Why is Trump is so badly wounded?

The BBC verify article today says the US cant win the microchips battle - it would take so long to establish the manufacturing and the expertise in the USA and could never compete with the cost.

Can the US isolate itself from the rest of us?.

Yes if it really wanted to, because it has the money the technology, and military power, a migrant workforce willing to work for low wages. Many other countries would be willing to send food and cheap goods for cash and buy their technology.

Europe would be much worse off if the US left NATO, the cost of defending ourselves against an aggressive Russia would be a real drag on our lifestyles. If the US withdrew from the Pacific, China would complete its domination of SE Asia and Australasia.

When the Trump chaos ends I believe the US will still be leading the western world, if that doesn’t happen I really will worry.

I think he sees his main enemy as China and not the rest of us. He thinks if he consolidates America on its own it will become stronger ( I’d be pretty sure he is wrong) and more able to tackle all the trade and advantages that he thinks China has. He won’t win this one anymore than they could beat the Vietnamese back in the day. No Hope whatsoever but he will lose a lot of friends in the meantime. He doesn't read the room or at least he thinks the room consists of all his acolytes and loud supporters over there.

For Mae13, as someone said, nothing 'alleged' at all. He was caught on film, backstage at The Apprentice USA, seeing a girl walk past and said to a chum "Let's go grab some pussy, they love it".

In the sealed papers relating to his divorce from Ivana, one of the lawyers revealed her statement that Chump had raped her.

Oh, and the 'Stormy' trial last year, when he repeatedly said it was all a political show trial? Back in 2016, he was on film, several times over 5 or 6 weeks, gradually admitting to the whole thing, as more revelations appeared.

He is a racist, sexist, fraud, liar, conman and braggart. Mencken said (between the wars) >>>> "As democracy is perfected, the office of the president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron". >>>> Exceptionally prophetic.

He is wrong in believing that the way he has done it will level the playing field, but there is no point telling him that, or telling his supporters, who think they will soon be in Shangri-La and that previous governments were deliberately keeping them poor.

Trump is wounded because he believes his own publicity.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Liam Halligan
“Trump isn’t bonkers. There’s method in his madness
Imposing global tariffs in order to level the playing field is an entirely justified intention”

I like Liam Halligan and trust his judgement on economics.

You're right FGT, he isn't "bonkers" as you put it. Thankfully, that means he will be able to stand trial. However, he is an ignorant man, appealing to technically and factually ignorant people.

Macadia

Gogo84

In the words of my American son in law "We're screwed"

Yes, I believe most US citizens feel trapped. The other residents who are not citizens are too afraid to go to work or school. Meanwhile, all of the generational wealthy are enjoying bloating their portfolios with low priced stock.

Some of the ones interviewed on, I think, BBC News the other day still believed Trump was doing the right thing.

I think his invitation to visit the King should be cancelled.

And we know what the Trump retaliation is likely to be.

Starmer and the king have to play the long game, however much it might make them want to vomit.

Gogo84

In the words of my American son in law "We're screwed"

Yes, I believe most US citizens feel trapped. The other residents who are not citizens are too afraid to go to work or school. Meanwhile, all of the generational wealthy are enjoying bloating their portfolios with low priced stock.

Whitewavemark2

Mothers know things!

Sorry, Whitewavemark2 the quote below the picture is Fake News - just a terrible waste of time and rotten for the creator to create a lie.

For 'FriedGreenTomatoes' - oh dear. Liam Halligan may like Chump, but dozens of economic experts have pointed out that the ACTUAL EVIDENCE does NOT state that lots of other countries have been picking on USA re trade.

Chump's MAGA supporters may believe that nonsense about "we're making billions", they possibly think that Govts send a cheque every week for the sum their 10% (or whatever) tariff amounts to. In fact it is usually the case that importers simply hike the prices and the consumer pays that extra fee . . .which includes the 77million extremely gullible nitwits who voted for him.

Chump has read very few books, is widely regarded as having cheated his way through college, and at some point somebody read an economics theory to him proposing tariffs, which were a disaster when imposed previously, and funnily enough were what Clinton largely removed, and he achieved the only trade surplus for decades.

He's also a mega-hypocrite, his "love for Amurrcan workers" was exposed on Letterman (2015, U-Tube), when his Exec Clothing range was shown to be made in . . .B'desh and Taiwan . . . .with a sweaty looking Chump putting on a big grin and saying "you got me",

Any number of people have pointed out that changing tariffs and policies every few days is USELESS to the companies who would need to set up new factories to actually bring jobs to 'rust-belt' deprived towns which have slumped since their post-war glory days, PLUS there is the massive issue of productivity and automation, the manufacturing world has moved on, even if the Donald wants to hark back to his beloved youth when he could threaten tenants via their property companies, and he could be a draft dodger (while enjoying tennis with his 'bone spur' issues!).

The actual economic realities have hit home with a swift U-Turn on tariffs for phones and computers, and the stock markets confusion, and that in the extremely important bond markets, and the colossal consequences for American debt, are all combining to test even Chump's con-man assurances to the gullible.

If you want to place your faith in this administration, then you're admitting your own severe flaws in judgement. His statements about taking over Canada and Greenland have alienated most of the world, the Vice-President he selected showed what they are when he arrived in Greenland and expressed surprise that it was cold (!! -- who knew??), and his sycophants drew worldwide satire when placing tariffs on two Australian islands only inhabited by seals and penguins. And YOU actually want to believe in such stupidity???

President Zelensky has invited President Trump to Ukraine to see the devastation for himself. He is too much of a coward to accept the offer.

I think his invitation to visit the King should be cancelled.

Whitewavemark2

One thing I think is pretty certain is that China will not back down.

I see on X how they are reporting Vance and his assertion that the Chinese are all peasants.

They are making Vance look pretty stupid.

Vance did not need the Chinese to do that, he did it all by himself. This Trump admin is not going to end well. He is too fond of executive orders without thinking of the consequences.

PoliticsNerd it has to do with this thread, because Trump's actions, and Vance's rudeness, has persuaded folk to boycott the USA, and that will wound him.

Back to the King Lear theme. Did any of you see the excruciating clip, where the sycophants went round the table praising Trump, as he sat there and simpered. I thought of Goneril and Regan.

It's true, the US can't afford to lose the trust of the rest of the world, they run a trade deficit of $918.4 billion, i.e. they buy far more from the rest of the world than they export. If the world loses faith in Trump's ability to run the US economy this won't be allowed to continue.

mae13 nothing alleged about it, he was recorded saying it before he got in last time! 😠

I just read this in a book;

"If nobody ever says no to you or teaches you boundaries, you never have to face the consequences of your actions."

It was describing King Lear but I thought of Trump.

* Gogo* I couldn't have put it better myself.

In the words of my American son in law "We're screwed"

I hate that horrible man, my pension fund keeps dropping in value. DH jokes I might need to go back to work. Well at least I’m hoping he’s joking

Whitewavemark2

First his protectionist/isolationist policies are putting him outside of the general milieu of nations states.

The USA cannot go it alone, it simply does not have the resources.

His tariff announcement was a complete economic and geo-political game changer.

They brought the USA debt to near collapse, with the realisation that huge bond holders like China could and would exercise their power to bring the USA to its knees.

This has massive implications for Trumps planned big tax cuts next autumn and his ability to fund them through debt.

Trust in the USA has melted away, and very few people will be willing to buy US bonds as a secure bet.

In fact what has happened this week has massive implications for geo-politics in defence, soft power and willingness for countries to cooperate.

Trump has been a disaster for the USA

I do so agree. Not only that but I read today that his antagonising certain countries who together hold trillions of USA DEBT/ Treasury Bonds, if they decide to pull them could really cripple the USA.
I can’t find the exact article but this is the data
usafacts.org/articles/which-countries-own-the-most-us-debt/

Isn't there a whole thread for that Gfplux? What does it have to do with "Why is Trump is so badly wounded".

Boycott America. Support those countries insulted and threatened by the USA.
Do not travel to the USA do not support the American economy,
The USA is no longer our ally and friend.