General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSaudi Arabia is playing the Donald in the smartest way possible ....
Flatter him to death. Treat him like visiting royalty. Throw lots of pomp and ceremony at him. Give him medals. Validate his lifestyle, and his nepotistic governing style, just like theirs. Ignore his past Islamophobia. Use him.
Trump desperately needs approval, and in his narcissism needs to be thought of as extraordinary, and the Saudis are willing to feed that need. He is known to be extremely susceptible to flattery. They own him, now.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-gets-elaborate-welcome-in-saudi-arabia-embarking-on-first-foreign-trip/2017/05/20/679f2766-3d1d-11e7-a058-ddbb23c75d82_story.html?utm_term=.e94ae5e8d11a
"In a series of official arrival ceremonies at the airport and the Royal Court palace Trump, his wife, Melania, and an entourage including virtually his entire senior White House staff and some of his Cabinet, were serenaded by military bands, treated to a flyover of Saudi jets, feted in opulent palaces and given the undivided attention of King Salman, ruler of this ultraconservative Muslim nation.
As Trump arrived at Murabba Palace for a royal dinner, hundreds of Saudi men in long, white robes danced the Ardha, a traditional sword dance that is performed on Saudi National Day and in honor of special guests.
Trump, grinning broadly at the festivities, waded in and took a few obligatory dips in the dance. Several of Trumps male aides, along with Salman, participated with more enthusiasm. Tillerson and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross raised swords and linked arms with Saudis, chanting to the beat of feathered drums, while Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn also laughed and swayed.
..............................................................
Jubeir, in the news conference with Tillerson, heaped praise on Trump, saying that the foreign policy novice had the vision, strength and decisiveness, in the estimation of the Saudi leadership, to bring peace between Israel and Palestine. The minister went on to borrow one of Trumps favorite campaign slogans, saying that a new relationship between the United States and the Arab world could drain the swamps from which extremism and terrorism emanates. "
C_U_L8R
(45,021 posts)The soup line servers at Sing Sing may not be so obsequious
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)and I'm sure he hasn't a clue. They get their arms deal and he gets some industrial-strength ego strokes, and he can go home and proclaim what a great visit he had and how much they loved him.
chelsea0011
(10,115 posts)in arms he forks over.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)They've got cynical ass-kissing down to an art form.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)These are beautiful priceless creations.
Not quite trumpfuck..
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)He's being managed so beautifully and artfully that I am in awe. It's not Trump that's like the Strad, it's the playing of him. The Saudis have managed to make a cigar-box violin with rubber-band strings sound like a Strad by their magnificent performance of epic, weapons-grade flattery.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)I just wouldn't have picked Hillary Hahn.
For me....Kyung-Wha Chung.
In fact I was at her recital at Carnegie Hall thurs nite when she made history playing all 6 Bach Sonatas and Partitas.
It was Beyond belief!!!
🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻
DFW
(54,445 posts)BannonsLiver
(16,470 posts)imanamerican63
(13,817 posts)"WAIT until he(Trump) gives his Muslim hate speech tomorrow then see how fast they give him the "ROYAL boot" and throw him out of the country"!
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Democracies...not so much.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)A few trinkets and a little flattery and he's anybody's bitch.
God, help us!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)If it's worth more than $375 (and it almost certainly is; the Saudis don't skimp on gold) it has to be turned over to the National Archives.
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)That he will follow the rules.
onethatcares
(16,188 posts)but a few well placed shots of tequila would create a fine picture.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)He is that crazy without the benefit of alcohol.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)onethatcares
(16,188 posts)thanks.
GeorgeGist
(25,323 posts)ending up behind bars.
BigmanPigman
(51,632 posts)I want him to go down in history as the most evil, sociopathic, and bankrupt ex-pesident. That would really anger him the most (ego and greed).
kentuck
(111,110 posts)..as Rome burns.
Flatter him and make him feel important.
Putin understands that as well.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Maybe corrupt IS good for them. He can be bought.
BTW, I've read that Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that loaned the Don millions, when he couldn't get loans in the U S and elsewhere after his bankruptcies. So he's indebted to them big time. So no surprise to learn that we will be giving S.A. a lot of money, if what I read is true.
The Donald loves spending OPM (Other People's Money), as he has said.
NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)Ilsa
(61,698 posts)Russia managed him. It's easy to play to his weaknesses with a few lies about his greatness, success, etc, and throwing trinkets at him.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)mountain grammy
(26,655 posts)the Saudis. Bet donnie wishes he was a king.
TygrBright
(20,771 posts)Motley13
(3,867 posts)Lotusflower70
(3,077 posts)It's going from one manipulation to another. I heard a Saudi spokesman say about what Trump said on the campaign trail as just talk. But I think that is the poker face. They aren't going to put it all out there. They are doing what they need to get what they want and they are laughing at it.