Can Any MAGA Explain Trump's Tariffs?

I'm taking a few days to recoup from the flip flopping induced whiplash. Same for the rest of the world.

Today's latest, the Administration is now saying that their intent was not to punish China, but to help it diversify its economy from a total focus on manufacturing to a bended manufacturing model.

So, out of curiosity, where did the "Sir, may we please have a deal, they're kissing my ass", and "we're making $2B a day from China with the tariffs", comes in that strategy?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Northwest · M

Note, I love some of these responses, for comic relief value, but the guy who tried to bring up that 19th century federal coffers were filled through tariffs, forgets that this was our own version of VAT, and it was prior to Federal Income taxes. In addition, that wasn't the question. The question is to explain the seasaw, total lack of strategy, behind Trump's yo-yo economic war.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest Trump simply doesnt do "Strategy". He reacts to the last headline and looks for the spotlight.. And thats the stereotype that most of the world are seeing as Americans. Hes your President. You must feel the same..😷

Northwest · M

@whowasthatmaskedman Unfortunately.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest Sadly, ALL Americans are going to get a hard lesson in "consequences".. One that has been postponed by many administrations..Lets hope they are mad at the right people. Those who told them America was the greatest country.😷

Northwest · M

@whowasthatmaskedman The power of PR. Trump is going to point them somewhere else. He went from "Can't wait until he's gone", about Powell, to going into a closed with the CEOs of companies like WalMart, HomeDpot, Lowes, etc. and they here's what they told him "Come summer, the shelves are going to be empty", then on Tuesday morning, he said "I don't intend on firing Powell", and the markets rallied.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest The Stock prices are no longer a reliable indicator either. people are shovelling cash into anything that isnt cash to stave off the devaluation that is coming over the hill..😷

Northwest · M

@whowasthatmaskedman The majority of salaried people, have 401Ks, and that's the real problem.

The DOW was up about 2.5%, and at some point, the White House press secretary opened her her mouth, and confused people, so it dropped instantly 1.5%.

The good news is that Musk lost something like $250B out of his on-paper wealth, and he had to try to blame his failure to deliver on the $Trillions of Robots, on China dominating rare earth metals.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest The rare earth argument doesnt stand up. Other sources are available. But of course you dont get Chinas cheap labor..Not that it really matters. Toyota will have its Solid State batteries in production in a couple of years that are reputed to shade Lithium for charging time and range..And the Chinese are advanced on a salt based battery..😷

Northwest · M

@whowasthatmaskedman This is what he's going with for now, not the fact that he's no longer the only game in town, and that Chinese EV shipments far outnumber his, and they're just starting.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Northwest Yep. BYD look like being a category killer in the EV market..😷