Trump Unites Nation Against Him With Tweet Calling Trade Wars ‘Easy to Win’ That Is Universally Mocked and Condemned
‘Trade Wars Are Good, and Easy to Win’ Says Trump, to Universal Condemnation
President Donald Trump kicked off Friday morning early, posting a tweet that has united the nation – on both sides – for its sheer lunacy.
Just before 6 AM, Trump tweeted a defense of the hefty tariffs he imposed Thursday on steel and aluminum, which caused one Fox Business News commentator to freak out and caused the DOW to plummet over 500 points before ending the day down 420.
When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018
Trump’s tweet caused more damage: stock futures plunged immediately:
U.S. stock futures fall as Trump says trade wars are “easy to win” https://t.co/hXSqmSNO7J pic.twitter.com/Gct2lBCjNt
— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) March 2, 2018
Many finance and economics experts were stunned that Trump, who ran on being a financial genius and great businessman, could be so uninformed on trade.
Business journalist and columnist Joe Nocera:
“Trade wars are good, and easy to win†is the single stupidest thing any US president has said in my lifetime.
— Joe Nocera (@NoceraBV) March 2, 2018
Washington Post Fact-Checker:
Reminder: countries don’t “lose money” via trade deficits. And if a trade deficit shrinks, the United States would not “gain†money that had been lost. Surely someone has tried to explain this to the president since the election. https://t.co/F0fLbbrRSa
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) March 2, 2018
Talking Points Memo Publisher:
Structural trade deficits are a big deal. How big and their future impact on the country, how it ties into foreign purchase of US debt, I don’t have settled opinions. Not my expertise. But his primitive understanding of international economics is really jarring. https://t.co/uh766N9nXU
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 2, 2018
Tfw you’re a pro-Trump CEO with an integrated global supply chain and you see this mornings tweet. pic.twitter.com/dCNQiMqQFl
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 2, 2018
University of Michigan economics professor:
List of trade wars that have been easily won:
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) March 2, 2018
“trade wars are good, and easy to win,†tweeted the President, yet puzzlingly stocks fell on this display of macho bravado. https://t.co/frU0g8Kb1B
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) March 2, 2018
Neo-Con political analyst and commentator:
The Trump Doctrine:
“Trade wars are good, and easy to win.”— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 2, 2018
Leave aside for a moment the harmful effects of policies that follow from “trade wars are good, and easy to win” on the world economy; one shouldn’t underestimate the damage that statement does to our geopolitical leadership as well.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 2, 2018
There are many reasons & occasions Republicans & conservatives should already have gotten off the Trump train–or never boarded it. But for some who’ve been willing to tolerate much that they shouldn’t have, “trade wars are good, and easy to win” could be the moment of departure.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 2, 2018
Fox News contributor and Political editor of Townhall.com:
Tariffs and trade wars do not protect — and in fact do active harm to — American consumers and the US economy. Imposing them & starting one is an awful idea that will hurt your strongest political asset (growth and jobs), Mr. President! https://t.co/SUFxv5J99H
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 1, 2018
Managing Editor of Yahoo Finance:
“Trade wars are good� I really missed out by not going to Wharton. https://t.co/WleMZUy7Lw
— Sam Ro (@bySamRo) March 2, 2018
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