In the latest news, Trump has backed off the threat of 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum and reverted to the original 25%. Meanwhile, Doug Ford has suspended a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US after a call from Howard Lutnick promising a Thursday meeting in Washington to discuss tariffs.
The business world loves this whiplash approach to governing. Keeps everyone on their seats and provides so much security that markets skyrocket. Can’t wait for everyone to become rich because of this (I think Trump is promising this now).
It sure does. That’s why this business genius had to engage in criminal fraud in order for the Trump Organization to survive, and why every new business enterprise he’s ever launched has ultimately failed – most notably including Atlantic City casinos where you have to really work at it for the house to lose money.
Now this Master of Business™ is doing it to the economy of the USA.
That was the Deep State™ out to get Trump. Now that he has rid the world of it (Soros), everyone will profit!
Today’s spat with Doug Ford shows how quickly Trump will escalate the rhetoric. Trump really wants Canada to become part of the US:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-canada-steel-alumimum-tariffs-1.7480309
If it will cost $250 billion to rebuild LA and if young Americans (an important voting demographic) cannot afford homes — I do not understand Trump saying stop the steel.
I’ve had it pointed out to me that the Art of the Deal has some good business advice.
I’ve pointed out that Trump’s father was a business genius, so there’s every chance that all of the good stuff was just repeating things his dad told him. But just because you can repeat what someone told you, doesn’t mean you’re good at utilizing that advice.
Advice like “don’t rent apartments to the Blacks” also isn’t really appropriate to the 21st century (or the 20th for that matter).
Trump is ignorant, and he really does believe this will simply have steel made in the USA starting tomorrow. He thinks that’s just how it works and there’s no real downside.
What’s much more important is why the people BEHIND this are doing it. It will obviously harm the US economy, but they believe it will hurt Canada more, and that it can be weakened and subsequently easily conquered by force. And that way lays massive profit for the right people as Canadian assets are handed out to oligarchs.
This isn’t complicated.
- I haven’t read the Art of the Deal but I’d be skeptical that, that’s part of the advice. (Though, I’m perfectly happy to accept a cite to the contrary as well - anything true is true, whatever it may be.)
- I have read through the investigation reports of the Federal government against Fred Trump. By no means do I think that Fred was a benevolent, lovable, 100% law abiding guy that welcomed the downtrodden masses; but the reports did smell a bit of targeted prosecution, with an aim towards using Fred’s fame and prominence as a means to warn other property managers, in general, away from practices that might be harmful to poorer communities.
Are there Canadians who haven’t already canceled trips of any length?
Trump didn’t write it.
Maybe he can issue an executive order that all good patriots must build a backyard furnace and make steel for their village.
WINNING!
And that, too.
Three million Canadians visit Florida each year. Many are snowbirds who own vacation property there and in Arizona, etc. I am sure they are thrilled by DeSantis’ dismissive comments and the request to register.
Just got back from the liquor store. No idea what the Alberta government is doing about American booze, but my local liquor store—part of a large chain—has posted signs stating that they will let stocks of American alcohol deplete, but won’t be ordering more after they are gone.
It didn’t bother me, as I just wanted some beer (brewed by an independent brewery in Calgary, I might add), but I found it interesting.
There are Canadians who, at least as of my brother’s last trip to Grand Manan last summer, are ardent Trumpists, to the point of decking their homes with massive Trump flags, slogans, etc. How many of them still feel that way I cannot say, being a New England Yankee, and I’d welcome any updates from our Canadian Dopers on how the Trump cult up North is faring now…
ETA:
That makes economic sense since the store’s acquisition cost is sunk and however things shake out in the coming months, there’s bound to be bad fiscal times ahead. Might as well recover as much of the expense as possible while making it clear there’d be no more importing of US stuff.
In all caps: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THE PARTY!
If he took typing classes, it will come naturally.
My Trumpy Canadian family members are unperturbed. They think Trump & Musk are on a mission to save “the West” not just the US and Canada as a country is a small sacrifice to make. As an example, one of my cousins said that maybe now we (Canadians or the Canadian vassal state?) will get rid of this “First Nations shit”
Few things sadder than a brown, white supremacist, anti-immigrant immigrant railing against nativists.
Sigh. Thanks, I guess, for confirming my worst fears, though I do cling to the faint hope that at least some of the less fanatical Trumpistas may have some of the reptilian scales beginning to fall from their eyes.
ETA: Though I have no doubt that there will be quislings.