Has President Trump Lost His Grip on Reality?

The further President Donald Trump's term has progressed, the more obvious it seems that he has lost his grip on reality. The latest sign of this was his demand that Europe should retroactively pay compensation to the USA for not being able to produce goods competitive on the European market (example).

It is clear that European countries will not agree to such extortion. Nor will they stop exporting goods to the U.S. if Americans wish to buy them.

In this respect, it will be particularly interesting to see how much Trump manages to reduce the sales of European products in the United States. One would assume that price increases of even tens of percentage points—caused by tariffs—would significantly reduce their sales. However, it is also true that, in a similar way, the sale of American products to Europe will become more difficult due to countertariffs.

Lately, I have begun to suspect that Trump does not genuinely understand this. And therefore, he does not realize he should stop before irreversible damage is done to European-American trade relations.

And that is why I believe he has lost his grip on reality.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Economic Decline Awaits Americans as Trump Imposes Tariffs
Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable
The Real Problem with American Cars: Poor Market Fit

Strengthening Christmas Market Security: Lessons from Magdeburg

The motive for the Magdeburg terrorist attack remains unclear, and I will not address it in this text. Instead, I wonder how it was even possible for a vehicle to access the market area. After all, the security measures for Christmas markets had been recognized as extremely important in Germany ever since a similar attack in Berlin in 2016, when a man drove a truck into a market and killed 12 people.

For this reason, large concrete barriers had also been placed around the square in Magdeburg. However, a gap was left between the barriers for emergency vehicles, and it was through this gap that the terrorist managed to get through. This was done to ensure an evacuation route for a "conventional" emergency situation.

Of course, at this point, this sounds utterly foolish—as it undoubtedly is. Hopefully, it is now understood that the security measures for Christmas markets must prevent all types of vehicles from accessing the area, while providing a guarded and controlled access point for emergency vehicles, which is only opened when absolutely necessary.

This should also be implemented in countries other than Germany, including Finland and other nations where such terrorist attacks have never occurred.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Terrorism Landscape in the EU Contradicts the Narrative Presented by EU Politicians and Media
The Stabber Killed Three People in an Extremely Multicultural City
Cancellation of Taylor Swift's Concert in Austria Was a Success for the Terrorists

Vladimir Putin is Leading Russia into an Economic Ruin

Finland's Minister of the Interior, Lulu Ranne (Finns Party), stated that there are clear indications of sabotage organized by Russia in Finland, even though there is no conclusive evidence. However, there are circumstantial signs of Russia's involvement, such as breaches in Finland's water supply systems.

That said, Finns have no need to worry, as the country's authorities are prepared for a wide range of threats. Additionally, the police have been strengthened to face and counter armed attacks, which might target the police rather than soldiers.

Such attacks could include terrorist strikes or sabotage organized by Russia. To combat these and other destructive actions, Finland's police have acquired armored vehicles since the mid-2010s.

It is unfortunate that Putin's Russia has proven to be an unfit neighbor, acting in international relations like a pig in its pen. As a result, it misses out on the benefits that international trade and cooperation could offer—and once did offer during the Soviet era.

At that time, as much as a quarter of Finland's foreign trade was conducted with the Soviet Union. And in the later stages, when socialist technology fell behind that of the West, oil and other raw materials were used as “currency” to purchase Finnish technological products. These resources were then refined in Finland and sold on the international market.

However, those good times are now over, and Vladimir Putin is leading his country deeper into economic ruin. As a result, he will eventually be ousted from his position as one of the world's leaders—sooner or later.

* * *

Finally, a slightly different matter. I was very pleased today when I noticed that, despite his efforts, Putin failed to prevent Moldova from aligning itself more closely with a free Europe.

I am, of course, referring to the referendum on whether Moldova's constitution should include a commitment to seeking membership in the European Union. At the time of writing, it has become clear that this will happen, albeit with only a small majority of votes. This is yet another defeat for Putin on his and Russia's path to destruction.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Russia Pays the Price for Its Foolishness
Russian Tax Overhaul: Citizens to Bear the Burden of War Losses
History of Finland XV: Paasikivi-Kekkonen doctrine