Words matter. And in all the discussion around President Trump’s proposed rare Earth elements deal with Ukraine, why have we never heard the proper words used to describe it? It’s not a “deal,” it’s not a “negotiation”: it’s extortion.

The thug holding the Oval Office in the United States is demanding the ravaged nation of Ukraine to pay us protection money. “Nice country you used to have. Be a shame if we let the Russians just take it from you.”

Not, mind you, that we should be surprised. Anyone who has any familiarity with Donald Trump’s business career knows this is precisely the thing he is good at. “Give me what I want and I won’t hurt you. Don’t give it to me, and I’ll find your opponents, and then get it from them.”

And why are President Macron of France and Prime Minister Starmer of the UK coming to Washington this week to meet with the president? Because they don’t want to be next.

This is how low we’ve stooped with the election of Donald Trump: the United States of America is now a thug running a protection racket.

Brie Stimson reports Trump told reporters “I think they want it, and they feel good about it.” Come on baby, you know you want it. You know it’ll be good for you.

Nick Paton Walsh, in this piece, at least says the United States has become “a transactional predactor.”