (Columbia, Harvard, UCLA) |
| 36 | **Multi-state gerrymandering push** (Texas 2025, Tennessee 2026) |
| 37 | **2020 USPS crisis** — interference with vote-by-mail operations |
| 38 | **The flood of meritless post-election lawsuits** |
| 39 | **Refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power; "Stop the Steal"** |
| 40 | **Firing of the BLS commissioner** after an unwelcome jobs report |
| 41 | **Attacks on Federal Reserve independence**; investigation into Jerome Powell |
| 42 | **Government shutdowns (2025, 2026) and federal grant freezes** |
| 43 | **Domestic troop deployments and confrontations at the "No Kings" protests** |
| 44 | **George Floyd protest response** — military threats, Lafayette Square clearing |
| 45 | **St. John's Church Bible photo op** |
| 46 | **"Salute to America" military pageantry** (2019, 2020) |
| 47 | **The travel ban / "Muslim ban"** (EOs 13769, 13780) |
| 48 | **2018 midterm "barbaric invasion" migrant rhetoric** |
| 49 | **"Chinese virus" rhetoric** fuelling anti-Asian hate attacks |
| 50 | **El Paso Walmart shooting response** — reluctance to name white supremacy |
| 51 | **Charlottesville** — "both sides" moral equivalence at a neo-Nazi rally |
| 52 | **2025 Gaza takeover / forced-relocation proposal** |
| 53 | **The transgender military ban memoranda** |
| 54 | **Transgender-rights restrictions in the second term** |
| 55 | **DEI dismantling and the "adult human female" directive** |
| 56 | **The China trade war and sweeping tariffs** |
| 57 | **2025–26 tariff chaos** — "Liberation Day", the April 2025 market crash, SCOTUS striking down the IEEPA tariffs |
| 58 | **The Greenland crisis** — tariff threats against eight European allies; NATO strained |
| 59 | **Canada trade war and annexation rhetoric** |
| 60 | **One Big Beautiful Bill** — deficit ballooning ~$3.8T despite fiscal-restraint promises |
| 61 | **Corruption** — memecoin/crypto profits, insider-trading allegations around tariff announcements |
| 62 | **EPA gutting under Scott Pruitt** and ethics investigations |
| 63 | **Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal** |
| 64 | **MAHA / RFK Jr.** — vaccine skepticism and unproven treatments |
| 65 | **Hurricane Maria response and the Puerto Rico death-toll dispute** |
| 66 | **Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital** |
| 67 | **Withdrawals from UNESCO and other international bodies** |
| 68 | **North Korea** — "fire and fury" brinkmanship, Singapore concessions, Hanoi walkout |
| 69 | **Helsinki 2018** — appearing to side with Putin over US intelligence agencies |
| 70 | **Brussels NATO summit friction** and doubts about alliance commitments |
| 71 | **TPS terminations**, including for Haitians |
| 72 | **Title 42 expulsions** of asylum seekers |
| 73 | **Declaring a national emergency to fund the border wall** |
| 74 | **The 2017 dismissal of US attorneys** |
| 75 | **Age and health concerns** — visible confusion and cognitive questions |
| 76 | **2024 debate avoidance** |
| 77 | **Michael Flynn** — lied to the FBI, resigned, then pardoned |
| 78 | **Trump Tower Moscow** and the Russia business agenda |
| 79 | **The Steele dossier** and unmasking disputes |
| 80 | **"Fort Trump" / Mar-a-Lago access for foreign dignitaries** |
| 81 | **Firing of Sally Yates** for refusing to defend the travel ban |
| 82 | **Omarosa Manigault Newman and *Disloyal*** |
| 83 | ***Fire and Fury*** **and the wave of administration tell-alls** |
| 84 | **The anonymous "I Am Part of the Resistance" op-ed** |
| 85 | **Pizzagate and other conspiracy amplification** |
| 86 | **"Alternative facts"** |
| 87 | **The 1776 Commission** |
| 88 | **The Arlington National Cemetery incident** |
| 89 | **Brand-marking of government programs; National Garden of American Heroes** |
| 90 | **Kennedy Center cancellations** |
| 91 | **The Trump–Musk feud** |
| 92 | **Social-media use** (Truth Social, X) and platform-ban controversies |
| 93 | **The Springfield pet-eating hoax** |
| 94 | **The rushed Amy Coney Barrett confirmation** |
| 95 | **The 2024 Madison Square Garden rally** |
| 96 | **The Hurricane Dorian–Alabama tweet** |
| 97 | **Covfefe** |
| 98 | **The Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference** |
| 99 | **The Red Hen claim** (a false statement that he'd been refused service) |
| 100 | **Thanking the military via a Taco Bell tweet** |

So, can you pick your favourite? And will it affect how you vote now?


r/AskUS • • 9h ago

How did they even think about in the first place?

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39 Upvotes

What the guy did was a tragedy and treason against America as a nation. But what about Jonathan Pollard? He spied on the US for the sake of Israel. he knew secrets and classifications that no one outside of intelligence knew, and he leaked them. Why wasn't he executed in the first place? The guy was freed later and extradited to Israel, after which he advocated for spying on the US


r/AskUS • • 13h ago

Will this keep people from voting?

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44 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 12h ago

How is your president able to post on social media all night long? When does he sleep?

23 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 4h ago

Hats/ caps worn so high?

2 Upvotes

Is there a reason americans wear their hats so high? Like not pulled down to the ear and looking like it's going to fly off when the wind hits it.


r/AskUS • • 17h ago

Do the USA really believe that Greenland is now in their possession?

21 Upvotes

Yesterday, Trump posted the following on his platform:

"Massive oil, gas, and mineral exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland! There are experts who say that the amount of easily accessible oil is far greater than that of almost any other place on Earth—and, even more importantly, from the standpoint of security, defense, and strategic positioning for both the United States of America and Europe, it is second to none."

Do the Americans truly believe that Greenland is now in their possession and that they have a claim to the aforementioned natural resources?


r/AskUS • • 5h ago

Why do you think Melania may divorce Donald Trump after he leaves office?

1 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Americans: If it was ever in doubt before, with the news of the White House throttling starlink and not warning about ballistic missiles, how many of you for the first time feel like we have actually started our villain arc?

117 Upvotes

I know full well the Europeans and many of others will say "you already were", and probably fair, but I think plenty of us were true believers that we were a force for good in the world at one point. For me personally, I think this was the most legitimately evil act where we voluntarily chose "evil" at the governmental level. I know Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, and all of that evoked feelings, but it was more even political friction. But this is one occasion where I think Demorcrats and traditional "neocon" republicans will look back at history and think "this was truly the start of when we really fucked up" as far as everything we say (or pretend_ we stand for goes.


r/AskUS • • 15h ago

How will USA ever become a respected superpower again?

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7 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 6h ago

With all this firing squad legal talk, and public execution talk. Why even use an actual squad?

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1 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 12h ago

Where would I stand politically in the United States ?

2 Upvotes

The list that will follow is more like a general philosophy, I won't go into too much details but I'm French and would be considered right wing because I'm economically liberal :

1 - The State should intervene in the economy to break up monopolies and guarantee that the market stays competitive. The market should still be as free as possible. The State should care for the disabled.

2 - I support a single-payer universal healthcare system with consultation fees to reduce overuse, paid with payroll taxes. You still have the ability to use private healthcare.

3 - I support at-will employment but all fired workers should be eligible to unemployment benefits for four months, with possible monthly extensions for up to 8 months total, paid with payroll taxes. To prevent abuse, you should have worked two full years before being eligible to unemployment benefits (but all workers get 4 months "free" at first).

4 - Each worker should save for their own retirement. Union/employers (including the State for government workers or the disabled) may participate.

5 - I am opposed to mass immigration and in favor of deporting illegal immigrants according to the rule of law. Dual citizenship shouldn't be allowed unless the country is part of a supranational union (or an agreement with specific countries) in which case you may have more than one citizenship.

6 - State secularism is a good thing. The State must remain neutral, and no one working for the State should wear visible religious symbols (such as a cross, a kippah, a hijab, etc). No public prayers or call to prayers, no clothes that cover the face unless required by the circumstances (work, sports, etc).

7 - Racism is wrong, I support restricting freedom of speech when it comes to hate speech (no jail, only fines).

8 - Abortion should be legal up to 16 weeks after LMP, no limit in case of rape, birth defect or threats to the health of the mother. The death penalty should be illegal. Euthanasia should be legal (except involuntary euthanasia). Guns should be legal to own but hard to get.

9 - LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage should be legal. Gender-affirming hormone therapy should only be authorised at the age of consent. MtF transgenders shouldn't be competing in female sports.

10 - Transhumanism is something that I agree with in general. Humanity should make use of all technologies in order to enhance and improve human life.

11 - In general, the scientific method should be respected and followed. Climate change is real and human in origin. Electrification with nuclear and renewable energy sources are the main way forward. We shouldn't ban meat and dairy but stop subsidizing it and increase taxes to reduce their consumption. We should encourage urbanization instead of individual homes in the countryside. Usage of the car should be discouraged in favor of soft mobility (including e-bike, e-scooters, etc) and public transports.


r/AskUS • • 12h ago

People who support the death penalty, if you could get what you wanted without killing soneone, would you do it?

2 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

What positive things has Trump achieved for America so far?

44 Upvotes

I’m not American. I read about all sorts of promises—like gas prices will hitting record lows and the dawn of a new "golden age" for America—along with AI-generated images, such as Trump’s vision of Gaza as a resort town, posted on X or Truth Social. But what has he actually delivered on so far? It seems to me that he always ends up achieving the exact opposite of what he sets out to do. I understand the "America First" sentiment, but it looks to me like the whole thing is backfiring.

Is there anything where you say, "Yeah, man, thanks, Mr. President"?


r/AskUS • • 1d ago

How do Americans feel about a president who lies repeatedly?

16 Upvotes

Trump is a serial liar. Just a few examples:

  1. He said he'd end the Ukraine-Russia war in a day. Later admitted he knew it wasn't possible.

2. He announced an energy ceasefire. Said Russia & Ukraine had agreed. Reality? Neither side agreed.

  1. He repeatedly lies about the amounts America has funded Ukraine.

  2. He said the diesel deal w/Russia would bring down diesel prices. In reality, diesel increased after Trump made this claim.

These are just a few examples. Trump lies practically every time he opens his mouth.

Imagine you ask the bus driver if the route goes to where you want it to go and he says yes. Then you get on the bus and it takes you in the opposite direction. Imagine you go to the bank and ask for a withdrawal. Your bank says no withdrawal fees. Later you get a $50 charge for withdrawing your money.

Do you Americans legitimately care whether Trump lies?

Doesn't the truth matter?


r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Are you okay with this response?

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121 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 11h ago

does anybody remember 5 ghosts in different colour robes with gold chains and white gloves??? whats their name??

1 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Has the US ever had this level of corruption at the federal level?

41 Upvotes

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cftc-insider-trading-referral-iran-oil-bet-1825415

The analysts at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) who spotted suspicious trading around President Donald Trump's about-turn on Iran, including a roughly $580 million (£438 million) wager against oil prices, were told to withdraw the insider-trading referral they had sent to the agency's enforcement arm, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

An adviser to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig stepped in to retract the referral and took over the examination of the trades, according to reports. Career staff were left unsure how, or whether, the matter would move forward.

I don't recall any period in US history when this level of corruption was running so rampant. Can you?


r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Do you think European films should get wider distribution in the US, on par with how American films are distributed in Europe?

13 Upvotes

​

I'm from Poland, and I've noticed a big imbalance: Hollywood films dominate cinemas and streaming in Europe, while European films rarely get a wide release in the US and usually only reach arthouse theaters or niche streaming sections. I know subtitles, marketing budgets and studio control over theaters and platforms play a big role, but I don't think the gap in distribution simply reflects a gap in quality. Europe produces many films that are just as good as Hollywood's.*

I also think more exposure could inspire American filmmakers with new storytelling styles and ideas. A good example is my favorite film, the Swedish A Man Called Ove, which Hollywood remade as A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks. With all due respect to Tom Hanks, I personally think the Swedish original is better and more timeless. Similarly, the French The Intouchables (2011) was remade as The Upside, and again I feel the original is stronger. Both remakes did well with American audiences, which suggests there's an audience for these stories, so why not let people see the originals too?*

It works the other way around too. In Poland, we have The Promised Land by Andrzej Wajda, a masterpiece that's widely known across Europe and has a cult status. As far as I know, it's much less known in the US.*

What's your experience: how easy is it to find European films where you live, and would you watch more of them if they were easier to find?*


r/AskUS • • 1d ago

How have you benefited from current administration?

14 Upvotes

Genuinely interested those who supported and continue to support Trump. What have you as an individual benefited from in the last two years with a republican dominated administration, and a president with unprecedented power of choice? I say this because every president is more powerful than their predecessor in the rapid decision implementation. In this instance the president party also has the majority making decisions quick and advantageous. How has this benefited you individually? (Please only respond if you voted for Trump) it really helps with a consensus and keeps
The responses consistent so I can look up these beneficial policies)


r/AskUS • • 16h ago

What are your opinions about RFK’s Make America Healthy Again campaign?

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1 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Hi, i saw Trump made an ai video of him and a tiger in response to a British man being mauled by a Tiger. The British man had serious mental health issues 😔 what do you think is Trumps reasoning behind this? Its very odd for a president to make and post something like this. Is this even news in the

40 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

French Senator Just Said Everything You Thought About Trump! 😱 Is this sad?

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8 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Why do you think Trump and Musk are suddenly supporting Russia over Ukraine?

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6 Upvotes

r/AskUS • • 1d ago

Is the extent of Trump/MAGA branded merchandise unprecedented in US history?

12 Upvotes

I understand that political merchandise has always been a part of US elections, however, it seems that the Trump/MAGA merchandise has developed into something that exists beyond a typical election campaign.

You can find dedicated brick-and-mortar stores, roadside pop-up shops, and online retailers that exclusively sell Trump/MAGA merchandise. It is pretty common to see vendors at state/local fairs and craft sales who are only selling this type of merch. In my area, it's also still fairly common to see people wearing MAGA hats or flying MAGA flags. At Trump rallies (in 2026), you see people dressed head-to-toe in Trump/MAGA apparel.

While I know that there has always been campaign/political merchandise throughout US history, my question is whether the scale, persistence, and visibility of Trump/MAGA branded merchandise is something we have ever seen before in the US?