It could be a very straightforward dump and pump scam, as well. We know this admin isn’t above petty monetary graft.
It seems to be the simplest possible explanation, too. Then again, never attribute to malice…
It seems to be the simplest possible explanation, too. Then again, never attribute to malice…
Donald Trump fundamentally believes that everything in life is a zero-sum game, and moreover that everyone is as crooked as him: either you're screwing someone else or you're getting screwed. That's why he's so obsessed with trade deficits specifically, because to him, that negative sign screams "you're getting ripped off."
There are other benefits. By imposing the tariffs like this and wielding them through executive power, he can extort countries and corporations to give him what he wants in exchanging for releasing the hostages, so to speak. And I'm sure people in his orbit _also_ used this as a get-rich-quick scheme, because these people are all grifters. But that is all secondary to the fact that he has believed this for forty years and finally got a chance to do it.
He could have done it in his first term.
And possibly being prosecuted for crimes, but Republican appointees on the Supreme Court kinda took care of that.
Got a link to the tweet? I don't have a Twitter account.
Edit: apparently it is true, and it is on Truth social. Someone sent me a screenshot.
To the downvoters: what is wrong with you? It was an honest question.
The people around him with zipped mouths who know better could very well be treating it as a pump and dump however.