Let’s check in and see what Donald Trump is tweeting today, shall we?
Countries that have treated us unfairly on trade for years are all coming to Washington to negotiate. This should have taken place many years ago but,
as the saying goes, better late than never!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
The manufacturing sector doesn’t seem to agree that “all will be Great”:
Maker of home appliances said rising raw material costs hurt results in three out of four of its regional markets. https://t.co/grEIcy0Z1B
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) July 24, 2018
Oh. https://t.co/FZjzN2r9sL pic.twitter.com/bzw7kK2ic4
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) July 24, 2018
Oh. https://t.co/2eAXv6svHn pic.twitter.com/DEZLqNkWKc
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) July 24, 2018
And there’s this:
Harley-Davidson cuts its profit margin forecast due to a hit from Donald Trump's tariffs https://t.co/WnZUqSEHos pic.twitter.com/aYGB0WUG6Q
— Bloomberg (@business) July 24, 2018
But the greatest! Or something.
Tariffs are the greatest! https://t.co/IeXvBAeV7y
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) July 24, 2018
So. Great. https://t.co/H9oOdJPJNs
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) July 24, 2018
The. Greatest. https://t.co/9onfMYjkUB
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) July 24, 2018
It’s almost as if tariffs aren’t the greatest after all.
Tariffs? Feh. Grow a pair and start bombing any ship bringing filthy job-destroying imported goods to our harbors, cuckhttps://t.co/0oQqYGEguH
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 24, 2018
.@POTUS this morning: "Tariffs are the greatest!"
His current chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow wrote a joint op-ed in March explaining to @POTUS why "tariff hikes are really tax hikes" that "almost always deliver an unhappy ending." https://t.co/5jA3qSsT7o https://t.co/ddZcuPq3Tw
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) July 24, 2018
It would be cleaner administratively to cancel the tax cuts, hike taxes on Americans instead, and let Trump hand out the extra revenue to his favorite industries https://t.co/iUqrZ3ZDWr
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) July 24, 2018
This, is quite literally, @realDonaldTrump economic policy on everything. pic.twitter.com/dxtZ702oY8
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) July 24, 2018
If there’s one silver lining, it’s this:
Your periodic reminder that the Constitution gives the tariff power to Congress, and that any powers the president enjoys in that area are the result of statutory delegations that can be reversed today—over a veto if necessary.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 24, 2018
Of course, seeing as Congress is Congress …
The power to impose tariffs is an Article One power granted to Congress— the only reason Trump is able to impose tariffs on his own is b/c Congress willingly abdicated the responsibility & gave it to the Executive. If Congress cared, they could vote to take back the power today. https://t.co/O6xYFwBueD
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) July 24, 2018
***
Update:
How “great” are things going right now? Let’s take a look:
BREAKING: AP sources: Trump administration preparing plan for billions in emergency aid to farmers hurt by tariffs.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) July 24, 2018
BREAKING: White House readies plan to extend about $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers caught in Trump’s escalating trade war https://t.co/HfEvDBZu6I
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) July 24, 2018
Oh.
This explains the "tariffs are great" tweet. It wasn't an observation but a self-affirmation muttered into a mirror. https://t.co/uFNqHEwEyZ
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 24, 2018
We can pay for it with a windfall profits tax on our completely revitalize steel industryhttps://t.co/TCvyWXN45s
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/DanFosterType/status/1021776349533560832
Bailing out farmers from a trade war you instigated is next-level MAGA
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) July 24, 2018
Winning a trade war, in six easy steps:
1. Threaten tariffs.
2. Enact tariffs.
3. Economic pain.
4. Bailout industries hurt by tariffs.
5. Rinse and repeat.
6. Claim victory.— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) July 24, 2018
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