'When Russia was admitted to the group in the late 1990s, “it was believed that it would pursue the path of liberal democracy, rule of law and human rights,” Mr. Tusk said. “Is there anyone among us who can say with full conviction, not out of business calculation, that Russia is on that path?”
Oh.
And the reason then for inviting Zarif from that famous protector of democracy, rule of law, and human rights, must be to pat Iran on the back for a job well done. And, of course, "not out of Euro business calculation."
Bunch of hypocrites. Always.
1
Donald Trump is a vindictive, malignant, know-nothing narcissist but it is the failure of the senate to check him that has reduced the US to second tier player. The world is moving forward without us and they no longer trust us. Who knew the US could self destruct so easily and so quickly?
10
He is an embarrassment.
5
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was a movie that had a profound effect on me as a child. I want to believe my country still sends men and women of character to Washington, Senators like the idealist played so well by Jimmy Stewart-and truth telling media like Jean Arthur. That America wouldn't not tolerate a Trump or tribal politics, either.
In 2016 I said Donald Trump was unfit to be president, and belonged not at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, but in his own wing at Bellevue.Yet, I couldn't imagine how truly deranged this man had become.
Trump exhibits all the symptoms associated with Narcissistic personality disorder . As this ongoing commentary points out,https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/08/if-trump-were-airline-pilot/596575/ our president would be judged unfit to perform any number of public and private functions given the daily voyages to madness Trump is always ready to tweet....Trying to buy Greenland then insulting Denmark's president when she says "No"
Where's the outrage from Senators of both parties? Where's the shame at supporting this lunatic? Insist on some Medicare for all pipe dream and Trump will win again.
But, have you noticed we're beginning to see and hear from Hillary Clinton ? I'm wondering if she's just showing the brand, waiting in the for the call to Save America as the Great White Wonk/Hope ?
1
Trump strikes out again. BIG LOSER.
4
So it seems clear that Trump will invite Russia next year. Just to show how much power he has over the rest of the G7. Who know he might also invite North Korea, though Un is too afraid to travel abroad.
1
Soon Trump will birdie-doo-doo tweet his G7 complaints, hysteria and insults all the way across the Atlantic to his disgusting Washington, D.C. swamp.
2
This big family certainly should make the whole world happy and end all armed conflicts around the world.
1
Trump did what no previous presidents have done not just complain about China's trade practices but do something about it. Better to have tried and failed but not tried at all. But it is time to end the trade war that is coming under fire even though not a single bullet has been fired.
1
Absolute disgrace that this man/child represents America in global fora... and worse his toady entourage trying to decipher in semi intelligent manner the Great Leaders ravings...
Massive gap exposed in America's supposed checks and balances.... And mainstream media and especially financial news networks continue to act as this man is in charge of his faculties. This is how great countries descend into ruin.
7
Trump may be right about problems. But he is a naive figurehead floundering beyond the scope of his actual power. In fact the drugs are part of a Noreiga type deal with organized crime rooted in the Western world colonies turned back to China in 1999. In exchange for spying on China,
Western diplomats protected those areas from full Chinese rule and have a pact to allow crime trade.
China is well aware of this. And that is why they and the rest of the informed world are laughing. All those problems are ordered by the true US powers - not China. A President without strong Congressional influence is largely a figurehead.
US Intelligence agencies and Congress have the true power to continue or shutdown this agreement just as they have for similar pacts around the world. The CIA was founded on the assumed effectiveness of the French and Italian Resistance in WWII which were 99% organized on a framework of organized crime.
@Tommy what?
3
It isn't Trump getting the respect he doesn't deserve, it's the office he holds that garners the great stature seemingly afforded Trump.
I have a suspicion that if trump continues with this kind of erratic behavior to the point the republicans start fearing 2020, they (beginning with McConnell ) will serve him up on a platter as "sick" and put pence in charge. Careful what you wish for.
1
Flip flops, misstatements, denials, threats, misinformation, and flat out lies (which are verifiable based of facts and video) from POTUS and the WH. Is there ANYONE left in the world who does not now think that our President has absolutely NO idea what he’s talking about, and makes it up on the fly daily?
6
Dear liberal minds, I can declare myself pretty neutral rather than most of your one sided minds! We get to be liberal when we are the super power, have strong economy and strong military so far, and note it has not come for free! Remember, this is bleeding every day due to decades of corporate greed and short term result oriented policies that China and other countries are getting past us. At this rate, we would be soon struggling for daily lives rather than trashing president and country at every turn with total freedom, no matter what parties you belong to.
I'm sure nobody likes the childish tweets including me, but give the president credit where it's due, when he is trying to do right things for the benefit of country, trying to protect the bleeding of your super power status every day!
@John S
By any indicator you choose, Trump is making America weaker and more isolated in the world.
17
I'd love to hear what these world leaders are saying about Trump behind his back. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic with dire consequences for Amerca and the global economy. Anthony Scaramucci, once a loyal Trumpster, found a conscience and has now turned against Trump and is starting a PAC to remove him from the Republican ticket. Let's wish him success. While we need to turn the Senate from red to blue, I wouldn't feel so bad if the White House went to a reasonable, responsible person like former governor Kasich of Ohio (my choice in 2016 if I had been a Republican).
4
Mrs. Macron is Trump's target. Why did they place her next to him? I feel sorry for her.
1
@laurenlee3 They ?
2
Mrs. Macron is an adult, a survivor.
At breakfast with Trump this morning, Boris Johnson offered rare face-to-face criticism about the US trade war with China, but it was expressed so gently that Trump may barely have registered it.
“Look, I just want to say I congratulate the president on everything that the American economy is achieving. It's fantastic to see that,” he said. “But just to register the faint, sheeplike note of our view on the trade war, we’re in favor of trade peace on the whole, and dialing it down if we can.”
Yet Johnson’s remark came after Trump said he had gotten no pressure from allies to end the trade war with China.
The friendliness between Trump and Johnson masked a range of disagreements: the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that Britain and other world powers seek to save; Huawei's role in Britain's 5G networks; and climate change.
During breakfast a reporter asked Trump if he had “second thoughts” about the recent escalation of his trade war with China.
Trump, for the first time, seemed to acknowledge regrets about the direction things had gone, which made instantly international headlines.
Soon after, the loyal Stephanie Grisham tried to recast Trump’s comments, alleging they had been taken out of context.
What is extraordinary was Larry Kudlow’s response. Trump’s top economic adviser offered an even different characterisation, telling reporters that Trump had difficulty hearing the question.
It just shows how haplessly chaotic this administration is.
6
Given Trump stated "I have second thoughts about everything.” that suggests he's conflicted.
For any of us who've seen the 'California Psychics' hotline commercial, that might just be his solution...
5:09P CDT
8/25/19
Next interview for the journalists of The New York Times; and
of The London Times: and all the top newspapers...in the USA
and world-wide.;
Interview with those who could issue Amendment 25: Section 4 of The US Constitution; which would result in the dismissal of
Trump because he is mentally ill and unfit to stay in office
Interview with those in his Cabinet and his Vice-President since
they should prove; yes PROVE that Trump is sane enough to
carry on....They would not lose their jobs. ….
Good News for Trump...he is too mentally ill to be put in
federal prison ….and this gives the GOP a good excuse to
get rid of a President who is obviously a sociopathic narcissist
and pathological liar.
Reference Letter to The Editors of the NYTimes February 13, 2017 from ret/ Harvard Professor of Psychiatry Lance M. Dodes M.D. and reference last week's Lawrence O'Donnell
interview with Dr. Dodes.
This is the Truth...so please start printing the Truth journalists
and save us repeating this information over and over and over again..as I do to all of you at The NYTimes every single
day...Print the Truth about Trump...please editors
5
What a trainwreck. Wake me up in November 2020. Already made up my mind.
7
@Will
"...trainwreck..."
Nope.
Current U.S. growth rate $440 billion.
Larger population Europe? $210 billion
Atlanta Fed gdpnow projection? $460 billion
@John Huppenthal Great. There's money around. That makes everything he does decent and proper.
Well, that's one way of looking at mankind.
1
Mixed signals? No, mixed up listeners. Our President is infallible.
Just rejoice and sing:
He's got the itty bitty baby in His Little Hands
He's got a-you and me sister in His Little Hands
He's got a-you and me brother in His Little Hands
He's got the whole world in His Little Hands!
And be sure to replace your 2016 Made in China MAGA hat with a 2020 Made in China KAG hat.
Note: When you attend Trump University, they teach you that a "Made in America" label refers only to the label, not to the product it is attached to.
5
I went for a ride today and rode through acre after acre after acre of newly planted vinyards.
I had never seen them before in that area.
That, said the driver, was planted specifically for the Chinese market. This would have been the first crop but now the owners have no idea what the reception will be.
We hear a lot about the mid-West farmers and their loss of soybean markets, but little to nothing about the loss of the wine and nut markets of California..... because Trump hates California.
Wow.
This is one petty man.
Take him, Russia. Let him destroy your markets.
We don't need him.
12
@rosa
One vineyard is a few thousand dollars of GDP.
Our economy grew last year by $680 billion as compared to Europe's $210 billion.
If Trump breaks through the Chinese trade barriers the consequences will be hundreds of trillons of dollars of enhance economic activity in the years to come.
@John Huppenthal
You just keep hoping for that enhanced economic activity (for the rich only, of course), while the earth collapses around you.
6
In spite of the France's Macron well thought proposals about fighting inequality and climate changes and a fair good choice of guests including many African leaders and even Iran's PM Zarif, the U.S. was not prepared to share the goals of a multilateral world needing to be listened and steered in a perspective of peace and growth by the supposedly most developed nations. U.S. advisors abounded with rather harsh statements expressing frustration while Mr Trump basically wanted to be reassuring, something that wasn't perceived as such, speaking politely. The U.K. PM Mr Johnson showed clear restrain but passed otherwise unnoticed. The G7 (or G6+1, or G5+2) risks becoming just as an irrelevant meeting in this crucial times. Perhaps the G20 is where the real world leadership is embodied.
1
In the second picture Trump appears to have been sent to "time-out" for insulting Canada and now has to write "I will follow the Golden Rule" on the board one hundred times.
5
Trump has failed to lead America in a positive and robust way and all the leaders at the G7 summit know it.
They know he's a misogynistic, racist blowhard with a terrible business sense who is bringing on an American recession and has increased the US national debt to an all time high with the help of GOP spineless senate.
And how was your day?
14
Trump doesn’t worry about Russia meddling in the election, but he does need to worry about our allies that want him gone meddling in the election. Come on France, Germany, Canada, we’ll let you meddle for the good of the world.
6
Here he goes again. I'm raising tariffs; no, I have "second thoughts;" he meant "NO! His thoughts are he didn't raise tariffs high enough!!" We'll soon see how Wall Street decodes the latest Trump flip-flop--flip. Meanwhile it's refreshing to see France's Emmanuel Macron fill the void left by Trump and deal with such minor "niche issues" as Iran and global warming exacerbated by the fires in the Amazon. But, the Great Disrupter still another day to rattle the world's economy and turn to his favorite "niche issues" of dissing Angela Merkel and other "nasty" women.
11
Why do you insist on Shinzo Abe, when correct usage would be Abe Shinzo? He himself has requested that form of address, so it would seem that the NYT should be polite and comply.
4
@spike
I believe it was Japan's Foreign Minister who wanted the change.
There is an interesting article discussing why:
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/22/725753561/shinzo-abe-or-abe-shinzo-japans-foreign-minister-tells-media-to-change-the-order
3
The prez just gave the world a "whatev." The other G7 participants see him for the surly middle-schooler he is.
7
"He regrets not raising the tariffs further," said a spokesperson.
What has been reported is that the tariffs hare going to set the consumer back $1,000.
That's about $100 a month, just to salve this man's ego.
Sorry. but I don't happen to have a $100 a month to chuck down the drain just to sooth this man's ego.
9
@rosa Is it the President or the Congress that sets those tariff rates?
Does he know? Does he care?
2
@rosa: We’re already hearing talk about a ‘payroll tax cut’ to offset the effect of tariffs on consumer buying power. What that would mean, of course, is starving Social Security and Medicare funding, providing a pretext for further Republican efforts to cut both programs.What Trump wants is an unplanned planned economy - he wants the power to react every time an ill-conceived idea affects an economic sector, esp. one that includes his voting base. So we have a $30 billion expenditure for agribusiness subsidies in response to the loss of the Chinese market for soybeans and other commodities; various tariff ‘exemptions,’ pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates and weaken the dollar, deregulation so allow other affected sectors to remain profitable - the resulting risks to public health, the environment, stability of the banking system be damned.
Trump’s fiscal and trade ‘policy’ is like someone trying to stabilize a wobbly table. He’ll file down one leg, stick a shim under another, and still get nowhere... and at this rate, the table will be a whole lot shorter and increasingly unstable.
This is a guy who plays chess one move at a time. That’s rarely if ever a winning strategy.
5
@chambolle
Agree - Trump wants and has had an industrial base that has to personally come and kiss his ring to get an exception to some tariff or another.
Welcome to the Fascist Trump Banana Republic
3
Thank you, Macron !
6
In the photo:
Trump, who is bored unless he is the center of attention, is whispering a Sweet Nothing to Macron's wife. As always, Melania has figured out that her role is to be photogenic. So she wears a glaring red. The color more often associated with China and Russia than with the red, white and blue of our country.
Because? Because Trump was bred in a tabloid world so he thinks the presidency is about making scurrilous headlines 24/7 and Melania once upon a time went to court to argue that being first lady was an unprecedented opportunity to maximize her exposure as a photo icon (google it, it's true.)
This sorry couple Really Couldn't Care Less. Could you?
10
Republicans are setting America up for a market crash and a recession. What else is new?
6
China should call Trump's bluff, and order all US companies out of China within thirty days.
13
@Honora: Does it matter? Didn’t Trump want what Tom proposes?
5
Trump may be able to con some folks, but among the elite at the G-7, he comes up small. They see thru him easily now as the incompetent fool he is. Trump has had three years to prove he has the chops to lead but has failed. Sad!
29
I know of no "mentally healthy" people who have twenty women accusing them of sexual assault.
24
Why is Trump never leaning in towards Melania?
10
@Boregard He's tried that. She keeps moving away.
2
What the others in the G7 SHOULD do is kick out the US as well, until this country of ours has a president. It would send the message that the world expects to deal with NON-trolls who act in good faith, and that voters and their governments must not pretend the world around them doesn't exist.
Plus, it'd be fun to see them dance to "Like A G6".
11
Why is he always, always, always talking? (This photo being just one instance.)
One reason: he is confused, mentally addled, maybe dealing with cognitive changes/declines ... and by constantly talking, he creates his own 'reality,' and doesn't have to respond to anyone else's.
That includes the photographer's instructions to look at the camera and smile ...
This wouldn't be a huge issue if he were simply a private citizen -- it happens to many of us, and at even younger ages, and is nothing to be ashamed of.
However, in his mental state, he should NOT be a head of state.
Something's gotta give, folks. And soon. Question is: what fresh hell might it be?
18
@jazz one Not at all. He's always talking because he knows the whole world is always and supremely interested in his every thought. As he has told us many times, he is "LIKE a very smart person."
If I was sitting on the bus next to someone who talked like Trump, I would move my seat.
32
I seriously doubt he had second thoughts because anything thoughtful is way beyond his capabilities.
12
I don’t want the stock markets to crash - which they are likely to do in spite of my wishes. But I must say, I would relish seeing all those greedy Trump supporters (the ones who constantly say that as long as their stocks go up, anything Trump does is just fine) take it in the wallet (which is the only place they are capable of feeling pain). It is repugnant that these Trumpsters value dollars over morality, the environment, the rule of law, and common decency.
105
@Avatar
One hundred percent agree!
18
@Avatar I couldn't have said it better. While Trump beats his breast with his trade war, the stock market - his Wall Street buddies - are taking a hit as are farmers and the American consuming public, including his MAGA red hat wearing base who don't appear smart enough to comprehend what Trump is doing to them.
11
@Avatar
"...stock markets to crash...which they are likely to do..."
You can make billions with that knowledge.
Buy puts.
Tell us how that goes.
1
The President talks before he considers what he’s saying just to manipulate the feelings of his supporters. Then his advisors try to reframe what he has said. He may do the same. Or he may just do nothing of the kind and goes on to the next attention attracting issue. On the whole, it’s inane. The most important country on Earth for seventy-five years is becoming an unpredictable one that is refusing to lead as it has. The world is quickly rearranging to function without needing to deal with the U.S.
What we are seeing is the U.S. isolating itself from the world apart from North America. That is not the intention but it’s happening, anyway.
Trump seems to think that risking relations with Europe and Asia is a good thing and making nice with Russia and Saudi Arabia are going to be beneficial. Why remains a mystery. Russia is a failed state controlled by crooks, and Saudi Arabia is under the control of a megalomaniac. There are no good results in sight.
19
Like any bully he is a coward underneath. He cannot defend what he is doing vis-a-vis China and so he is pretending to soften his stance. He doesn’t want confrontation on the world stage. He will come home and become a bully again.
16
Would some one tell me why then NY state offered the heads of the Dem party Trump's tax returns they refused. I have been told you can figure out a lot about a person's federal taxes from the state returns. What has this to do with our beloved buffoon at the G7 summit? Well if he was being investigated by the house for impeachment, maybe the US would have a little more respect as a nation there. Not Trump of course but showing that our constitution had some teeth and we had a political party that was not going to let a leader get away with breaking laws. And we may not be on a downward spiral and a chance we could right this sinking ship. And the others at the meeting could just do what Macron seems to be doing, blithely changing the subject on Trump the minute he tries to bully or stamp his little feet and wait till he is gone to make real negotiations. But no, again the corporate Dems have not gotten permission to stand up to trump from their donors.
What are our oligarchs and corporations getting out of what trump is doing?. What money can be made by ruining our reputation in the world, while rejecting our allies. Are our oligarchs in league with the Russian oligarchs? Mitch has made it possible for more interference. He got that aluminum plant didn't he?
Oh you elites! . And thanks Prince Andrew for being such a prince of a guy.
5
@cheerful dramatist Trump's lawyers are contesting the NY bill....
3
@stefanie Thanks for the update!
1
Trump is irrational and confused. Would any of these multinational corporations want him as their CEO? He’d be fired on day one. So why does the United States have him as its leader? The time for an intervention is now or never.
16
Why is the NYT so deferential to Trump? The article mentions that Trump has "disdain for being seen as weak or backing down..." and in the next sentence lets him off the hook for his bizarre behavior this week. "But it also reflected the back-and-forth nature of Mr. Trump's trade confrontation with China,..."
I'm sorry, this whole affair is playing out in his warped mind. He changes his mind, prevaricates in tweets with no time for China to even respond. We are seeing an unstable individual making decisions that affect the economy of the world.
Why does the NYT always let him off the hook. It also happened when he read a scripted response to the recent mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso, saying he "urges unity in the face of racism". His racist language incited the El Paso shooting. The man has no interest or understanding of unity.
Is the NYT acting out of fear or some sort misguided deference? If the fourth estate doesn't call Trump this administration out when they make disastrous policy decisions we will find ourselves in even deeper trouble than we already are.
11
@dbg Thank you I so agree. I think it is because of a bias that the reporters or at least the editors have which they do not even know or pretend not to know, in keeping the status quo.
They are not real reporters telling the truth that is for sure. Boy do they ruthlessly attack Bernie and go out of their way to leave out important information. Like how much money voters would save with Medicare for all, no co payments, no deductibles, it would cut their costs in half and the coverage would be for everything, eye care and dental and everyone would be covered.
Yes modest tax increases for the very rich, not nearly as high as when Eisenhower was president and we had a booming economy and the middle class and workers were thriving and only one person in a family of 4 had to have a job and college was affordable for anyone. No one had to take out a loan or even have their parents pay for it. All they had to do was have a summer job and work weekends during the school year, I remember that.
So with out knowing it NYT and their bias is doing right wing talking points. They are not aware of it but they are. The people in charge will hang on to the status quo for dear life, it has benefited them a great deal. They don't mean any ill, it is just that they are friends with the corrupt elite, they go to parties and openings with them. sigh! But thanks for you nailing this problem, I salute you!
3
@cheerful dramatist
Agreed on the opacity on medicare for all...they call it a tax increase on the middle class while deductibles are rising as are the costs shifted to employees. There was a time when blue cross was a non-profit and employers tended to cover the entire cost of health insurance. Now it is common for employees to pay 50% and have $2,500 to $5,000 or even larger deductibles. So the $600 per week plus the deductible would disappear. We need an honest discussion on this so everyone has a true picture.
The writers may mean no ill but they are giving Trump's lies and misguided policies credence instead of calling him out. Don't get me started on climate change, endangered species, clean water, air, income disparity and so much more. We somehow need to stop the madness but I fear both sides in congress are complicit.
4
@dbg I didn't read anything here about health insurance, and I promise not to get you started on climate change. Meanwhile, do you have anything to say about THIS story?
It is not Mr. Trump who is misinterpreted; it's that the president misinterprets just about everything that comes to his attention.
When that happens, he then he becomes confused by anything more complex than one idea at a time (and, quite a bit of time is needed for just that one), then he seems to become angry because he doesn't quite get it and the defensive posture sets in, then it appears that he backs off of his initial response to come up with a new and different idea--which is then misinterpreted.
Help!
6
"declare an emergency that could allow him to order American companies out of China"
Who is he trying to impress with this 'me-all-powerful'? It's tone and message is better suited to wooing the dictator's club he's been trying to get an in with.
11
As many observe, Trump has progressed from being unmoored from reality to being unmoored from everything, including his most cherished fantasies. The pinball machine is now permanently stuck on "tilt".
Trump appears to have felt very clear and confident about his ability to simply intimidate China into a trade agreement by the brutal application of tariffs. It hasn't worked. China has remained firm and answered Trump's economic assault blow for blow. Xi understands as an unelected dictator facing off against a democratically elected president that time is on his side. Trump is frustrated and confused that the American government and public have not loyally closed ranks behind him and followed his every suggestion -- in effect awarding him dictatorial powers to match Xi's.
Trump's choice is either to back away from his confrontation with China or double-down on his strategy of confrontation. His initial response was the latter, but global markets quickly punished him for this move. As impaired as he may be, Trump understands that gratuitously leading the US and global economies into a recession will kill his chances for reelection. He would gladly accept a meaningless deal that gives him the illusion of a face-saving win. But will China accommodate him? Xi now holds Trump's political fate in his hands.
For the rest of the world Trump has become a pariah. Aside from perhaps BoJo, no one will engage him on anything of consequence. We all await the decisive 2020 election.
9
What disdain does Trump have for backing down? He backs down immediately when his dictator role models push him - Russia, China, etc.
5
The phrase “I had second thoughts” doesn’t apply to Trump. He should say: “And then I had first thoughts”, bacause the first time he always acts on impulse. Unless he is manipulating the stock market for his and his friends benefit.
5
Remember how the fools who watch FOX “News” insisted that President Obama had denigrated our position in the world????
Oh, the irony!
27
Time to take the keys away. He’s too impaired to drove this country. Way over this head. A college freshman majoring in political science would be light years better than this fool,
20
Pelosi you must uphold your oath and protect this country from economic collapse and ethical destruction.
Moscow Mitch plan for the impeachment trial now.
The Criminal in Chief is no fool, "The president has said he thinks mentally ill people are primarily responsible for the spate of mass shootings in the United States". Yes he is responsible.
Following the worst defeat of any incumbent in presidential history will be the most dangerous period ( Nov 3 2020 to Jan 20, 2021) the United States has faced since the Cuban missile crisis. All government agencies especially DOD must plan for a possible national calamity.
Congress must prepare for almost 90 days of unmistaken horror by the lunatic in chief.
Thee only way to prevent this horror is for Congress to impeach and convict the con man in chief so that the New York State Attorney General can arrest and escort him from the White House immediately after the Senate conviction vote.
5
@libel
Yes, IMPEACH NOW!
4
@Tim Lynch: But the Senate won’t convict, so what do you want to achieve with impeachment?
1
@Anna
Senator McConnell , Moscow Mitch and the rest of his Senate cult will have to defend their yes or no vote on the articles of impeachment. Senate majority will definitely be changed, McConnell will not be the Senate Politburo Chief and Senator Schumer will be Senate Majority Leader.
1
Euphemism of the month: Trump sends "mixed signals" at G-7.
Plain English: incoherent ranting, (high-pitched) screeching and constant babbling.
11
Our president is an idiot and should not be anywhere near world leaders, he is way out of his element.
21
We got the word from Lindsey Graham this morning on “Face the Nation.” Here’s the world according to the Trumpublican Party:
1. Tax cuts pay for themselves. Always have, always will. Don’t listen to anybody who says otherwise.
2. Spending $750 billion year on our military budget doesn’t add to the federal deficit; cutting taxes on the wealthy doesn’t add to the federal deficit; massive direct and indirect subsidies to agribusiness, fossil fuels and other regressive industries doesn’t add to the federal deficit.
3. However, spending on Medicare and Social Security (each funded with its own separate payroll tax) is what causes the federal deficit. That’s why the deficit is over $1 trillion for the first time in history, so we’ll have to bite the bullet and slash those socialist programs or the country will go down in flames.
4. Can’t deny it any longer... China doesn’t pay the tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S. ... American businesses and consumers do. But this is war, and we’ll just have to tough it out longer than China does and then we’ll win the war. Attention, Walmart shoppers!
5. In Trump We Trust. The rest of the world may think this country has lost its mind, but they’re the crazy ones. We’re full of optimism and headed in the right direction!
Yes folks, we’ve entered The Twilight Zone.
26
Why the specific depression of the good news of a trade deal with Japan? Now everyone here loves China?
1
@MiguelM: Trump himself overshadowed any good news about Japan with his blustering threats about China, and I wouldn’t think it past him to mess up any good trade deal with Japan. Remember he had such a good deal with China before he hadn’t?
4
@MiguelM No, people deplore bullies and snake-oil salesman.
3
So we will soon have a great trade deal with one country, England. Everyone else will hate us. How are we going to stand so much winning.
9
IF a photo is to be taken, DJTrump always finds the FRONT ROW!!! Photo needed for his "scrap books"!
3
You have a person appointed to the office of the president of the United States who, in his ignorance, can trigger a global recession. He has repeatedly demonstrated his lack of comprehension of any issue of importance, has caused irreversible harm with the policies he supports, has damaged international relationships, and has dismissed the status of the US in the eyes of the world. Yet, he is allowed to remain in his job. Sitting around, wringing your hands and fretting about what damage he will do next will not fix this problem. The US has made a mistake and it needs to be rectified before Trump does something even more terrible that cannot be undone.
29
@Concerned
Even if Trump doesn’t, most of us still believe in our Constitution. There are very limited ways a sitting president can be removed from office, as it should be.
We’re not so much wringing our hands as commiserating and waiting for the next election.
3
Trump on the background of the flag of Canada ????
1
Actually he is blocking the photographer’s shot of the Canadian flag. Perhaps like so many Americans traveling Europe in Trumpian Times he is pretending to be Canadian.
Have at it, folks. Canada was the first country he insulted. We are just making room on the bench for ALL the rest.
Bienvenue!!!
3
Trump floated the idea of inviting Russia to next years G7 summit in the U.S.
The next day Zarif appears in France for meetings with Macron.
9
Welcome to the world of “alternative facts.” In this world, the direction of the wind determines actions.
And if you think you understood something Trump said when the wind was blowing from the west, you’re wrong. It’s now blowing from the south, so you “greatly misinterpreted” the message. But don’t concern yourself too much because a tweet storm, or “donorreah,” will be heading your way once the wind calms.
With all this going on you may succumb to Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). In that case, just pour your self another cup of cofveve and dream of November 3, 2020.
11
@Dunn Arceneaux
This is sort of like saying that we “greatly misinterpreted” that the victims of gun violence are no longer alive...
2
President Trump has it right. We are in a trade war with China. Tariffs is not the solution. We have gotten to the point where we have become fully dependent on China. Pick up any item and it is made in China. "Dollar Stores" should be labelled China stores. We have reached the point that if we continue to depend on China, it will become dominant economical and military and we will turn into a third world country. We must stop the dumping of Chinese cheap subsided goods in our country. We must manufacture our own goods. We did it and are capable of doing it again as we did during WWII and turn into a war economy. We might have to lower wages to manufacture cheaper goods to compete with China. American companies overseas have to be called back. China has no trouble planning and executing policy being a one party regime. In order to succeed we must stop our destructive two party system.
1
He has absolutely no power to “order” American companies back! Trump Tariffs have always decimated our agricultural trade!
12
It’s not like China put a gun to our heads and ‘made’ our American companies move their manufacturing there. They did it out of greed. Cut cost, increase profits. Everyone blames China, blame Wall Street. It’s capitalism, folks!
25
@DO
Most dictators would agree with you about a one party system. Why do Trump supporters hate democracy and America so much? If you don't like it move to China. They, as you pointed out, have the one party system you crave so much.
11
You almost have to wonder why the Iranians are not seeing, and if so, not seizing, the following opportunity: Trump's track record of ``striking great deals'' has been so poor (think North Korea), so why not sit at the table with him, agree to a ``much better'' deal than the previous one, and unlike the former, make it a condition that the new one be ratified by Congress. This will lead to one of two things: 1. possibly a deal which might therefore normalise life for the Iranians, or 2. just nowhere as the Iranians calling Trump's bluff would have only revealed that the current situation he put them in is exactly what he, or Benjamin, or MBS, wants. My call: the Iranians should say: "Sure mate, let's sit down and let you have _your_ awesome deal".
7
Trump doesn't think; he reacts . . . then . . . about everything. The self-styled genius doesn't have a stable thought in his head, making everyone who listens think he must be wrong while the stock market listens and reacts to a worst case scenario including his spokeswoman, a sycophant, who doesn't want to appear unready to explain her way out of a tough position. For the rest of us it is impossible to take Trump at his word(s); his is to entertain by saying something, anything. It's an act for Trump.
4
Trump's response is not surprising but extremely troubling. We have known for over 2 years that the current occupant of the WH has no plans and cannot tell the truth to save his life. He obviously does not want to realize the effect of words because he denies his words are biased, racist etc And now apparently our economy is doing so great that we can help out Britain when it withdraws from Brexit by having a great trading deal with the Brits. Imports from Britain to the US are approximately 2.4 percent of all US Imports--now that will really overcome any harm from the Chinese tariffs (not)...
13
The headline says "Trump Sends Mixed Signals."
I submit that this is incorrect. They're not mixed, they're contradictory. His capacity for signaling has decayed before our eyes into loud uneven static.
The media persists in treating Trump as if he were a normal person, behaving as a normal President would. Normal people sometimes send mixed signals. Trump is not normal. He is profoundly erratic, dangerously disinhibited, emotionally volatile, and all that is recently on top of his baseline ignorance, arrogance, and extreme narcissism. The world sees this. Why doesn't the Times report it?
20
Trump said he is the Chosen One. Next week Trump will be saying he is God and aren't we lucky to have God as our leader. If he means the Old Testament God i would better understand....maybe even believe.
2
The House cannot return from break SOON ENOUGH!
3
He's not sending mixed signals. Almost everything he says or does sends one laser-focused signal: I am incompetent.
OK, maybe more signals, like "Hello, Pence and Cabinet members, what about the 25th Amendment and your responsibilities under it?"
12
At this point, Trump's foreign policy objective should be to buy Siberia from Russia and call it Donaldtrumpia.
6
Is China looking for a fair deal? No they are looking to have the upper hand. Trump is approaching this like a businessman with all the nations. Not a career US politician giving away the ship so the world leaders all say what a great US president we have. I hear allot that Trump only thinks of himself. If he was that he would be giving away everything like Obama did to get the world wide accolades.
@Jim
Trump is "giving away" the power, prestige, and moral authority of our nation.
If you are kidding, please be aware that it takes a skilled hand to use sarcasm in print.
9
The world leaders do not want a global recession which will hurt everyone. The TPP was a much better idea
1
Thank heavens the stock market is closed on Sunday. Please support the candidates that can oust Mr. Trump and his enablers.
14
Me, me, look at me. Adore me. I am central to this gathering, me and me alone.
Everyone else is losers. It is all about me.
I am tired of all of this winning and wonderful issues Trump is settling. Well, no issues that Trump has settled.
So much for the grand negotiator and business person.
I would recommend the leaders of the G-7 minus Trump do what is best for them and brush Trump aside.
11
What nonsense here, this President and administration are determined to recreate the Cold War and vilify and attack China at any and every opportunity. President Trump is undoing all our foreign policy efforts with China since the Nixon visit. There are no mixed signals, only crazy aggression.
8
To my fellow NYT readers/commenters, please stop saying Trump is mentally ill. He very well may have some emotional issues, but that’s not going to remove him from office. What it will do is become part of a diminished capacity plea when he’s finally out of office and on trial.
6
Frankly, what ultimately happens to Trump when he's out of office doesn't concern me very much. Whatever his fate is, incarceration or no, is insignificant compared to the enormous damage he is inflicting right now in office.
The fact of the matter is Trump has shown worrying signs of mental illness. We need to be able to discuss the implications of that as a country.
16
@Matthew
You are right, of course. I wasn’t truly serious, just a little tired of it as a reason for his bad behavior.
Discuss away — freedom of speech it is.
3
Really now.Why were the rest in the background there; except for a FREE trip to France and free food.
3
I imagine that Trump is tolerated, somewhat appeased, and blessedly ignored whenever possible by the other, qualified and intelligent, leaders. Hint: the people who are not ABSURD!!! :)
6
“Yeah, sure, why not? Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.” President Trump’s statement. And his press spokesperson Stephanie Grisham stated, “his answer has been greatly misinterpreted.” Duh! Oh, please no more spin.
Grisham probably didn’t know what she was saying; she just wanted to protect her master. Look good for him when he came out of his manic state. She claimed he really wanted to raise tariffs against China “higher”.
So, city-boy president really wants to help our agricultural and manufacturing businesses. By his constant double-speak he induces John Deere to reduce production in the U.S. and redirect its manufacturing towards Brazil because Dakota farmers can’t sell their soy bean harvests to China. They won’t be buying many new John Deere harvesters.
This must be music to Brazil’s farmers and bankers even as their government approves of more rapid deforestation of the world’s prime and largest rain forest. It’s all tied together but Trump doesn’t get it. He has a one-track mind and so do his advisers. Zero-sum politics no matter if it hurts millions of Americans. On their track he can do no wrong and is always right, looking out for our farmers and our manufacturers. That’s why he “ordered” U.S. companies to stop doing business in China and take their business elsewhere. Like where? Meanwhile other leading nations continue to feed manufacturing and other business to Chinese companies to meet demand.
5
Could we please stop covering what Trump says and what it might mean? It means nothing. He doesn’t even understand what he’s saying. It only serves to make new headlines and distract us from the very real damage his policies are inflicting on our already wounded country. His words and this article is a waste of everyone’s time.
11
@DDD
AMEN!! If the press would stop focussing on every tweet and every word, djt would implode in one day without the attention.
Next thing is Trump will claim he is the ultimate deal maker as he announces an agreement with Japan.
Part of that agreement will be getting Japan to reduce their tariffs on agricultural products from here to the same level as President Obama negotiated in the TPP , an agreement Trump walked away from .
The TPP was an intelligent strategic agreement to develop a trade relationship with key Pacific States building a bulwark against China protecting Workers rights and IP .
It was supported by Bolton, Pompeo and Kudlow the latter stating that lower tariffs mean lower taxes.
This whole Trade war, possible global recession could have been averted had Trump not cancelled TPP.
12
It may be a good idea for Trump to make deal with China and Iran.The whole world and our own country will benefit not only materially but also politically.Clearly with all the hue and cry Trump's method for trade have not worked for US.Our deficit has grown to one trillion in a year.So Trump must change his tactics.The best method is to limit imports to 50 % of current amount than to put tariffs.
@Rishi And if those import limits prove fruitless, what do you offer?
The market place has little cushion to tool up manufacturing outside of China, and almost no cushion to tool up on U.S. soil.
The manufacturers are not as imbecilic as Trump and can work around that import limit.
2
Other than shopping for the best in couture wear that Biarritz has to offer, what has Melania been doing in the resort town? Any clarifications from her and hubby’s joint press secretary about her comings and goings? Everyone needs some mindless levity at this point, distracting from the Fake President’s usual incoherent ridiculousness.
11
@John Grillo
My guess is that she is doing what she always does - having lunch and sulking.
4
C’mon folks! Trump never “admitted” (your word in original headline) he was having second thoughts about tariffs. His answer was a sarcastic response to what he considered a stupid question. But you swallowed it hook, line and sinker and made it your lead story. I am by no means a Trump supporter, but I am constantly amazed at your clumsy coverage of this man. Sometimes, like Sunday morning, he has you for breakfast.
3
@Never Trumper
Is that an audition for White House interpreter?
9
@Never Trumper That's it! You'd expect the media to have become smarter and adapted their approach by now. Had Trump been a school child, so much of his behaviour, comments and outbursts would receive next to no attention from his teacher. Shouldn't reporters more often shrug their shoulders and roll their eyes at him? I speak for myself but I often do when reading their articles on him.
3
@Never Trumper
What you fail to grasp is that when you are the President of the United States, your words matter. There is no room or sarcasm on the world stage. People from different cultures may take what is said literally. Sarcasm may not be understood. Wars have started over such misunderstandings or misstatements. Unfortunately we have a president who is incapable of grasping the nuances of diplomacy or decency. He opens his mouth and rubbish spews forth.
The old adage about engaging one's mind before putting one's mouth in gear, doesn't apply here. There seems to be no connection between Trump's mind and his mouth.
7
The photo says it all: A clueless man totally out of his element.
27
Watching Trump at the G7 hunched over with his permanent scowl, one can only imagine how uncomfortable he is to be in a room with world leaders who seem at ease with each other and with the occasional exception of Boris Johnson, supremely indifferent to his presence. Leaders like Macron, Trudeau, Merkel and others are not only able to communicate their ideas effectively but can often do it in more than one language, and having frequently studied Trump’s facial expressions when foreign languages are being spoken, I think it drives him crazy.
That said, I’m pretty sure he still thinks he’s the smartest person in the room and it definitely won’t be Mnuchin, Mulvaney, Bolton, Kushner or Ms. Grisham who will abuse him of that notion.
154
@Susan
Thank you, Susan, for using "hunched over" and "with his permanent scowl." I am so very tired of seeing Trump sitting in chairs as if they were toilets.
46
@Susan
"...communicate their ideas effectively..."
Growth of the European Union countries in 2018? $210 billion real
Growth of the U.S, in 2018? $680 billion real
Their ideas are all second rate. That's why they are in tune with each other.
If we had grown $210 billion real in 2018, NYT would have declared it a great depression.
1
@John Huppenthal
You speak as if "growth" is inherently noble. It's not. It's a statistic.
Our wonderful growth did not produce better health care for citizens. Rather, Trump wants to tear it down further. "Growth" did not produce solutions to illegal immigration and asylum seekers. "Growth" did not repair or upgrade airports, roads or bridges.
And it certainly didn't reduce the deficit.
As David Pilling says in The Growth Delusion:
“Only in economics is endless expansion seen as a virtue. In biology it is called cancer.”
41
In class we compared Rep President Eisenhower to Trump. IKE was a master technician and planner. As the supreme commander in WWII, before troops were deployed, IKE made sure they were properly equipped. That’s in sharp contrast to Trump who claimed that "trade wars were easy to win" but did little to prepare. Had Trump thought thru the conflict before he launched, he would have planned for an alternate source for rare earth materials that are essential for America’s defense industry. Trump would have asked SOY farmers to widen their customer base and “sell forward” as much product as possible in anticipation that China would identify our weaknesses and exploit them.
But Trump didn’t do any of that.
His political staff told him that a war with China would appeal to his base. It sounded good, and he launched, but there were many other examples of poor planning we identified in class and we’re only second year students. Underestimating the enemy’s resolve, the failure to identify his capabilities, are two egregious examples of Trump’s incapability for any leadership role.
Trump’s abysmal performance and flip/flops explains why he’s bankrupted six ventures and used ever increasing debt to bail himself out.
22
This POTUS appears to have no idea what he’s doing. Poorly prepared, at times nearly incoherent. This brings shame and embarrassment to the USA. MAGA indeed! Unbelievable.
30
@Josephis "Appears"? No, has no idea of what he is doing.
11
@Josephis ``appears''?
5
The genius of Bizarritz strikes again.
9
Will the media ever get tired of trying to rationalize or offer explanation about this demented, stupid, insane man’s ramblings? When are we going to call it for what it actually is?
21
The media including The Times seem to perform the most unbelievable contortions to legitimize the illegitimate presidency. They are, after all, large corporations profiting off this disgrace.
4
Trump's wants the G7 to focus on economy, "in particular his clash with China" because an impending recession coud "impede his re-election". For Trump's advisers, French President Macron who is driving the agenda as the host focuses too much on "politically correct bromides" or "niche issues" like global warning and inequality".
For God's sake, the Amazon is burning, the poles are melting, the world's temperature is exponentionally rising ("niche" issues!!!) and the world should focus on this moron' re-election????
Good show, Mr Macron, move on without the US at least until November 2020.
25
Who would have imagined that Trump would have stuck up for Putin and Russia. Disgusting.
Backing Russia and Putin is the only topic Trump is certain of.
14
I can't decide if the "Trump Administration" is a lobotomized "Saturday night Live," "Laugh-in" or a soap opera. It certainly is not a sane government in action. What Trump says one day is reversed the next and then reinstated on the 3rd day. Rinse and repeat.
8
Who is the real President? Apparently not Trump since the White House is correcting what he says. And who is the “White House” anyway?
16
"G7 Updates: Trump Sends [Mixed Signals] on China."
I much prefer to read the un-euphemistic headlines from the foreign press.
I'm sure we'll be getting a breaking-news update about Trump's reaction to Iran's PM surprise G7 visit.
4
The photo suggests that the G6 put the president in a "time out" chair.
If so, a very good move.
27
Mixed signals? How unlike him.
4
Trump is bound to be very uncomfortable in a group of accomplished, powerful people who don't answer to him and could challenge or shame him at any moment. It's not his normal milieu. He looks lost, like a confused little boy with no clue how to act or speak appropriately. The other kids are playing nicely and he's off on the side. I'm sure he'd rather be anywhere else and just wants it to end.
12
I can't wait until the end of September to see pictures (and news) of how a real president looks and speaks: President Obama in Denmark.
10
Hello China, if you’re listening, please call your debt and put us out of our misery.
5
Adolescent power-games on full display.
A self-involved, insecure, truth-incapable, rich dude spewing buckets of nonsensical word-soup without regard for anything except an audience he images fears him needing an assistant to follow him around explaining what he does, and doesn’t, mean.
Seriously, there’s a comic musical being written about this phony-baloney POTUS and his administration that easily could become a huge Broadway hit in 2-3 years. Working title: White House, White Power.
4
Act tough when you're at home, sitting in a nice, big, fat, comfortable leather chair, then back off and retreat as soon as your face to face with those you've insulted or threatened. This weekend was just the latest display of Donald Trump's bone-spur cowardice on the international stage.
"If I had gone to Vietnam, I would have won the war single-handedly! It's just lucky for them I was forced to stay home against my wishes!". Such is the false bravado of our first-class Chicken-In-Chief.
A man who wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight.
13
Would I be wrong to suggest our President is sadistic? Hot tempered? Cruel beyond measure?
3
When do we collectively say, “Stop this lying and double dealing lowlife?” Are we waiting until he who believes to be the Chosen One begins a war with Iran or when we and our children are told to learn to speak Russian? Aren’t we sick of this nonsense?
6
I love the picture of Trump siting alone having second thoughts. It is amazing that his administration lies about everything. Nothing is simple with them.
Glad the rest of the leaders realize that Trump ,John Bolton have nothing to offer to the conversation. Till the election they need to inform Trump of anything when it is absolutely necessary.
Iranian leadership shows up and makes the declaration they dont want to hear from Trump. A very strong statement made by the French to the man who is having second thoughts.
20
I was wondering if the G6 were going to set up a kid's table for Trump complete with a happy meal and it seems as though they did so that the adults could have an intelligent conversation.
40
All that was missing from the photo of Trump was a dunce cap.
38
@Poli Sci student, I was thinking that a roll of toilet paper was what was missing. This photo is not flattering at all.
6
@Jim...or maybe a roll of paper towels.
What a slouch. Is this really what we want to see in the President of the United States? This cannot be what America wants in 2020; can it?
25
What does England produce, besides Wensleydale cheese, that the U.S. does not already buy elsewhere?
5
@Rod Stevens
Try
https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/europe/united-kingdom
If you’re unaware of what your 7th largest trading partner offers.
4
@Mg US imports from Britain are only 2.4 percent of the total imports to the US in 2018.
1
Good television.
2
Sadly, the western world is no longer aligned behind social and environmental progress over short-term “growth at all costs” thinking that does not belong in this century. The world needs prosperity WITHOUT growth, if we will survive at all.
Nostalgia propagandists like Trump, Johnson, and Abe are not fit for the task. Germany may be facing a recession, Italy’s government isn’t stable, and Macron’s approval ratings, while rising, are as low as Trump’s.
Canada, I guess it’s up to you.
6
When seated, why does the POTUS’s posture always mimic that of person perched atop a commode?
24
@Louis Taylor
Perhaps unconsciously emulating two other kings, Elvis or England's George II, both of whom went out in that position....
8
Why is our President seated on a small chair whilst the rest of them standing in this NYT photograph?
8
@Harjit Singhrao
Bone spurs.
15
@Harjit Singhrao
Would you want to sit next to him?
14
Does this president ever send anything other than "Mixed Signals"?
The increasingly unstable demagogue in chief is a massive blob of incoherence and self-contradiction. His word salads and ad-libs, mainly in chopper talk and by tweet and needing constant "clarification" by befuddled aides, leave everyone's head spinning and create perilous uncertainty worldwide.
With one crucial exception: his rallies.
There, the hate he spews and the divisiveness he gleefully foments remain terribly consistent. Which is why the clear and present danger of Donald Trump's reckless and malignantly narcissistic presidency grows more ominous by the day.
20
This is negotiation? It's a circle of nonsense that Stephanie Grisham cannot square. My index funds have been hollering for responsible adults to do something about this rampaging destructor of world trade. President Macron and rest of them know he doesn't know what he's doing, and it now seems that Trump is starting to realize at the edges of what's left of his decompensating brain that they will work around him inasmuch as they can. Thank you, President Macron, from a despondent citizen of the U.S.A..
15
All that was missing from the photo of Trump was a dunce cap.
10
The man is a moron, period. If he is a stable genius than Putin is his godfather
21
For years the Human Stain has been acting lime geo politics and governing the country is as easy as playing TIC/TAC/TOE but he’s failed to recognize he’s playing chess and he is severely outclassed and outmaneuvered.
We’re approaching the Endgame and he is metaphorically at “Checkmate in six moves”. Predictably he doesn’t recognize that he put himself here.
There’s the inevitable Trumpcession that has begun. The blowback from previous allies would are ignoring and isolating him and his foolish pronouncements on: the economy, the wall (has Mexico sent that check yet?), Healthcare, Coal jobs, the environment, infrastructure and tariffs on China. He’s stuck. He can’t match Chinas resolve on tariffs, he can’t backtrack because that means “he blinked”. The current taxes on the US is already hurting many sectors and that will get worse when the next round kicks in. The timing couldn’t be worse. The holiday season will be a disaster, companies will stop hiring and start firing, consumers will stop buying, housing prices will drop, gun violence will in rease.
He’s a lame duck and supporters will start looking out fir themselves. There could be more GOP and third party candidates who aren’t happy with him.
At that point the predictable move of desperation will be global battle. Iran? North Korea? China?...Canada, Britain, Germany and France. Right now he’s the guy at the G7 party everyone was hoping he’d go golfing instead of showing up.
Invited but not needed.
6
As an American, this time if he tries to push someone out of the way for a photo-op I hope that person pushes him right back. They should be ready for that now.
24
Thank goodness there is a place to comment on this Sunday, especially. First, you see how trumpski hogs the front page photo. He has to be at the center of everything and everybody. He must have felt terribly blindsided when the Iranian representative was invited to meet with other G7 members. Too bad.
But that's really not the main concern. Based on trumpski's words this past week on different issues, one can confidently say that his thinking and world view, if, in fact, he has, or ever had one, is now off the rails. I seriously think that he consciously sets things up to create chaos, to hurt people with his utterances.
It is time to recall Congress. it is time to consider the 25 th amendment. It is well past time, seriously.
10
Message to Ridley Scott and Oliver Stone:
You two have to get together and make a movie about a mad King and his corrupt followers and fanatical fans. A parody maybe.
Do it now so you can release it in August of 2020.
Many Thanks.
The American Public
23
@Gwen Vilan
Are you sure it should be a Scott/Stone production? I think Tarantino might do wonders with your premise.
11
I think Sorkin/Lewis should give it the big short treatment.
1
The photo shows Trump is his typical "bird on a perch" posture, leaning forward, with this fingers projecting outward as if to protect the part of his body he values most.
The other Americans in the photo show the dangerous third-raters he's gathered around himself, with his son-in-law peering out from the far left.
This is a photo of danger and treachery.
26
'Administration officials downplayed the issue, noting that Russia had not asked to rejoin the (G7) club. But on Sunday, Mr. Trump said the United States, as the host of next year’s meeting, might invite Russia to participate."
Now that former Tea Party Congressman and recently reforming, Obama-basher-musket-toter Joe Walsh has declared his candidacy, he can be asked - Is inviting Putin to next year's G7, a good idea?
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel SEEMS completely unconcerned about Joe Walsh or any challenger opening a Republican Wellness Clinic.
McDaniel: “any effort to challenge (Trump) in a primary is bound to go absolutely nowhere.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/08/joe-walsh-running-president-primary-challenge-trump.amp
But, McDaniel and every RNC Trumper know that Chief Crazy Talk will lose support, when he is unwilling / unable to return coherent speech to a challenger's criticisms.
3
2nd thought is Trump’s middle name.
4
He's never had an original thought in his life.
6
Trump’s mixed signals:
“I hate being bipolar, it’s awesome.”
32
With every waking moment Trump demonstrates his absolute inability to lead. What a collective waste of the resources of an entire nation since this irrational troll entered the White House. Trump, the "incredibly stable genius", is unfit for everything apparently - other than declaring bankruptcy and spewing random, incoherent thoughts that his aides try to sort out afterwards. My God, all the wasted money and time because of this wretch.
10
Trump is a mental case with dire consequence for the US and the world. When will "someone" call for a competence screening...
6
It really is time to rewatch the 1994 film, "The Madness of King George"
Trump is becoming King George III
3
@Rich Hadfield
Also see "Start the Revolution Without Me", and the brilliant, though not so accurate, portrayal of Louis XVI. Probably everybody who ever saw it remembers the king in an elaborate Easter Egg rig at a ball saying, 'they told me it was a costume party'...
"Yeah, sure, why not?" Deeply moving words from a deep thinker.
20
G-7 summit at Biarritz, France is a new European Chinese Exclusion Act. China will be discussed but no Chinese leaders participated in this meeting? Major issues will not be resolved. Where is Putin? Just a late summer vacation by white leaders plus one Japanese, a loser of WWII. Chinese media already talked about this.
He could have continued living the high life in Manhattan; licensing his name to steaks and buildings and fake universities; having his fun with porn stars.
But his unbridled ego got in the way, he had to run for president. All those cheering crowds at MAGA rallies.
Now he always looks so unhappy. All those laws and bureaucratic protocols and the Constitution to deal with, who knew?
22
Poor Trump...He no idea what is going on. He still thinks he can bluff and bully his was through international discussions of economics, foreign policy, monetary policy, inflation and global alliances. Because he is so uninformed and so unwilling and uninterested in learning anything he must rely on ridiculous comments and more hateful behavior to keep the spotlight. Sad...he is barely literate and he thinks he can participate in these discussions? Sad...
13
“'Yeah, sure, why not?'” Mr. Trump replied. “'Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.'”
Know who else should be having second thoughts? Every single person who cast a ballot for this indecisive, double-talking, dishonest, bigoted, certifiably ill, out-of-his-depth hypocrite.
364
@D Price It is totally unimaginable that anyone as willfully ignorant and unknowledgeable as Donald J. Trump can be making decisions that affect the largest economies in the world. And everybody just talks about Trump's erratic behavior as though it were all a normal state of affairs. Everyday we read about Trump's latest Tweets or public pronouncements and I feel as though I am living in a sit com where the class clown has become the POTUS for a day. Trump can't be real.
43
@D Price: THANK...YOU! You've said it beautifully.
8
@D Price
Sadly, Trump's base will stick with him. Whatever they continue to believe is beyond the recognition of anyone who was sane enough to see who he is as he campaigned as a disgusting, ignorant, con man and crook.
He could and would steal the last piece of bread from a hungry child, stuff it into his own mouth, and walk away laughing, whilst insulting the child and his base would still support him.
11
The picture of Trump conspicuously sitting apart from the others lacks something. Perhaps him wearing a crown would make the picture more complete.
There may be a journalistic reason for all the Trump coverage day in and day out. But as a reader, I find most of it uninformative and rather trying because it is so predictable and repetitive. Such prominent coverage of a thoughtless man and every move and utterance from him pushes aside news coverage that could be more stimulating to readers.
10
Frank question. Do recessions stand to benefit wealthy real-estate barons? His 'pathology' and motives are always so self-serving, I always assume that if he's not there to benefit Russia, he's certainly out to benefit himself [both would be possible if they hold power over him]. Causing a recession to line his own pockets may be one possible scenario I thought would fit this pattern of behavior...as he did with his tax plan.
5
@Lara Jones
When the Fed lowers the interest rate that reduces the cost of the loans he has on his Trump properties. So the short answer to your question is yes.
4
Melania finally has an out:
"When the priest asked me if I take Donald to be my husband my answer was greatly misinterpreted."
22
Every time the president is downtown the dithering on trade is deafening; every time he's out of town, it's bash the Chinese. Please, Mr. President move the White House to the county.
What war? Why are we in debt to China? We have been borrowing their money for bailouts and rich tax cuts.
Trump is playing his game on his supporters.
3
Tired of being embarrassed.Just hope Boris is aware of the number of deals we have backed out of.
Then of course Boris has a similar lack of familiarity with the truth
10
I would think that the worst thing any leader could get is an endorsement by Trump.
7
@Teddi Especially as it is often swiftly followed by a full-on petty, childish attack and an insulting play-ground tirade against them.
1
This perfectly illustrates why Trump will be re-elected. He is the president for everyone. If you want stricter gun controls, he is with you. If you believe we need to do nothing further on gun control, he is your candidate. If you thought he wasn't being tough enough on China, he was your guy on Friday. If you want him to rethink the new tariffs, today he agrees with you. If you think the unfavorable polls are rigged, he couldn't agree more. But, if you believe the favorable poll results are accurate, you have a friend in the White House.
Confused? Don't be. These are the hallmarks of an extremely stable genius. (You and I just don't know enough of them and he knows that too.)
90
@Tom Q
Its just the pugilism necessary to be an effective negotiator on the $70 trillion world economic stage.
Shift, jab, draw back, jab again.
Worked on Mexico and Canada. They completed the negotiation.
Its an amazing thing to behold as he attempts to break through the ossified culture of a 1.4 billion, 6000 year civilization known as China.
@John Huppenthal
You'd better go back and review what was actually accomplished in the "NAFTA Redux" negotiations. I would be more accurate to say that Trump retreated and then declared victory.
20
@John Huppenthal
Trump lost the NAFTA negotiations. He withdrew, they demanded concessions to even return to the original agreement, Trump caved and gave them their wishlist to get us back in the agreement.
15
Aides say trump's "second thoughts" comment has been "greatly misinterpreted."
Who is trump's interpreter? I don't know what language he speaks -- and I don't believe anyone else does.
If someone purports to … he or she has to be a liar.
That I can tell you.
100
@Thomas Murray
Is it not the sign of genuis to be able to hold two mutually incompatible and inconsistent ideas in a person's mind, simultaneously? Peut-etre?
6
@Thomas Murray
English-to-English translation?
4
No, I dont think so!
1
I keep hearing from news outlets that Trump won't 'back down' while members of his family and staff say things like 'when you hit us we punch back ten times harder' ... As though they exhibit some sort of courage. What really happens; they say things, attacking people, and are put in their place as sycophants.
This is the 'script' we've had to endure for over 2 years:
1 Trump attempts to bully people and/or foreign leaders.
2 Person and/or foreign leader responds, defending themselves and criticizing Trump.
3 Trump, like all bullies, screams 'no fair' and finds a new target for his nonsense.
The media has no choice but to follow this 'event' on the next news cycle.
New story: The bully is a coward. Again.
150
‘I have second thoughts about everything’.
If any other President of the United States were to utter those words, world markets would shudder, governments would go into deep policy huddles, adverse militaries would move into a state of alert.
Here, it’s business as usual. In fact, the least important line in the paragraph.
8
'“I can understand how the prime minister of Japan feels,” Mr. Trump said.'
It would be a lot better for the U.S., as well as the intricate mesh of the world's economies, if he understood how his fellow leaders *think*.
But it's all feelings with Mr. Trump, all the time. Not a good way to make decisions that affect billions of people, especially when he feels he's never wrong.
12
No surprise here. Donald Trump has been giving off mixed signals ever since he got into the White House.
This is not new for him
And slowly the same realization has dawned on the entire global community.
The only thing that interests Trump is good ratings, the best photo angle and the size of the audience.
Everyone and everything else is of little importance to him, especially since it is never coming out of his own pocket.
14
It seems that United States economic and foreign policy is subservient to Donald Trump's vast - but fragile - ego. It is also obvious that Trump is attending this event with no preparation whatsoever. The administration is best characterized by its lack of attention to detail.
The contrast with President Obama could not be starker.
26
Trump has made an absolutely compelling case for restricting the powers of the president. He's making - and remaking - hugely consequential global trade decisions on whims.
Congress has innumerable faults, but it has to be better than this.
16
5 stages of the death of the trump empire:
1 - Denial:no, we are the only big superpower around the world, soviet union is gone and we can rule all.
2 - Angry: China cannot challenge our will, cannot take advantage in commerce with USA, neither the EU, let’s apply sanctions and use tariffs to punish the revolt.
3 - Bargain: Tariffs do not work, the industries are not coming back to the USA and the international consumer market is a mess, let’s cancel the tariffs and comeback to the table to negotiate a deal.
4 - Depression: we cannot impose our will to other countries, let’s see what we still can save, maybe England and Brazil.
5 - Acceptance: lets negotiate permission of China to participate in the Silk and Road Initiative and let’s ask for more participation in this 600,000,000 consumer market (China alone).
1
Sometimes a turn of phrase can change a person's, a country's and the world's opinion of a situation or an historical figure. Such a moment is upon us my fellow citizens. A Presidential pronouncement that will stand aside some of the great oratorical flourishes of the last century. Make note of the time and date for surely your kids and grandchildren will ask where you were when our illustrious leader spake the phrase "Yeah, sure, why not?".
22
When trump suggests that a 1977 emergency powers act grants him the ability to issue orders such as his declarations over the last few days, we no longer have a president or a democracy - we are living under a dictator. Combine this with his other statement s and acts and what do we have? A tyrant.
There is no national emergency. There are mistakes of prior administrations that have brought us to this point. There is every reason to use statesmanship to reach the agreements that would end the trade war he started. Of course, he is no statesman. And the Chinese disregard WTO standards and that cannot be allowed to stand. There must be a compromise - a step toward a complete agreement.
Congress, the cabinet, and even the military need to take action to restore the democracy. Or have members of those bodies forgotten the oaths they swore? To uphold and defend the constitution. That is where their loyalties should lie - not with a dictator who daily violates and denigrates the same constitution. The president hasn’t represented the citizens of this country from nearly day one of their administration.
trump and his congressional, judicial, and cabinet level supporters are committing crimes against the nation every day. Action is required now before the damage overwhelms the potential to repair it.
14
Perhaps there is an odd brilliance in keeping the G7 off guard. Many of these countries have taken wicked advantage of the US for years. Shame on us for allowing it, and apologizing to them while they did so. I find President Trump somewhat odd, but I find many of hopes policies very good.
2
Except there is no genius going on. He is winging it. What evidence are you citing regarding other countries sticking it to the USA? That is a direct Trump quote not based on any facts.
12
@MyjobisinIndianow
"Many of these countries have taken wicked advantage of the US for years"
Really - care to tell us why you think this?
14
@MyjobisinIndianow Are you serious? What is it about the history of this country since 2008 that leads you to conclude it’s been taken advantage of by foreign business interests—i.e., not done as well as it might have due to other countries’ economic policies. You ain’t seen nothing, my friend, if you think Trump is your friend and savior. Strap yourself in, put on your helmet, and lower your anti-glare eye shield.
11
"It was not clear whether the Americans tacitly accepted Mr. Zarif’s visit to Biarritz or if it was in effect a poke at Mr. Trump by Mr. Macron."
If the latter, quite a poke. A jab, actually. I just watched Trump walk past Macron for the obligatory official photo of this event and he didn't look very happy--even though he controlled himself after in a smaller photo.
One thing is sure: once airborne, all his feelings will be revealed over and over as he tweets his way across the Atlantic.
33
Trump has recently learned 2 important lessons. He can massively move markets with a single tweet, and Fed Chairman Powell will do whatever he can to reassure those markets no matter how reckless our president behaves. So now Trump goes to sleep each night dreaming of how much money he'll make tomorrow for himself and his friends by either shorting the market or going long--depending on his mood. What a world.
14
The top photo (Trump sitting alone, while the rest of the leaders stand behind chairs a distance away) speaks volumes. It just shoes hoe the Us, and Trump, have isolated themselves from the world.
A photo Trump and Johnson, also speaks volumes. The two people who are doing the most damage to the world economy. Trump with tariffs and Johnson with Brexit. Combined will send teh world into a new Graet Depression.
Then there is reported that Trump may not raise tariffs, against China, to 30%, and not force US businesses to quit China. Only to be denied by his White House staff.
The G-7 is not installing confidence:
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that its stock market will be down today (it's Monday morning there):
ASX SPI 200 futures point to a decline of 1.33 per cent, or 86 points, when trade opens on Monday morning extending Friday's slide in European and US markets.
Expect another nasty week.
Now we wait fro the next tweets to shake Wall Street, business and consumers.
Finally, while G-7, and G-20 summits have never been useful; today it shows how truly useless they totally are.
1
So Trump's spokeswoman denies that Trump admitted that he had "second thoughts" on China. Believe her. Trump has never had ANY actual "thoughts" on China or any other serious foreign policy matter.
13
Trump’s comments depend on who he’s talking to. The more people with different ideas he meets, the more scrambled his “message” becomes. I think it’s that simple.
5
When I read that Trump had said that he had second thoughts about the China tariffs I had the briefest flash of what a normal president might say and do. But no. The WH had to say that what he REALLY meant was that he had second thoughts about not raising tariffs high enough which absolutely NO ONE believes but god forbid Trump appear anything less than a raving madman. Because this strategy has been working so well so far!
6
To think, Repubs used to have fun accusing Dems of "flip-flopping," but now that one of their own does it so often, so fast, and reverses himself back and forth so fast nobody can keep up, we hear nothing but silence. Like everything - EVERYTHING - they used to criticize, it's now all OK since Trump is doing it. The GOP cannot possible stand for anything meaningful at all again.
10
I think when trump said he was having a lot of second thoughts they were mostly about being talked into attending. He hates the international stage- he's out of his depth and he knows it.
10
Ahh, but Mr. Trump is 100% consistent on one thing: the strange triangular position of the hands when he is stead. That never wavers.
6
It has been an interesting three years watching and listening to people try and make sense of President Trump's shambolic economic and policy ramblings. I mean the verbal gymnastics that it takes to bend his thoughts into coherent lines of logic and purposefulness? His handlers and enablers must have majored in pretzel making in college.
Of course in this land of opportunity we find the many opportunists; with 330 million of us it only takes a fraction of us effectively collaborating with Trump to keep his inept government going. I guess several hundred years of momentum is what is holding it together. Barely holding our democracy together.
Headed for his fourth year, I actually think that things are going to get a lot worse. A lot worse. Knowing that they may be be subject to criminal proceedings if he is defeated next year, expect the Trump family to redefine low as they fight for their survival. Expect the Russians to weigh in again. The Russians are hoping for a coupe de grace; four more years of their clown prince dismantling two hundred years of our democracy... Fasten your seat belts.
16
Always interesting to see the Trump body language. He is sitting on the edge of his chair, fingers pointed together and with a vacant expression. IF you keep your eyes open, he always does this when either totally out of his depth (as when hosting an important foreign visitor at the WH, who can run rings around him) or he has absolutely no interest as to what is going on. He has his usual teams of minders in place, who can correct the usual false or confusing statements which have risen into his consciousness. He is basically useless.
17
@Tim
With "minders" like Kushner, Bolton, Mulvaney, and Pompeo, he might as well be alone.
1
Trump can't stay the course on anything but chaos. Don't get misunderstand he's still better than any of the democrat candidates.
I don't see anything here about Trump's continued demands to reinstate Russia to the G7. Why would the President of the United States be an advocate for our most dangerous enemy? Because he is naive? Because they have information on him? Because he thinks he can make money in Russia? All of the above?
7
Someone put President Trump in that primary school sized chair possibly by accident but my guess is that the French sense of humor and commentary shines through.
21
Donald Trump does not comprehend the gravity of his words and actions as president. Perhaps he believes he is host to some reality show where his comments are considered for their entertainment value and not for the profound effect they have on our country and world. Unfortunately, the power of his office clouds the fact that much of what he says is conflicting gibberish, and we’d all be better off not paying him any heed.
151
@Bob
Unfortunately, I believe he does understand the chaos he creates and enjoys it. He is one very sick individual.
22
@Mark Brauner
Agreed. And while he may not be directly benefiting from it, I could imagine a scenario where his friends and family make out like bandits timing the market if they have fore knowledge of his tweets.
12
@Bob Conflicting gibberish is indeed most of what comes from Trump. @Bob recognizes that along with millions in the rest of the world. But there is still a sizeable portion of American voters who are satisfied that such an ignorant clown is actually in charge of the executive branch of our government and he is being supported by an incredibly large proportion of Republican Senators and Congressmen. How can this be?
17
In many important ways, Trump is drawing the period of American global influence - which surged in the aftermath of WWII and it's destruction of Europe and Asia - to a close. Europe is once again on the ascendant in terms of intellectual and moral authority, as the Nation Under Trump abdicates, undermines, recedes in embarrassing fashion.
The future? As Trump applies his renowned experience in serial bankruptcy and self-serving disregard for law and contracts to the American economy, Europe - as well as China and the rest of Asia - will have no choice but to insulate themselves as best they can from the coming shocks.
Meanwhile, those same countries are now surging ahead of the US in green technologies and industries, happily taking market share, while Republicans serve the fossil fuel industry, ensuring profits at all costs to a few elites.
One thing is certain: the American role in world events will be reduced and distrusted for at least one or two decades. America is now the greatest - laughingstock.
90
@Neander So very true. Thanks!
5
A reduction in America’s role in world affairs is a good thing for the world and for America. For me, America’s primary role in the world affairs has meant one useless war after another. It has been this way my entire adult life, starting with the Vietnam War.
4
This is a teachable moment. So let’s put on our thinking caps and see if we can learn. If we do, we will better understand Trump and better understand the Times.
When Trump first came into office, he threatened China over its Taiwan policy. And in doing so, he ignored existing understandings between the countries. Times news articles and editorials were mostly positive about this. If Trump made everything negotiable, including previous concessions, that might be an effective strategy and we might, in essence, be able to get something for nothing.
Trump has used this strategy many times, and not just with China. That’s how he negotiates: assume everything is on the table and start from scratch. And that’s what he’s doing now with the China trade.
If you’re paying attention you know that Trump's strategy often fails, but sometimes works. He has gotten money for his wall. He has made immigrants extremely uneasy. And he may bring down Obamacare. And those are just a few examples.
The Times wanted Trump to succeed in the Taiwan negotiations. Pretty much the rest of the way they have wanted him to fail. And now they mock and attack Trump’s negotiating strategy. But this strategy has not changed from day one when the Times was on board. It is Trump's policies that have changed. And it is these policies that matter. If the Times were consistent, it would attack the policies but acknowledge that the strategy has been proven viable in a number of instances.
1
@michjas
You’re argument for Trump’s negotiating strategy has a familiar ring to it. Oh yeah, it’s that old saw — even a broken clock is right twice a day.
9
@michjas
When is the thinking cap going to appear?
9
Interesting pic. Love the image of the President sitting next to the Canadian flag. Also, it looks like they're all about to play musical chairs.
26
There is no plan here. He’s just saying what he thinks people want him to say.
36
@Gisele Dubson Of course there's a plan, it's not complex and you may have just missed it. Trump has demonstrated it multiple times.
We as USA citizen are loosing our voice. Russia is winning the long game. China is investing in agricultural in Russia, Africa, and EU. The twitter in chief is destroying the 75 years of US dominating the political stage. Our economy is going down, Wall Street looks 6 months ahead-, the debt keep rising, illegal immigration is higher than in 16 years.
We are almost in three wars -North Korea, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Moscow Mitch is earning his name by allowing this total disgrace of our government.
28
@Greg losing, not "loosing." I keep seeing this typo everywhere. Is this some parody on Trump I am not aware of? The misspelling always occurs when there are comments on him
1
An economic summit with Bankruptcy King as one of the participants.
Even attack dog Joe Walsh is now calling Trump unfit.
Not that anyone would believe anything Trump or Republicans say.
Wait until he leaves the summit.
He'll start bashing Macron as soon as he gets in the air.
Frankly, reruns of Murder She Wrote are much more interesting than The Trump Show.
Hope it gets cancelled next season.
40
Agreed but did not ignore stay in the fight please
1
Back in those halcyon days before Trump was President, he was lauded as a great negotiator. Under increased scrutiny, it turned out he'd never been good at it at all and his take-it-or-leave-it approach failed more often than it worked.
And that was OK, as long as he was grifting his way through the real estate market and bankrupting multiple companies. It didn't hurt you and me. Now it does. Every day.
Why? Because he's using the same failed techniques to try to "negotiate" with other nations and cultures, of which he knows nothing. Even if you're willing set aside his clear case of NPD, do you really expect a 70+ year old brat to change the way he does thing? No. But now that it is out there for all the world to see, we as a nation are being shamed. And that's a shame.
36
@Clyde
His supporters own a good portion of where we are now. They want America first. They think we, the Almighty USA, can say and do anything. They think we are self-sufficientl. We “don’t need no stinkin’ allies. We can do it alone.”
4
November 4th, 2020 come rain or come shine his reign is done. There are no coattails on this man if he wins or loses on the 3rd and the Republican Party, or what’s left of it can finally unleash their loathing on trump, either for the man he is or for the irreparable damage he’s done to the GOP. Like trump himself, taking responsibility for poor decisions simply isn’t on the menu, so the big wigs and the small will want blood- someone else’s.
9
@Henry O He will be turned on faster than the Shah of Iran
4
"I have second thoughts about everything.”
Which is a nice way of admitting that he has no coherent thought process about anything. It also explains the blank stares on his flunkies faces as they wait for the next shoe to drop.
48
During the campaign he lied i am your best bet to make better trade deals with China and Europe. He has has so many bankruptcies in his life the gullible GOP supporters believed him. I hope China and Europe don’t and never come back to trade with the USA. The GOP are bullies and very unstable in the business world and really can’t be trusted ever. There will be a future hot headed GOP upset China or Europe is doing better and start this chaos all over again. We had eight great years with President Obama and the longest sustaining recovery was under him.
10
I've never had any "second thoughts" about Trump. My first have simply been reinforced. What happens next is anybody's guess.
19
In regard to the surprise visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister, Nikki Haley tweeted that it was very disrespectful of Donald Trump and other G7 leaders. In terms of Trump, when has he shown any respect for the other leaders at these conferences? I guess you reap what you sow. He broke the Iran deal, although they were complying and Europe is trying not to make a bad situation worse. Haley also tweeted about Iran regarding terrorism activity. Yet nothing ever about the brutal dictators the Trump cozies up to.
39
I once worked for a guy like trump. everyday a new mess. I lasted 6 months. I can only imagine how hard it is to manage this mess of man.
12
Well done, G7-1, for sticking it to Trump by inviting Zarif. The crazier Trump acts, the more isolated he and the U.S. become.
And now we have Trump contradicting himself on China, and his White House aides contradicting the contradiction! Lord have mercy, also on the U.K. which is about to be taken to the cleaners on any trade deal Trump may be planning.
When will the nightmare end? Who will rid us of this turbulent madman?
36
"The president's disdain for backing down in the face of criticism?" Since when? He's backed down on almost every issue I can think of. He just doesn't call it that. He doesn't call it anything. He wakes up, checks his TV, his mood, and starts twittering.
If he says he has second thoughts about ratcheting up tariffs and threats, it means he's had third thoughts about it and that means more tariffs and threats, because three is more than two. If that doesn't make sense it's because you're not loyal to his Royal Highness.
We are in the twilight zone. Cue the music.
19
From the Washington Post’s story on Zarif in Biarritz:
“His arrival in the French resort town appeared to take the State Department by surprise, as well. A spokeswoman noted the agency’s absence from the summit and referred questions to the White House.”
The State Department of the United States is not part of the American delegation to the 2019 G7 Summit.
Let me repeat that. The State Department of the United States is not part of the American delegation to the 2019 G7 Summit.
What has happened to us?
49
The byword for this admin:
"the president’s answer has been greatly misinterpreted"
9
@angel98
Put on endless repeat. Another way of saying it is everything he says is meaningless
Once again Trump seems to have a spokesperson who is perhaps even more unpleasant and disagreeable than he is. Which isn’t easy. What must the world think of this ridiculous administration whose members can’t even agree with each other about a basic strategy or approach to a very significant problem?
And for the record, this reactive banter does not qualify as a strategy...
10
Macron’s invitation to the U.S. sanctioned, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif is remarkably audacious, sending a clear message to the Fake President that he does not control the G7/European Union agenda nor is he a reliable, trustworthy partner. Trump, being Trump, must be fuming behind closed doors, being rendered helpless and embarrassed in the particular situation. These leaders certainly seem to have finally figured this friendless President out, and going forward the “old days” of flattery, appealing to his malignant narcissism, are over with. They will unquestionably be better off, as long as Trump occupies the White House, in pursuing a strategy independent of the mendacious American troublemaker.
42
@John Grillo
When Trump is out, the GOP will turn on him like Joe Pesci and his brother in that cornfield as the end of the Movie Casino.
He has destroyed the party and that will be their only hope of staying in power
How trump sits on a chair, is indicative of how he sits in the world.
14
He just says whatever benefits him at the moment, to reverse it next hour when the wind changes direction. The trouble is that this selfish and narcissistic behavior affects all of us while he just does not care about the majority, just his diminishing base.
7
Why was Trump invited or anyone else from the US for that matter? He brings no unity, no cooperation, and certainly no money or military support. So for now, call it the G6 and wait for an American who understands the need and value of this group to re-engage the US.
We are the monsters leading the destruction of this planet. This monster, this Neanderthal Frankenstein, must be impeached and incarcerated soon, for the sake of all.
21
Yeah, like 'I am the chosen one" was misinterpreted.
So his White House staff is basically saying that nothing he says or tweets is meant to have any real meaning?
I knew that in 2015 .. well, 1995.
13
“Yeah, sure, why not?” Mr. Trump replied. “Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.”
Is the megalomaniac's second thoughts for his daughter?
Is the megalomaniac's daughter, Ivanka trump's businesses included in the order to stop doing business China?
Is Ivanka 'hereby' ordered to give up her 50 patents and trademarks approved by China, especially the patent on voting machine? Second thoughts or just a waiver?
20
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
1
@Barbara
Many, many shoes have dropped. In fact, he’s thinking of pulling back on his most recent trade war threats because he needs the Chinese to make him new shoes.
4
In my opinion G7 or is it G6 + doesn't serve any purpose, at this moment in time except for the photo ops.
Looks like bad performed charade.
Instead of these gathering they should focus on a perils that strike us every day.
Amazon that is called the lungs of earth is burning...if the earth suffocates it will be the end.
Scientists warning that we're at the tipping point.
We all have to do something!!!
3
@faivel1 The G6 is gathered to discuss the Amazon- it's the USA- trump-who isn't engaging the the discussion,
5
First time I remember seeing a world leader dominate Trump - PM Boris Johnson holds his place a step higher and puts his hand on Trumps back. Bam. There’s a new BMOC at the G7 who knows how it’s done. Look at Trumps face. He knows.
(Not that I like Johnson’s politics in any way, but it takes one to know one)
9
So, yeah, the administration doesn't want to be bothered by "niche issues" like global warming. Is there anything that is less "niche"? Anything?
31
Trump is a malevolent Chauncey Gardiner who often repeats the last thing he heard because he cannot think of anything himself. I wonder if the policy u-turns from the White House are being dictated by Stephen Miller. If this country gets any lower in international esteem, Trump might as well just stay home because even those who are still listening to him don't believe a word he says.
10
There should now be no doubt that we have a President with a profound personality disorder. In the absence of a civilian uprising to demand his removal and with no clear path to impeachment, we can only hope that there are at least a few remaining souls around Trump who can temper his most reckless tendencies and our allies can hold the world's democracies together until we can rid ourselves of this dangerous cretin.
Failing that, we are in truly uncharted, dangerous waters.
8
A picture is truly worth a thousand words.
7
I think they have some good Madiran wine there from the region.
4
Irresponsible to the highest degree.
9
It sounds like the European leaders pow-wowed before this meeting...many remarks and events seem scripted to make it clear to Trump that the rest of the world will deal around him and not bow down to him. More power to them, and in fact, they’re probably doing the US a favor as well —since his own party is letting him run rampant across our democracy as if they could care less.
43
What a waste of a good beach!
And on a fine weekend, too...
14
World leader know that talks with Trump are meaningless. They just keep him busy with pleasantries so he can’t do anything stupid when left alone. But eventually he will do it anyway.
13
And he’ll have third and fourth and fifth thoughts, because the reality is he’s too dumb to understand anything. And shame on me for elevating his brain farts to thoughts - they are a mad man’s flashing of neurons as each one dies away taking him deeper and deeper into insanity and us deeper and deeper into the abyss.
25
Another day, another episode of "Our Cartoon President".
29
The disgrace and humiliation this creature continuously heaps on our country! The G7 should become the G6 until we remove him from office.
40
Don’t know much about markets, but I wonder if Trump, Kushner and cronies benefit from the stock market’s reaction to Trump’s pronouncements and and subsequent retractions. Is there a sell/buy thing that’s making them all some money?
144
@Denise. I've read a story from a big newspaper in DC that when the Fed chairman Powell lowers the interest rates, like he did a few weeks ago, the Trump Organization saves millions on their several multimillion dollar loans. Trump's financial records of the last few years need to be review but a competent authority.
70
Don't fall for the conspiracy theories - the guys depicted in "The Big Short" were brilliant. In Trumpworld there is plenty of lizard-brain cunning, but nowhere near enough intelligence to do anything like what you're suggesting.
11
Wouldn't be the first time he has manipulated a stock price to make a pile of money, see the book Trumped.
14
The position and respect for the US has weakened substantially since the Twitter in Chief assumed the most powerful position in the world.
The US has become increasingly more irrelevant as world leaders have begun to ignore him rather than take his vacillating threats and accusations seriously.
One consequence of this is that the world has become an increasingly more dangerous place as the leaders of many countries are pursuing their own right-wing ideologies at the expense of truth and lives.
The 2020 elections seem very far away.
121
It takes a shrewd tactician to offer up the hint of trade deals with the UK and Japan, what with their 10% of China's population.
Not hard to understand the multiple bankruptcies.
78
Let’s be sure to include moral bankruptcy in there as well.
13
@Mike M I thought that too. I guess we can look forward to great deals on mugs with the Queen's ninetieth birthday pic on. And they have a lot of sheep, we can learn to cook mutton. Sorry to be so offensive to the Brits, but we really need a trading partner the size of China.
1
Great photo. Both Kushner and Trump look like they'd rather be anywhere else - all the others like they're waiting in line to be spanked.
43
Our absurd president! What a 100% reversal from Obama. Oh well, it may soon be over. Then we can re-enter the Iran deal and the Paris Climate Accords, etc., etc. Can't wait till he declares a national emergency to slap tariffs on China. There of course is no such emergency. Tell him "no," let him try to do it anyway, and impeach him on insane abuse of power.
44
@C.L.S. Before you try to "re-enter" in some of the agreements crushed by Trump you should make an internal reorganisation to avoid such situation for the future...We cannot deal with a country with a high level of risk to become a dictatorship every 4 years.
BTW:Trump is very bad for the Canadian stability both economicaly and SAFETY.We do not have nuclear weapons anymore...maybe we should!
10
Stephanie Grisham......wake up. We arent as clueless as your boss and his supporters.
76
@JG
Another example of an 'alternative fact' as first expressed by Kellyanne Conway...
Meanwhile, the Sunday shows still chatter about Joe Biden taking the occasional verbal miscue. No irony there, just fair & balanced commentary.
6
@JG
It makes me wonder who was feeding the lines to Grisham. She certainly hadn't had a personal conversation with Trump between the time he made his "second thoughts" comment and her take back of those comments.
Fascinating: to stand with a straight face and great indignation telling people who wield words for a living that they didn't really hear what they heard.
3
Those who voted for this monster, likely did not live anywhere near N.J. or N.Y., as we ALL knew the nature of that beast, who held no credentials whatsoever to merit the presidency. But, even now, his fawning legions who attend his incessant self aggrandizing do not realize the shame he brings to the world. The human brain cannot be that thoroughly deaf and dumb. Please help to rid our country of him. Please, it is the least that you can now do. Be brave, do it.
196
As a long time NYC resident I know plenty who voted for him. Some sort of regret, some don’t.
4
Please diplomacy aside, enough tip-toying around him on a part of european community, at least Macron came up with August surprise...guess who landed in Biarritz Sunday afternoon, yes Iranian foreign minister...who outsmarted who.
Now he might have to breakup his "mutual" love connection with France.
Run and stock your wine cellars before it's too late!
35
@faivel1 Yes, and it would be especially nice if Macron conveyed to Monsieur that he is absurd, or absurde in proper French. If Trump doesn't get it, maybe Justin Trudeau can do the translating.
7
He did. He didn’t. How about examining the entrails of sheep to find out?
22
Imagine a person who changes his mind every hour on the hour and you've got Trump.
Now King Trump wants to make use of a 1977 law to tell all the American companies doing business in China that they have to leave China, 1st of all he can't do it without Congress's backing and 2nd has he talked this over with his daughter who's big in China.
It's good to know from the picture that he surrounds himself with idiots just like him.
34
Trump looks isolated and dejected as well he should, like the classroom bully put in the corner. All that's missing is the dunce cap.
189
Trump is a pompous jerk with nothing to offer but chaos.
Our president is mad as a hatter and I’m sure there is not a leader in the world ( except other insane leaders like Kim Jong-un) that doesn’t realize this. Their Intelligence will also know the personality’s of his cabinet members and staff. Therefore they have to work around all these crazy guys and make decisions accordingly.
And who is this Stephanie Grisham who appears to be assigned to make damage control statements for our mad prez? Tough job - but somebody’s got to do it!
34
@Gwen Vilen
I am afraid you are naive in thinking that Kim Jong-un hasn't figured him out.
9
This is an intentional message by the G6 that the U.S. has lost it’s credibility as a global leader under Trump. The world will never again see the U.S. with the same degree of respect.
64
@Nealf Never say never, I'll. be very hard to regain the respect of the world, but remember, Obama was the most admired and respected world leader, just 3 years ago!
8
Obvious to those who know that Trump is mentally ill with
the severe psychological disorder of sociopathic and
pathological narcissism ; Trump is continuing to behave
as one afflicted with such a disorder.
There is no reason to make any more sense of Trump's
continuing and worsening erratic behavior that Dr. Lance M.
Dodes M.D. retired Harvard Professor of Psychiatry has
already made: reference last wee on The Lawrence O'Donnell
Show: and reference Dr. Dodes Letter to The New York Times
Editorial Dept. dated February 13, 3017, which was signed
by 33 members of The American Psychiatric Association.
It would be best for journalsists to refer to what the FACT is
about Trump's worsening mental illness and not conjecture
on Trump having a normal mind.
So...perhaps the journalisists might just rpint the Fact of
the assessment of Dr. Dodes and his colleagues.
58
@Carol B. Russell Couldn't agree more. The constant rabbit holes begun by this erratic, impulsive and incompetent man which journalists willingly follow could also bring down the country. And while that insanity continues daily, the GOP continues to de-regulate, give away and basically restructure the government, the Constitution be dammed. We are adrift, and for retired folks like my husband and myself, who have worked and saved and invested in this country, the news is downright frightening - not so much because of what Trump may do, but because the press and apparently close to half of the country don't see it.
3
So is Donald just confused about hit policy? Does he even have a policy?
Or, as in so many other incidents, do the White House and Donald purposefully make statements that contradict each other?
Is "keep 'em guessing" a political strategy?
2
@Occupy Government
It seems that it’s the only one he’s got.
One has to admit that Boris and Donald do in fact look like they go together better than Bert and Ernie.
38
@John Doe
Bert and Ernie have more sense.
7
Please! Do not insult Bert and Ernie with placing them in the same company as Don and Boris
1
@John Doe
Separated at birth?
2
Donald J. Trump, “Mr Art of the Deal”, just got played big time at the G-7 summit in France. Also his advisors were all over the place in topics of policies on all Sunday network political talk shows to cover for all his inane blunders of the week.
It couldn’t have happened to a more worthy person who is incidentally our President of the United States. The last 72 hours have been surreal to say the least. This president can’t even stay on message and is at best, suspect of a clear mind.
A very sad state of affairs for all Americans worldwide. We may not survive intact until 2020.
Perhaps this “self appointed chosen one” can reach deep into the heavens for guidance!
24
It is clear that the enemy of the American people is not Xi, not anyone at the Fed, not the media.
The enemy of the American people is a leader so inept and self-absorbed that he can’t be bothered to reflect on, from the beginning, what would be in his country’s best interests.
Have second thoughts on everything, Donald? Think it through the first time before tweeting or talking. Your administration worried about losing face, Donald? Then don’t give ultimatums you can’t enforce.
35
'Mr. Trump was asked if he had second thoughts about ratcheting up tariffs and threats against China last week, in moves that rattled global stock markets. “Yeah, sure, why not?” Mr. Trump replied. “Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.”'
I like presidents who give more thought to economic policy, than they do about whether or not to have a second piece of chocolate cake. Of course, Trump wouldn't have second thoughts about the cake.
10
@Karen Lee Thank you for bringing up the 'yeah, sure, why not?' in response from a question about Trump's words on the economic 'policy'. That is it a nutshell - the toddler has discovered that there are no consequences to his actions. Consequently, he is engorged with the power of the Presidency. He clearly does not care about 'the people', but we knew that. This maniac is now in the position to influence global markets - he is going to town on this. How much more are we going to let him get away with?
It's past time for someone to invoke the 25th amendment here. It is clear that the man does not have a grip on reality and that he is willing to sacrifice each and every one of us for some 'good press'.
I'm just shaking my head here, just like every day that I read of 45's imbecility and maliciousness.
2
"...he had second thoughts about ratcheting up tariffs and threats against China"
If only this man could have "first" thoughts about things, he might save us all a lot of trouble.
40
"I have second thoughts about everything."
Really?
I don't think we have seen any indication of any thoughts (first, second, third, etc.) behind the reptilian flow of reactionary pronouncements, verbal abuse, and often incomprehensible word salad that daily emanates from this clueless, would-be despot.
Welcome to 1984.
52
@Operalover the only second thoughts I hope he has are before he pushes the button to launch the nukes!
2
Erin Schaff's picture of the president seated, being photographed while members of his staff and cabinet stand behind chairs is really good.
I have no idea if it is full frame or cropped, but I really like it as presented.
Kudos to the photo team.
84
Of course Trump has “second thoughts about everything”. That’s because he doesn’t think twice BEFORE making big decisions and proclamations that effect our lives and world events. He’s a wish-washy mess of conflicting statements and impulsive actions only fully examined in retrospect.
198
And, with conflicting statements all around, he keeps everyone unstable and disoriented. He is purposeful and committed to his manipulative ways.
11
And he’ll have third and fourth and fifth thoughts, because the reality is he’s too dumb to understand anything. And shame on me for elevating his brain farts to thoughts - they are a mad man’s flashing of neurons as each one dies away taking him deeper and deeper into insanity and us deeper and deeper into the abyss.
17
@Melanie Testa Or, actually, he is committed to that instability. The boy can't help it.
5
We needn't bother ourselves about impeachment or worry that Trump might be re-elected. He is self-destructing before our eyes. In a few months, we'll see him being carried off to the funny farm.
109
@Diogenes now THAT is must-see TV.
17
@Diogenes
No.
The:
Evangelicals;
Anti-taxers;
Pro Gunners;
Gun manufacturers;
White Supremacists;
Russians;
U.S. Oligarchs;
Neo-nazis;
Global Warming deniers;
Pro fossil fuelers;
Extraction industry;
Polluters;
Free marketeers;
Republican Party and
Republican Party loyalty voters
are 'all in' on Trump. He's their guy and savior - depending on the interest group.
Do not think that 2020 and the days leading up to the election are not going to be anything other than hard fought.
32
@Diogenes I'll go along with this, but I'd rather see him in jail.
11
The daily dish of whiplash, with a side of confusion.
90
@Why Me, but until the stock market opens tomorrow will we know if Caesar's giving the thumb up or down. This roller coaster ride is getting old.
7
This president is nothing but mixed signals. The goal of course, and it seems to be working, is to keep us all distracted from all his lovely court appointments.
Very lasting damage.
51
@ Rob Brown. His legacy. Will take decades to recover. His one success unfortunately. Meanwhile well played G6. Pompano is now quoted in WAPO that Potus would meet with Zarif who was available in July at the UN. A bit late? And no one from the US State Department was invited to the Summit. Unfortunately no longer mind boggling.
8
@Rob Brown There is no "goal." This man IS a "mixed signal,"
3
I wish I could believe that there is a method to the madness but I am able to find none. It is pure madness and nothing more. The President of the United States is mad. He contradicts himself with dizzying speed and then he wonders why the markets in particular, and the remainder of the world in general, are confused. He sees consipracies where the are none. He blames everyone else, including his own appointees, for events and consequences for which he alone is responsible. He is paranoid, delusional, and one must reasonably question his fitness and his ability to carry on the duties of his office. It is time for invocation of Section 4 of the 25th Amendment and the introduction of sanity and stability in the White House. This needs to be done before he destroys all of us.
384
@Donald Seberger
No matter that you are right; it won't happen since it takes the concerted effort of the VP and Trump's hand-picked cabinet of yes-men and other assorted claquers.
46
@Donald Seberger
We in New York City tried to warn the nation, but do they listen? No!
The question is not why does he act so irrationally (he's delusional) the question is, why would The Heartland vote for him? I really don't believe it is because they are racist like he is. I don't believe they all want a hand out in farm subsidies, and I don't believe that go to church and pray for children to be locked up in cages.
Answer the question of why they elected him (Hillary won the big vote) and there you will find the malfeasance.
37
@Donald Seberger
The question is, is he 'crazy' or just playing the part in "reality"?
Either way, we -- this Planet -- have a giant mess on our hands.
Time to turn off the Boobtube.
22
It is clear that the 6Gs are working around the 7th. I wonder if trump is beginning to understand his significant irrelevance to the collaborative efforts among our allies.
trump may think he is primus inter pares, but his antics and erratic actions have greatly diminished the US standing in the world. Macron is demonstrating that trump's bloated ego has a big downside.
156
@say what Ah, finally I get it. Trump in a fit of pique can pull us out of the G-7 and form a new G-2 with Russia. After all, as he said a couple of years ago about the U.S. and Russia, "we have a world to run."
12
@say what "actions have greatly diminished the US standing in the world. "
But he makes the front page every time, and that's the important thing for him. Our "standing" is a small price to pay for the satisfaction of his ego.
9
@say what Say what? It's a wishful thinking. He will never try to understand his irrelevance to anything.
He is "the chosen one" "primus inter pares" is an understatement.
1
“Yeah, sure, why not?” Mr. Trump replied. “Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.”
If the above statement had been made by a Republican, you can be sure that Republicans would immediately mock it as flip-flopping. Democrats need to drive home that for all Trump’s bluster, he is a flip-flopper whose next move depends on who last had his ear. And ‘second thoughts’ is too generous for an impetuous man who doesn’t think things through to begin with.
27
Yes, I remember what the GOP did to John Kerry for changing his mind ONCE.
13
Sorry, it should read ‘If the above statement had been made by a Democrat...’
6
@NM Didn't you mean to write, "If the above statement had been made by a Democrat..."? That would make more sense.
1
So, Trump panicked and is now looking for a way out of the mischief he has created. This is he guy who says that he never apologizes and never gives in. Fearing an economic crisis and a looming electoral loss and with the heavy breath of the law the moment he leaves office, he puts his tail between his legs and turns away. What we will see now is a series of excuses, alibis, justifications, lies and inventions to explain his defeat.
29
@Frank Casa Given whom your talking about, this could be wishful thinking. He doesn’t realize that his base will stick with him no matter what, so he always reverts to the crazy for their benefit.
2
Unfortunately, Toxic Trump will declare that whatever happens, including him turning tail, was his plan from the beginning. Just like he said that the new NAFTA, which gave the US. nothing, is the greatest trade agreement ever.
4
@Doug Lowenthal: His base is solid, but let's remember that his victory was due to , among other reasons, to huge abstentions by Democratic voters. My favorite example is Trump won Michigan by 10,000 but in Wayne County (Detroit)
60,000 did not vote. And at the University of Michigan with over 40,000 students, only 14% voted. So, it's all in the turnout. If Democrats put their money in this essential aspect, their chances
look much better.
Based on the volte-face statements issued first by Trump, and then countermanded by his 'spokeswoman' on his China posture, it would seem that there is absolutely ZERO message discipline coming from this White House.
This would be hilarious in a film or spy thriller, but is terrifying when one realizes that it's actually happening.
NOT my president
86
@Ninbus Spy thrillers are not often hilarious. People like us usually get hurt.
1
@Ninbus
"there is absolutely ZERO message discipline coming from this White House" ... That's because there is no message. His only objective is getting re elected so he can avoid the fed, state, local charges awaiting him when he is a private citizen in Jan 2021. He assumes as president he will be immune from these charges. He couldn't care less about any other issue. VOTE
Gaslighting 101. Yet again, the administration explains that the President didn't say what he said.
214
@DJ - New Yorkers are known for saying what they mean and for meaning what they say. I'm rather surprised that someone thinks they can spin what I hear coming directly from Donald Trump's own mouth on video.
11
Yep. That's quite a poke. This is what the Free World thinks of Trump.
Surprise, Mr. Trump.
24
Our President ..on the world stage. A big powerful child with a temper. This is dangerous and inappropriate. We as a country need to move from simply observing his dangerous , impulsive behavior, laughing about this ridiculous person, and get on with some real political action to stop this before it ruins our economy, our national reputation in the global political arena and our security with our allies .
Our enemies should be concerned, and our friends even more so. Trump is unstable , unpredictable and dangerous. This is INTOLERABLE . No mater what party affiliations or political concepts you believe.....this persons lack of any sense or stability endanger all of us. His behavior transcends politics.
49
@Jhs
No, our enemies are delighted.
14
Why does Trump always look like he is sitting on a toilet? Also, if he thinks he is hiding the fact that he wears high heeled shoes, he is mistaken
The rest of the world is moving on and leaving trump behind
311
I love this comment. Made me laugh out loud. Thanks for making my Sunday
52
Pulmonary specialists might look at his posture and question whether he is in the classic tripod position to better breathing.
He may be short of breath and is reflexively adjusting his posture to breath better.
24
@WJ Funny! When was the “rest of the world” with him?
10
So while we can only speculate about whether Trump will even offer Iran a seat at the table, after he withdrew from the Iran Accords, he continues serving as a mouthpiece for Kim Jong Un, who makes no bones about his own country’s nuclear ambitions...
14
I for one no longer care what the insane baby-man says or does. The idiocy and insanity are so outsized that one truly can’t afford to engage such folly of one expects to preserve one’s sanity.
Holding on for 2020. If he is re-“elected” then I will simply shut out the entirety of any media or medium of allowing this putrefaction to enter my consciousness.
At this point, I hope China calls in our debt. In the trillions. Funny how that is never mentioned. How much we OWE China.
56
When asked if he had second thoughts, Trump responded with“Yeah, sure, why not?” Mr. Trump replied. “Might as well. Might as well. I have second thoughts about everything.”
I'm flabbergasted.
I now think that he is mentally ill.
247
@dog lover
As a mental health professional, I can tell you that second thoughts are not a sign of mental illness. They are more likely a sign of insecurity and lack of preparedness. Ditto his statement that he has them.
31
@Barbara
To clarify, he's insecure, unprepared, AND mentally ill.
24
@dog lover Truth is, I'm far less concerned that Trump is erratic, unprepared and incompetent - his cabinet is busier than fireflies in July trying to distract from all that - than I am about Mitch McConnell and Congressional GOP, who have made the devil's bargain with this buffoon, and will continue to let him run amok, as long as their wealthy patrons prosper.
26
The G6 1. The United States is clearly alone. Trump is all but invisible. They will talk and issue a parting statement and move on without the US. In his words, the legacy of a “LOSER”.
117
Very bold move by Macron!And bravo! The picture painted by Macron was that of an ignorant bully POTUS all alone. Since Trump had such high hopes of crashing the G7 with HIS talking points aka grievances, it was good to see he was getting the pushback he so deserves. MAGA nationalist isolation has made the rest of the world proceed ahead without the US. Why should they cower and wait for Trump? Because what would they be waiting for? What ARE Trump's long term plans for Iran, the EU, the Middle East, North Korea? Nobody knows and that includes Trump. Why wait for the bully? He has no interest in diplomacy.
Trump didn't get to be the Star at the G7. Macron will most likely suffer a twitter storm from AirForce 1 as Trump turns tail to head home. Maybe some tariffs to 'punish' are coming.
Either way, Trump is getting his hubris body slammed. And waiting back home? Joe Walsh has just entered the race against Trump. Probably won't amount to much, but it just another reality check on Trump that will give him some trouble - as in just enough GOP deciding to sit at home and not vote in 2020?
63
' ... just hours later on Sunday, after Mr. Trump’s comments generated headlines saying he was taking a softer tone toward China, the White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said, “His answer has been greatly misinterpreted.”
“President Trump responded in the affirmative — because he regrets not raising the tariffs higher,” she said in a statement emailed to reporters. '
What?? Do they think we are all stupid? It's obvious what Trump said and meant.
Let's just get this over with get him out of there. If he's going to be a demagogue, can we at least have a clear message as to what the heck the country is going to be forced to do??
39