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"Russian asset" implies that the Russian government has compromising information on Donald Trump, or otherwise has leverage over him, which enables them to exer

"Russian asset" implies that the Russian government has compromising information on Donald Trump, or otherwise has leverage over him, which enables them to exert some level of control over his actions. People often point to the fact that, though Trump loudly and frequently criticizes our closest military and economic allies, he seems completely incapable of saying a single negative thing about Russia or Putin. As well as Trump's apparent desire to leave NATO (Putin's number 1 wet dream) and allow Russia to take Ukraine (or otherwise end the war in ways beneficial to Russia).

coliveira 1y ago
The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them. All you said could be explained if he thinks that peace with Russia would be much better for the US than NATO expansionism, since it would reduce the tremendous cost of maintaining a war machine, put less money on the pockets of the war industry, and increase the opportunities for someone like him who wants to invest in real estate abroad.
- dragonwriter 1y ago
  > The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them “Asset” in the officer/agent/asset trio of terms for relations to foreign intel/influence operations does not denote ownership, and refers to people who provide access and information or other support without necessarily having the kind of formal control relationship and commitment that makes an agent. (One analogy I've seen used is with romantic relationships, where an agent is like a committed partner and a asset is in a friend-with-benefits relationship.)
  - coliveira 1y ago
    But this is not the meaning assigned in the case of Trump. The conspiracy theory is that he is "owned" in the sense of having some secret that can be exploited by Russia.
    - dragonwriter 1y ago
      There is a belief that he is an agent turned by kopromat, but the view that he is an asset is broader (since assets include agents, people using the “asset” description may hold to the stronger or weaker form, and often, in practice, believe that is af least the weaker form and possibly the stronger.)
      - coliveira 1y ago
        In other words, this is all nonsense. Trump is the product of American idiot policies, not someone invented by Russia.
- standardUser 1y ago
  Russia can end the war it started whenever it would like. It could probably get formal recognition of Crimea as part of the deal, at the very least. Instead, Russia continues to choose war.

coliveira 1y ago

The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them. All you said could be explained if he thinks that peace with Russia would be much better for the US than NATO expansionism, since it would reduce the tremendous cost of maintaining a war machine, put less money on the pockets of the war industry, and increase the opportunities for someone like him who wants to invest in real estate abroad.

dragonwriter 1y ago
> The fact that someone agrees with Russia's position doesn't immediately prove that he's an asset owned by them “Asset” in the officer/agent/asset trio of terms for relations to foreign intel/influence operations does not denote ownership, and refers to people who provide access and information or other support without necessarily having the kind of formal control relationship and commitment that makes an agent. (One analogy I've seen used is with romantic relationships, where an agent is like a committed partner and a asset is in a friend-with-benefits relationship.)
- coliveira 1y ago
  But this is not the meaning assigned in the case of Trump. The conspiracy theory is that he is "owned" in the sense of having some secret that can be exploited by Russia.
  - dragonwriter 1y ago
    There is a belief that he is an agent turned by kopromat, but the view that he is an asset is broader (since assets include agents, people using the “asset” description may hold to the stronger or weaker form, and often, in practice, believe that is af least the weaker form and possibly the stronger.)
    - coliveira 1y ago
      In other words, this is all nonsense. Trump is the product of American idiot policies, not someone invented by Russia.
standardUser 1y ago
Russia can end the war it started whenever it would like. It could probably get formal recognition of Crimea as part of the deal, at the very least. Instead, Russia continues to choose war.