Anatomy of Trump's epic cave on tariffs

Cypress

Well-known member

No retreat on tariffs, Trump promised. Hours later, he blinked​

As the economic and political pressure became unbearable, the US president changed course – but has the damage been done?

He vowed: “My policies will never change.” He insisted: “Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” He boasted: “I know what I’m doing.” And at 9.33am on Wednesday, he entreated: “BE COOL. Everything is going to work out well.”

But less than four hours later, Donald Trump blinked.

As the economic and political pressure became unbearable, the US president announced on social media that he would pause for 90 days higher trade tariffs for most countries, excluding China. Hours later he exempted all tariffs on phones, televisions, computers, electronics from China.

It was a dramatic climbdown by a leader who has spent years cultivating the image of a strongman able to project indifference through every storm. White House aides immediately swung into gear, attempting to spin the retreat as the masterstroke of peerless dealmaker and genius chess player.

The damage had been done, however. Damage to America’s standing as an honest broker and dependable ally. Damage to the US dollar and financial system as the world’s anchor of financial stability. And damage to Trump’s reputation on his signature issue, the economy, in the eyes of business leaders, Republicans and voters.



 

No retreat on tariffs, Trump promised. Hours later, he blinked​

As the economic and political pressure became unbearable, the US president changed course – but has the damage been done?

He vowed: “My policies will never change.” He insisted: “Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” He boasted: “I know what I’m doing.” And at 9.33am on Wednesday, he entreated: “BE COOL. Everything is going to work out well.”

But less than four hours later, Donald Trump blinked. As the economic and political pressure became unbearable, the US president announced on social media that he would pause for 90 days higher trade tariffs for most countries, excluding China. Hours later he exempted all tariffs on phones, televisions, computers, electronics from China.

It was a dramatic climbdown by a leader who has spent years cultivating the image of a strongman able to project indifference through every storm. White House aides immediately swung into gear, attempting to spin the retreat as the masterstroke of peerless dealmaker and genius chess player.

The damage had been done, however. Damage to America’s standing as an honest broker and dependable ally. Damage to the US dollar and financial system as the world’s anchor of financial stability. And damage to Trump’s reputation on his signature issue, the economy, in the eyes of business leaders, Republicans and voters.



Why does this disturb you so much? TDS is a very interesting affliction.
 
Trump is a scumbag. We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves for giving him this second bite of the apple, but it seems these days that shame is not something with which we are concerned.

In any case, the damage has already been done. It will take generations for us to work our way back into the international position we were in before this moron took control of the country.

To think that at one time during my life...a regularly asked question was, "How could the German people allow someone like Hitler to take control?"
 
Trump is a scumbag. We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves for giving him this second bite of the apple, but it seems these days that shame is not something with which we are concerned.

In any case, the damage has already been done. It will take generations for us to work our way back into the international position we were in before this moron took control of the country.

To think that at one time during my life...a regularly asked question was, "How could the German people allow someone like Hitler to take control?"
That Depends frankie.
 
Trump is a scumbag. We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves for giving him this second bite of the apple, but it seems these days that shame is not something with which we are concerned.

In any case, the damage has already been done. It will take generations for us to work our way back into the international position we were in before this moron took control of the country.

To think that at one time during my life...a regularly asked question was, "How could the German people allow someone like Hitler to take control?"
The embarrassment is how could we ever let the brain dead Joe Biden be pResident for four years.
 
He has told mostly lies about the nature of any imbalances, and the 'getting ripped off' for decades narrative is simply false. We've prospered more than any other nation.
Post the specific lies about the imbalances.

As of April 3, 2025, the gross national debt is $36.22 trillion.

This does not sound like a prosperous nation to me.
 
Indeed.

The far left Democratic/Socialist/Marxist/Communist Party colluded with the media to coverup the cognitive decline of the vegetable.
 
Back
Top