Mirth I think and this is pure speculation there is more than meets the eye here. There has been rumours for a while now that his administration wants to work closely with us and pull us away from EU alignment.
Kel Varnsen But this model of trade deficits and foreigners buying us bonds to finance budget deficits, is completely dependent on the US being the single and unchallenged superpower (us dollar as reserve currency). If they think this is changing and not sustainable, tariffs make sense from some perspectives. Historically, it tends to align. The GOP has always wanted a less interventionist US.
I've seen a few people talk about the Russia conflict and how it might cost the US its reserve currency. I'll try to find it but saw a tweet that the current administration realise the strength of China and other big nations and not dragging themselves into conflicts which only make them weaker. China dropping Deepseek as open source and tanking US stock is like a warning shot from them.
The debate on USAID is very interesting as well, looks like they want to cut it right back and they are speculating it is not being used for what it is suppose to and being used by activists in foreign countries. Then again maybe that was the plan? In some countries it has built resentment towards the US.
Trump is a tough negotiator and knows what the current state of Canada and EU is like, rightly or wrongly imo he thinks this will bring people to the table and a new deal will be done. I don't think these tariffs will remain on throughout his whole term. Currency fluctuations may wipe out any potential return and the markets will eventually win and force a US climbdown.
