So.. extortion then?

Not even in office yet, and already making threats.

I’d like to see Europe tell Vance to fuck off. I suspect that if Europe gives in now, the Trump administration will make this same threat every time Europe does something he doesn’t like.

Trump will be an unreliable NATO ally anyway, so it isn’t much of a risk on Europe’s part.

Holding Western stability hostage in the name of the oligarchs, good job voting everyone...

Old article, btw. This is from Sept 2024. I get that's what he promised, and while I think he's a complete asshat, let's not discount that he and Trump said and will say anything to appear smart, capable, and as if they have a plan.

Time will tell if this actually comes to pass, but I'm not actually going to hold my breath for this one.

These autocrats have always wanted to drop NATO.

Let’s not pretend like X is their reason. Supporting autocracy is their reason, and now they’re trying to come up with excuses to get the public onboard.

As a European, i say, "Please go ahead." While I like the idea of Nato, I want my politicians to be forced to take action in creating an eu Military and not rely on Nato for defence.

Also out of curiosity, will you guys be deporting immigrants like Elon Musk? Who invalidated their visa.

And then you get idiots that will tell someone that is not American : "uh why do you care so much about our election, it's not your country"

Well yes your (vice) president is starting to extort the rest of the world before even starting his mandate...

Not too long ago, this would be a career-ending display of corruption.

God I hate Earth.

Cool, no more need for American military bases in our countries then. Or sharing intelligence with them. Or propping up their arms industry.

What a coincidence that Elon Musk paid 100+ million for their campaign

This is why billionaires shouldn't exist.

The other thing I need to mention is that is that Elon Musk is far from the only billionaire with a massively disproportionate influence on elections and society. Or even the biggest. He is just the biggest attention whore of them all.

The Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio senator claimed in an interview with YouTuber Shawn Ryan that a top EU official had threatened to arrest the billionaire [Musk] if he allowed former President Trump back on X.

“So what America should be saying is, if NATO wants us to continue supporting them and NATO wants us to continue to be a good participant in this military alliance, why don’t you respect American values and respect free speech?” Vance asked. “It’s insane that we would support a military alliance if that military alliance isn’t going to be pro-free speech. […]

“I’m not going to go to some backwoods country and tell them how to live their lives,” Vance added. “But European countries should theoretically share American values, especially about some very basic things like free speech.”

The US ranked 26th in the world when it comes to free speech, with several members of the European Union higher up the list, according to the 2024 Global Expression Report.

If anyone is interested these countries are ahead of the USA from 1-25: Denmark Switzerland Sweden Belgium Estonia Norway Finland Ireland Germany Iceland Portugal Austria New Zealand Canada Argentina Spain Czech Republic Italy Latvia Costa Rica Uruguay France Dominican Republic Netherlands Vanuatu

Sure that's not corrupt at all.

So, the US wants to lose the only influence it actually has on Europe?

I say go for it.

This is expected. A hallmark of fascism is state capitalism — a fusion of the corporation and the state — with corporations administered more like org units of the fascist party.

Many of us have been saying that this is the natural end state of capitalism all along, if it's allowed to run its course.

They can't even wait two fucking months before saying explicitly fascist shit like this.

So many people are in for a rude awakening, including many people on the left who have no concept of what is coming. This is what happens when you don't teach history, I guess.

Block the lot.

We don't need US far right propaganda.

We have our own.

France's military industry is having wet dreams thinking about it.

If the US pulls out of NATO France becomes the biggest arms exporter of NATO and I would expect other countries will become less enthusiastic at the idea of buying US weapons systems.

So, accept cybertrucks in the narrow streets of Italian hill towns, high fructose corn syrup in all food, freedom of hate speech driving vulnerable voices out of your public square, and AR-15s for everyone who wants one, or we throw you to the Orcs?

What a weird tactic for such a weird, little person.

x is a government platform now. Sign onto your government social media account.

In his shoes, I would think twice - does their team really want to present their dirtiest laundry to the world - such as owing an election to a media oligarch?

As for the EU, it's a massive bureaucracy which still follows its own laws. It probably won't change track. There is no single person to change its track.

However, at this stage of the game, I have the nagging feeling that some American may downregulate Elon Musk directly, far before the EU manages to step on his precious toe.

Oh so they're copying infamous and largely ineffective wolf warrior tactics from China. Good way to make every single country despise and look down on the US.

This is a key part of fascism, government and industry being one and the same entity.

It's Fascism all the way down!

Couchfucker said what?

If ur mean to Elon we leave NATO.

A very hinged take. Thank you Kanye, very cool.

Trump and Vance hold no actual power. Musk is now the shadow president of the USA.

Never thought I would say this but PLEASE let Trump live another 4 years.

Hope everyone is ready for this to be at least the next 4 years of our lives.

I say at least because these losers ran on fundamentally changing how our government works. In 4 years they may be able to create a scenario in which it's literally impossible for them to lose an election. Not to mention the effect this will have on global politics.

We let the Stupids have total control of our federal government. Suffering will become the norm. And if you think we're suffering now? Well, might be time to pick up a history book.