The Obsolete Show

The Obsolete Show Presents: “Trump’s Policies vs. Putin’s Playbook” – A Two-Part Special with Het Mophant

Welcome to a special two-part investigation on The Obsolete Show, where resident economist, political analyst, and unapologetic truth-teller Het Mophant dissects one of the most unsettling questions of our time: How closely do Donald Trump’s policies align with what Vladimir Putin would want if he controlled the U.S. presidency?

In Part One, Het examines Trump’s foreign policy, unpacking how his approach to NATO, Ukraine, global alliances, and economic sanctions echoes Putin’s strategic objectives. Is Trump’s second-term agenda simply “America First,” or does it inadvertently (or deliberately) weaken U.S. influence while advancing Russian interests?

In Part Two, Het shifts focus to Trump’s domestic and economic policies—from tax cuts and government dismantling to trade wars and authoritarian governance. Are these policies fostering national strength, or are they gutting America from within, mirroring Putin’s own model of oligarchic rule?

Armed with cold facts and biting analysis, Het Mophant takes no prisoners in this deep dive into whether Trump’s presidency serves American interests—or Putin’s vision of a weakened, divided United States.

Part 1: Foreign Policy

How does Trump foreign policy align with what Putin would want if he controlled POTUS?

In his second term, President Donald Trump’s foreign policy exhibits significant alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategic objectives, particularly concerning the conflict in Ukraine and the restructuring of global alliances.

1. Ukraine Conflict and U.S.-Russia Relations

• Ceasefire and Negotiations: President Trump has prioritized ending the war in Ukraine, opting to engage directly with Russia. This approach includes initiating negotiations without preconditions, a move that has been perceived as a concession to Russian interests.
• Exclusion of Ukraine from Talks: Notably, initial discussions between U.S. and Russian officials have occurred without Ukrainian representation, raising concerns about Ukraine’s sovereignty and the potential for agreements that favor Russian territorial gains.
• Resource Agreements: The Trump administration has proposed that Ukraine allocate a significant portion of its mineral and oil resources to the U.S. as compensation for support, a proposition that has been controversial and aligns with Russia’s interest in weakening Ukraine’s economic independence.

2. Reshaping Global Alliances

• Diminished Support for NATO: The administration has signaled a reduced emphasis on NATO, with statements suggesting that Ukraine’s aspirations for membership are unrealistic. This stance undermines the alliance’s cohesion and aligns with Russia’s objective to weaken NATO’s influence in Eastern Europe.
• Bilateral U.S.-Russia Agreements: President Trump’s direct engagement with President Putin, including discussions about mutual security arrangements, reflects a shift towards bilateral agreements. This approach sidelines multilateral institutions and could lead to a reorganization of global power structures in a manner favorable to Russian interests.

3. Domestic Implications and Authoritarian Parallels

• Consolidation of Executive Power: Domestically, President Trump’s governance has shown tendencies toward centralizing authority, with actions that challenge traditional checks and balances. This approach mirrors President Putin’s consolidation of power in Russia and raises concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions in the U.S.

Conclusion

President Trump’s foreign policy decisions in his second term demonstrate a notable convergence with President Putin’s strategic goals. By adopting positions that favor Russian interests in Ukraine, restructuring global alliances to Russia’s advantage, and exhibiting domestic governance styles reminiscent of Russian authoritarianism, the Trump administration’s actions align closely with what Putin might desire if he had direct influence over U.S. policy.

Note from the Editor: The above editorial was created using ChatGPT 4.o from the prompt shown in Italics above. ChatGPT lists as sources Wikipedia,, foreignpolicy.com, elpais.com, theatlantic.com, theguardian.com, apnews.com, and newyorker.com. It is early in Trump’s term and it remains to be seen how his policies will play out. Hopefully, despite the current rhetoric, in the end the results align with the best interests of the USA and our allies, including Ukraine.

Media Bias Ratings

Source	Bias Rating	Factual Reporting	Source
Foreign Policy (foreignpolicy.com)	Center	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
El País (elpais.com)	Center-Left	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
The Atlantic (theatlantic.com)	Center-Left	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
The Guardian (theguardian.com)	Left	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
AP News (apnews.com)	Center	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
The New Yorker (newyorker.com)	Center-Left	High	Media Bias/Fact Check
Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)	Center	Variable	Media Bias/Fact Check

These ratings are based on evaluations of each outlet’s language, story selection, and editorial positions. It’s important to note that media bias assessments can vary between different evaluators, and consulting multiple sources can provide a more comprehensive understanding of an outlet’s perspective.