I am convinced a major factor in the tariff disaster is that Trump has so consistently been met with cowardice and capitulation from every quarter in American politics that he imagined other countries would just as easily fold to bullying.
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Trump is suffering from the eternal curse of the dictator - he's surrounded himself with sycophants and yes men who are too afraid to push back on his bad ideas. Hence tariffs on Lesotho.
I simply don't get it. Why doesn't everyone just let Trump do whatever, shrug their shoulders, stick together and find other countries to deal with? That would minimize the negative impact of Trump's tariffs for everyone. Isn't that how you defeat a bully?
While other countries are definitely learning into their other trade agreements (actually, that trans-pacific trade agreement that Trump hates is pretty good for the Countries involved), the absolute scale of the US economy means uncoupling trade instantly like this does hit those Countries hard.
Thanks, understood. But they are hit hard whether they retaliate or not. They suffer even more if they retaliate. So why not shut up, deal with the tariff pain while looking for more cooperative trade partners? Like all wars, a trade war one nobody can win.
He's been getting away with the bullying tactic for years. His refusal to pay contactors for work done is an example. The contractor figures it'll be cheaper to back down than to fight him in court.
To be fair, divide and conquer has been an effective strategy throughout human history. Dealing with each country individually we could dominate them, dealing with the whole world collectively responding with tariffs would be a disaster for us.
He’s also incredibly delusional and frames everything as a win. He thinks the wall was successful because a small part was built. He thinks he was successful in the Middle East because there was a ceasefire (that Israel ignored). No one tells how much he sucks at everything.
He is an emboldened bully for sure. Claims people are calling to “kiss his ass.” Crass, demented, undeserving of any respect. Yet the MAGA/GOP cultists are afraid to speak out due to fear the bully will turn his attention to them.
Imagine a man born with a silver spoon firmly planted up his ass, who has never had to struggle or want for anything, living his entire life thinking he’s in charge of everyone after being told “yes” since birth by people hoping to get a piece of the financial pie.
It’s not just cowardice toward Trump… it’s that Americans put their president on a pedestal, and revere them instead of seeing the president as simply an elected official, no more than that.
I remember an American news reporter being surprised that Emmanuel Macron stood up to the “Chief”when he visited the White House. I pointed out to him that he isn’t Macron’s chief
Lots of folks somehow didn’t see that minor short term bullying success was very obviously not going to be able to be ratcheted up as some sort of long term strategy.
I have no love for Dems and other institutions decisions on the face of this monsters. HOWEVER, we all are reacting in real time to the mess created by GOP, Trump and USSC. These are not the same. One failed to meet the moment. The other purposely unleashed this upon the world to hurt everyone.
Exactly this. Schoolyard bully tactics are a facade, bc in fact, the bully is afraid of a physical fight. His power is in verbal assaults and threats and hoping his target will be intimidated and walk away.
He doesn’t understand what a trade deficit is. He is unqualified completely unqualified for this job. He has no resume for a job like this. He is an actual old demented idiot.
Republicans have spent 40 years arguing with the straw men in their heads and keep getting shocked and surprised (awed, even) when reality punches them in the nose.
People are scared of Trump because they're scared of his MAGA terrorist followers. But they can only intimidate people at home, they have no power anywhere else.
Absolutely. The cowardice of the entire GOP is to blame for this, no matter which angle you're looking at it from.
But other governments are going to respond with "fuck you" not the "yes sir" he got from his GOP toadies. They made him, they trained him, they are to blame.
One of the most petty, ignorant, and malevolent men in the history of the world has been made to feel invincible and has been given near absolute power to shape the world according to his avaricious desires and boneheaded grievances.
There's still just enough power left with Congress + courts that, if they realized their stock portfolios etc. will be totally ruined if this continues, they can reign him in. Plus, it's not like there are masses of people cheering for the tariffs atm -- more of a wary acceptance.
Trump imposes tariffs, Musk experiences its harm and now thinks tariffs are BAD. Musk imposes DOGE, Musk is blind & ignores its harm and still thinks DOGE is good. Musk called the tariff promoter a "moron". Musk should look in the mirror.
It's a socio-pathology characterized by compulsive greed and a total absence of empathy for others. They operate on the single motivation of increasing their wealth. Even their interest in politics is premised on decimating government solely to lower their taxes (and perhaps procure gov contracts).
But how is it that this country is the most devoid of the characteristics that it has been mythologized for 100 years as having?
This question hangs over me all of the time.
America as a country, and its culture, are so aligned with money, power and greed. That leads folks to look out only for themselves. Most of the rest of the world still values life and liberty and are willing to fight for it.
You’re forgetting crypto. There’s a schism in MAGA between the people who want to do what you say (e.g. a more traditional Republican administration) and the Yarvin disciples who would like to see the dollar demolished and the world economy on crypto, a currency controlled by tech oligarchs.
He underestimated other leaders’ interests in protecting their constituents.
We’ve got to push the House to impeach and the Senate to remove. Him AND JD. And yes I know who that puts in there but let’s be real about how long it’s going to take to even get them to hear this. And someone arrest Elon.
Yes. But hear me out. Heritage Foundation/broligarchs would NOT use Trump if they didn’t HAVE to. No one likes that guy. Pull that pin and lots of things fall apart. Also, if they started today, by the time this happens, we’ll be close to mid-terms and a lot can change. Anyway, gotta try something.
he is absolutely incapable of understanding that other countries have their own internal politics and also don’t have the same network of 24/7 propaganda networks propping up his bullshit
Also in 2017, Europe saw Trump as a fluke they had to get through by mitigating damage & preserving the alliance, usually by humoring him. He no longer has the same leverage after burning down the alliance but still he didn't anticipate their resolve. And he never understood the source of US power.
Yeah, I think it's probably a little tougher to get Xi to roll over than it is to get some electrical contractor from Leonia, NJ to just take a check for 30% rather than go bankrupt from an unending fire hose of legal fees.
not so fast sanchez. 74 MILLION of us who didn't vote for the vain cowardly bully have not capitulated because we continue to march against him. i personally wanna' get a boxing glove and smash his orange face.
Hell, he already says other countries are calling kissing his ass. So many, in fact, he can’t get them all scheduled. However, I would suspect if any country is calling at all, they are calling to tell him to kiss their ass. He does live in a fantasy after all.
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It is the Democrats’ job, and they have given him everything he wants with zero resistance.
Trump simply doesn't have the cards.
#tariffs #trump #stockmarket #handsoff
Explain to me what the prize is ?
Congress can fix this and muzzle this mad dog.
The marches are only gonna get bigger!
It's how he's lived his entire life. When all you have is a hammer . . .
I hope they get diabetes.
This is something the Oath should apply to.
There is no such legal system internarionally.
Trump, his family, and cronies can take long positions in stocks and when he says "tariffs off" they'll make billions.
He has the power to destroy or create trillions of $ in minutes.
But other governments are going to respond with "fuck you" not the "yes sir" he got from his GOP toadies. They made him, they trained him, they are to blame.
https://ycharts.com/indicators/cme_sandp_500_consolidated_combined_total_reportable_short_positions
1. Came possibly mm from death, giving him sense of physical invulnerability + mandate of heaven
2. A cultish fanbase and fawning media that rarely criticize
3. The highest court in the land repeatedly ruling in his favor, and giving him near total immunity in office
Trump found him.
Recently this has expanded into destroying & stealing everything to fund their own kingdoms (network nations)
Consciencelesness is difficult for people with consciences to grasp
This question hangs over me all of the time.
Trump, his family, and cronies can take long positions in stocks and when he says "tariffs off" they'll make billions.
He has the power to destroy or create trillions of $ in minutes.
He told everyone exactly what he was going to do!
We’ve got to push the House to impeach and the Senate to remove. Him AND JD. And yes I know who that puts in there but let’s be real about how long it’s going to take to even get them to hear this. And someone arrest Elon.
"So unfair"
"If they don't lower it I will raise even more!"
Etc.