The last leader of the Roman Empire was Romulus Augustulus, a 12-year-old boy.

Yeah, when you read something like that in the history books, it makes you raise an eyebrow, doesn't it? Back then, they must have been completely off their rockers, right?

Until you realize that the most powerful country in the world was "governed" for years by a president with dementia.

And his successor isn't much better, I'm afraid.

He claimed he would solve the war in Ukraine in one day, and during his election campaign, he warned that Democrats were pushing the US towards WW3 and that he was the only presidential candidate who could still prevent it.

Well, on Friday, he sent two nuclear submarines towards Russia in response to statements made by former President Medvedev.

An Unprecedented Escalation

He also indicated he was "prepared for a nuclear war".

And all that over a few tweets from a former president whom I don't think anyone really takes seriously anymore. Five years ago, The Guardian already wrote about how he had become totally irrelevant and was forced to step aside.

Imagine if Putin were to send nuclear submarines towards the US because of statements made by Bill Clinton?

It's a deliberate provocation by Trump.

His unorthodox negotiation techniques might work well with von der Leyen, but Russians and Chinese aren't really impressed by all that bluffing and threatening.

And for Trump, it means he has to raise the stakes even further to achieve his goal. A particularly dangerous game.

Federal Reserve Changes

Meanwhile, Adriana Kugler is stepping down as a member of the Federal Reserve Board, which means Trump will soon be able to bring in another pawn.

It must be getting too hot for Jay Powell, and I don't know how long the good man can withstand the massive pressure.

Especially since the last FOMC meeting was turbulent, with two dissenting votes. This kind of division hasn't occurred since the 90s.

It seems that here too, Trump will get his way, and he'll soon be able to put his stamp on the central bank's policy.

Perhaps that's the only thing still missing to completely turn the US into a banana republic: the incessant hum of the money presses.

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