@DemocratDavis @Eva_eva_P @RonFilipkowski 1).
The series of peculiar portraits of Donald Trump are paraphrases of a painting [1] [2] by Francis Bacon (1909–1992) entitled „Study after Velázquezʼs Portrait of Pope Innocent X” from 1953,
@DemocratDavis @Eva_eva_P @RonFilipkowski 2).
which is in turn is a version of the „Portrait of Innocent X” painted by Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) in 1650 [2].
@DemocratDavis @Eva_eva_P @RonFilipkowski Please unroll @threadreaderapp. Thank you in advance 𓃠
@DemocratDavis @Eva_eva_P @RonFilipkowski 1).
It is also worth painting atention to this „Saturn Devouring His Son” [1] is not only a version of Francisco Goya (1746–1828) [2], but – due to the face of the Saturn-Trump monster – is a reference to the work of Francis Bacon [1].
1).
On Thurs., March 27, 2025, the dictator of the RF, Vladimir Pootin, supported the possibility of introducing a temporary international administration in Ukraine, e.g. under the auspices of the @UN.
2).
In addition, he once again stated that Volodymyr @ZelenskyyUa is an illegitimate president, which, in his opinion, makes it impossible to sign a peace treaty with him.
2).
Aside from the Maga populists there are now the »broligarchs«, ultra-wealthy tech executives like @elonmusk who have become some of the @POTUS's most ardent supporters.
3).
There are also working-class Black and Hispanic voters who backed @realDonaldTrump for the first time last Nov., attracted by his promise to bring down prices on day one.
1).
„Sherwood Eddy (1871–1963) [1] was a prominent American missionary as well as that now rare thing, a Christian socialist. In the 1920s and ’30s, he made more than a dozen trips to the Soviet Union.
2).
[...] he thought he had found in Russia something that his own individualistic society lacked: a “unified philosophy of life.” In Russia, he wrote, »all life is focused in a central purpose.
3).
It is directed to a single high end and energized by such powerful and glowing motivation that life seems to have supreme significance«.
Eddy was wrong about much of what he saw. J. Stalin was a liar and a mass murderer; Russians worked because they were hungry and afraid.
@yashar 1).
„@SecGenNATO Mark Rutte said Wed. that four U.S. soldiers who went missing while on a training range in Lithuania have died but that he did not yet know the details [1] [2].
@yashar @SecGenNATO 2).
All of the soldiers were from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, a rotational unit deployed to @NATO's eastern flank, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in statement [2].”
@RonFilipkowski 1).
„Today, almost all of Russia’s pipelines to Europe are shuttered. The continent is now the primary customer [2] for US LNG;
@RonFilipkowski 2).
shortly after the re-election of @realDonaldTrump last year, EU Commission president Ursula @vonderleyen said [2] that Europe should bring down Russian gas imports by replacing them with even more US LNG.
@RonFilipkowski @realDonaldTrump @vonderleyen 3).
Recent reports of US-led efforts to reopen the last undamaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline and possibly repair another are therefore somewhat startling, to say the least.
2).
When @_FriedrichMerz, likely Germany’s next chancellor, calls for his country’s »independence« from Washington, or the Estonian European Commission vice president @kajakallas demands a new western leader,
@_FriedrichMerz @kajakallas 3).
or Brussels acolytes again advocate an EU »pillar« within @NATO, they are singing Trump’s song. They are giving him a permission slip to withdraw from @NATO, which he can justify as graciously acceding to European wishes.