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Krugman compares Trump's UN speech to Bananas, questions mental fitness

Economist Paul Krugman argues Trump's renaming of AI and planned armed arch reveal cognitive decline, not just policy disagreement.

What to know

  • Trump announced at the UN that the U.S. will rebrand 'artificial intelligence' as 'superintelligence,' claiming the term 'artificial' makes it sound fake.
  • Krugman argues Trump's recent statements—the AI rebranding and plans for an armed monument with drones and snipers—demonstrate cognitive decline, not policy disagreement.
  • Krugman draws an explicit parallel to Woody Allen's 1971 film Bananas, where a fictional dictator announces absurd policies, suggesting Trump's pronouncements have crossed into parody.

“Comparing Trump to a fictional character is unfair — to the fictional character. After all, in Bananas the mad dictator is quickly removed from power.”

Paul Krugman, Economist and columnist · Substack ↗ · Sep 22

Trump U.S. PresidentPaul KrugmanPaul Krugman Economist and columnist

Krugman compares Trump's UN speech to Bananas, questions mental fitness
paulkrugman.substack.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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  1. 1

    Krugman argues Trump's statements signal cognitive decline, compares to Bananas

    Economist Paul Krugman published an analysis arguing that Trump's recent statements—particularly the AI rebranding and the armed arch announcement—represent clear evidence of mental deterioration rather than conventional policy disagreement. Krugman drew an explicit parallel to the 1971 Woody Allen film Bananas, in which a fictional dictator announces absurd policies like mandatory underwear changes and wearing underwear on the outside.

    “isn't the bigger story the fact that the leader of what used to be the world's most powerful nation… has clearly and undeniably lost his mind?”
    — Paul Krugman
    1. first by Paul Krugman, 16h ago

    • jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.com

      Paul Krugman says Trump is bananas. > It’s “Underwear on the Outside” Time. https:// paulkrugman.substack.com/p/its -underwear-on-the-outside-time > Most reporting on Trump’s speech emphasized either his belligerence — his rejection of global cooperation — or the fact that almost everything he said was a lie. But isn’t the bigger story the fact…

      jackwilliambell@rustedneuron.comMastodon12h agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    Trump addresses UN General Assembly, calls for rebranding AI — At the UN, Trump rejected what he called a "globalist scheme to control" AI and announced a terminological shift, stating that "superintelligence" should replace "artificial intelligence" because the word artificial "makes intelligence fake."

  3. background

    Trump announces Triumphal Arch with drone and sniper capabilities — Trump announced plans for a gigantic arch overlooking Washington DC designed to house and rapidly deploy large numbers of drones and snipers, with ammunition storage.