President-elect Donald Trump, known for his bold rhetoric during the campaign trail, has recently tempered his grandiose promises as he transitions to governing. Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged sweeping actions, such as quickly reducing costs, resolving the Ukraine war even before taking office, and using tariffs to boost the U.S. economy and manufacturing. However, since his victory in November's election, he has suggested that fulfilling these commitments may prove more challenging than initially portrayed.  

 

In a recent interview on "Meet the Press," Trump admitted he could not guarantee that tariffs wouldn't lead to higher consumer prices. During a separate interview with *Time* magazine, where he was honored as Person of the Year, Trump acknowledged the complexities of lowering costs. “It’s difficult to bring down the cost of groceries once they’ve gone up,” he conceded.  

 

Similarly, during his first post-election press conference from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump signaled that resolving the war in Ukraine might be even more complex than managing tensions in the historically volatile Middle East.  

 

Critics, including Democrats, were quick to interpret these remarks as a backpedaling of campaign promises. Some suggested Trump was lowering expectations or reneging on his commitments. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) highlighted this sentiment, posting on X, “Candidate Trump promised to lower grocery prices, but now it seems he isn’t even going to try.” She added, “While champagne corks pop at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Trump says that he can’t really lower grocery prices because it’s ‘very hard.’ Sad. It’s the start of a broken promise.”  

 

Nonetheless, Trump’s allies defended his shift in tone, framing it as a natural transition from campaign rhetoric to the more nuanced responsibilities of governing. “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the transition team and incoming White House press secretary.  

 

One Trump ally dismissed accusations of inconsistency, asserting that the president-elect was merely moving away from the dramatic sales pitch typical of campaigns. Trump himself suggested a pragmatic outlook when asked if his presidency would be considered a failure if costs didn’t decline. “Look, they got them up. I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” he said. “But I think that they will. I think energy is going to bring them down. I think a better supply chain is going to bring them down. You know, the supply chain is still broken.”  

 

In other areas of foreign affairs, Trump has oscillated between his characteristic bombast and newfound pragmatism. He floated provocative ideas such as suggesting Canada become the 51st U.S. state and revisiting American control of the Panama Canal, alongside revisiting Greenland’s acquisition as a "necessity." Analysts speculate these statements could be part of strategic negotiating tactics aimed at leveraging trade and tariffs to benefit the U.S.  

 

Regarding the Ukraine conflict, Trump appeared to step back from his earlier debate-stage assertion that he would end the war “before even becoming president.” This week, he told reporters that resolving the Ukraine-Russia war would likely be more challenging than managing tensions in the Middle East, a region rife with conflicts involving Israel, Iran, and Syria.  

 

While Democrats frame these shifts as early evidence of broken promises, Trump and his team argue that the adjustments reflect a realistic approach to governing—a balance between ambition and practicality. As the president-elect prepares to take office, the weight of global complexities and domestic challenges appears to be shaping his approach to the promises that energized his campaign.  

 

Based on a report by The Hill 2024-12-31

 

 

 

Well who saw that coming?

 

Meanwhile he’s apparently warmed to other ideas:

https://truthout.org/articles/with-the-campaign-over-donald-trump-now-says-he-likes-parts-of-project-2025/

 

He is constantly lying, and it does not make any sense to believe anything he says.

When will people understand this simple fact? It's not so difficult to see.

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Well who saw that coming?

 

Meanwhile he’s apparently warmed to other ideas:

https://truthout.org/articles/with-the-campaign-over-donald-trump-now-says-he-likes-parts-of-project-2025/

 

Now do The Labour Party. (wait for it: wahtaboutery, that's not the topic of this discussion etc).

Hardly "shifting tone": grifter that he is, his promises were swallowed hook line and sinker by the delusional rubes that see him as the second coming.

"Trump and his team argue that the adjustments reflect a realistic approach to governing" in other words, lie as much as you want during campaign, then perhaps tell a bit of truth later when it doesn't matter.

10 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Now do The Labour Party. (wait for it: wahtaboutery, that's not the topic of this discussion etc).

I’m pleased to see you are developing some semblance of self awareness.

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m pleased to see you are developing some semblance of self awareness.

Now do The Labour Party.

Prepare for continuous whining from Trump, blaming the deep state, etc.. as well as lame excuses from MAGA rubes such as "they did not let him apply his program" B.S. 😆

All politicians stretch the truth, it's what they do.

 

THIS guy straight out says black is white, up is down, I won't cut old folks' benefits as I look into how to cut old folks' benefits, I won't separate families as I establish putting kids in foster homes to separate families, etc.

 

Old folks are NOW starting to worry about the cuts coming and have openly asked this liar not to f*** them over because they voted for him.  Fools!

Russia brutally rejects Trump’s Ukraine plan

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/russia-rejects-trump-transition-teams-floated-ideas-to-end-the-war-in-ukraine/news-story/a5f6d6a961606a1c142d41218fa9263f

21 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

He is constantly lying, and it does not make any sense to believe anything he says.

When will people understand this simple fact? It's not so difficult to see.

Tell me the name of a politician that doesn't lie.

21 hours ago, Emdog said:

Hardly "shifting tone": grifter that he is, his promises were swallowed hook line and sinker by the delusional rubes that see him as the second coming.

"Trump and his team argue that the adjustments reflect a realistic approach to governing" in other words, lie as much as you want during campaign, then perhaps tell a bit of truth later when it doesn't matter.

 

his promises were swallowed hook line and sinker by the delusional rubes that see him as the second coming.

 

Nah. The voters were given a choice between Trump a known liar and Harris a known liar that was also an idiot, and chose the one that wasn't a warmonger

21 hours ago, Emdog said:

Trump and his team argue that the adjustments reflect a realistic approach to governing" in other words, lie as much as you want during campaign, then perhaps tell a bit of truth later when it doesn't matter.

Isn't that what all politicians do during an election campaign?

 

How did your hero Biden do on the "I will unite the country"?

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Tell me the name of a politician that doesn't lie.

Shirley Chisholm

8 hours ago, still kicking said:

Russia brutally rejects Trump’s Ukraine plan

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/russia-rejects-trump-transition-teams-floated-ideas-to-end-the-war-in-ukraine/news-story/a5f6d6a961606a1c142d41218fa9263f

Clearly Putin doesn’t understand the idea of sovereignty.

 

Nor, it seems does Trump as he offers up British and European troops for this plan of his.

 

 

24 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Tell me the name of a politician that doesn't lie.

There is a difference between not telling the whole truth and bending the truth a little and constantly deliberately lying all the time.

Obviously, it would be nice if all politicians, or all people, would always tell the truth. But we all know that is not the case.

 

In most cases, when top politicians say something on stage in public, they thought about what they say, especially if they are the head of state. Trump just makes up anything he likes like firing from the hip. I.e. that BS again with Greenland and Panama.

He is full of <deleted>. But somehow many of his supporters seem to think that makes him authentic or one of them or something like that. Sad. 

11 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But somehow many of his supporters seem to think that makes him authentic or one of them or something like that. Sad. 

The oft heard response to that is: Oh, that's just Trump-being-Trump.

Of course not.  Fact checks are available from just about every developed country about politicians campaign promises.  Many promises are not full filled.  Seems naive and uneducated for people to think these politicians will actually do everything they say. Look at all the controversial,hate, or even criminal things he has said and done. People did not care, because they disliked her.  It is what it is.

47 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Of course not.  Fact checks are available from just about every developed country about politicians campaign promises.  Many promises are not full filled.  Seems naive and uneducated for people to think these politicians will actually do everything they say. Look at all the controversial,hate, or even criminal things he has said and done. People did not care, because they disliked her.  It is what it is.

I don’t categorically disagree with you but major campaign promises that won him the election will not be so forgiving if he do a 360. Policies like immigration, Medicare, social security, environment and even transportation etc are expected to be fulfilled and if not will earn the wrath of his base and even the House. The immigration turnaround has already disappointed some of his loyal supporters. 

19 hours ago, candide said:

Prepare for continuous whining from Trump, blaming the deep state, etc.. as well as lame excuses from MAGA rubes such as "they did not let him apply his program" B.S. 😆

yessir as a true narcissist, he only blames others for his faults as he is Mr. Perfect in his mind

19 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

All politicians stretch the truth, it's what they do.

 

THIS guy straight out says black is white, up is down, I won't cut old folks' benefits as I look into how to cut old folks' benefits, I won't separate families as I establish putting kids in foster homes to separate families, etc.

 

Old folks are NOW starting to worry about the cuts coming and have openly asked this liar not to f*** them over because they voted for him.  Fools!

Most of the ones who will be <deleted> this time are countries other than America. as in if you dont live in the US, things can get real bad

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Of course not.  Fact checks are available from just about every developed country about politicians campaign promises.  Many promises are not full filled.  Seems naive and uneducated for people to think these politicians will actually do everything they say. Look at all the controversial,hate, or even criminal things he has said and done. People did not care, because they disliked her.  It is what it is.

 

Divide and conquer. 

2 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Most of the ones who will be <deleted> this time are countries other than America. as in if you dont live in the US, things can get real bad

Let’s see who pays the tariffs he has stated he is going to implement. 

 

And while distracted by that what happens to the Social Security millions of Americans rely on in their old age.

 

 

 

"When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one," he vowed.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/donald-trump-says-reason-he-won-last-months-presidential-election

 

Impatiently waiting for this to happen on day one! 

1 hour ago, candide said:

"When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one," he vowed.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/donald-trump-says-reason-he-won-last-months-presidential-election

 

Impatiently waiting for this to happen on day one! 

Mind boggling to think there are people who believe this compulsive liar.

 

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-promised-no-wars-and-lower-prices-now-hes-walking-that-back?srsltid=AfmBOoqwP_BXXYxVTfNiPgA__w7169R3m1sdU-N0tQ-SNcfhWXIzOBHC

Standard answer to the above: That's just Trump playing 3-dimensional chess -- he only makes those 'walk back' type comments to put all the leftist folks into a tizzy.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s see who pays the tariffs he has stated he is going to implement. 

 

And while distracted by that what happens to the Social Security millions of Americans rely on in their old age.

 

 

 

BOHICA.

21 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Trump just makes up anything he likes like firing from the hip.

Which is why he is popular. Voters have had enough of the standard cookie cutter lying hypocritical self serving incompetents that normally enter politics, and wanted someone more like a normal person.

 

You keep trying to look at politics as it is normally, run by a bunch of useless drones, and how the public want it to be, as an institution that exists to better their lives, not make politicians like Biden, Obama and Pelosi unusually rich. IMO.

 

I also think you ignore the "dislike" the average American hold for Washington, a snake pit of lying self serving incompetents, run by lobbyists and benefiting only the rich at the expense of the many.

19 hours ago, Presnock said:

yessir as a true narcissist, he only blames others for his faults as he is Mr. Perfect in his mind

I don't know what you are taking with your cereal, but keep on taking it. You might not like reality.

21 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There is a difference between not telling the whole truth and bending the truth a little and constantly deliberately lying all the time.

How about "I will not pardon my son"? Is that not telling the whole truth, or a deliberate lie?