[Politics] Donald Trump, US President

[Kalimantan Gull]

I can understand Trump's obvious motivation behind his pardoning and release of the Jan 6th rioters but I'm struggling to understand his reasoning for his pardoning of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the dark Web drug marketplace Silk Road, who was convicted of selling narcotics.

Trump has previously stated that all drug dealers should be executed and yet he has criticised Ulbricht's sentence as "ridiculous" and "too harsh". It makes no sense.

I realise that to earn Trump's clemency you have to demonstrate unconditional fealty and loyalty to him which explains the pardons for the Jan 6th rioters but what has Ulbricht done or said which has earned him Trump's favour?

He was convicted in 2015, two years before Trump's first term but Trump didn't take the opportunity to pardon him when he was President first time around, so why now?

But Ulbricht's site wasn't just a place which marketed narcotics, it was also a place where people could solicit murder while remaining anonymous. The mind boggles at why Trump would regard Ulbricht with such favour.

Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

Trump said he had called Ulbricht's mother to let her know he had granted her son a full pardon.

www.google.com

The guy became a cause celebre in right wing circles. Not entirely sure why, probably they all used the site to buy their coke. Plus he was an early proponent of using crypto, so it might be something to do with that.

 

[JetsetJimbo]

EDIT: Now fixed after public outrcy

If you google "US Presidents" this morning, the results look like this.

I'm not sure we're really appreciating what's happening here. They're rewriting history to suit themselves, with the full support of tech companies.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

"Led By Donkeys" need to be going round the US projecting that on prominent buildings like they do over here with our Govts.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I see he says the EU should pay more to help Ukraine as Russia is much closer to them, there's a big ocean in the way between them and USA.

Is he a flat earther or just not look at the other side of the globe

He only needs to look 50 miles to the West of Alaska, to realise its a much smaller ocean between the US & Russia.....

 

[Thunder Bolt]

One of the rioters pardoned by Trump has been re-arrested on other charges, involving firearms.

Jan. 6 rioter whose case was tossed after Trump pardon arrested on pending weapons charges

A Florida man who prosecutors alleged attacked police with an explosive device on Jan. 6 was arrested on pending federal gun charges, according to court records.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/22/politics/video/capitol-rioter-doesnt-want-trumps-pardon-digvid

 

[schmunk]

I can understand Trump's obvious motivation behind his pardoning and release of the Jan 6th rioters but I'm struggling to understand his reasoning for his pardoning of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the dark Web drug marketplace Silk Road, who was convicted of selling narcotics.

Trump has previously stated that all drug dealers should be executed and yet he has criticised Ulbricht's sentence as "ridiculous" and "too harsh". It makes no sense.

I realise that to earn Trump's clemency you have to demonstrate unconditional fealty and loyalty to him which explains the pardons for the Jan 6th rioters but what has Ulbricht done or said which has earned him Trump's favour?

He was convicted in 2015, two years before Trump's first term but Trump didn't take the opportunity to pardon him when he was President first time around, so why now?

But Ulbricht's site wasn't just a place which marketed narcotics, it was also a place where people could solicit murder while remaining anonymous. The mind boggles at why Trump would regard Ulbricht with such favour.

Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

Trump said he had called Ulbricht's mother to let her know he had granted her son a full pardon.

www.google.com

Because Ulbricht wasn't a drug dealer, or a murderer; he was a Smart Businessman, and Trump loves Smart Businessmen. Of course he does, because he's a Smart Businessman himself, isn't he?

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I think that the slow decline of standards and institutions that were reasonably trustworthy is the source of all our problems... Trump is a serial liar yet no one even in his own party can stand up to him. When you see liars, and by extension, crooks, seemingly impervious to any form or punishment or penalty it permeates in to the general populace. The crimes and misdemeanours he has committed and been charged and even found guilty of would have been enough to bury any politicians career even 20 years ago, yet, he turns this to his advantage somehow... " He's a crook but, he's our crook "

In 1969 Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge and his lady passenger drowned, he failed to report the accident and his chances for making President were gone forever. Bill Clinton was pretty much destroyed by a blow job yet Trump has risen above paying off a porn star, telling the governor of Georgia to " Find me 11,000 votes " , caught with secret documents in his home, effectively found guilty of sexual offences and illegalities with his business.. yet, they vote for him.

I think that Johnson saw this and thought " I'm having some of that !" so the lies started here, the Cabinet could see he was a lying bag of hot air but put Party before country and lied along with him or were dumped out of the Party. that is why we now have Badenoch, Jenrick, Patel and Braverman still spouting hate and lies, they have nothing to offer except hatred and lies yet, their electors voted for them ? Being awful works to an extent !

But, look to America, Trump has released and pardoned all those that supported his lie of his " Stolen Election ", violence and hatred have won, other countries are watching, they all have their little Farage's and Jenricks.... be afraid.

I am afraid, or maybe sickened! He is absolutely the antithesis of everything I believe in.

and in his inauguration speech I believe he said something like “God has spared him to make America great again”. Theologically, it would be very, very easy to pull apart absolutely everything he is doing…..

 

[nicko31]

"Led By Donkeys" need to be going round the US projecting that on prominent buildings like they do over here with our Govts.

That's a first stunt outside the UK...

 

[Bodian]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/22/politics/video/capitol-rioter-doesnt-want-trumps-pardon-digvid

That's well worth watching for her explanation. She's basically saying it was a riot, it was insurrection - and although she's presumably a Trumpite, she wants nothing to do with re-writing history.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Because Ulbricht wasn't a drug dealer, or a murderer; he was a Smart Businessman, and Trump loves Smart Businessmen. Of course he does, because he's a Smart Businessman himself, isn't he?

He's the smartest smart businessman. No-one knows more about smart business - or smart businessmen - than him.

 

[schmunk]

He's the smartest smart businessman. No-one knows more about smart business - or smart businessmen - than him.

Many people are saying. Good people, the best people.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I am afraid, or maybe sickened! He is absolutely the antithesis of everything I believe in.

and in his inauguration speech I believe he said something like “God has spared him to make America great again”. Theologically, it would be very, very easy to pull apart absolutely everything he is doing…..

I’m glad somebody found that quote laughable! struck me as a very Trump thing to do - nasty! I haven’t ever put anybody on ignore, but am now thinking about it.