We keep wondering WTF is Trump's rationale for these destructive tariffs. As Chait mentions, his entire strategy is full of holes. If you're going to negotiate tariff reductions, you have to present the face of someone who is not going to negotiate a reduction in tariffs. Trump HAS signaled that he will negotiate. Given how aggressively destructive these tariffs are, why would anyone negotiate with him in good faith?
We also have Richardson sourcing this quote from the WSJ:
The reporters note that Trump didn’t land on a plan until less than three hours before he announced it, and made his choice with little input from business or foreign leaders. Neither Republican lawmakers nor the president’s team knew what Trump would do. “He’s at the peak of just not giving a f*ck anymore,” a White House official told the reporters. “Bad news stories? Doesn’t give a f*ck. He’s going to do what he’s going to do. He’s going to do what he promised to do on the campaign trail.”
So...that's not great. Trump exploded a massive bomb in the middle of global trade, and he then went to Florida for a gold tournament sponsored by the blood thirsty Saudi oligarchs. Meanwhile, the remains for four US servicemen are being returned to Dover AFB today.
Trump has clearly decided that he will never have to answer to voters again. The obvious reason is that he is a lame duck, not that he is going to try and violate the Constitution and try to run. Also, he's pretty dumb.
The argument that he simply wants to punish America for 2020 doesn't feel so far fetched anymore.
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