International Relations

A thread for discourse and rationality in international relations and current affairs. Please no ranting and no insulting posts! - @fluffy2560

I'm following the Iran and US nuclear weapons discussions supposedly taking place indirectly in Oman. It looks like there's a strong chance of military action and escalation with Israel joining in. Is there a chance for peace and disarmament or is it all  bluff and propaganda?

It's been reported in mainstream Ukraine that two Chinese nationals have been captured fighting for Russia.  Is this a sign China is more involved than anyone previously thought?

And what about the US tariffs? A fools errand or a stroke of genius?   With pushback from some countries, and a falling stockmarket hitting people's pensions and savings, is it panic stations in the White House?

What say you?

In Reply to Fred's post in the Absolutely Anything Else thread:

"You spew a lot of hate based on propaganda.

If you aren't questioned, you can get away with anything.

Even when facts are presented from the horse's mouth, you believe your opinion is worth more than undisputed historical accounts.

I'll make a deal. You stop hate filled rants, and I won't correct you."

We don't need a deal.   And I don't need correction. And I hate no-one.   It's just a discussion.   When I discuss things I usually get my information from known, respected and verifiable sources.    I previously posted the list of mainstream media that I primarily use.  I don't look at TikTok and I don't look at YouTube. 

What I want to get is reasoned predictions and estimates on what will happen in the future.

(If they link an aspect into Hungary, then that's even better).

I found this speech on tariffs by Ronald Raygun is going around on mainstream media.

President Reagan's Radio Address on Free and Fair Trade on April 25, 1987

Hope it's not AI and it's real.  Wasn't a fan of his but his analysis is spot on.

From https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=601668&p=271#6039812

"Anyway, It's a mega plane, 8 engines and a behemoth of firepower. I always thought it was an ungainly looking thing. But it's the equivalent of an 18-wheeler truck but with high altitude death cargo. Still a favourite if you can still see one. I always liked the SR-71 Blackbird. Like a dart!  - @fluffy2560

The B52 has only ever been used for mass murder, mostly civilians.

See operation menu.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67582813

500,000 tons of bombs on civilians villages, and the US tried to keep their massive crimes hidden.

Not a single charge was ever brought over the tens of thousands civilians they murdered in the biggest terrorist operation in history.

The Blackbird was used to illegally overfly foreign countries as a spy plane.

Not much to celebrate there. - @Fred"

Yeah, I know about B52 bombing of Viet Nam and Laos and Cambodia and so on.  Been to both those places.  The evil on both sides was astounding.

Despite that history of the B52, and the incredible SR-71, they are still remarkable feats of engineering.  We should acknowledge that.  It's a bit like the moonshots.  Getting a human onto the moon led to the development of microelectronics which has in turn fuelled many other industries, including things like drones for good or ill.   And of course, things like GPS and many other things we use daily without thinking are dual use technology.   Unfortunate but true.

Breaking News:

Looks like Trump blinked on tariffs!  He's pulled back (except on China).

I'm hearing news reports on the radio where Trump's sycophants are trying to spin this as a win.  They just look like fantasists and lunatics.

Absolutely delusional and absurd. 

Nudging the schadenfreude meter quite a bit today.

US has upped presence of US fighter jets to Okinawa.

I asked ChatGPT who would win a fight, Mr Blobby (Trump) or Winnie the Pooh (Xi).   

🟣 Mr Blobby

Strengths: Pure chaos incarnate. Unpredictable, flails with wild energy, apparently impervious to pain or physics. Has the aura of someone who’s been banned from several universes.

Weaknesses: Zero coordination, only speaks in “blobby” noises, liable to trip over his own feet and accidentally detonate a building.

🍯 Winnie the Pooh

Strengths: Calm, centered, emotionally intelligent. Might not look tough, but the guy has serious zen monk energy. That kind of inner peace could break Mr Blobby mentally.

Weaknesses: Very food-motivated. Will stop mid-fight for a sniff of honey. Also, physically not that fast or strong—unless we’re talking Heffalump-defense mode, which is rare.

🏆 Verdict:

If it's raw chaos? Mr Blobby. If it's who's left standing after the dust settles? Honestly… Winnie the Pooh. That bear’s unshakable.

(All seems about right)

I've just read importers (in the USA) are cancelling orders and Amazon etc are hiking prices on goods from China by 70%.

Probably ships will be jammed up in the ports unable to leave as no-one wants to pay the tariffs.

There were hopes of a US stock market surge like we've seen across Europe and Asia. They've now been dashed.

All three of Wall Street's main stock indexes have opened down.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average index of 30 major companies listed on US stock exchanges dropped 1.6%, even more than the open yesterday.

The S&P 500 index of companies relied on to be stable and profitable lost 2.3%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq was down nearly 3%.

However, it's worth noting the massive gains recorded yesterday. The Dow Jones had its best day since 2020. The Nasdaq had the highest increase since 2001. For the S&P, it was the best daily performance since 2008.

There were hopes of a US stock market surge like we've seen across Europe and Asia. They've now been dashed. All three of Wall Street's main stock indexes have opened down.The Dow Jones Industrial Average index of 30 major companies listed on US stock exchanges dropped 1.6%, even more than the open yesterday.The S&P 500 index of companies relied on to be stable and profitable lost 2.3%.The tech-heavy Nasdaq was down nearly 3%.However, it's worth noting the massive gains recorded yesterday. The Dow Jones had its best day since 2020. The Nasdaq had the highest increase since 2001. For the S&P, it was the best daily performance since 2008. - @SimCityAT

I was just reading that.  It'll be profit-taking.   All the uncertainty is contributing to a sell off.  But some who bet on a fall or bought at the low will have made buckets of money in yesterday's surge.

The Tech Bros have been hit hard on the drop and since they bank roll The Chump, he's probably thinking he's screwed up big time.  He's got no family to lean on - he's on his own.   No-one in his family is spending any time with him as far as we can see. And yet his sycophants/yes-men/women continue to spout contrary statements about how this was all intentional.   

There's been a lot of comparisons with Liz Truss who couldn't outlast a lettuce.  But I cannot see Trump resigning. He's only just started his rampage.  But how long before people have had enough?  I wish my crystal ball was working.   Kind of interesting he back pedalled on EU tariffs also for 90 days. 

Meanwhile, I was looking at Tisza vs Fidesz (Orban) and the challenger (Tisza) is ahead in polling re the election in 2026.  We're all very suspicious here at Fluffy Towers that Tisza is just Fidesz-lite.

The legal audacity of the Trump administration knows no bounds:

Trump administration insists it isn’t required to work with El Salvador to bring back man mistakenly deported

If I were a federal judge, I'd be thinking of who I could jail for contempt. 

I can see this one being back in Fed court pronto.

Hungarian lawmakers are preparing to vote on a constitutional amendment that would permanently codify a ban on public events held by LGBTQ+ communities.

Here’s what the amendment will do and what it means for some of the basic rights of all citizens in the Central European nation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hung … rcna201091

Hungarian lawmakers are preparing to vote on a constitutional amendment that would permanently codify a ban on public events held by LGBTQ+ communities.
Here’s what the amendment will do and what it means for some of the basic rights of all citizens in the Central European nation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hung … rcna201091 - @SimCityAT

Another nail in the coffin of Hungarian "democracy". 

But I can see this ending up in the ECHR and it's likely to mean even more pressure on Orban and withholding of EU funding.   I don't know why Orban wastes his time with such a broken record of dimwitted policies.  He thinks his fan base cares.  They hardly turn up now to his own protests (why even have protests - they are government).   Why doesn't he just come out, do a referendum on EU membership and if wins, Hungary can be a region of Russia once more just like Belarus.

Whether one agrees with LGBTI+ rights or not, it's symptomatic this kind of manoeuvring is just going to lead to people leaving the country as they see everything being eroded.

It's a bit of a last attempt by Orban to head of certain defeat in the forthcoming general election.  Fidesz and Tisza parties were almost level in the 2024 local elections.  I expect it's going to be a swing  to untested Tisza (origins in Fidesz, possibly Fidesz-lite) come the next election.   If the opposition win, it's going to take some effort to get the demonisation of the LGBTI+ community reversed.

BTW, there's a "referendum" coming on Ukraine joining the EU.   The questions will be loaded of course and nearly everyone ignores these things because they are such BS.  They never get enough votes to have any true significance but the Orban machine spins it their way. We haven't seen the questions yet but we can already guess. 

Well it got passed, so LGBTQ+ events will be banned.

https://apnews.com/article/hungary-prid … adb323de77

I wouldn't be surprised if Trump tried to do the same thing.

Well it got passed, so LGBTQ+ events will be banned.https://apnews.com/article/hungary-prid … adb323de77I wouldn't be surprised if Trump tried to do the same thing. - @SimCityAT

Yes, it's dire, especially the tack on over the loss of citizenship.

It'll be heavily challenged locally and in the ECHR.  It's utterly unconstitutional.

Trump's priority is more likely to be a 3rd term.  I begin to doubt he'll make it to the end of this one.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ww47bR86wSc

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ww47bR86wSc - @Fred

I did watch that one Fred.

It's pretty much correct.  We're seeing it in action here.  There's a difference between the towns and cities and the countryside.  The people in the countryside are literally manipulated bumpkins.   And irredeemable.

The intelligentsia all reside in the towns and cities.  It's evident in voting patterns.

The "plot" is quite clear - take over media, introduce right wing ideology, manipulate schools/universities,  demonise segments of society to "other" people, blame external forces be it Soros or the EU, blah-blah. 

I actually think there's no way back now unless it's generational.  If we see Orban gets another term, there will be yet another significant exodus which might include us.  We're invested here. It's going to hurt - one of our kids is very likely to join the protests and could be deported for 10 years (despite being a HU citizen).

Not that Orban cares one bit so long as he can continue to shore up him and his oligarch friends at the expense of the people.   

Maybe something will happen to Orban.  He doesn't look that healthy to me.  Nor does Trump actually despite his annual physical.   

@fluffy2560

Trumps annual physical was a complete fake and made up.

@fluffy2560
Trumps annual physical was a complete fake and made up. - @SimCityAT

I agree.  It's done I think by a Navy Surgeon.   So obeying orders to find the right answer is part of the job.

It's going to be the same kind of BS with RFK Jr's autism investigation.  It's going to conclude it's the MMR vaccine (which has for years been totally debunked).   

That fool has said Vitamin A fights measles and now I'm reading stories of children in Texas being admitted to hospital with Vitamin A toxicity.   It's like Trump and drinking bleach to kill COVID.   

How anyone can put a turncoat conspiracy theorist in charge of a nation's health beggars belief!

From:

https://www.expat.com/en/forum/europe/hungary/601668-absolutely-anything-else-p271.html#6041565

"I recall suggesting that TRump's stupidity would open doors for China, or at least China would take full advantage of it.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/1 … than-trump

Looks like I was right.

Next prediction

Trump will get shot by a trained sniper, not some random twit with a gun.

I will explain why I believe that's a possibility a little later. - @Fred

----

I am not sure anyone will get close enough to Donny to take him out.   President Musk is cutting the Secret Service so maybe there will be gaps in El Gordo's security.  A determined set of attackers could take him and his helicopter out at any time.   

With the fibre drones they could probably do it on the cheap.   I cannot see Ukraine or China taking him out. Zelensky and Xi are in no way that stupid.  But I could see plenty of  plausibly deniable movie plots involving all sorts of cults, religious nuts, political types and pariah states. 

So when El Gordo snuffs it one way or the other, we'd be left with Shady Vance who is arguably worse than Trump. His Chinese peasants goof really was stunning.  I liked the Chinese response that Vance's "hillybilly" roots were part of his ignorance.

As for China,  Donny is off the wall.   China is not going to give in - ever.  It's fundamental.   It's not like Xi has to deal with public opinion.  But Donny does.  His approval in polls is way down.

I'm looking forward to the contempt actions by  Judge Xinis (the one dealing with the illegal deportation of that guy to El Salvador).  Buck stops at Trump.  I reckon $1M a day of non-compliance payable when he leaves office. In the meantime, officials of the government need to be held in jail for their contempt.  Let's see how long their support for Trump lasts after being in a cell for a while.   It's the same old story that knowing Trump is going to F*** you up.

This is beyond popcorn for the Teflon Don show.  This becoming a nacho hat with dips for the main feature.

Despite not being a citizen,  I received this (my highlighting) from the HU government.

Unfortunately, it doesn't contain the actual questions:

"Dear Madam / Sir!

Voks 2025 began this week: a vote on Ukraine's EU membership. The ballot papers will be delivered to all concerned by the end of May by Magyar Posta.

The aim of the vote is for us, Hungarians, to decide together on the issue of Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Brussels is putting increasing pressure on the Hungarian government to accelerate Ukraine's accession. All this without consulting the citizens and avoiding any substantive debate. At the same time, Ukraine's forced accession to the EU would cause enormous damage to Hungary. It would cost every Hungarian family hundreds of thousands of forints per year, it would endanger pensions and support for farmers, and it would also entail security and labor market risks.

It is no exaggeration to say that accelerated Ukrainian accession would destroy the Hungarian economy under the current circumstances. We, Hungarians, cannot accept that such a weighty issue is decided over our heads.

The government will provide detailed information on the issues related to Ukraine's accession in the coming weeks. The government will consider the result of the vote as binding on it. We ask you to take part in the vote, considering all aspects, and to make a responsible decision.

Now you decide!"

I had a total free news day, Trump is mad, I've heard to much of his name. Those  that keep on saying he only affects US citizens are idiots.

I had a total free news day, Trump is mad, I've heard to much of his name. Those that keep on saying he only affects US citizens are idiots. - @SimCityAT

It's a good plan to steer clear of it and do a catch up after Easter.  I had the unfortunate experience of clicking on a button which showed me more messing about at SCOTUS over deportations.  Nothing truly unexpected except SCOTUS suddenly seems to have partially grown a pair.  And two of the obvious true Trump acolytes there voted against the rule of law.

I had an update from my kid in Ontario and most Canadians it seems are totally avoiding the USA big time.  Hardly surprising. Scare stories everywhere.

I had a total free news day, Trump is mad, I've heard to much of his name. Those that keep on saying he only affects US citizens are idiots. - @SimCityAT

Indonesia has an internal bank clearance system (GPN). it avoids any US involvement but is only usable within ASEAN.

It's ideal for many as your personal finances aren't shared with a foreign country that is being run by a blithering idiot racist bully.

Indonesia has a rapid retail payment method called QRIS. It's done from your phone and is so popular, a lot of shops and restaurants only accept that as payment, No cards, and no cash.

Trump wants in on both as it means US clearing is bypassed.

That is exactly why they were developed, and why I like them. I changed all my accounts to GPN to ensure the US can't stick its nose into my finances.

Whist it's unlikely to want to, stuff Trump anyway- Oops, they might want to now.

Trump's moronic actions are hitting the whole world to varying extents.

It certainly appears that the entire world (rightly or wrongly) is fixated on Trump.

I had a total free news day, Trump is mad, I've heard to much of his name. Those that keep on saying he only affects US citizens are idiots.  - @SimCityATIndonesia has an internal bank clearance system (GPN). it avoids any US involvement but is only usable within ASEAN.It's ideal for many as your personal finances aren't shared with a foreign country that is being run by a blithering idiot racist bully.Indonesia has a rapid retail payment method called QRIS. It's done from your phone and is so popular, a lot of shops and restaurants only accept that as payment, No cards, and no cash.Trump wants in on both as it means US clearing is bypassed.That is exactly why they were developed, and why I like them. I changed all my accounts to GPN to ensure the US can't stick its nose into my finances.Whist it's unlikely to want to, stuff Trump anyway- Oops, they might want to now.Trump's moronic actions are hitting the whole world to varying extents. - @Fred

If there are any international payments in USD transfers, they'll have go via the US Treasury.  That's the default.  I don't know of any international settlement system in USD that doesn't involve their correspondent banks.

EUR is always ECB settlement and SWIFT is at the heart of it.  The European instant payment system is called SEPA and it does allow for different currency for those not in the EU (i.e. UK) and or in the EU but not in the Eurozone (i.e. Hungary).

The best thing is the use of the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) and BIC (Bank Identification Code).  That is compulsory in SEPA and is found in many countries worldwide.   

US and Canadian banks really do not like that.   But it's a real game changer.  They are still mad keen on cheques (US: checks).  Cash is also still king.

The key thing is to avoid any payments in USD to avoid them being settled via the USA and therefore being interfered with by the Trump cult.   

China is one of biggest holders of US debt (Japan is the largest, UK close to China's holding, altogether 25% of US debt).  They can all really clobber the US if they went all in to screw with the US economy in the short- to mid-term simply by selling debt and forcing down the bond price.   

What is really interesting right now is the flight is usually from investment in US economy (i.e. riskier) to US bonds (i.e. sure bet on return) but US bonds are now considered unreliable under Trump's random BS so the price of gold has been going up rather a lot.   

There are other factors, like Trump's interference in the rule of law/courts.  No-one knows for sure if their litigation won't be subject to political corruption.

And no-one can be truly sure on what lunacy comes next so avoiding the US totally is the best policy. 

What gets me is why Trump and Co thought the result would be any different to what is happening now?   

It certainly appears that the entire world (rightly or wrongly) is fixated on Trump. - @Cynic

Rightly... and wrongly.

Trump is causing absolute havoc with everything he touches, and that stupidity is filtering down to everyone. I decided to move my retirement cash to a safer, but less profitable fund.

US workers are already ending up jobless, starting with the ones DOGE sacked, but Boeing is loosing orders like mad.

They are already in the poop as far as reputation does, so refused orders are not going to be helpful.

Trump taxing Chinese built vessels is stupidity on a stick.

I can see why he would want a strong shipbuilding industry, but that's years away, if it's possible at all.

The key thing is to avoid any payments in USD to avoid them being settled via the USA and therefore being interfered with by the Trump cult.
- @fluffy2560

or Biden. The big shift happened when Biden stole Russia's money.

Countries realised they were keeping their cash at America's pleasure, and that pushed them away.

Indonesia has massive Chinese investment (not debt), but the US has given us little.

It was a direct choice between a bully that gives nothing but threats, and a trading partner that has massively changed Indonesia for the better.

It wasn't a hard choice, but US clearing houses had to be cut out in order to ensure local financial safety

The key thing is to avoid any payments in USD to avoid them being settled via the USA and therefore being interfered with by the Trump cult.  - @fluffy2560or Biden. The big shift happened when Biden stole Russia's money.Countries realised they were keeping their cash at America's pleasure, and that pushed them away.Indonesia has massive Chinese investment (not debt), but the US has given us little.It was a direct choice between a bully that gives nothing but threats, and a trading partner that has massively changed Indonesia for the better.It wasn't a hard choice, but US clearing houses had to be cut out in order to ensure local financial safety - @Fred

Overall it's USD issue, not just about Biden or Trump although the latter clearly is looney tunes.  Avoid USD if you don't want the US Treasury to be on your critical path.   It's not relevant if you're working with EUR or AUD.

There's the 10K USD limit on declarations so anything over that amount will be automatically referred for US Treasury checks to see it's not terrorist, organised crime or some other problem area of financing that needs AML (Anti-Money Laundering) inspections etc.  One reason the US wants to know your business.

I've had the same discussions about local clearing/settlement methods numerous times.  Usually it works better if there's a local currency as well.  A few countries use the USD for settlement but they also have their own parallel currencies exchangeable 1:1.   Examples:  Bahamas, Panama, Timor-Leste and a few others.   Other countries went for the EUR (i.e. Montenegro).  Some Caribbean countries went with the ECD (Eastern Caribbean Dollar) (like Saint Lucia).

Micronesian countries are in currency union with the USA despite being their own sovereign states.  That means they have very little control over their monetary policy and debt financing/interest rates.  US will of course bail them out regardless as it's strategic - Trump stupidly tariffed them even though they are partially integrated into the US system.  Just weird.   USA is getting more actively interested in those backwaters because of China's increasing presence.

Overall it's USD issue, not just about Biden or Trump although the latter clearly is looney tunes. Avoid USD if you don't want the US Treasury to be on your critical path. It's not relevant if you're working with EUR or AUD.

- @ffluffy2560

Not really. If you use any payment method that uses US clearing (Inc Visa, Mastercard, etc.), you go through the US.

That applied regardless of country or currency.

I use the newer local version that does not use any US based groups

It's avoiding US services that is the bugger as far as Trump goes, but countries developed these because the US can't be trusted.

Trump has made that mistrust worse, but Biden started it.

Overall it's USD issue, not just about Biden or Trump although the latter clearly is looney tunes. Avoid USD if you don't want the US Treasury to be on your critical path. It's not relevant if you're working with EUR or AUD. - @ffluffy2560Not really. If you use any payment method that uses US clearing (Inc Visa, Mastercard, etc.), you go through the US. That applied regardless of country or currency.I use the newer local version that does not use any US based groupsIt's avoiding US services that is the bugger as far as Trump goes, but countries developed these because the US can't be trusted.Trump has made that mistrust worse, but Biden started it. - @Fred

You are right only to a certain extent.  And not about Biden. All these arrangements go back decades, way before any of the recent Presidents.   You've forgotten about bank regulation and licensing.

Payment systems are locally regulated as they must be because settlement in local currency must be done locally. 

The badging on the cards is just that, marketing by local banks.  Here, if you do currency transactions other than in local currency (i.e. if you pay in EUR but your card is denominated in GBP), then yes, the Treasury departments of MC/Visa/Eurocard can be involved if you select that if presented as an option during the transaction otherwise it's the issuing local bank treasury.   It's usually cheaper to get exchange via MC/Visa/Eurocard than a local bank.  They have better terms.

Settlements in local currency are via a local "switch" which routes the payment between banks via the (mandatory) settlement system of the central bank.  Central Banks are the issuer of the national currency.   It's not possible to operate a bank in a country without approval of the Central Bank and/or at least the banking regulator.   All must participate and maintain sufficient liquidity to cover their daily operations.

MC/Visa/Eurocard has relations with all the central banks via representative banks or directly in the country of currency issuance.

There's a lot of Pope stuff on the news. 

Apparently Trump will go there for the funeral.  That's despite Pope Francis admonishing Trump's policies on Gaza, Myanmar etc. 

People can be very amusing.

There are a few memes/photos going around of Shady Vance dressed as the Grim Reaper saying to Pope Francis, "You didn't say Thank You".

Marginally I'm sorry the Pope died but I had to laugh at those memes.

Funeral is Saturday apparently.   I think I'll be busy that day.   I'm thinking of jet washing my rubbish/trash bins if the weather holds up.   

@fluffy2560

Trump is really looking forward to the funeral, what a strange thing to say.

The pope is dead - I don't care.

I didn't know the dude, I have absolutely no interest in  him, and his death means nothing to me.

The same goes for every celeb and famous person that snuffs it - grief will not be outpouring from my soul.

I can see how Catholics in general, his mates, and others close to him might be upset, but I simply don't care.

There will be a new pope, and he will be forgotten by the press unless a bunch of little boys accuse him of getting them drunk on the communal wine and shagging them in the confessional.

The pope is dead - I don't care.I didn't know the dude, I have absolutely no interest in him, and his death means nothing to me.The same goes for every celeb and famous person that snuffs it - grief will not be outpouring from my soul.I can see how Catholics in general, his mates, and others close to him might be upset, but I simply don't care.There will be a new pope, and he will be forgotten by the press unless a bunch of little boys accuse him of getting them drunk on the communal wine and shagging them in the confessional. - @Fred

They are very hypocritical.   The RC church is of course loaded.  All those free workers sucked into the delusion. 

They could have interfered more over Gaza or Ukraine or any other conflict - take your pick.  Like you'll go to hell if you continue on the course and we're going to send priests/nuns in uniform and armed with crosses and stethoscopes to stand before the IDF.   Human shields in other words.  Not that the Israeli government cares much about aid workers or anyone really.

I looked into communal wine and a lot is of European origin.   That'll be hit by tariffs.   

I don't know if Trump was an originally Catholic.  Maybe he's nothing.  I am wondering why we haven't had Trump Church yet?   We've had the failed Trump University.   Another scam.

p.s. I was more upset by Gene Hackman.  He - at least - entertained people for years.  Sad ending for him.  Pope less so.  But the end result was the same.  I think Hackman will be taking the elevator up.  Don't know which way the ex-Pope is going.

@fluffy2560
Trump is really looking forward to the funeral, what a strange thing to say. - @SimCityAT

I hope he's looking forward to meeting the Pope.  And very soon.

@fluffy2560

He has the Trump bible, although he says he is a Christian, he can't name his favourite bible passage. We actually never see him going to church, he is always to busy playing golf at the weekends.

@fluffy2560
He has the Trump bible, although he says he is a Christian, he can't name his favourite bible passage. We actually never see him going to church, he is always to busy playing golf at the weekends. - @SimCityAT

Ah maybe he's just being  his usual hypocritical self.   

I forgot about the Bible. 

Why didn't he go for other church accoutrements?  Like candlesticks, alters, soft furnishings and so on.   

The Prince of Wales will attend the funeral of Pope Francis on behalf of the King, Kensington Palace has said.

The announcement comes weeks after King Charles had to cancel his engagements due to "temporary side effects" from his cancer treatment.

The monarch revealed in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning treatment.

He returned to public duties in April last year and sources suggested in December his treatment would continue in 2025 and was "moving in a positive direction".