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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaul Krugman: The Call Is Coming From Inside the White House
The Call Is Coming From Inside the White House
December 12, 2025 at 7:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard 38 Comments
https://politicalwire.com/2025/12/12/the-call-is-coming-from-inside-the-white-house/
Paul Krugman: To update Samuel Johnson, these days national security is the last refuge of a scoundrel. According to Donald Trump, anything he doesnt like is a threat to national security. Question his clearly illegal tariffs? Youre a dark and sinister force trying to undermine America. When the New York Times reported on signs that age may be taking a toll on Trumps stamina, he denounced the reporting as seditious, maybe even treasonous.
But some of Americas allies and many of us here at home are becoming increasingly open about saying that the real danger is coming from inside the White House: Trump himself has become the biggest security threat facing the U.S. and, indeed, all the worlds democracies.
dalton99a
(92,127 posts)But the answer is simple: Trump doesnt care at all about national security, or for that matter Americas national interests. Instead, its all about him: reportedly Trump took the decision to allow the Chinese to have the advanced Nvidia chips after personal lobbying by Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia. Clearly Chinese exporters of furniture and kitchen cabinetry need to get coached by Steve Witkoff.
Just to be clear, I am not a free trade purist. I am not saying national security should be ignored or underplayed when setting economic policy. On the contrary, in a world in which China is arguably the worlds leading superpower, in which Putin feels free to launch a war of conquest on Europes doorstep, national security considerations are critically important. In fact, its arguable that the twin threats from China and Russia have rendered the US far more vulnerable than at any other period in our lifetimes.
Yet the biggest threats to U.S. national security arent coming from Beijing or Moscow. Theyre coming straight out of the Oval Office.
rampartd
(3,811 posts)we should have guessed when the classified documents were seized.
national security is not a factor in the trump decision making process.
Disaffected
(6,161 posts)debsy
(762 posts)This is the first time Ive heard such a mantra.
flashman13
(2,026 posts)The question is - are any of them willing to do something about it?
Justice matters.
(9,395 posts)Not one of them "Brave" enough to do something "effective" (something that will save the world).
popsdenver
(1,562 posts)The Republican House and Senate, as well as the Republican justices in the USSC all KNEW early on in his first term that he was a pawn of Russia, acting in countless different arenas to satisfy Putin......
They all had the chance, not just once, but twice to take care of the Frankenstein's Monster THEY and the CORPORTIONS created and "installed" in the White House......and now, they don't know how to get rid of him and retain his MAGAot voters........
Soooooo, now they are all now kicking, scratching, biting, and acting out to scramble to try to lock in a place in the upper 1%
We are 10 years past the point of: KATIE BAR THE DOOR
Dr. T
(513 posts)so he isn't going to stand up to Comrade Donnie.
flashman13
(2,026 posts)Trump put on a full court press and they said NO.
I don't expect the upper echelons around Trump to do anything. He owns them. No one individual will have any effect. But I do see increasing resistance at lower levels. It's beginning to happen in the House because his primary threats are becoming hollow.
And he is clearly crazy and deteriorating fast.
wolfie001
(7,087 posts)Those things "trump" any good they should be doing.
GiqueCee
(3,412 posts)... as Trump so obviously is, the lowlife, brain-dead skidmarks that still support him are, in a sense, even worse, not least because there are so many of them. But they are not nearly so numerous as they would have us believe; they are seriously outnumbered. And we're fed up to the teeth with their horseshit.
Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)And so many Americans are happy with this.
orangecrush
(28,398 posts)Many more are not.
Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)This shows widespread support for Trump by GOP voters.
He is slipping on economy and immigration.
But his general handling of the presidency is solid.
https://apnorc.org/projects/trumps-approval-rating-slips-on-the-economy-and-immigration/
wiggs
(8,684 posts)Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)dem4decades
(13,682 posts)Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)dem4decades
(13,682 posts)Than a Democrat"¿ They actually brag about it. 7
Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)I hope they are happy.
dedl67
(172 posts)But most could never really be Russian. Russians are tough people. I have spent time in Russia, in Siberia in fact. Whatever one thinks of Russia, the people are tough and able to endure a lot. Most of these Americans who praise Russia are creampuffs who wouldn't last two weeks in Russia.
Irish_Dem
(79,832 posts)Americans are spoiled and soft.
Martin68
(27,066 posts)gfarber
(204 posts)There once was a man in D.C.,
For whom threats were whoever disagreed.
If you questioned his tariffs,
Hed brand you nefarious,
A foe to the land of the free.
When reporters wrote things he found grim,
Like concerns bout the age wearing him thin,
He called it treasonous!
Practically seditious!
For simply observing on him.
He cried national security breach!
At the smallest dissent or critique.
But the worlds growing wary
Allies openly query
If the threat is Trump's rule, not the meek.
So while warnings of danger hed shout,
Many folks, here and abroad, point out
That the peril, indeed,
Is the man taking lead
A concern they no longer doubt.
Thus the ironys clear as can be:
In protecting our great liberty,
Hes the one many fear
Is endangering the sphere
Of democracies, here and at sea.
Joinfortmill
(20,076 posts)frogstar0
(220 posts)For those who want to read the original.
applegrove
(130,278 posts)the text I posted take you to the original substack too. It is always the case in Political Wire articles that the link highlighted in the body of the text takes you to the original source.
yellow dahlia
(4,557 posts)wiggs
(8,684 posts)state the obvious about his disorders, limitations, actions, and consequences of his actions. Reporting that TSF has ...'become the biggest security threat facing the US...and the world' is a start.
eppur_se_muova
(40,989 posts)Snackshack
(2,573 posts)DJT is the horrid side effect of a much bigger problem.
That problem being a supreme court that gave him immunity and everything else he has wanted by shadow docket.
Brazil's Supreme Court has more integrity and credibility
raccoon
(32,211 posts)Elected. Maybe since he was nominated for the first time.
Joinfortmill
(20,076 posts)FakeNoose
(40,191 posts)applegrove
(130,278 posts)discussion for decades.
Deuxcents
(25,522 posts)With the pulse of the country. Maybe get out and start talking to the people and hear what were saying.
Norrrm
(4,008 posts)Maybe even executed for his own treason?
Jack Valentino
(4,375 posts)the nuclear trigger... Will our top generals and the guys in the missile silos stop
to have a debate about the law
when they have been ordered to open fire ?
If he was a Democrat, Republicans would have been SCREAMING LONG AGO
for him to be removed from the chain of command!
Trump is now the 'poster boy' for the 25th Amendment!
jfz9580m
(16,574 posts)It was all the rage in January with some gross op-eds I saw earlier this year saying in the post election rush to join the winning team that the future is all about transactionalism as western liberalism falls out of favor etc.
Mercenary grifters
OldBaldy1701E
(10,192 posts)
Clouds Passing
(7,007 posts)Stargleamer
(2,611 posts)and we are living in that horror movie. (I believe the movie was Scream)