People who were concerned about how Trump might blow up the G7 Summit this past weekend can put those fears to rest because he behaved exactly as most Americans expected him to behave. /sarcasm
Beginning with a threat to “retaliate” against France for taxing US tech companies with a “substantial” tariff on French wine, Trump put on a happy face and delivered a cluster of confusion about his trade policies and failing trade war with China.
After giving early indications that he was softening his hardline approach toward China and expressing his regrets for how things have spun out-of-control, Trump said he was having “second thoughts” about the trade war. A few hours later he changed his mind and said his only regret was that he didn’t raise the tariffs higher.
This double minded behavior by the man who is considering issuing an emergency declaration to order private companies to cease doing business in/with China is creating dangerous uncertainty abroad. But it’s also creating uncertainty for US businesses and that’s beginning to impact job creation.
For all of the Fake News Reporters that don’t have a clue as to what the law is relative to Presidential powers, China, etc., try looking at the Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Case closed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 24, 2019
Even as major economic indicators predict a near-certain recession as a result of the trade war, Trump and the GOP are doubling down on stupid as they spin their election season rhetoric about what Trump calls the “greatest economy in the HISTORY of America.”
Some of the rhetoric begins with an admission that despite Trump’s claim that China is paying for his trade war, US consumers are bearing the brunt of the economic conflict. Unfortunately, instead of using this reality to correct these erroneous policies, Republicans seated in their elitist ivory tower in Washington dismiss the economic hardships these trade policies are creating with a “let them eat cake” attitude ala Marie Antoinette.
When Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) appeared on CBS This Morning to promote his new book a few months ago, he was asked about Trump’s trade war and offered his “apples to oranges” comparison for an answer. “There will be some sacrifice on the part of Americans,” he said. “But that sacrifice is pretty minimal compared to the sacrifices that our soldiers make overseas that are fallen heroes or laid to rest.”
At about this same time, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted to his constituents, “When it comes to China, we must be willing to accept short term pain for long term gain.” Though Graham complained at the time that his words were taken out of context, in an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation this past weekend he reiterated his earlier statement and said America must “accept the pain that comes with standing up to China.”
Meanwhile, Trump blames Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell — he recently called him a “bigger enemy” to America than Chairman Xi — and the “Fake News” media for the tanking economy he claims isn’t tanking.
Oh, and he wants to host next year’s G7 at his golf resort in Florida. But don’t worry. He’s not violating the Emoluments Clause and he won’t make any money off it because he doesn’t care about money. Besides, he’s losing $3 billion to $5 billion being president anyway.
David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative.
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