So he should be impeached but the present government is too hamstrung by its' Republican majority to accomplish the task? I like the Manchurian candidiate comparison, sounds as real as anything.
6
Mr. Krugman clearly does not understand that Chairman Xi Jinping would never do anything to make Trump look bad ever since Donald's grand daughter, Arabella Kushner, charmed Chairman Xi Jinping and his wife when she spoke and sang in Mandarin Chinese for them.
Xi and Donald are now BFFs. Xi likes Donald and his family...all is well in trade with China and China's international interests. Thank you Arabella!
2
"Trump, the bribery goes in before the name goes on".
6
International trade's main objective is to transfer necessary goods to a given country that doesn't have or substantially lack the needed quantity of the said goods. This exchange helps both the receiving country and the country of origin.
The goods have to be transported, but the distance may or may not be too far. The transportation between Canada, US & Mexico is negligible. The cost of transportation here is negligible. But transportation between China/Japan & the US is substantial. And trade between Fareast & US ought to be minimal, though the transportation cost is a lot less now than in the past.
Free-trade maybe desirable, but too much of it, say cars from Japan ought to be discouraged to minimize unnecessary transportation. Similarly importing Middle East oil is almost completely avoidable as we have oil available in the neighborhood, Canada, Mexico & Venezuela, in addition to so much domestic production - gasoline price ought to be at least $4 a gallon, if not double that for the sake of our planet.
(I would like to see prohibition of petroleum importation from any country other than Canada & Mexico, and raise federal gasoline tax step by step to reach the gasoline price the average of Europe - per capita petroleum export of Norway is second only to Qatar but gasoline price there is about $6 or 7/gallon)
1
The gas price in Norway is much higher: “$9.28 per gallon paid in Oslo…” http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/10/news/international/gas_prices_worldwide/...
I can imagine Sunday dinner at the Trump's.
Trump: "How much have we banked?"
Trump, Jr.: "Almost a billion, with the Chinese and Qatar money."
Trump: "Good, so if I resign in protest of my terrible treatment by the horrible U.S. news media, we made out pretty good."
Trump, Jr.: "Yes, we did."
10
If the author of this article in the Observer (John schinbdler ex NSA) is correct, we already HAVE the Manchurian Candidate in Donald Trump.
"The counterintelligence investigation of Donald Trump was kicked off by not one, not two, but multiple SIGINT reports which set off alarm bells inside our Intelligence Community. This has been publicly known, in a general way, for some time. ...'
"in the first half of 2016, as Trump’s presidential bid gained unexpected steam, Australia, Germany, Estonia, and Poland all had SIGINT hits that indicated a troubling relationship between Trump and Moscow. So, too, did the French and the Dutch—the latter being an especially savvy SIGINT partner of NSA’s."
http://observer.com/2018/05/what-did-the-fbi-do-in-2016-about-russian-co...
It certainly explains a lot of what he has done, how he must be compromised and is doing what he does out of fear for his life possibly. They are welcome to take it if they want. I won't miss him at all. We need more members of congress to call out his LIES and call him the LIAR that he is. He is certainly Making America Grotesque Already.
7
ZTE is not a threat to our security, nor are other companies that wish to sell us their goods. All of Trump's tariffs should be rescinded. They are taxes. They reduce trade and hurt the world's economy. They are the tokens of a lose-lose game.
3
Poor Professor Krugman, he does not have it in him to learn the new dynamics. The 1947 US lead framework must be preserved – in fact Trump is a Nazi for suggesting the 1947 framework change.
What the good professor does not acknowledge is that since 1947 Europe has not only rebuilt but combined into the Eurozone, an economy of $15Trillion per annum. Europe is looking out for Europe in trade relations. Somehow Professor Krugman believes we should still be carrying Europe after the cold war has ended, Europe is rebuilt and thriving on its own feet. In 1947, China was still engrossed in a murderous civil and could not even feed itself. Today, China is at our heels in GDP and its ability to project itself economically worldwide; add in the rest of Asia and we are significantly outnumbered.
Nope, stick to 1947. The US must defer its interest to our allies. It would be un-superpowerly of us to behave differently.
3
No coincidence that Ivanka Trump gets a boatload of Chinese trademarks and then Pres/Father/Co-owner Trump gives ZTE a break. Blatant. Disgusting.
Congressional oversight is passe'
8
I remember taking Roman civilization classes back in high school. Seemed completely irrelevant at the time. Boy, the parallels between what I learnt back then and the current decline of the American empire now leads me to believe I should have been more attentive back then...
7
Lets hope Mr Mueller investigates Trump's illegal "business" deals.
6
Working for the Russians, moonlighting for the Chinese.
13
http://observer.com/2018/05/what-did-the-fbi-do-in-2016-about-russian-co...
HE is the RUSSIAN SPY and SPYGATE is all about trump.
Trummp is up to his BIGLY ears in Russian debt hand has become their pauppet (sic). That is why he so worried and tying to derail Mueller. If Mueller gets him the Russians may very well get him with a bit of polonium,.
4
United States is turning into a Banana Republic.
8
Thank Trump supporters, especially the evangelicals, they keep him in office.
7
Trump trade policy is trade policy by sealed bid.
4
Tying Trump’s trade agreement with China to NK negotiations and to his own personal deals in Asia makes it certain that it will be an epic disaster for American people.
8
In addition to greed and arrogance as to why trump does what he does, add a more basic motivation: All of this is fun. He is not held accountable (and never will, the GOP and trump supports will eat their children before they admit a mistake), toadies will praise him (as long they get a slice of the pie).
To quote a line from a Batman movie: "Some people just want to watch the world burn"
6
There are two main branches of protectionism, although they can become intertwined at times. The branch that epitomizes the fact that “protectionism is the progressivism of fools” explicitly rejects comparative advantage and asserts that American workers should not have to compete with workers in other countries. That would also mean that American firms would also be protected from competition in the domestic market. Senators Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are examples of advocates for the “progressivism of fools” branch.
The other branch of protectionism focuses on what they perceive as unfair practices by other countries. In many cases, the “progressivism of fools” branch attempts to justify their proposals as retaliation to unfair practices by other countries, even if their arguments defy facts and logic. Many protectionists employ the tactics of both branches. President Trump is a prime example. The original version of the Trump Administration tariffs on steel and aluminum that had no exceptions was essentially a “progressivism of fools” approach. It would apply to countries, including Germany, Sweden and Japan among others, that paid higher wages and faced stricter environmental regulations than their American counterparts. The only objective of such tariffs was to transfer wealth to the employees and owners of favored domestic producers. That the costs and losses to the rest of Americans far exceeded the gains to...''
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4164735
4
Since 1989, the end of the Cold War, the US businesses have felt confident about selling and buying stuff to everyone, for a profit. The Trump voters have been tossed out of work as whole factories are exported to cheap labor countries. Now Trump wants to please them by stopping all of this, but without a plan of how to re-start the properity the US had in the 1950s. All he think of is cheap advertising for himself, profits for his family and making deals to enhance his brand. No big surprise given his track record over the last 30 years. Sad! Bigly!
7
So, the on again off again tariff against Chinese goods was on again today. I have a smattering knowledge about tariffs and trade but fail to understand tariffs in the present context. I wish Dr. Krugman will explain in a lucid manner as he usually does, how tariffs will lower the trade imbalance. It seems to me that if the cost of all the imported Chinese goods were to go up by 25%, the cost to the consumer is likely to go up utmost by 10% assuming the retailer does not take this occasion to raise his/her profits. But I don't see any domestic or even foreign entity competing in this space as an elaborate network for procurement of raw materials and industrial infrastructure has to be in place to compete with the Chinese. The one good things I see coming out of this is it might lower consumption and increase savings which is not all bad. But any effect on trade imbalance itself appears to be marginial.
1
What does that make Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama?
War is economic.
The father of a friend was an engineer in the Merchant Marine during WW2.
He sustained the fires that produced the steam that served the triple-expansion pistons that powered the propellers that carried the supplies on the Murmansk run to keep the USSR and England alive while Hitler tried to conquer the entire European continent.
Crudely constructed Liberty ships were the target of sophisticated U-boats off the US coast, in the Greenland gap, and along Norway.
Stop the supplies, win the war.
The war was all about commerce.
The continuity of commerce determined the destiny of Europe -- and Japan.
The silent service was at its center.
It still is, but the attacks are harder to see
when hidden in policy decisions that deliver goods to enemies and deny them to friends.
-- War is always economic
-- driven by conflicting loyalties.
1
He's more like the Muscovian or Siberian Candidate--now pResident--who also seems bribable by China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and whomever else comes waving some dollars in his and his brood's faces. Absolutely disgusting that this person is the putative head of the US government, but thanks to the Russians, voters and nonvoters, we're stuck with him till impeachment or 2020!
4
"we do have a president who’s bribable" Yes, that just about says it all!
11
I've been warning of the coming conflict between "rule of law" countries vs. "rule of man" countries since 2011.
Trump does indeed look like a foreign agent saboteur working for Russia and maybe even China. After he announced his candidacy in 2015, I dubbed him the "Siberian Candidate!"
9
The typical con man will smile and pretend to be for your interests while making under the table deals which do just the opposite.
In public Trump pretends to be tough on China with his threats of tariffs, but on the golf course negotiations he gives Xi any thing he wants in return for current and future favors to his business. But what the hey, his base loves the snarling, fake pretense as he snookers everyone who wants to believe in his schemes. It is the way he ran his businesses and now he has graduated to the White House.
10
The only national security risk in all of this is the man himself. Making himself and his family even richer at the expense of our national security. As crooked as a dog's hind leg, the entire lot of them, in-laws included.
But rest assured they won't pay the bill when it comes due, we will.
10
A POTUS not known for speaking the truth or an interest in facts obviously has not embrced integrity, a virtue that would keep him from being bribable and protect the American people. Trump, based on his past behavior, is one that has focused on enriching himself while imperiling others. Corrumption is alive and well in the Oval Office.
11
US -Chinese Trade
Numbers (2017 latest available)
Chinese Exports to US : $ 505 Billion
Chinese Imports from US : $ 130 Billion
Balance : $ 375 Billion, negative for US
How can this imbalance be reduced ?
Let’s see
1. The Chinese imported $ 30 Billion of agricultural goods, of which $ 12 Billion were soybeans. Total US soybean production is $ 40 Billion, covering as much area as corn. Can’t be substantially increased.
2. Energy. The Chinese imported only $ 10 Billion from the US. To increase it would be strategical risky
3. Semiconductors. The total Chinese imports are $ 200 Billion, but only $ 6 Billion come from the US. Total US export is $ 50 Billion. Can’t be increased as making semiconductors (as opposed to designing) is on a downslope in the US
The only way to reduced this bilateral deficit would be for US households to reduce their consumption of Chinese imports.
Right now, the US lives on credit by lending dollars to rest of the world that needs it to settle trades as it is the worlds reserve currency
How long can this go on ?
Not for very much longer.
My personal guess is at most a decade - before the dollar as before the British Pound, will be replaced as the reserve currency by the currency of the dominant economic power in 2028: China
6
I agree with the comments along the line that by now American business is not 'American'. When Henry Ford and others led the first tide of American prevalence in world business, what they sold was made in America. Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, all the titans of new American capitalism can (and do) operate anywhere. Apple is the only one that sells products, mostly made anywhere but America.
More relevant to me is Trump and government. America has had two truly appalling presidents during my lifetime, Nixon and Trump. But while Nixon never said anything that could lead people to suspect (let alone believe) he was the kind of president who would inflict Watergate on his people, and when he did the system of government forced him out, Trump has not done one thing, told one lie, broke one rule, that could not have been predicted from any of his vomit-like speeches during his campaign.
The difference is that while with Nixon as soon as there was evidence of wrongdoing even his own party distanced itself and asked for rectification, now we face a situation in which Trump's party will tolerate whatever he does (we are nearly halfway into his presidency, there isn't much time left to steer the supertanker in another direction), and the Democrats seem unable to gain much traction when facing a president who, for anyone with some respect for democracy, the Constitution, rule of law, etc, etc, should be a sitting target.
8
Allow me to assure Americans that Canadian auto trade is not a threat to American security.
6
Thanks, ABC. It’s a start.
2
This is with some of the xenophobic rants, specifically the birther ones, directed at Obama by the likes of Glenn Beck.
There are many better ways of addressing the Trump administration's unhelpful trade-war mongering than implying that somehow a foreign entity controls Trump regards trade, but that's what Krugman does by using the very loaded term "Manchurian Candidate".
And I see here that Krugman just assumes the Trump2016-Russia collusion claims (for which as of May 29th 2018 there is no evidence) are true:
"It all feels horribly relevant these days. But don’t worry: This isn’t going to be another piece on Donald Trump’s collusion with Russia,"
Evidence free claims are not a place to leave anything like a valid argument. Tossing in such inventions weakens whatever point Krugman is trying to make here.
1
Wasn’t Trump involved with the WWF? Oh yeah, there’s that video of him beating up a super-imposed head of CNN. What a joke this guy is. Manchuria Candidate? He’s too stupid to know he’s being used by a foreign power. WE know it but he doesn’t. He’s as dim witted as those professional wrestlers who want us to believe they’re REALLY wrestling and not just pretending to. Where’s a folding chair when you really need one?
4
After 1 June the Europeans will be confronted by steel and aluminum penalties and eventually trade sanctions due to the Iran issue threatened by the Trump presidency. This will probably lead to countermeasures and the beginning of a trade war between the US and its European allies.
Unfortunately this date could also mark the beginning of the end of the Western Alliance, as European governments look for increased trade with China and even Russia to at least partially offset the losses in US trade and are forced to become more intimate with these countries and forge new alliances. Short-term; however, this will be very painful for Europe.
Specifically we are already seeing large increases in fuel prices here in Germany. If we add increased unemployment due to austerity measures resulting from decreased trade, then we are probably looking at a recession by late Fall here in Germany. The effects that will have on the current coalition government which is already under pressure from the right wing, could be dramatic.
It has already been said that there are no winners in trade wars, but has anyone seriously looked at the issues of destabilization, rampant populism and increased poverty that could plague Europe and even threaten the continued existence of the EU which is already under seige.
The current US government is playing with fire; a fire which could bring the entire house down the West has so painstakingly created over the past 50 years.
11
So well said. Unfortunately Trump with his me first attitude does not see how depression in Europe will affect the US. Allies work together for the common good. Now it seems that Trump has thrown it out the window. This is especially disgusting because at one time the GOP actually wanted to work with our allies. Now they only cater to our con man in chief.
6
"The current US government is playing with fire; a fire which could bring the entire house down the West has so painstakingly created over the past 50 years."
Yes , but what does that have to do with making money for Trump or stroking his ego ? Those are the only things that count for Trump.
This clearly fits within the Trump over-all strategy to use the Office of the Presidency as a division of his family business. In all his presidential endeavors a dark cloud will hover. The American citizen will never know whether their interest are being served or are the interest of the Trump cabal paramount. Sadly, a portion of our electorate , fore warned, put this gritter in office. We are now held hostage by a narcissistic, megalomaniac. All the protections put in place by our founders are facing the ultimate challenge. Our democratic institutions are suffering a campaign of dis- information. The propaganda campaign that blatantly props up the Trump syndicate is directly out of the Communist party playbook instituted more recently by the Putin regime. This experiment in democracy is less than three-hundred years old. An "infant" in the world's civilizations. Democracies do fail and this is how it starts.
11
" Democracies do fail and this is how it starts."
History if full of Empires that failed . ie, ALL empires fail , Eg. The Roman , The British , The Spanish , the Mayan , several Chinese , Persian , Alexander`s , the Moguls of India , Aztec , Inca , Assyrian , etc , etc). Trump & his abettors are greasing the skids on the US empire with its 800 foreign military bases and yhe sixteen island territories it claims. Very few were democracies.
If Trump's trade policies hurt or alienate our allies while preventing action against genuine national security threats, won't Trump's good friend Vladimir Putin be happy? And Trump's supporters will be ecstatic to see Trump alienating those snooty Europeans.
7
Speaking as one foreigner, the US can no longer be trusted. I’m doing everything I can to avoid US made and US branded products.
Why reward a bully and a cheat?
8
Some other possible explanations that can't be ruled out with Donnie are 1) China bought Russian dirt on Trump or has its own 2) Trump wants ZTE carrying telecom traffic so that he, Like China, can spy on US citizens and businesses.
3
Funkyirishman is right. The Republican Congress is shameful. The control all of the ethics, emolument committee, etc. And they are sitting on their thumbs too afraid to act.
5
In the year and five months that he has been president, Donald Trump has accomplished absolutely nothing. What he has managed to do however is divisive, corrosive, and quite possibly illegal. That most of the Republicans in Congress, are willing to sell their souls for this aberration of a commander-in-chief, is equally appalling. The domestic unrest that he has created can and will be corrected in the years after he is gone . The destructive effect that he has had on our foreign policy however will take years to heal. Congress is either unbelievably stupid or incredibly arrogant, to allow the damage that is being done to this country. The Republicans who blindly support him in Congress will eventually have to deal with the fallout from this present series of miseries.
Will someone please stand up and have the courage to fight this malignancy ?
13
I agree with your assessment of the current occupant of the White House. But I'd add another term for him - traitor.
Letting ZTE, a known national security risk, off the hook, thus allowing the Chinese to spy not only on the general public but our military service members is aiding and abetting the enemy. That's treason.
It's blatantly obvious no one in the GOP will stand up to him; if Ryan and McConnell have gone this far with him, they'll go all the way. Martial law, one party rule, a fascist dictatorship , it's all possible now.
The only thing between that scenario and true democracy is the vote.
Nov. 6 , 2018 may be the last free election we ever have if Democrats don't win.
11
At the rate things are evolving, one way or another, this is all likely to end up being resolved in the streets. We live in interesting times.
2
"Nobody could have predicted....." — Condaleeza Rice about 9/11.
(It was a lie then; it's a lie now.)
6
“Trustworthiness” of the USA became a joke when we allowed a man whose business model was to sign a contract and then renege by saying “Sue me”. Many did most many more small businesses could not afford the legal fees. Multiple bankruptcies left other businesses in jeopardy. He tried to fleece ‘regular folk’ with his scam Trump University.
He won’t release his tax returns- wonder what they would show - how uncharitable he is, how little he actually makes, who actually lends him money (reputable NYC banks won’t), who he pays off ala Stormy Daniels. All of the above and most probably even more
Trump thinks that makes ‘him smart’. To me that makes him supremely untrustworthy and unfit to lead our country.
7
The next time you hear any Republican candidate bellow "Law and Order!" during an election campaign, or during a debate, please do them the courtesy of pointing out that neither they nor their latest president have stood up for the _Rule of Law_, and their latest president never has. Please also point out that the law and order cannot be sustained without the rule of law.
It is quite clear by now that Republicans appealing to "Law and Order!" during their campaigns has no further meaning than the appeal to "Law of Tyranny", "Law of Rule", "Law of Selective Enforcement", and Law of Oppression".
It is high time people stop letting scoundrels define the debate and force the terms of engagement. Mr. Trump has thoroughly tainted the Republicans, and the whole Conservative Movement, and when (not if) he goes down, he will take all of them down with him.
6
Donald Trump represents the global triumph of big dirty money: Business, crime, and politics came together, nationally and internationally. Within the country, the Mercers and Kochs put their candidates in office to lower their taxes drastically and roll back Obama's reforms by cutting health care for the poor and middle class. The GOP Congress is the best their money can buy. Globally, Putin helped his candidate to the White House (and other candidates to Congress) with cyber-warfare, hacking, and black ops, after Trump laundered hundreds of millions of dollars from mafiosi and oligarchs and showed his fawning loyalty to Russia's strong man. Trump operated all his life with a total lack of scruple and an equally overwhelming greed. He sees the presidency as a chance to clean up financially, not just prance about or get even with his adversaries. The GOP in Congress won't stop him. Its rewards from power and fear of Trump's base will keep it loyal and complicit in criminality. Meanwhile, Trump, his Congressional allies (Nunes, Meadows, etc.), Giuliani, and Fox News demean and discredit Democrats, objective media coverage, and the Mueller investigation. A group of criminal racketeers took over America in November 2016. How the country will emerge from their grip is not clear, as lies, falsehoods, and preemptive attacks take effect and 80% of Republicans support the Conman in Chief.
11
What Tump is really pandering to is "national insecurity", & the inaccurate belief that the US is being "ripped off" by China, Europe, whoever we don't like at the moment. Trump's policies are foolishly trying to create a global ecomomic dominance by the US that can never be accomplished in the 21st Century. In the end it is more likely to alienate trade partners and injure US & global economies.
6
Every day that goes by brings more news about how Trump and his family of grifters take advantage of their positions to enrich themselves. Meanwhile the Republican controlled congress fails to do its duty to uphold the constitution and Trump grabs all the cash he can get before the inevitable impeachment hearings begin in 2019, assuming that the House flips over to Democrat control. Trump and his family of low-life thieves really are not afraid knowing that both the House and the Senate lack the courageous leadership necessary to lead the impeachment process through to a conviction in the Senate. The only real solution to the problem of Trump is to vote him out of office in 2020.
5
Cingrats Mr.Krugman,Putin may have helped Donald but he was only following the american way of intruding in other countries elections.At least Putin did not plan or sponser coups as America has done many times.
4
There is no history for our Chief Executive. The world began when he was born and will cease when he dies. There is no future to plan for, just the eternal "now", where he must manufacture a battle to win, every day. The single purpose for all our existence is to promote attention for Trump.
9
Thank you for this very instructive Op-ed.
There's something even creepier about what's going on here. The President has been going to our allies and military trading partners and essentially selling military protection for cash.
He has torn up TPP, the Iran Nuclear agreement and the Paris agreement. He has started a trade war, moved our embassy to Jerusalem as a show of force, invited dictators from all over the world to the White House and publicly announced their increased investment in US weapons. He has promised the despot dictator of NK wealth and protection for negotiations and a nuclear deal.
It looks a lot like the US under Trump is positioning itself as a mob organization out of a Mario Puzo novel. We are selling protection against what we might do to you if you don't buy it. I fear that this threats of a trade war is just another mob shakedown by the President. Mobsters who operate this way are based on trickle down economics. Of course the top gets a cut before and after the trickle down.
5
It's convenient that we have the national security exemption from our trade agreements. It gives the president at least a half-baked, semi-plausible rationale for doing what he'd do anyway, regardless of the trade agreements. I guess it was nice that the president bothered to even cite national security. At least he's still pretending that trade agreements mean something.
1
Members of Congress allege that Trump was bribed by China on ZTE. Now Trump has changed course again to a hardline and a complaint to the WTO over intellectual property rights violations against China. The Russian collusion story is becoming a rather stinky embarrassment to the NYTs.
I doubt that any movie inspired by Trump and his presidency will equal or even approach the benchmark set by the original "Manchurian Candidate" for several reasons, not the least of which is, if Trump is not deposed in 2020, it will be illegal to make such a film, even and especially when based on cold, hard facts because only works based on "alternative facts" will receive the Great Censor's approval.
6
Thank you, Dr. Krugman, for this timely opinion piece.
Trump's attacks against our intelligence community and its retired leaders, federal workers, and his upending of global agreements gut the very security needed to confront threats to us.
His daughter gets trademarks from China, then Trump lets them use spyware on us. In his quid pro quo, China advances its own interests--- as our security is jeopardized.
He remains weak in the face of Russian intrusion into our elections. His family's role in the blockade of Qatar is still under-reported in its criminality.
There is just so much day by day that scandal after scandal, threat after threat become last week's news.
6
If Trump is betraying us to 'genuine national security threats' like China (while angering allies) he's simply following the status quo of injurious to the majority interest, enriching to our 1% policies that both the democrat and republican establishments have oppressed us with for 40 years! He's now "compromising" to get something, anything done as Clinton, Bush and Obama did, which conveniently always seems to end up being what most benefits the rich and powerful. Krugman, the NY Times editors and the rest of the major media need to get their stories straight! Until Trump, it was bought off by the 1%, economist priesthood dogma that trade with China or corrupt top to bottom Mexico et al no matter how much other nations cheated, stole, spied, hacked and poisoned us with fentanyl, meth was good for us. Sort of like being crucified on a cross for the salvation of greater humanity - our working and middle class that is, who also die in our wars. Because, this was part of the 1% and the extreme Left's religious like crusade of high velocity globalization that was supposed to lead to a no-war everyone economically 'integrated' with Chinese like dictatorships Utopia. But now Krugman and our major media aristocracy seem to be confused and agreeing when convenient with the citizen majority of us horrible "racists" and "xenophobes" who decades ago thought it suicidal to integrate our economies and societies with those of our no rights, gulag and "re education camp" running enemies.
As long as most Republican senators and representatives.i.e.those who are not retiring, so not have the decency or courage to try to stop Trump,we must all suffer.But bribery and treason are explicitly mentioned as justification for impeachment.
6
Trump the Con Man has been doing this his whole life. Just check his history. He's not in this for public service. He's in this for personal gain and self-enrichment. His family has been eating at the public trough since the start when he father fattened himself on public housing. He wouldn't be able to speak with any intelligence on any policy or trade agreement if his life depended on it. His grade school language capabilities and zero comprehension leave us with a POTUS who is as ignorant as they come on facts and reality. The only thing Trump understands is what is in it for him. We do need to throw "these bums" out of office as Dem. Schiff said. Trump is blatantly flaunting his stated opinion that he can do whatever he wants and no one can stop him. He has GOP enablers who have given him the green light. We must put at least a halt to it in November 2018 and then end this failed Presidency in November 2020. All signs point to a massive wave against Trump and the GOP. Let's make it happen!
5
Mr Krugman oversteps a bit with the "hostile" foreign power reference to China. Admittedly they are pursuing unfair trade arrangements with both the US and our allies, and some sort of pressure on China to change to a more equitable trade arrangement is certainly desirable. But unilaterally invoking national security concerns is not a good idea, especially when it's transparently inaccurate, nor should we begin referring to China as an enemy before that becomes self evident. Competitors we are, but not yet hostile!
Dear President Trump: Please leave Canada alone. Thanks.
1
Trump blames treaties...not the actual agents and actors who do the daily business. The US businesses that are operating globally, and will in no way "bring it all home." Its easy to blame US problems (most of which he never defines) on bad treaties because Trump can pick at the guy who signed them. Obama, Bush, etc...but he wont pick on the parties doing the things that are allegedly hurting us. Much like he wont go after Putin.
But absent a coherent trade policy (MAGA ain't a policy) and absent a reliable team in place to help him negotiate, and work out details that no president should be involved in (foreign trade details ain't like picking curtains!) we're gonna see more and more of this stop-start/rinse, repeat.
Most of us watching are all-in with taking a tougher stance with China. But sensible toughness, not chest thumping, and faux-machismo. All of which is only Trump playing to his core supporters. His faux-reality TV show fans. I can easily write the scripts for Hannity and Foxy Friends. "No one appreciates the Art of the Deal, when its practiced by the bigliest practitioner of all time."
What I find funny...is IF Trump read this piece, he'd need the whole Manchurian Candidate concept explained to him, but that all he'd take from it was that Sinatra starred in the original movie, and Sinatra was a "tough-guy," who also consorted with Mafioso types...and that would please Trump. Other then that...whoosh...right over his head...
5
Trump wants to negotiate bi-lateral trade deals so he can make sure his financial interests benefit from every new deal.
3
Thank you Paul Krugman! So where are Ryan and McConnell to stop Trump's ZTE Scandal?
Our own Commerce Department and Pentagon have BANNED sales of ZTE phones and components on U.S. military bases, warning that the phones could be used to conduct espionage.
Yet Trump is desperate to reverse these actions against ZTE, DEFYING lawmakers from both parties.
Bribery! China approved a huge loan to a Trump-related resort in Indonesia just before Trump rushed to China's ZTE’s defense; at the same time, China granted 5 valuable patents to Ivanka Trump.
Wake up Ryan and McConnell! Do the job we voters elected you to do! Stop this president from helping save jobs at ZTE and selling out America's security for his personal financial gain.
5
The complete and total abdication of duty by our republican congress is the only story that matters
How man P tapes are there?
I am betting the kompromat runs deep and wide throughout both parties.
It is just too quiet and that means all are complicit
1
There is no question that Trump is out for himself at the nation’s expense. His hand holding with the Russians of long standing, his trade policies with China and our Allies reflect self interest, not national interest.
11
Trump is more Benedict Arnold than Manchurian Candidate, knowingly and intentionally betraying America for Putin and the klepto-dictator-class around the world. The Manchurian Candidate was malevolently brainwashed and is unaware of what is going on. If anything it's trump's base that has been brainwashed by the trump himself.
Like Republicans, trump will excuse voter suppression "in the name of national security." Even though he successfully stole the POTUS election with Russian-GOP help, he still had to conjure up millions of so called "illegal votes" against him and coerce states to give voter registration details to his voter suppression apparatchiks . Now he is accusing Democrats of rigging the 2018 elections that he and his Russian allies in congress are now rigging as they did before.
How much is trump making off of gaming tariffs? There is no other rhyme or reason for any of his actions other than personal gain - he has no other motivations. With all those trademarks, perhaps Ivanka has plans with ZTE for an iVankaPhone encrusted with faux diamonds pretending to be real.
“Make America Great Again” to pre-trumpian levels is what we will need to strive for after trump is Impeached, Indicted, Imprisoned and Ignored.
12
I'll bet this issue was not covered on Fox News. They will be reassuring Trump that the Mueller investigation is a "witch hunt". I am beginning to wonder if America doesn't deserve Trump? We will get an indication in November. It's obvious to me that the presidency is too powerful or is it that this Congress is too spineless to confront an imperial president. Impeachment is not an efficient way to get rid of a criminal in the White House. We could never get 67 votes in this Senate to convict a Republican. This situation seems to be which will die first the Republican party or democracy? Right now democracy looks sicker than Mitch McConnell.
17
Trump will exert his power, legally or not, to whatever limits he’s allowed. In other words, he’ll keep grabbing power until someone (Mueller) or something (Congress) stops him. He has NO respect for ANYTHING. A would-be and if allowed, successful dictator. This is what is so dangerous about this presidency. And his blind base.
6
Kan, though I agree with your post, I go along with db106, to whom you replied. Part of the problem is not only the danger of "this" presidency. It is at least in part that "THE presidency is too powerful." Nixon was brought down by Watergate, a less serious crime, and I don't think many Americans thought he was guilty of treason. Clinton was brought down in a partisan attack-- for lying about sex-- which though smarmy, was a reflection of poor judgement and a loose moral character. Not many Americans thought Bill was up to something as nefarious as collusion with a foreign government. Now we are in a far more dangerous spot, and the vaunted "separation of powers" is truly failing us. I for one have no faith that the GOP will turn away from trump under ANY circumstance. Nor will his minority base, which holds out-sized power in the time in which we find ourselves. If somehow we do survive, and democrats are ever in power again, job one must be to shield us from a king-like presidency, ever again.
2
Thank you, Karen,I appreciate, and agree with your response, as well as db106’s comment. My point was about Trump’s power as president only. It is true that the presidency has too much executive power. And the checks and balances are nowhere in sight.
"We’re not about to refight World War II, "
You're sure of that?
5
My understanding is that marks have no value apart from their goodwill impact. Moreover that a person's name is inherently protectable if it is misappropriated by a third party. Maybe Ms. Kushner should decide whether she is in business or in public service but I am not seeing where registration of her name as a mark is some sort of return of benefit. What am I missing here?
The Manchurian Candidate describes trump and the vast majority of Republicans who seem more on appeasing Russia, for some reason, than our allies and our own country.
Mueller, keep digging for the truth.
12
I hope that Trump has included his daughter's company items on the tariffs. He is such a despot.
7
We don't have a Manchurian Candidate, we actually have a Manchurian President and who could have predicted that? Richard Condon!
But the similarities of Condon's character never took into account Mr. Trump. He wrote of a person of character that infiltrated our democracy. Trump is different. He is a beneficiary of the American democracy and sadly cares so very little about its precepts.
Trade is just another issue that he gangsters up to. The environment, consumer safety, human rights: the list is too long for a mere 1500 words. He cares so little about the important issues it is a crime to have to endure his presidency. Like a carnival ride that isn't what you had expected, there simply is no way to get off until the dam thing stops spinning.
I was listening to Morning Joe prior to reading my NYT and Thomas Friedman was discussing both his new book and more critically, answering questions from the roundtable. His most stellar comment was that we as a nation must vote for a Democrat regardless of how we see ourselves politically or regardless of how the candidate stands up. His assertion is that only if Trump faces a Democratic Congress, will there be an iota of checks on his balances. His assertion is that any Democrat will be far better than any Republican. I sadly have to totally agree. We are at the point of no return and Trump's enablers are very much to blame.
14
But even in CA-- where it should be easy with a little money and effort to unseat GOP bad actors and thus switch the house-- the democrats cannot get traction. Why is that? Perhaps becasue they have nothing to say to the GOP loyalists that might make them switch. Extremely important matters distilled into sound bites, such as: "we will preserve your SS, we will wrestle the feds for federal money to get housing built for truly desperate Californians, we will increase not decrease food stamps, we will lead on universal health coverage, ETC." They say not a word about anything. And thus I fear 2018 will not be a blue wave, but a deeper reddening.
1
IMO top 10 reasons why Trump is threat to our way of life
1. Demonstrates at least 19 of 20 traits of psychopathy: glib, superficial charm; grandiose estimation of self; need for stimulation; pathological lying; cunning and manipulativeness; lack of remorse or guilt; shallow affect; callousness and lack of empathy; parasitic lifestyle; poor behavioral controls; sexual promiscuity; early behavior problems; lack of realistic long-term goals; impulsivity; irresponsibility; failure to accept responsibility for own actions; many short-term marital relationships; juvenile delinquency; criminal versatility
2. Operates an international crime organization, associating with shady national, international figures
3. Lack of knowledge or interest in upholding US Constitution
4. Undermines or abuses the rule of law, basis of our civil society
5. Lack of knowledge or interest in how three pillars of federal government function
6. Undermines the news media, fourth pillar of democracy, to protect self-interests against damaging but truthful revelations
7. Continuously violates the emoluments act to profiteer while in office in exchange for payee considerations
8. Narcissist whose actions are designed to serve only his own self interests
9. Enacted tax cut that will grossly inflate nation’s debt and widen asset gap, which could lead economic ruin and civil unrest
10. Racist and sexist, who verbally attacks, and supports those who verbally, physically attack people of color; and demeans women
18
Creepy reading. Comments on treason. I keep thinking- no, not here. But it is here. With Republican blindness and Fox News excusing, enabling, we watch daily as a slo-mo public caricature of what should be an orderly, lawful, impeachment process play out.
And where, where are the Democrats? Where is the majority that didn’t vote for this......man. Why is the legitimate news media still going to news conferences to receive lies? Why do I have to mute the nonstop reading of whacko tweets? When are loyal Republicans going to start shunning, refusing to socialize with Trump financiers, supporters. When will the majority just close their Facebook, twitter accounts- until this man resigns.
When do we do more than talk, encourage a vote months away. The power of peaceful boycotts, walking away...taking a knee. The majority out here need to take a knee against this fake president. The media- take a knee every day at those briefings.
7
It feels like an eternity, doesn't it! There are plenty of Democrats out there who are biding their time. Why expose ourselves to the rude and nasty vitriol from the Right? It serves no useful purpose. Peaceful protest is also risky, but it gives Democrats courage in case something so egregious happens that we have to come out into the open. All the Democrats whom I know can't wait to vote, and until election time, we keep calm and carry on.
3
it's disappointing when a desire to score political points leads to a badly written opinion piece. Mr. Krugman knows perfectly well why President Trump decided to interfere to lighten enforcement penalties on ZTE. The Chinese have made it a condition for having a trade deal that ZTE not be forced out of business. The real story regarding the trade negotiations is that Trump appears to be backing off of demanding removal of non-tariff structural impediments and the implementation of rule-of-law to protect intellectual property. The deal that is coming together is a nearly worthless commitment by China to purchase more American goods with no fundamental changes in China's trade practices. It's all for political show. That's the real story about which Mr. Krugman should write.
1
Trump's company received $500Million loan from Chinese.
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/21/17375900/trump-trade-lido-city-indonedia
It is a business tactic for personal gain. The traitor is selling the country to higgest bidder in name of MAGA.
19
As always your insights are spot on! With Don the Con it is always essential to watch what he does, rather than pay any attention to what he says.
Is the current occupant of the Oval Office bribable.....is a rhetorical question.
When will this madness end? (Not a rhetorical question.)
7
". . . 1959 novel, made into a classic 1962 film (never mind the remake) . . ."
Sir, are you trying to SCARE us to death? never
mind . . .
5
With Trump at the helm, the United States is having a nervous breakdown and we are all witness to it. The fact that something catastrophic hasn't befallen America yet is truly remarkable. However it will happen and before you know it, we are all under martial law with all elections suspended.
9
Indeed. Martial law is next. I lived in a Europe divided by a Wall, and it never ceases to amaze me how much like the former Soviet East Bloc we're becoming.
6
Trump's actions make my blood boil. Sadly I cannot do anything about him or his presidency. Surely it is up to US citizens to do what is now essential: impeachment! He should not be allowed to carry on and must be stopped before it is too late and things become irreversible.
12
It certainly is reasonable to suggest that Donald Trump's support for Chinese company ZTE is tied to family business incentives from the Chinese government. I believe the New York Times recently reported that Ivanka Trump's company has won seven new trademarks for her products in China. Trump immediately followed with public support for ZTE.
The timing is suspicious. In a different political era politicians of both parties would be pressing for an investigation. At this point, it generates nothing more than a collective shrug. With all of the Trump administration scandals and corruption, the ZTE story apparently does not make the top ten or even twenty potential acts of corruption.
17
All I know is that I'm seeing people who formerly hated Trump, now suddenly enthusiastic because they are either A) really rich, and are lovin' their big tax cut, B) struggling so much they think their $20/month paycheck increase from tax cut is a gift from a god, C) are doing well in the stock market (in reality or in their minds).
Trump may well pull the wool over our eyes one more time in 2020, which makes me want to start looking more closely at another visit with friends in Canada. Maybe a long one.
10
Mexico is a lot more pleasant - and warmer - than Canada. But I probably should not be giving a way this well-kept secret. The Canadians already know as tons of them spend many months down south.
2
The man sure seems to go out of his way to destroy all that's good and holy. "Anti-American," with all it's paranoid implications comes to mind, but I just don't want go there. Maybe it's just self-centered, simple-minded malevolence. Maybe.
Forget criticism. Enough already. It's come to the point where the only commentaries to be written - read - are ones that point to ending and repairing the damage being done by this administration with the acquiescence of this feckless Congress.
Could such be written?
Maybe.
4
This president is the true Clear and Present Danger to our country. There is no subterfuge in his actions. Those who look for Machiavellian brilliance behind his actions are desperately hoping there's something behind his tweetish leadership besides pure selfishness. There is not. His gut is to protect himself all the time. He fights everything that brings attention to his royal trumpness that is less than the twittering false praise he so desires and covets. He is like the Manchurian candidate in that he is easily controlled by other people. Putin, Xing, Kim Jong Un, are holding the cards while Trump answers the phone and does their bidding. GOP! Are you also answering those calls, or do you actually work for this country and care about its future? Stop this nonsense.
10
And no one, at least in GOP, seems to care. THAT’S what scares me?
4
Re the GOP: Remember in November. Vote them OUT!
6
He should be locked up and the keys thrown away.
He's a crook, plain and simple.
13
mjbarr: And your comment in all its simplicity is the answer to everything. This miscreant creep, trump, should be locked away, and so should his surrogates in government. If trump were Barack Obama, he would already have been lynched...not in jail...but lynched. I don't beat around the bush; those republican monsters treated Obama like he was garbage. Their racist hatred was on full display throughout his 2 terms. Obama is such a fine man; he is decent; he is moral. But a stinking low life crook, sex fiend/predator, and liar, like trump, gets lauded and allowed to get away with...well, things that are almost tantamount to murder. But he's white, he's rewarding the uber wealthy, as well as his other gop and congressional cronies, and while the livin' is easy for all these corrupt billionaire oligarchs, no one is going to be putting lily-white, white supremacist, racist, phony evangelical trump anywhere...unless the worm turns. Mr. Mueller, we await your findings and actions against this despicable detritus called don.
6
Trump can be bought, and on the cheap. A little flattery, a fancy ceremony, a favored project, maybe something for his princess. Everyone in the world, except a stubborn minority of American voters, knows Trump is for sale at bargain basement prices.
12
The silver lining to this very dark cloud known as the trump presidency is the fact that we now know what could possibly happen when civic duty and responsibilities (i.e. voting) are ignored or forgotten.
Never again.
10
Trump can be bribed? It's his business model. When his supporters talk about bringing a businessman to the Oval Office, presumably that's what they had in mind. A Presidency that openly and in our faces announced it was not going to pay by the rules. Michael Cohen was not an outlier. He was Trump's bagman, or so he said, and the business world knew exactly what it meant. You want a merger, heh heh, fork over. Cohen's not an outlier. The Trump Regime is like an Oliver Twist gang for super-rich grifters. Without the charm or music. Plenty of romance of course. Heh heh.
6
I hope Trump is"reviewing the situation" and leaving town as soon as possible.
2
DJT has spent the past 17 months seeing how far he can push boundaries before anyone in a Congress controlled by Republicans puts their foot down and reins him in legally. So far he's been very successful. It's like the frog in the pot of water, he's turning up the temperature so slowly that the frogs in Congress don't have any idea they're going to be boiling shortly. VOTE 2018
7
I'd expect this misreading of Section 232 from CNBC or Bloomberg, do or die free traders, but I'm disappointed to hear it from Krugman. While 232 indeed considers military readiness, it also defines "national security" to include unemployment, loss of skills, R&D, etc. Its as if he didn't actually look at the law before writing about it.
If Krugman doesn't understand unfair trade deals have led to these things and more - with the promise of getting much worse as the manufacturing infrastructure of Mexico and China develops - then he probably shouldn't be allowed to write columns anymore.
2
Perhaps if you read the column first, or at all, you'd be aware that Krugman a) specifically noted that 232 includes effects on industry judged to affect national security, b) argued that we're not anywhere close to such a problem, c) pointed out that 232 is rarely invoked, because this would blow up long-standing agreements...and d) asked why Trump's attacking our allies and letting Chinese companies like ZTE off the hook.
So tell us: this had nothing to do with a massive Chinese loan to Trump, and China's handing Ivanka trademarks worth millions?
11
I did read the article, but you clearly didn't read section 232. The industries effected don't have to directly concern the military. Specifically, the last three metrics in 15 CFR Sec. 705,provide that a 232 investigation can consider:
• the close relation of national economic welfare to U.S. national security;
• loss of skills or investment, substantial unemployment and decrease in government revenue; and
• the impact of foreign competition on specific domestic industries and the impact of displacement of any domestic products by excessive imports.
Look, President Trump may be working some quid pro quo, and that's a justifiable point. But Krugman is mischaracterizing Section 232. And he's being lazy about it. And it is why neoliberal Democrats are increasingly falling out of step with middle America.
Mexico is using company labor unions to suppress workers, redirecting billions of dollars worth of investment South of the border. China is openly stating it wants to concentrate global manufacturing (production, R&D, administration) in China, by either hook or crook. And this isn't just apparel or widgets - but EVs, AVs, robotics, etc. Wall St. may love these trends, but it is hollowing out the middle of the country.
I dislike Trump as much as the next person, but on this issue he's somewhat right. If we let Wall St. and and low cost countries dictate our manufacturing policy - the middle class in this country is going to get rolled.
The demise of labor unions and the progressive income tax have already reduced the middle class beyond recognition or recovery. There is little manufacturing left to steal.
At this point, does it even make sense to speak of “international trade”?
The really large businesses operate globally. Bribing local officials is pretty much routine.
The current difficulties over NAFTA are intended to put pressure on companies that have integrated their operations. Exceptions will have to be bought from Trump and his Republican enablers. The Republican base actually admires this, much as a gang member admires the toughness of his or her boss. The falsity of the “national defense” rationale is part of the appeal, just as the falsity of Evangelical theology appeals to the people who want to force it onto others.
If Trump’s trade policy appears to defy logic, it’s a sign that you’re using the wrong logic. Think of the Republicans as a criminal gang, where anybody can be whacked at any time, but more like the IRA than the Mafia. It’s American, not Manchurian, and will be much, much harder to be rid of.
178
Where can I read more of your insights? Your good!
8
Bribing local officials is against U.S. law, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Law.
6
I've been saying for years that the notion of a trade deficit between the U.S. and its allies, and indeed, many of its enemies, is absurd -- it's like a trade imbalance between say California and Oklahoma. And trade with our so-called enemies, facilitating their integration into the global economy, is probably the single most effective way to facilitate change in those societies as global trade leads to improved economic conditions, which leads to less uncertainty about things like how am I going to feed my family, which leads to a growing interest in improving social conditions, personal freedom, and participation in society. Unfortunately, many of the policies pursued in this country since the Reagan revolution have undermined those conditions, leading to the kind of uncertainty that results in people preferring strong man -- who they believe will at least keep them safe -- to the messy uncertainly of democracy and, indeed, the market. I find it ironic that the very people who are doing the most to undermine our society do it in the name of personal freedom, the market, and, of course, religion (their religion that is, they don't care about freedom of or from religion any more than they care individual freedom).
19
The words Trump and trusworthiness do not go together. That is the point of this editorial and makes clear the point of Trump's willingness to break deals, use false rhetoric and just about anything in order to enrich his family. How close were his actions to reverse actions against ZTE and the granting of trademarks to Ivanka who has been noticeably absent from her other gig at the White House for dear papa. I just do not understand how other readers ignore these facts by writing about the great economic news and using the "tax reform" act as justification for same. I do not own stocks but and am at the opposite end of the 1% who were the great beneficiaries of tax cuts, huge ones to the top tier of the wealthy . As in the ending of the Iran deal while trying to work on the North Korean deal, how does trust enter into any of these negotiations, must less any finalizing of them.
4
Of course the NYT will not allow this to be published.
But DJT is thief who lies every time he opens his mouth, including the times he is just breathing through his mouth and not speaking. He is a mouth breather.
He, DJT, is a clear and present danger to the United States of America. Anyone supporting DJT is a traitor and wishes harm to the United States. Vote his lackeys out of Congress; get the US back on the path to be great again. Treat his lackeys as they should be treated; flush them from office.
DJT should be called out for what he is every time he opens his mouth; a traitor, a liar, and a thief.
NYT, you print what comes from DJT's mouth all the time; offer me the same respect.
12
It is very difficult to attribute a cause to Trumps bizarre actions regarding US trade policies. Does he truly hate all of our traditional allies and love pretty much any authoritarian dictator? His behavior suggests that he does. Does he primarily want to complete the con of his presidency by shamelessly enriching himself? That one seems to be a given. Is he just massively ill-informed? There is little doubt about that one being true. Does he want to disrupt things so badly that he systematically goes about breaking our institutions and norms of conduct? I think that is also clearly true. So we have the perfect storm in Trump. A vile, petty, greedy, dishonest con man taking the US and the rest of the world on a frightening ride to hell. This period of time will either mark the time when people in the US became scared straight and actually started to pay attention to their government or it will mark the beginning of the end of our little experiment in democracy. For me it is too early to tell which will happen but I must admit that I am not very optimistic at this point.
372
It's all about money and power for Trump. China and Russia know how to bribe/extort him. U.S. allies need to do the same or they will lose. The American people have no bargaining power because Trump already took our money with the tax legislation.
26
Part of the distress here seems to be the belief that Trump is going to get away with his bad actions and leave America broken and divided. Not trying to be naive but there doesn't seem like much in the current Republican agenda that could assemble into a viable or lasting way to run an actual country.
1
Scott Johnson, your last sentence is accurate, to my knowledge, and therefore why so many of us are so concerned.
Trump has gone from being led by the alt-Right to peddling his alt-reality. Never one given to empiricism, he leads by emotion, and demonizes those who don't happily go along for the ride on his not-so-magic-bus.
It should be no surprise that he caters to strongmen, given that he has long conducted himself as one. He defers to those in whom he sees himself, and governs the country as if it were his own private fiefdom, just like Xi, Putin and Kim. His use for Kim also appears to be motivated by the prospect of a Nobel Peace Prize.
A number of journalists have begun to characterize Trump as being engaged in a "long con." His loudly protectionist approach to trade policy, albeit with handy, convenient carve outs for powerful autocratic leaders, may be just one more example of this.
There is little doubt, in my mind at least, that Trump is guided not so much by what such trade agreements can do for America, but what they ultimately can do for his family and his own wealth. Russia, China and North Korea are countries with large, untapped, "greenfield" opportunity for him, and one need look no further to understand his propensity for appeasement.
Guys like Xi, Putin and Kim have a lot to offer to Trump in the long run. Each is a national leader who has purportedly enriched himself through "public service." Trump has only a few years to set the stage so that he can emulate their achievements in that respect.
Above all else, Trump simply wants to cash in, the US be damned.
230
Dr. Krugman:
You ask: What’s going on? with respect to Trump kowtowing to China and then seem to bypass the obvious reason.
His family is set to make millions off of the quids he is getting for his quos... see Ivanka's 13 patents and the Jakarta amusement park deal
8
We in NYC know who trump is, and are revolted by him and his clan. I was born in Manhattan so I’m including myself. He’s a liar and thief. Selling his Country out for a lot of money and just plain hatefulness. Anyway, the rest of the Country is getting to know him, despite his enablers, whose motivations are ignorance, at best. Our Country’s best chance, is to vote them out and repair the damage done.
13
Perhaps Trump is so awed by dictators, every one of them, that he finds it impossible to act rationally in dealing with them. Like Ado Annie, in "Oklahoma!", he just "cain't say no." Certainly looks that way.
3
Just because Trump is a traitor conspiring with Russia doesn't mean he's not also lining his pockets from other additional sources.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
7
One trip to Walmart is evidence of the importance of US trade with China. Trade with Russia is certainly not about salad dressing; more likely it's about helping oilgarchs [sic] launder their rubles into dollars and real estate deals.
No wonder Trump doesn't want to release his tax returns!
8
When you look at Trump's actions on trade, immigration, tax cuts for the rich, reneging on international agreements, denigrating our long time allies and sucking up to ruthless dictators, Manchurian candidate definitely comes to mind. Trump is destroying our country from within.
19
In short:
“if [treason] prospers, [no Republican] dare call it treason”
15
Unfortunately the rest of us are getting what the deplorables wanted because people are or have been too complacent to do their civic duty of being aware of what is going on and voting.
14
Many support Trump just to spit in the face of those who label them "deplorable".
5
@goldenboy
And if anything -- you've just explained why Trump said he "loves the poorly educated."
3
trump and family are using the White House for their personal gains . They don’t give a hoot about America .
This administration is selling this Country to the best offer together with its national security .
The Manchurian president knows very well that “ pecunia non olet “ although I doubt he would comprehend this Latin sentence.
8
Trump is saving jobs in China, creating jobs in Indonesia, laundering money from Russia.
How is that not America First?
Oh right, it’s not.
So much winning, folks! So much winning.
23
"War is peace, freedom is slavery", all those Orwellian setups work here. Think about it, Big Brother, oops, I mean Trumps now accuses HRC of colluding with Russia during the election. Will the proletariat/rubes in the sticks buy it? Probably. These are dangerous times simply for the reason a whole bunch of really dumb people are electing those who are running the show. Imminent disaster you say? Maybe not, but there is a good chance of some kind of disaster.
11
Paul - Trump is an ideal mark. He will do literally anything for (what he perceives as) personal benefit. Probably the most prominent characteristic of narcissistic personality disorder. Sociopathic behavior as well. Basket case. This is what folks signed up for. Down the slippery slope.
15
Mr Trump presumably is well advised legally and would be briefed on the arrangements concerning a deal.
Treaty
Compact
Understanding
Hand shake
Contract
Mr Trump is probably the best legally advised president in history.
Mr Trump has a habit of finding loopholes in deals:
NAFTA
The Paris agreement
The Iran agreement
The complexity of a deal with North Korea, noting the withdrawal of funds to the State Department, is best left to another President.
Japan, South Korea and the world have skin in the game.
The South China Sea is an issue causing loss of sleep for nations around those red lines.
While the hysterical North Korean leader enjoys trading invectives with Mr Trump the president perhaps preoccupied with personal matters not of a State nature ignores the big picture.
I am not an American and my views should be filtered as such.
Check out VoA and RFA about what is public knowledge and what is happening west of California in Asia.
Perhaps he should read his briefings, daily.
As a foreigner I criticise you president hopefully politely and rationally.
The deal done by Prime Minister Chamberlain with Herr Hitler was signed, dusted and sealed.
Mr Trump should know that "dealing" with a nutter is as it is.
Many Australians got killed along with Yanks in Asia and Europe.
My view is that a quick flight to Singapore or Berlin solves nothing.
Mr Trump should step back and wait to castigate Kim and Xi at the White House.
Appeasement costs lives.
5
Trump cares about the United States only to the extent that it can serve to magnify his material wealth. He golfs while his country and the rest of the world burn to the ground. Occasionally he deigns to return to the White House to light more fires. He is a national disgrace and a traitor to his own people. Yet we must acknowledge the fact that Americans voted this pathetic charlatan into office, despite his long history of deception and associated unethical and immoral behavior.
We must strive to exorcise this demon from the presidency and other branches of our government. Then the most difficult task awaits. We must successfully exorcise it from ourselves.
13
The fact that Congress and the IQ45 cult followers see nothing wrong with what he is doing is even more distressing than the actual fact that he's doing it. And most of America simply goes "Ho hum" because economics and trade are "so hard to understand." Bribery, though, seems pretty cut & dried, and even the most uneducated deplorable surely must see that (but simply refuses to).
13
Trump wouldn't understand a bona-fide national security issue if it hit him in his orange face. Everything he does is either to appeal to his adoring base to stroke his ego or to benefit the Trump famiglia financially. Rules and norms get in his way. He has always been able to skirt them so he looks for any loophole to achieve his desired and selfish ends in all situations, including trade deals. There is no honor among thieves.
Will someone please check to make sure we still have a copy of the original Constitution. We need to hold onto it for dear life with a mobster and his strongmen at the helm.
The question after the Trump Debacle is over will be: Was there a constitutional, ethical, cultural, political, moral or social norm that the Donald did not violate and debase? It's a rhetorical question and we already know the answer.
Anyone want to buy property in Indonesia? Contact Erik and Don, the clueless Bobsey twins.
12
ZTE manufactures cell phones like the Google Pixel. Among others, ZTE uses Qualcomm Snapdragon and LTE modem chips in the phones it manufactures. Some national security threat.
Trump is implementing the same trade policies espoused by Bernie Sanders: no TPP, “fair” trade, etc, etc. Folks like Rich Trum(p)ka back the proposed auto tariffs.
Folks, these economic policies, when proposed by Dems, have been considered to be “Progressive”. Don’t be complaining when Trump steals your march.
Our Bloviator in Chief is hardly know for coherent follow through.
At this point most of the world has figured out that the hack at the helm of the United States of America can barely walk and chew gun at the same time let alone single handedly take down globalization.
As for threats to US national security and credibility, one need look no further than the ego-driven blowhard in the Oval Office.
13
From the Guardian Newspaper:
Ivanka Trump’s fashion and homewares business received initial approval from the Chinese government for five trademark applications days before her father announced a U-turn in policy on ZTE, a Chinese telecoms firm that has admitted breaking US sanctions on Iran and North Korea.
The five approvals, for applications made in 2017, came through on 7 May. On 13 May, Trump made the surprise announcement that he had instructed the Department of Commerce to help get ZTE “back into business”.
In the last three months, with what experts say is unusual speed, China has granted final approval for 13 trademarks and provisional approval for eight more. According to the New York Times, Ivanka Trump now holds 34 trademarks in the world’s second-largest economy. While she does not have a large business in China, most of her US imports are shipped from there. Clothing has been exempted from tariffs threatened by her father as part of his aggressive trade policy.
Crew executive director Noah Bookbinder told the Associated Press the timing of the announcement “raises significant questions about corruption, as it invites the possibility that [Ivanka Trump] could be benefiting financially from her position and her father’s presidency or that she could be influenced in her policy work by countries’ treatment of her business”.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/28/ivanka-trump-won-china-t...
15
The Manchurian Candidate is not the film which supplies the correct analogy. The Godfather is.
5
IF we have a president who’s bribable? There’s a big for sale sign on the whitehouse lawn.
6
Please use the term TREASON to describe his behavior once again. At least have a discussion on why his behavior isn't treason if you believe it isn't.
8
Our "president" is simply continuing what has always been his go-to practice as a business man. He is making deals which are to his advantage and too bad for everyone else, who he denigrates as "losers." This category includes his working-class supporters, who are too gullible to realize that they're being duped.
9
Is Saudi Arabia a dictatorship? What about UAE? How about Egypt? Or Jordan? Why don't we call the government of Israel a "regime?"
Inquiring minds would like to know.
3
I vote for Quid Pro Quo!
'Arbitrary' and 'erratic' come to mind when describing Trump's trade policies. If it's not on-again, off-again steel and aluminium tariffs it's about 'national security', a fatuous excuse to protect the nation's car manufacturers. Next it will be McDonald's and Starbucks, or Coca Cola needed to 'nourish' the troops fighting useless wars overseas.
But there is something even more sinister about his trade decisions on China: Could his about-turn on ZTE not have something to do with Ivanka's trademarks granted just days before her father's reversal on ZTE?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/28/ivanka-trump-won-china-t...
He is no Manchurian Candidate. He is simply evil, stupid, greedy, cowardly and unpatriotic. And this description fits the minority that supports him. Maybe 'deplorable' was the right word after all.
8
Well, if anyone were to promiscuously abuse international standards it would be Trump. He promiscuously abuses all other standards of behavior. His promiscuity is well-documented.
I take you question as to Trump's bribability as a rhetorical one.
Just another day in the swamp with the Trumps.
4
Trump was fined $25 million for defrauding students at his fake university, and that was after he had ‘won’ the election.
From Trump’s perspective if those students were gullible enough to buy his phony sales pitch then they deserved to be fleeced.
Trump cynically baited 63 million gullible voters with racist rants and a phony sales pitch to make America great again.
The contempt Trump has for those voters is the same he had for those innocent students. Fraud and graft are the only kind of business Trump understands, and America is getting his full treatment. Buyer beware.
6
Trump is using America to gratify his insatiable need for adulation and more money. I think Trump equates this with immortality. Good luck with that, Don. And good luck with Don, America.
3
Wow, one more hair on Trump's head explicated to its root.
It seems that most of these hijinks aren't really intended to be acted on i. They're being used to grab headlines and keep the media otherwise occupied while the Russian probe grinds on. This is the president's depravity :Mass manipulation toying with concepts he doesn't understand to furher his own needs while putting populations at risk. A true Caligula.
1
Corruption, corruption that’s all the Demacrat should be talking about.
2
This corruption is so blatant and so obvious, why is nothing being done about it?
There must be a way to stop the POTUS from carrying on as a cheap little hustler?
2
If Trump were a spoiled child left to his own devices in the White House playpen his ignorance on matters of trade -- or every other foreign policy issue -- could be safely ignored. The real threat to national security is the bland acceptance, tolerance and enablement of his Republican handlers, who are willing to let our international alliances and trade pacts go down the tubes with their continue support of a president they know is detroying our country.
4
If there is any evidentiary basis that Trump is taking bribes from the Chinese (!) I assume the Dems will do their best to ferret it out- forgive me if it feels a bit over the top, Mr. Krugman.........
There is strong prima facie evidence of it -- an abrupt, unjustifiable shift in policy following a large gransfer of wealth into the pockets of Trump family members and businesses.
And this is bolstered by the national security implications of favoring a company that has pointedly ignored U.S. sanctions and that presents a direct threat of spying on American agencies by a foreign government.
I genuinely hope Democrats take both houses of congress in November. Then we can investigate Trump's businesses and finances in detail, includinghis tax returns.
5
The evidence suggests Trump is way too lacking in knowledge and concern to realize what you have written. SO, who is pulling his strings to bring all of this about ?
3
To answer your question: about 63 million American voters residing in the right states to win an electoral college victory (in other words not where you live) - that's who!
2
And we shall have more, much more of this as Americans allow the inequality that elected him as President. Thought the March against Wall Street crowd were a bunch of losers? Well this is their revenge. Unhappy Campers have very little power. Except on even years in November.
I don't know if Trump is Manchurian or not but he sure is a cheater, and i'm not talking about his wives. His MO in business has always benne to cheat and deceive, and declare bankruptcy if the other party didn't blink.
Now he abuses the national security exception. Special rules for national security issues make perfect sense because national security is so important; and that those rules give POTUS a lot of leeway is normal because of the stakes. And they work fine when POTUS is honest.
But Trump uses his extraordinary powers to gain an unfair advantage over Canada and other allies in strictly commercial matters (steel and aluminum bars, Fords and Chevrolets made in Canada) by declaring them national security issues. This man-child is just disgusting.
4
It actually is worse than you've posited Mr. Krugman.
We have in the WH the personification of all 7 deadly sins... in one solitary being.
Continuing along your argument, the profiting off of a potential Mid-East war, with Iran & Turkey on one side, and Israel & Saudi Arabia on the other.
2
Trump famously said he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave and not lose a single supporter. How true that statement has proved, but not just with his MAGA hats.
His statement is also a claim that he is above the law. He can shoot someone without consequences. The statement is proved to be a fact by the Republicans in Congress.
In reversing policy on ZTE to save Chinese jobs, Trump puts his pockets ahead of our country's interests and security. Republicans don't bat an eye.
This is a disgraceful, ignominious fall in American stature, trustworthiness, law and order, democracy, history. We are witnessing the pimping of the presidency and the prostitution of the Congress.
If you are outraged, do something.
Call, email and snail-mail your representatives and tell them what you think of their performance in office.
Don't simply wait to go to the polls in November.
Contribute what you can to Democratic candidates from now until then. And as a reader recently replied to one of my comments, don't just donate money - donate your time to knock on doors to get Democrats elected.
Turn your outrage into a passion to save America. This is a revolution against the tyranny of Trump and the corruption of our Constitution. Every real American needs to do their part.
2
It's a strange world in which we live in that ZTE is not a national security threat while Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover are considered possible threats
5
Maybe someone ought to ask Trump "to pass the time playing solitaire" and see what happens.
1
Donald Trump is doing what he has always done. He is exploiting any and all loopholes he can find to increase the wealth of his family and himself. All of his life can be seen as working towards those goals.
Are his actions benefiting our country as well as him personally? He doesn't care!! Never has and never will. Are his actions harming our country? He doesn't care!! Never has and never will. He is driven by his own selfish, egotistical, self-centered goals. Always has and always will.
We needs to elect a Congress that will stand up to him and rein in his destructive behaviors. And that Congress can only be made up of Democrats, not boot licking Republicans. Then we can look forward to 2020 and a new President. Who can begin to repair our country.
3
The one who promised to help American workers is saving a million jobs at the Chinese firm that violated sanctions and sold our classified technology to North Korea and Iran. The man who trumpets patriotism and flag worship is a five-time draft dodger. The president tweets fire and fury but grovels before the world's most reprehensible autocrats whom he treats with warm affection even as he throws our allies to the wolves. The Congress of the party of law and order abandons its Constitutional duties and does nothing to stop the most corrupt White House we have ever had. The author of the ghost written book "The Art of The Deal" gives the store away before the negotiations have even begun, and could negotiate his way out of a paper bag. The government of the party of family values steals children away from desperate refugee families. Make America Great Again means breaking everything in sight, and making absolutely nothing at all.
256
Correction:
"... The author of the ghost written book "The Art of The Deal" gives the store away before the negotiations have even begun, and could NOT negotiate his way out of a paper bag. ..."
8
Mostly true. But there is no evidence of stealing children. That story is overblown.
@Robert
Excellent post. Fully spot on. You win the internet today!
7
Clinton's supposed email transgressions and alleged pay-to-play contributions to the Clinton Foundation illicited chants of "Lock her up!" from the same people who steadfastly stand behind Trump in spite of all that has been revealed.
The cognitive dissonance is deafening.
6
Most readers’ comments focus on castigating Trump for his traitorous actions. But what about that other branch of government - the legislative branch. Trump could not continue in office without their propping him up. They are more guilty than he is. They know full well and good the consequences of his actions but they are so drunk with power, they will sell their souls and our country to the devil. Sick and evil.
6
So the lovely Ivanka gets lots of lovely trademark approvals from China, and Big Daddy DJT gets hefty loan guarantees for a business licensing deal, also from China; and sketchy Chinese high tech firm ZTE suddenly gets sympathetic treatment from DJT. Well, the Trumps seem to be a mediocre mob family so what else could we expect? But this is a huge, humiliating snub to the Republican Congress - you know, the “we’re the staunchest patriots and firmest on national security!” party. Will McConnell and Ryan and their colleagues finally stand up for themselves and defy DJT? Or will they continue their impressions of meek, compliant, neutered sheep? I’m beginning to think Sen. Joni Ernst used her expertise in pig castrating (Make ‘em squirm!) on her fellow GOP senators.
2
Unfortunately, you don't need to sell out to the Russians to betray the American people. Good old American Business, is completely capable of doing that on its own. Russian collusion is a side show compared with the destruction of the American middle class by Wall Street financial pirates, hedge funds, big banks, lobbyists, big pharma, hyper-militirization, endless pointless wars brought to us by chicken hawks, the melting of brains by Fox News. Are we governed by agents of the Russian Mafia. Yes. But they're just cleaning up the dregs left by bigger and stronger American crooks. Bring the war home!
3
Forget Russia. Trump and his clan's monetizing of the presidency is the real ongoing scandal. And the tentacles of the Spectre-like, Trump- octopus extend far and wide.
6
Trump will do whatever is good to personally enrich him and his family. The President is bribable and easy to predict. He does not care about the country or anybody that does not flatter him and even then, he fires some. The Trumps are getting richer under our noses taking advantage of the political power they enjoy today. I would like to see all of their tax returns, before and after the White House years.
Dictators, corruption, Trump, they all are in the same sentence.
2
To paraphrase Paul Krugman's column, "Section 4, Article Two". Brevity is the soul of wit; but this isn't funny.
1
If you look at the big picture, China's eatin' our lunch as far as investment and Russia is hacking us to shreds while Trump looks the other way, running his cons and getting ready to start two wars.
2
Trump imposed these tariffs to coerce China into strong-arming North Korea into a deal so Trump can get his Nobel Peace Prize. Additional analysis is probably unwarranted. But since Trump is involved, greed, arrogance, vengeance, pettiness, and malice must also be factored in at appropriate levels, with the usual dashes of ignorance and crude stupidity.
A nuclear deal thrown together in a matter of weeks, led by someone who doesn’t read or spend time researching salient topics, is doomed to failure. Constructing the Iran deal took several years of difficult negotiations with the involvement of seven countries plus the EU.
China can withstand the tariffs for as long as they last while collaterally imposing tariffs on the United States. The upshot of the tariffs will primarily be to convince our allies that we are insane (at least temporarily) and should be shunned.
The United States cannot begin to recover until Trump leaves office, and taking as many of his GOP cronies with him will only help matters. November needs to mark the beginning of our national recovery. The principal stakes at hand are our historical relationships with our allies and securing our country against the tyranny of foreign despots. Let’s hope we don’t collectively blow it again.
2
The idiocy of Trump's trade policy becomes clear if one considers not just what he's doing but what he failed to do.
By needlessly taking a confrontational stance towards our trading partners around the world, but especially to our European allies, he has efficiently precluded effective collective action against Chinese predatory practices. A less incompetent president would have known how to form a worldwide coalition that could have exerted real pressure on China that could achieve significant results. After all, our European allies have exactly the same concerns about unfair Chinese restrictions, coercive partnership and intellectual property regulations, and exploitation of China's inaccurate WTO designation as we do. Instead, Trump has made potential partners into adversaries.
2
When I read that this Administration was going to look into tariffs on foreign auto manufacturers based on national security, my initial reaction was, "Huh?" What a flimsy and ridiculous excuse for Trump to thwart his imagined plot against America. More importantly, the national security stick is what authoritarians of all stripes use on their citizens who may disagree with their diktats and policies, and on other countries, be it trade or actual war. Let's grit our teeth, gird our loins and make sure this corrupt, unfit, unhinged and ignorant man does not return for a second term.
When you start with the mindset that Trump is nothing more than a low rent grifter, everything he does makes sense.
2
Why isn't Congress looking into this (likely) traitorous ZTE deal? Oh, wait, I just remembered who controls Congress. But why is the media, except PK, silent on this deal? Does anybody think this Justice Dep't will permit the FBI to investigate?
2
Who is making themselves richer through trumps ear? It seems he has always been easily persuaded through ego.
1
What’s really frightening is that even though Congressional Republicans defend and enable this president to the max, he intends to rub their noses in his obvious ingratitude by scorning them and lifting sanctions against ZTE. Marco Rubio is an ambulance chaser but Tom Cotton, a staunch supporter of the president, is on board to craft legislation to prevent this tyrant from going easy on China. His open defiance of the legislative branch shouldn’t surprise anyone. His sole presidential policy is quid pro quo. Just show him the money, like the Russians and the Saudis did, and he’s all yours.
1
Trump is scheduled to come to the United Kingdom in July. He is not welcome. Indeed he apparently plans to come to Scotland to play at one of his courses. There may be protests in London but the reception here may be more muted because of the difficulty of getting to those locations. I am more concerned about what message he may bring to our delusional right wingers about great trade deals with the United States post Brexit. They need no encouragement from Trump to blow up the prosperity of our economy fostered via EU membership. Trump is an international menace and for those of us who care about the USA and the wider world his departure from the scene cannot come soon enough. One last thing - as his mother was Scottish Trump may be entitled to British citizenship. What a horrible prospect.
3
The Art of the Deal = Bribery
2
I wish more people would pay more attention to Paul Krugman more often. It would save a lot of people a lot of misery.
1
Trade with China:
"They give us poisoned products, we give them worthless paper"
Paul Krugman, discussing global currency exchange with a score of undergraduates
http://www.newsweek.com/attack-left-paul-krugmans-poison-pen-76063
--
Trump is an anti-capitalist. He does not support free trade and he is pro-monopoly. He works with (and profits) from communists while ignoring western capitalist values. He really does seem like a Manchurian candidate in this regard. He is a disgrace to the flag and our values. Long live free trade, long live the republic.
1
Let's get rid of terms like phony, exaggeration, apparent falsehood, irony, different, bizarre, other explanations, coincidence when discussing Trump's outright lies. He's a liar using dishonesty to help himself financially and in various other ways. If we don't start calling him out for the liar that he is everytime he lies, we will be living in a dictatorship in very short order. It's up to all of us to stop him.
2
Calling all Republican politicians-the time to shift your loyalty from a throughly corrupt administration to the United States is now! Trump is poison and a real danger to our country. No matter how much you may think you will profit personally, consider the downside. The longer this charade goes on, the less likely it is that you will be able to escape the retribution your continued perfidity will so richly deserve.
1
Why is he doing this? Why does he cozy up to Russia? Because absolutely no one stops him. He will pretty much sign what Republicans put in front of him. And to get what he wants and to completely shut down any opposition, all he had to do is say no to abortion. All these people who support him have only that as their line in the sand. Anything else , and clearly it is anything else, goes. So the only way to stop him is to vote him out of office. Because Republicans wouldn't even say boo if he came to their house for dinner and impregnated their daughters. He'd deny he was the one even though no one else was invited to dinner. He'd refuse a paternity test. And the base would believe every word that came from his mouth. Then he'd have Cohen pay for an abortion and cover it up. And his poll numbers wouldn't drop a bit. The question is: how do you fight that type of blind allegiance. He's the 2018 version of Jim Jones. And Trump, like the ad, says "Stay thirsty, my friends".
1
Maybe President Xi Jinping told Trump that he needed to abase himself on this issue to get a trade deal he can call a “win.”
In any case all will be revealed in the bestseller yet to be written by a Trump ghost writer - The Art of the Kneel.
1
“Of course, there might be other explanations.”
Yeah, no.
It’s a bribe.
The Clintons sold the Lincoln bedroom for $20K per night. This is the Trump counterpart of that: Corruption on a massive scale. Are you surprised?
Except that in the 'Manchurian Candidate", Senator Johnny Iselin wasn't known to be working against America. That's a plot line Trump couldn't possibly pull off.
It's ridiculous to comment on Krugman. What can I say other than I believe he is right, again. Being a teacher he can also explain the gnarly things so that we all can understand them.
How often must we be told the emperor has no clothes? He will be issued them in confinement.
Maybe the time has come to start re-evaluating the significance of Nobel Prizes.
Krugman's version of Occam's razor is that the simplest reason for any Trump action is bribery. The concept that the ZTE settlement might relate to the North Korean situation seems not to cross the good doctor's mind.
1
Trump imposed these tariffs to coerce China into strong-arming North Korea into a deal so Trump can get his Nobel Peace Prize. Additional analysis is probably unwarranted. But since Trump is involved, greed, arrogance, vengeance, pettiness, and malice must also be factored in at appropriate levels, with the usual dashes of ignorance and crude stupidity.
A nuclear deal thrown together in a matter of weeks, led by someone who doesn’t read or spend time researching salient topics, is doomed to failure. For comparison, constructing the Iran deal took several years of difficult negotiations with the involvement of seven countries plus the EU. China sees the United States as weak and will do everything it can to take advantage of the situation. Any North Korean deal is surely part of that overall strategy.
China can withstand the tariffs for as long as they last while collaterally imposing tariffs on the United States. The upshot of these taxes will primarily be to convince our allies that we are insane (at least temporarily) and should be shunned.
The United States cannot begin to recover until Trump leaves office, and taking as many of his GOP cronies with him will only help matters. November needs to mark the beginning of our national recovery. The principal stakes at hand are our historical relationships with our allies and securing our country against the tyranny of foreign despots. Let’s hope we don’t collectively blow it again.
172
Let's hope the Nobel committee is smarter than this. Please.
14
Trump wants to slap tariffs on foreign cars because they pose threats to national security? And then opens our doors to ZTE phones--which are well-known agents of Chinese espionage?
That's right up there with Trump's proposal last year to form a joint "cyber security unit" with Russia to protect our elections from hacking. And is no doubt as equally motivated by his self interest. As Henry David Thoreau once said, "Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk."
193
You did hit the nail on the head.
8
Everyone has the right to be wrong.
Trump isn't "ignoring very real security threats to help a hostile dictatorship". He's doing it to make himself and his family richer.
12
Points well-taken, Dr. Krugman. And about these executive excursions into the fog of economic treason where, exactly, is the Democratic Party?
If there were a Democratic voice, people might actually listen. Voters aren't deaf, but Democratic Party is mute.
7
correct.
and this party has become the worst demonstration of a leaderless, messageless, bringing- limp-spaghetti-to-the-political-war group as i've ever experienced.
How can progressives realistically expect to win anything with this party just hanging on and around, ignoring their basic long time constituency doing nothing of significance that one can discern?
during all its state breaking obstruction for years, the republicans were always on the scene being heard, felt, and attended to. they have 3 point mantras that stay in one's head like a bad, redundant tune. effective.
the democrats - nada.
wherefore art thee democrats?
(this from a long term hot to trot dem who left the party 6 months ago. i'll take my chances with Indivisible.)
2
Only a convinced fool would believe that the president has a) a plan and b) has thought it through. This is government by whim and caprice and “gut” feeling rather than rational thought. The self enrichment piece is a given and merely part of his overall psychology—the needs of the self outweigh all other claims.
5
Krugman thinks of "The Manchurian Candidate." I think of "Catch 22." Remember how whenever some valuable item at the base went missing, there would be a note saying "What's good for Milo Minderbinder Enterprises is good for the U.S.A.?" Substitute "Trump" for "Minderbinder" and you have the sum total of American economic policy for the foreseeable future.
3
As in all thing related to Trump follow the money! Trump is driven by money and of course it will eventually be his downfall.
3
U.S. trade policy is driven by Trump being a self-enriching crook and by the people to whom Trump owes political/monetary favors.
It is really no more complicated than that.
5
Trump doesn't have a trade policy. He has a different childish tantrum each day, and the result is fleeting "policy."
America has experienced extended periods of pervasive and grotesque corruption throughout its past. These are nothing compared to what is coming.
3
There are no ethics, except "using someone for what I want." This is scary because protecting the nation (and serving the nation) no longer matters. Trump dislikes Qatar and ZTE until the Trump organization receives a loan and the Kushners receive a loan for their 666 N.Y. building. It's blatant abuse and misuse of the Office of the Presidency. The Republican congress apparently "overlooks" these egregious manipulations of countries for his and his families benefit while they seek to have Trump overturn environmental regulations, or appoint conservative judges or provide a tax cut to benefit the political donor class or crush Planned Parenthood in the name of abortion. The GOP is sick and harmful to our nation with a President who shows blatant disregard for international and national laws.
12
Prof:
If you didn’t have a Nobel in Economics, you would be a good candidate for the one Trump thinks he deserves.
Well, actually most of the Times Op-Ed staff, who have been doing a better job than news-side, sometimes, reminding us regularly that not only is the Emperor naked, but that he poses a nakedly aggressive but very confusing face to both a majority of the US but to the rest if the world as well.
You’ve got me recalling the days when the last Congressional crew members aboard the foundering ship Nixon shouted the Judiciary Committee articles of impeachment lacked specificity.
Followed by Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, looking down her nose at them from a point 20 feet above her contorted body, introduced each article by the name if a high crime, followed by a pause just to get the Nixon defenders’ attention before “Spe-Cif-ic-Ally outlining the dates, names and acts.
Trump, at this point, believes he is the Teflon man, with his base rock solid, and a Republican party turned into a sheep. Everyone laughed about Trump's, I could shoot someone in broad daylight and nothing would happen to me...how true now. Of course, the worry for our democracy, is there does not seem any of our institutions ready to step up to the plate and stop this man on the balcony show.
2
Maybe it is what it looks like: somebody is deliberately attacking us from within. Hard to countenance but mere graft and corruption don't explain the glee with which cherished American institutions and norms are being sabotaged, nor the gratuitous cruelty of so many Administration policies, from attacking health care to dragging families apart, to non-stop assaults on the poor, to undermining environmental protections - this is deeply sinister. And it obviously isn't just Trump - look at the people who put him into office and who enables him now, his cheerleaders, the liars on right wing TV; his apologists and of course his friend in Moscow.
5
Ayn Rand model of oligarch rule.
We knew from the start when Trump railed about "Mexican rapists" that something was off, and the madness has only become worse. Nothing has avoided the Trump infection.
If we don't start the damage control in Nov. the damage will control us. Our children will never forgive or forget.
4
On the subject of Trump bashing, who needs politicians like Sen. Schumer when some progressive journalists do the same dirty work? The thin line separating journalism and politics is disappearing.
1
Don't worry Mr. Krugman. I'm sure ethical hawks in the republican congress will investigate and to the bottom of this. I'll be shocked otherwise. Shocked. Shocked.
Re "Trump's Manchurian Trade Policy", Paul Krugman -- we can't forget the original "Manchurian Candidate" movie in 1962. A thriller that still resonates with those of us of the Korean War generation of the 1950s. In the movie, during the Korean War, American soldiers, Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, are taken prisoner by the North Koreans and brainwashed by their captors. Laurence Harvey as Raymond Shaw, is the brainwashed hero of democracy for saving his army platoon from the enemy. Harvey/Shaw becomes the quintessential American hero in the plot against American democracy. Nowadays, to our horror, we are witnessing president Donald Trump as America's quintessential fake hero. We are all brainwashed sleepers as our president pursues his Manchurian trade policy to the enrichment of himself and his dearly beloved family. The ages-old "cui bono?" is telling us the answer -- over and over -- from here to eternity.
The intricacies of international trade policy are such that it is difficult for the mainstream news media to write or talk intelligently about the subject. So a "shorthand" is most often employed, in which journalists skim the surface without probing any deeper into the weeds. We certainly don't want to bore our audience, right.
Trump knows this, cynic that he is, and plays the media like a violin. He "frames" trade policy as a zero-sum game in which for America to "win" on trade deals, other countries must "lose." Under that policy, the Trump regime is punishing our longstanding trade partners while he curries favor with dictators and near-dictators (and accepts quid-pro-quo arrangements to sweeten the deals for his personal benefit).
There is only one way to provide news coverage of this dangerous man: the way PK covers trade policy, as an expert economist. Time to move his column off the Op-Ed page to Page One, where readers can finally grasp how venal, corrupt and unpatriotic Trump truly is.
4
The fact that Ivanka is allowed to avail the oval as a bargaining tool for her businesses is horrid. She has yet to open any factory in America. Why?
4
A bribe? Please. Mr. Trump is well known for being a transaction-oriented businessman. A 'bribe' to such a person is not what we think it is: it is the cost of the transaction - nothing more.
Mr. Trump obviously and notoriously is making money on his presidency: he is not a public servant, but an authoritarian who seeks to put his family in power. Soon we are likely to lose our republic to a gaggle of autocrats and oligarchs and columnists like this write politely about a 'bribe'. Indeed.
This odious family treats the most powerful office in the world exclusively as a opportunity to line their pockets.
Melania said it best, in her lawsuit against the Daily Mail: it's a "unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.. to garner multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term"
And with that, American democracy, in grave peril since the 2000 elections and with a stake in its heart since Citizens United, is officially dead.
4
Trump makes us uncomfortable because looking at Trump is like looking in the mirror before putting on our makeup and combing our hair. There are two facts that this op-ed and comments reveal. First, we (you and I) have become a nation that runs on greed, jealousy, and finger pointing. Second, we (you and I) lack the insight to realize that vis a vis economic & trade policy, it’s no longer 1948. Ah, but I can hear it now: “How are we to be good people when our president is so bad?” Refer to my first sentence.
Trump certainly is a national security threat. He is also a puppet of the Republicans who have left the nasty big baby alone in the office to play with all the levers of power on the big desk while they go about the enfranchisement of corporations.
All by himself, he found this one interesting trade lever that said do not touch except in emergencies and just couldn't resist defying his nannies by pulling it.
How that action tickled him when he heard all the noise from the adults out in the land. The power of pushing over all the carefully constructed blocks of civilization in the face of all those naysayers was better than stiffing contractors. He claps his hands with delight, burbling - I can do that.
So he fills his pockets with all the sticky candy on the desk and looks for more things he can do by executive order without his keepers stopping him. Pardons are fun, dictators are jolly friends, threatening civil servants who don't like him is satisfying. But best of all is gobbling up the bribes dangled before his greedy eyes to sooth his tantrums, the sugar rush makes him feel ferociously powerful. He wants more.
This baby isn't going to grow up even though he is 71 years old. The reasoned arguments that Krugman makes week after week are not going to change him, his handlers or his indulgent followers. Nothing but a crisis of his own making is going to stop this tyrant in the Oval Office nursery.
3
I think the most important thing we as citizens can do is to write one's congressman, especially Republicans in vulnerable districts (for me, that's Mike Bishop in Michigan's 8th district), and ask why these sorts of actions are not being investigated by any House committee. And ask where one's congressman stands on what looks like bartering US foreign policy or US sanctions for personal profit. Either our Congress acts or we vote them out: that should be the message.
2
Trump and the GOP leadership don't even bother to hide their intentions. Arrogance and corrupt do not go well together. The tax break alone was breathtaking in its audacity. Transferring billions directly from the poor and middle class to the 1%. The result: Massively increasing the deficit after years of pretending to be the frugal party. This is a blatant removal of that Wizard's curtain.
Now we can all see Trump and the true GOP first hand. That is, except what some call a cult of zealous Trump followers. Trump's greed and disregard for anything that might hint at a human side to the man will eventually sink him and his mafia.
At this point, I believe it is up to 48 GOP congressmen who have resigned. Shall we go for 100%?
2
Ever since we brought the Soviet Union to its knees by forcing them to overspend militarily,
the Russians have been seeking revenge.
Putin’s progress on this includes our economic destruction, and always has. The fact that we’re doing it to ourselves only makes the revenge sweeter.
1
Germany just yesterday negotiated 15 percent import tariff instead of 25. With real diplomacy and real politics. The US more and more will become the laughing stock of the international trade community. Please for the love of god, get your act together.
1
Yes. Bribable, and Impeachable. For now.
Of course the Chinese gov t to Trump org is a bribe.
it s a payoff, clearly, in plain sight.
But when congress again fails to stop. to impeach Trump,
they further increase his dictatorial powers.
which will will become even more brazen,
and open corruption the new norm.
Before the election, Trump boasted that he could shoot someone in Times Square and get away with it.
As president, look at the terror he s creates now. And with Republican congressional support,
I wonder what will he do as a dictator?
1
All good points, but I question whether it's useful and productive to consider China "hostile". China definitely cheats and deceives, and is being very aggressive with its trade policies, island building, overseas student monitoring, etc., but that's not the same being "hostile".
2
Investigating Clinton'e emails is small potatoes - or no potatoes at all - in comparison to this nefarious arrangement. It is hardly surprising that Trump can be bribed for personal gains. As Krugman notes more eloquently, "And don’t say that it’s ridiculous to suggest that Trump can be bribed; everything we know about him says that yes, he can."
But where are the calls to shame him or open up an investigation? Where are Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Trey Gowdy, or Devin Nunes? Oh well, when one is inside The Donald's pocket, I suppose the view of the outside reality is considerably hampered. And that is the real shame.
177
Calls to shame him? You cannot believe that he is shame-able, after all that has happened.
The man admits to bribing porn stars, boasts about “grabbing”, and lies virtually daily. There is no shame.
17
Well professor Krugman, you certainly nailed on half of the point here, which is the exposition of the monstrous, anti American activities of President Trump. What you have left out is a discussion of where the other half of the blame goes. It falls directly on almost half of the American People; the folks all over this country who strongly support everything that he does.
Those people, whether from the deep South or the Southwest, believe that what they have for over half a century wanted for America has never been carried out by their government. Those people never believed in the integration of our schools and government; giving the full rights to participate in American to people of color; have never believed in giving aid and comfort to our European allies; would never have approved either Lend-Lease or the Marshall Plan; are appalled that so many of the doctors we go to for treatment speak foreign languages and have skin colors that are darker than theirs. As Pogo once said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
The other missing area of Trump's malfeasance is in his removal of all restraints on the actions of corporations which the SCOTUS considers to be citizens. We have gone down that path many times and each time it let to economic ruin. Curiously, the actions of those who love only themselves and those who love only money are supportive each other.
We are clearly not the country our ethos professes us to be. That is a subject to be discussed
1
This is all true but a distraction from the real threat of the Trump presidency. Trump remains the Siberian candidate who also just happens to accept bribes for all comers in exchange for special favors as long as they don't upset Vladimir Putin.
The way Trump goes about using his power as president is very much the same way Putin uses his in Russia. Putin is thought to be the richest man in the world who got that way through corruption. He has done what Trump can only dream of. It's not far fetched to imagine that Trump sees Putin not as a blackmail threat, which is the conventional wisdom, but as a role model. Trump truly wishes he could control the American media so it would only say nice things about him and use the Department of Justice to persecute and imprison his political rivals, just as Putin does in Russia.
Trump's relentless attacks on US institutions especially the mainstream media, the intelligence services and FBI are the kinds of activities Russian intelligence services would want him to do. It's often forgotten that the FBI is not just a domestic law enforcement agency but is also charged with conducting counterintelligence, that is, discovering and prosecuting foreign agents operating within US borders.
Russian intelligence correctly sees the FBI as its main impediment to conducting future election meddling. That the US president is attacking his own counterintelligence agency is beyond the wildest dreams of Russian intelligence.
3
NAFTA renegotiation talks are at an impasse over auto content rules. American negotiators want to raise the percentage of US content in cars. This is hard to quantify as , for example, a transmission might be assembled in Canada from parts made in the US and then shipped toMexico to be added to a drivetrain before going back to Kansas to be inserted in a car. A finished car may have crossed the border as many as 40 times. As the majority of cars sold in the US are made by companies whose ownership is traded on Wall Street , and whose corporate headquarters are in the US, it is safe to say that this process has been decided upon by people who see an advantage in corporate governance and profitability, therefore stock value. I wonder if his friends on Wall Street will be happy to see a drop in their portfolios. Also, invoking national security questions the patriotism of certain CEOs.
1
For the last 70+ years we have had a policy of making economic concessions to our Allies in exchange for their support of whatever is the current foreign policy initiative. Eisenhower on the Chinese islands, Kennedy and Johnson on Vietnam. Carter on human rights, Reagan on Star Wars and the Eastern European Pipeline, Clinton on NATO expansion, Bush on the war on terror.
" This isn’t going to be another piece on Donald Trump’s collusion with Russia, which is being ably covered by other people."
Change it to "which is being ably imagined by other people."
Trump has 89% approval among Republicans. What chance do you have to remove him without a civil war? And indeed, will it be civil?
I can understand that Democrats do not like Trump. But that is no reason for you guys to act like petulant children. You should be thinking of what is good for America and not of what is bad for Trump.
1
Unfortunately, Ludwig, it's well documented that what is "bad" for Trump and his family, would be in the best interests of America.
You get that Robert Mueller and Rod Rosenstein are Republicans, correct? If it feels good to talk about a literal war in this country between political opposites over a man who quite possibly conspired with a foreign adversary to gain power...well, Ludwig, have another cup of covefe.
And here we have it. The veiled threat that if Trump is impeached his minions will take to the streets with guns. If Trump loses the next election then is was "fixed" and they take to the streets with guns. This is what his lies and paranoia have accomplished. We have American citizens who would kill American citizens to protect Trump from the rule of law at the expense of American democracy.
What do you do when the president of the Unites States is a security threat to the United States as well as a threat to domestic democracy, and he is fully supported by the currently dominant political party and a large segment of the media? What do you do? This is where we are.
9
My humble narrative goes like this.
When Nixon put an to Bretton Woods the US dollar became the world's reserve currency and the US became the leader of the world economy. The oil fueled world economy of the 70s and 80s worked very well and the world's best and brightest made their way to America's financial and industrial sector and America owned technology.
In 1980 Reagan came to power and tore the solar panels off the White House and America's lead in technology started to diminish but America held the greenbacks and America grew in wealth but the true wealth generators technology and education started to wane.
Not reading the writing on the wall America is in rapid decline and as the 10% of Americans increased rapidly in wealth the unity of purpose that held the country together failed.
I ask myself why Americans can't understand that Donald J Trump is the portrait freed from the closet. I ask myself why Americans don't understand that not only will nuclear weapons will disappear from the Korean Peninsula but it will be demilitarized and the world will attempt to free itself from a nation that chose a madman and his criminal network to represent them.
When Americans tell me China doesn't want a united peaceful and successful Korea as a neighbour I know how Trump got elected.
Russia got what it deserved a frightened but united world and an economy intermingled with that of the richest and most powerful but failing nation state.
5
The bizarre think is that Trump caved in just as the Chinese were ready to move towards (some) reciprocity and provide concessions.
Bribing foreign leaders is of course a well-practiced art in China... as we can see in Philippines, Cambodia, Pakistan and other wholesome places.
5
Trump is so desperate for funding, he doesn't care where it comes from.
1
The surprising revelation lies not in the details, but in the broad patterns: the US system, as it stands, is wide open to authoritarian rule.
There's an old saw about how 'fascism' will come to America wrapped in a flag and waving a bible. The underlying idea was that the system would have to be changed, and that those who sought to change it would have to sneak in under cover.
But Trump has shown us that the system is already there, the options are readily available: you just have to use them.
2
We have the best government that money can buy.
6
Robert Reich has a "killer" DVD, Inequality For All. Funny as well. Just as you say! At your local library.
1
The simplest explanation is almost always the truth. Trump dropped trade sanctions against Chinese Telecom company ZTE because China bribed him. China offered Trump a classic (and crooked) quid pro quo: China will invest $500 million in Trump’s Indonesian project and speedily rubberstamp Ivanka’s trademarks in exchange for the US dropping trade sanctions against ZTE. All these things occurred in a matter of a few days. No other reason makes sense.
355
He wasn't allowed to drop sanctions on Russia, so Trump moved onto China.
22
Summary: "President Trump uses phony national security arguments against allies, ignores real threats from dictatorships."
Demosthenes, you are absolutely correct that "the simplest explanation is almost always the truth."
I suspect Trump has already informed China that the tariffs will soon be lifted. This is all for show. Trump wants to be able to claim he forced China into a deal favorable for the U.S. with North Korea. Kim is falling over himself because China has told him that if he plays along, he will get more Chinese aid for his country and more money for himself. China has already won a significant victory by bribing Trump with ZTE. China and North Korea will win on the North Korean nuclear deal because Trump is incompetent and only wants his Nobel prize. The Chinese will be happy to allow him the worthless medallion (if he even gets it) in exchange for a strategic win with North Korea (which they are almost certain to get). So the winners will be China, North Korea, and the Trump family. (China wins three times over: tariffs lifted, ZTE deal won, Korean peninsula more firmly in Chinese control when the dust clears.)
U.S. allies? Trump will lift tariffs for them too, but maybe he has something up his sleeve, like coercing them into paying more for NATO down the road, who knows? But our allies will not be better off after all this. The American people? We will be less safe with an emboldened China, North Korea, Trump, and ... Russia (despite sanctions).
17
Okay, I'll except your explanation, as along as you agree that the reason Renaissance Capital, a Russian investment bank with ties to the Kremlin and which was promoting Uranium One stock, paid Bill Clinton $500,000 for a speech was so that Hillary Clinton would not stand in the way of the sale of Uranium One. In this case, there really is no other explanation other than quid pro quo. It was a bribe, as you say. Unless you think that a bunch of Russian bankers are just than enamored of Bill Clinton's eloquence.
4
We must not be allowed to forget that the elephant in this room is the Republican Party. These anti-American actions are not the work of Trump but of all who support or are members of the Republicans and their chosen leader. Remember that in discussions and at the polls if you have the courage.
11
"What's behind his bizarre determination to help an obvious bad actor? Is it about personal gain?"
I have difficulty believing it could be anything else.
10
This is all true but a distraction. Trump remains the Siberian candidate who also just happens to accept bribes for all comers in exchange for special favors as long as they don't upset Vladimir Putin.
In fact, the way Trump goes about using his power as president is very much the same way Putin uses his in Russia. Putin is thought to be the richest man in the world who got that way through corruption. He has done what Trump can only dream of. It's not far fetched to imagine that Trump sees Putin not as a blackmail threat, which is the conventional wisdom, but as a role model. Trump truly wishes he could control the American media so it would only say nice things him and use the Department of Justice to persecute and imprison his political rivals, just as Putin does in Russia.
Trump's relentless attacks on US institutions especially the mainstream media, the intelligence services and FBI are the kinds of activities Russian intelligence services would want him to do. It's often forgotten that the FBI is not just a domestic law enforcement agency but is also charged with conducting counterintelligence, that is, discovering and prosecuting foreign agents operating within US borders. Russian intelligence correctly sees the FBI as its main impediment to conducting future election meddling. That the US president is attacking his own counterintelligence agency is beyond the wildest dreams of Russian intelligence.
12
Thanks Paul. Yes, that was a great movie in 1962. I never read the book, but the movie was extremely powerful, especially at the time when Russia was a true enemy.
Fast forward to today. Trump’s popularity today is over 40%. I suspect that most of that popularity is because of politics; Republicans versus Democrats regardless of who’s in office. What you just brought up could sway that balance in the other direction if “American’s” believe their president is siding with “The Other Side.” Maybe Paul, this is the way to bring him down.
5
I side on the nefarious explanation. Trump is going to save ZTE while he attacks Amazon? Sadly, at this point, I will be skeptical that any action Trump takes is not personally motivated.
11
Remember "Obama phones"? A Fox News generated meme that claimed that our tax dollars were being spent on free phones for the poor--along with air time. The actual program they were misconstruing was the Lifeline program, originated in 1984 during Reagan; expanded in 1996 during Clinton; and providing cell phone service (SafeLink Wireless) in 2008, during W.
Perfectly logical GOP balderdash. But "Trump phones" are real: Trump is allowing Chinese phone maker ZTE to stay viable despite warnings that ZTE presents a national security threat to the United States. Trump doesn't care. The Chinese government made him a sweetheart deal and he sold us out for some big bucks.
Trump phones--traitors love them.
Please make it a thing.
11
If anyone is capable on completely confusing national interest with personal financial boos, it is the Trump family. I honestly do nothing they understand there is a difference.l
3
While there has been an imbalance in tariffs that is unfair to the USA, a "re-balancing" needs to be carefully thought out. Not conjured up off-the-cuff by the president. But if anyone raises this issue to the Republicans, they either genuflect as if Trump is the genius deal maker or they throw their hands up and exclaim "it's really up to him." For this presidency, the Republicans traded in whatever remained of their moral fiber for spines made of worms. For Trump is still flying the banner he made with Bannon, which reads "America First! The World Second!" while ripping apart decades of hard wrought legislation that will ultimately make our country much worse than when G.W.Bush got done with it.
6
I know I stand to be labeled a "one note charlie" but I'll "scream" what I am about to say again and again - as necessary.
Because I am a patriot - a veteran of War - an older person who served society and his Nation best he could through life. I am vested in the USA - I love it - it gave my immigrant family refuge and us a place to grow and prosper.
Because I worry for our grandchildren.
Because our Country still must be best of breed re: truth, justice. tolerance, goodness, fairness, and broad egalitarianism.
Because there is an ecology that unities all living beings and their environment that must be protected.
Because humankind exists not because of individual strength but because of its ability to be social and value/nurture all members for their talents. That Evolution selected mostly for our better nature not for our most brutish.
Because truth and the scientific method (applied broadly) must trump ideology/demagoguery when making decisions/taking actions.
The majority (I say 58%) of us in the USA are like me and they span Conservative and Progressive proclivities
People that don't drag the weight of avarice, prejudice, fear, authoritarian affinities, and/or narrow-band theology.
People that can be intellectually honest.
People that see and recognize the existential threat the GOP/Trump poses to our Nation/World.
Majority UNITE and VOTE GOP out and Dems in NOW.
We can form two sane/principled Parties representing C and P views later across some time!
13
It is all about trade though as Trump said, he is bringing jobs to US. He is selling $300 Billion worth of Military hardware to the Saudis, as they gave his daughter's charity $100 million. He even backed off from reducing/bringing our boys back from Syria at the behest of the Saudis. He still continues to provide support to Saudis in constant indiscriminate killing of the Yemenis.
Yes Trump is a businessman and he did not remove himself from running his and his family business. They do what needs to be done for their business.
My question is more on the attitude of Pence and the US Congress particularly the Republican Leadership as they keep putting personal loyalties ahead of our Country's.
When a leader gets his policy briefing from a daily talk show each morning instead of reading the proper policy papers prepared by professionals. Sorry, I forgot, he fired most of them as he himself tweeted that it is only he who matters.
History would not be kind to us as we are quiet on a downward slide heading to abyss because we supposedly elected this man as President.
11
PK is describing a government whose leader is using his official position as a means of enhancing the personal fortunes of himself and his family members. I believe that is normally referred to as a corrupt government.
9
I think someone should cite National Security Concerns to impose bans, tariffs and sanctions on specific people , groups and organisations if it is seen that these people and groups by their actions or operation, clearly represent a real threat or worse , acts or actions have been seen to actually cause damage, division , hurt and harm to the Nation or to any of its citizens.
BUT...we already , of course do this and they can be seen by the various sanctions, bans and withholdings conducted against Countries, Russian Oligarchs, Terrorist groups, individuals and even American citizens such as Edward Snowden and others who may have released potentially damaging material that could endanger National Security.
Most of these actions taken are based on potential threats this group represent to national security (or American Interests) versus actions that do real harm, damage or hurt to America or Americans. More often, we punish them for the potential harm or hurt that those groups could or would do.
So what about all the clear cut cases of individuals or Groups whose actions and activities have actually caused immense harm to Americans leading to many deaths & lives destroyed? Or if they have caused real damage to America that has resulted in the Nation being weakened, destabilised,less effective?
They are doing all this NOW.
Yet I see no bans, sanctions or charges against Fox News, Drug Companies or Politicians and groups whose actions do such harm everyday.
WHY NOT?
12
It is all totally incoherent and potentially destructive. I say potentially because most of it either hasn't happened, has been fudged if it has happened, and likely will never happen. Some minor destruction has occurred largely in creating uncertainty but NAFTA hasn't been ripped up; waivers have been granted everywhere; no trade war with China has broken out; and we'll probably not hear much more about auto tariffs on foreign manufacturers most of whom invest heavily in the US and have extensive distribution networks usually owned by Republican car dealers.
6
It's no real secret that this president, by his very nature, is averse to the concept of free and democratic thought, which is why his cabinet and administration consists solely of those willing to give up any notion of indepndence in order to serve him -- since in the end it's all about him, and not the country.
And that is why the pretense of "Make America Great Again" is so fallacious, because America has nothing to do with it.
How else would one explain the looming trade tariffs he's about to set on countries that up until now were considered U.S. allies, while protecting China and Russia that have clearly set agendas of their own that do nothing but further their own interests? -- especially China which has become the manufacturing giant of the planet to a great extent, with U.S. help.
As far as Trump giving a pass to ZTE, we all know the reason for that.
Emoluments Clause, anyone?
31
See today’s article on opioids/Pharma and see who one of their att’y’s was in a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors over aggressive marketing of opioids - it’s none other than DJT’s att’y. Rudy Giuliani. Birds of a feather ........
2
Coincidentally Ivanka just got several new trademarks in China!
1
@Katzen
Like I said -- We all know why Trump gave a pass to ZTE and China...
Emoluments Clause anyone?
Soon the USA is going to imitate countries which we laughedat. Countries whose leaders and their families found themselves in jail. At that point the United States will have lost its worldwide reputation of a country to emulate. A country to be trusted. A unique experiment in democracy. It will have failed in all regards to freedom. It will become an ordinary country of no extraordinary difference. It will have lost face as a world leader.
27
Unfortunately the USA has passed that point. Don’t know if we can ever get back to the other side.
1
It will take a complete turnover of congress and the executive branch. Aside from the crooked executive branch now in place, the legislative branch holds court with the likes of members who believe the earth is 3000 years old,( and they are on the science committee), felons who run for office and are elected. Phony evangelicals who pilfer money out of the wallets of their constituents, and whose practices are so opposite to Christian philosophy. NEo-Nazis are given a nod and a wink. Anti-semitism is on the rise. Racism is almost taken for granted. I’d hate to be living in a time when the United States actually comes to an end. But, we may just be at that moment..
"If the U.S. or any other major player began promiscuously using dubious national security arguments to abrogate trade agreements, everyone else would follow suit, and the whole trading system would fall apart."
The more Donald Trump acts in ways that seem totally irrational regarding trade, the more it's necessary to see how he profits personally.
I doubt very much that any trade move he makes is made for the good of the country--just the good of himself and his family.
Follow the branding: daughter Ivanka gets multi-million trademarks for her clothing and cosmetic companies, and Dad gets a huge loan for a resort in Indonesia.
In the meantime, with ZTE, forget US security. Trump could care less about giving up the store to Chinese tech spies.
Donald Trump never does anything that doesn't benefit him personally, sometimes politically but more often financially.
He never really "divested" from his businesses, given the symbiotic relationship he has with his kids in what seems like a crime syndicate.
And Republicans in Congress, like sheep, look the other way. Trump, and members of his cabinet, are raping the country right before their eyes and they could care less.
Talk about double standards for Republicans and Democrats.
147
While I don’t condone Trump’s actions - especially his transparent profiteering - Prof Krugman fails to mention the obvious imbalance in tariffs and market access that US auto (and other) manufacturers face in trying to export.
Trump won the election when he turned to Ms Clinton after she made a very cogent policy statement in a debate and said something like - you’ve been at this for 30 years and nothing has changed.
Trump may be ham handed and disruptive and quite possibly dangerous but perhaps the disruption in overdue.
5
If only the disruptions were planned with a specific end in goal. If only there were a strategy. There is not, because the president does not know anything about the issues and agreements he is destroying.
54
The US does not have significant (and in some cases not all) trade deficits with major democratic auto makers. China and oil despots are the source of our trade imbalance.
12
I agree
Let’s put today in context.
Human memory is a frail thing. For most Americans, world wars belong in a black and white past. Although the reality was in painfully-real technicolor, the memories fade in our twitter-fueled present. The thinkers who formed the postwar order are gone, except for the writings conjured by historians. Sadly, few read economic history, dooming us to the repeat cycle.
But the conditions that pertained in 1945 do not describe today. Then, Britain was financially exhausted and with an empire about to spin apart. The Soviet Union was even more devastated, but held on to Eastern Europe with the continent’s largest army. China was a disaster of civil war, poverty, and privation. Germany and Japan were smoking ash with defeated peoples.
Now, the British Empire and the Soviet Union are gone. China is an economic juggernaut at the leading edge of industrial innovation. Germany rose from its disaster to become the economic leader of Europe. While Japan is vexed by demography, it wields significant economic power. Even places on the post-war periphery such as India have become credible global economic leaders.
US leadership has persisted, but fails to recognize that others have earned a place at the table. Our beliefs that our way is best are challenged by success elsewhere using different methods.
The postwar economic system needs an update. It’s time we realize that the victors and vanquished have begun to trade places.
31
You realize that Trump is just a distraction? His job is to draw attention while the real action is elsewhere. So far, he's been amazingly successful.
64
Moden rentier capital has no loyalty to any particular nation. Corporations outsource production to areas where labor is cheap and abundant, keep their profits in tax shelter islands, and transfer money without looking at its national origin. Profit beats boundaries. Monopolies and monopsonies assume national identities only to protect their turf and leave out the competition.
Initially capitalism helped create countries and states out of diverse territories and social practices. This helped centralize and concentrate its operations and laws regulating and protecting its ever increasing appropriation of labor’s products. Thus England in the 18th and the US in the late 19th centuries become economic superpowers through protectionism. Once the power is established, the practice of free commerce is advocated to expand markets. The same is happening with China.
Whatever a person like Trump does can be judged in moral terms, but the context should not be forgotten. Patriotism is cheap. Reality is complex.
17
Trump is the concrete, the contingent, or the formal. The abstract, the necessary, and the content is somewhere else. However, political economy can’t help get confused by the superficial.
3
All of this has been perfectly clear about Trump for his entire career. I don't think I've ever hear a Trump supporter say otherwise. The nation was voting for the opposite of governance, and we certainly got it.
73
Trump took China's state-driven payoff, bunce for saving China's spy phone and allowing the export of American chips previously prohibited for security reasons. He conflates and consistently prioritizes his financial and global business interests above the security and growth of the nation. His decisions, based on powers not demanded by circumstance, have established new extremes. Because of his dismal lack of economic knowledge, his refusal to respect the explanations and warnings of experts, and his own blind greed, his policies are being turned into economic advantages by competitors and foes, against the interests of allies and the nation.
Victory events hide the failure of his process. Lies and silence hide legal corruption and thief. Arms-length transactions like China's are plain-sight quid pro quod.
Trump's defense spending is a scandal ignored. 2017 was a record year for US arms sales, $76B booked--much of it paid for by US tax payers under Pentagon programs for foreign military sales. Bahrain brought attack helicopters for $911.4 million and warhead bomb bodies for $45 million. Last Friday, Boeing received a $25.7M contract for Saudi Arabia; Exide got $75M for batteries; Lockheed increased a contract by $433M! A dining facility bid for $11M was approved. The monies out the door are staggering!
Billions for security and growth--but labor can't get a dollar an hour increase. And are we safer when a border officer shoots an unarmed women in the head?
105
Walter, On another subject...thanks for the heads up when you commented on Stacy Abrams 4-5 weeks ago. she seems to be everything you suggested. I know she will be a great improvement in the state of Georgia, and if she'd as qualified as she seems maybe a higher office say somewhere on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. What an exciting candidate, and I heard of her first from you. Thanks, as always!
2
DPK, all thanks for reading, replies.
DPK, Republicans will attack her for being $200,000 in debt, mainly from providing healthcare for her parents. As a Southerner and political observer, this is really another indication of her honesty and integrity--and certainly not her inability to manage her own finances.
In the GA House, as Democratic Leader, she refused to take any clients that might give the appearance of a quid pro quod. In GA politics, if she were the least bit corrupt (think Michael Cohen, Trump and ZTE), that debt would have vanished with ease!
1
The former US Ambassador to Panama (also formerly the second-to-the-top US diplomat in Mexico, and thus an experienced foreign service officer) was quoted on NPR talking about his conversation with Trump and some other folks in the Oval Office.
Trump asked, what do we get out of Panama? The Ambassador gave him a list: commerce, influence, a staunch ally, etc., etc. Then Trump, without much follow up about that said, And how's my hotel down there doing?
This pretty much confirms what Dr. Krugman and a whole lot of other people have stated: Trump sees the Office of the President as a means of enriching himself and his family. In any other universe, this would be seen as corruption. Why not here?
262
Because you have a spineless and complicit Republican Congress who have forgotten -if they ever knew- what probity, honesty and good governance are
14
Didn't the hotel people in Panama fight (and win) to get Trump's name off the hotel? Is he still getting a cut?
A fair review, well done. I have looked at the economic theories around free trade from a broad politico-economic angle in my blog. Cheers.
11
Its worth remembering that about half of the revenue of the S&P 500 is generated outside of the US, so a large part of US employment is based on the global market. Over 75% of the global middle class, the households that do most of the shopping, will be in Asia by 2025.
This is a spectacularly bad time to resort to protectionism. Companies whose products face tariffs in the US will simply move operations to countries with lots of free trade access, like Mexico and the TPP nations.
There are always trade concerns, like Chinese intellectual property appropriation and theft, or the US 25% tariff on imported pickups. All issues may not be solvable through multilateral mechanisms.
But combining constant tariff threats with personal Presidential corruption is very bad for formula for encouraging future investments and could ruin the favorable reputation the US enjoys as a good place for business. Throw in massive deficits, crumbling infrastructure, a dysfunctional health care system and lagging educational performance among our peers and the future of the US as a place to invest starts to look grim.
Plenty of damage has already been done but its not too late yet, especially if the US political system proves capable of self correction by exposing the global fraud of the Trump family.
The current escalating rhetoric from the White House suggests that the investigation is closing in.
61
At least Trump’s protectionism is selective; he’s willing to relax tarrifs in return for bribes. It’s too bad that we don’t have a real businessman in the Oval Office - someone who understands the complexity of global supply chains and their value in limiting war between nations entangled in business.
14
Trump is not “pursuing protectionist policies, supposedly in the name of national security”. He’s offering a gambit, whose purpose isn’t national security but fairer bilateral trade agreements, using the only real leverage he has. Paul’s perceived purpose and the real one couldn’t possibly be more dissimilar. Paul must see that: I have to wonder what the real motivation is supporting adoption of the national security argument, regardless of its being the basis of the law empowering the president to do what he’s doing. I wonder if it could be not the never-ending story about Russian cahooting but the OTHER one – implacable resistance to WHATEVER Trump does, even when it’s clear that it is in American interests.
The whole trading system isn’t about to fall apart because everyone, even our adversaries and certainly our allies, live and die by trade – with the single possible exception of North Korea, that basically just … starves. Everyone understands that Trump is seeking a one-time corrective to move away from the policy, followed by multiple presidents, of trading away American economic interests and the very real interests of our middle-class workers who share them, in order to incentivize better general behavior by those who maintain antagonistic systems – and even by those allies who wish to capture whatever relative advantages they can.
We simply can no longer afford to be so generous with the diminished lives of our own. ALL Americans should support these efforts.
9
While the optics of this ZTE deal are dreadful, Trump never has been known for well-planned and salubrious optics. But “bribable”? Paul offers no evidence to support such an outrageous charge – only questions convenient to that suspiciously familiar narrative that seeks to resist ANYTHING Trump tries to do, when not simply demonizing Trump because some don’t like his manner.
There is absolutely nothing about the Manchurian Candidate that applies here, and to see such a thing in print is one of the more outrageous things I’ve ever read.
7
I agree that PK goes too far, but only someone who has read nothing related to US politics for the past two years could characterize his comments in this column as "one of the more outrageous things I’ve ever read". In the current environment this ranks as no more than a 2 out of 10 on the outrageouse index.
About the optics : consider the examples of Qatar and the drug industry, or Trump's MO for conducting foreign policy or internal policy.
Do you remember that Qataris shot down an investment proposed by the Kushner family weeks before Saudi Arabia inflicted a blockade on them? The same Saudi Arabia a certain president had just visited the previous month?
Do you remember that a certain candidate said on the campaign trail that pharmaceutical industry "get away with murder" ? shortly after the election, I remember reading about a meeting he had with Big Pharma executive, followed by a big reversal of position and silence about their murdering ways. And a few weeks ago America learned that Novartis gave Cohen more than one million dollars.
Mmh.
For the second time in this presidency that we see that a Trump's softening on his trade policy with China is followed by license grants to his daughter.
In the US, Trump's way of conducting policy is deeply enmeshed with his personal company, from which he never divested. think of all the pople he received in mar-a-lago, trump hotel in washington or his golf courses he visits about every weekend.
I think a pattern is emerging here.
You wrote earlier that you would call for trump's impeachment if it turns out that it's about more than the optics, and he can be corrupted. While I find this position reassuring, I wonder what it would take for you to admit that.
6
The Professor is right about The Donald, a third-rate con artist in charge of the world's largest economy (maybe we ought to call it a "con-omy" but that sounds too much like "comedy"). On the other hand, he's wrong about the movie. The politician in question was certainly modeled on Joe McCarthy but it was his domineering wife, played by the sublime Angela Lansbury, who was in cahoots with the Commies and who planned to use her right-wing dolt of a husband (and their "war hero" son, who was unknowingly transformed into a Red Army assassin) to take over the country. If our feckless leader were to watch the film today its relevance would no doubt be lost on him.
49
Then again, what Joe McCarthy and Donald Trump have in common is the nefarious influence of Roy Cohn.
88
Thanks for raising the issue. The US is unwisely proposing to trade outside the international agreements our government took the leadership in creating after WWII.
The history following the creation of these international institution and agreements seems to have worked to our advantage and continue to work to maintain a reasonable approach to trade that allows all nations to improve their standard of living and health of the world. Would we want anything different?
There were some sticky wickets in the 1970's over oil prices and the dislocation of the global economy that had grown very dependent on this form of energy to maintain our standard of living. The economic pain in the US and the world was significant and if anything it showed that we needed to strengthen these international trade institutions in order to maintain macroeconomic stability.
These recent actions of the Administration are having a negative and weakening affect on the system of multinational agreements. It is a strategic mistake.
I am concerned because we will need the discipline of these international agreements for the whole world to deal with the challenge of shifting from fossil fuels to a new form of energy -- the supply of fossil fuels is finite and they are rapidly depleting and sometimes before the end of the century unless we mobilize to treat this challenge with urgency, there is a risk of runaway global warming, which would destroy civilization.
This is why 11/6/18 is an important vote.
46
"If the U.S. or any other major player began promiscuously using dubious national security arguments to abrogate trade agreements, everyone else would follow suit, and the whole trading system would fall apart."
Well .... that seems to be Mr. Trump's intent. His withdraw from the TPP Agreement, his insistence on bilateral as opposed to multi-lateral agreements, as well as his insistence that NAFTA has to be either restructured or abandoned, all seem to indicate a deep-seated detestation of the trading system on his part. I am with the view that if somehow he gets the chance to blow up the entire trading system, he will not hesitate doing so.
36
Re: We’re not about to refight World War II, converting auto plants over to the production of Sherman tanks"
Mr. Krugman neither understand the steel industry, nor the role of steel in national security.
The major users of steel in the US are construction, and the automotive industry.
Construction uses mostly low grade, low carbon steel. The automotive industry uses very sophisticated low alloy, high strength steels. It is the kind of steel that goes into defense products.
If imported cars put out the automotive industry in the US, the entire supply chain of high strength, low alloy steels will disappear with it.
That is, indeed, a legitimate concern of national security.
6
Krugman accepts that trade can raise national security concerns, and his criticsm of Trump is that he is ignoring a real national security concern with ZTE while creating a fake concern with trade in the auto sector which actually puts national security at risk and damages relationships with important allies. I think Trump does this for political gain and to please his base. Krugman speculates that Trump may be motivated by bribesfrom China. I think it more likely that he wants support from China in his dealings with North Korea.
7
People and political parties can become that which they hate. Thus a Manchurian-type scenario can come about without clear intent. One example: conservatism's denial of climate change bears a resemblance to Mao Zedong's distrust of expertise, which led to similarly disastrous policy decisions.
31
Trade with China: US automotive industries and Tariffs
1. Chinese import duties on US made cars : 25%
2. Import duty on cars and SUVs from China is 2.5%
3. Import duty on Foreign Pickup trucks, though, is 25%
You need to understand this to understand the recent reports in the NY TImes on US manufacturing of cars and the impact tariffs have on them.
To quote
"in its last earnings report, Ford revealed for the first time that a relatively small number of products, including the hugely popular F-150 pickup truck series, accounted for 150 percent of its earnings before interest and taxes, with profit margins in the midteens. By contrast, Ford said its “low performing” products lost money, with negative margins of more than 10 percent"
Ford did not say what "low performance products" are but analysts figured it out.
"Mr. Jonas (Morgan Stanly's automotive analysts) applauded Ford’s decision to drop most of its passenger cars, assuming the company actually follows through on it"
Reality is that the US automotive industry is concentrating on products that make money, and those are the ones protected by tariffs.
But I concede that it is more fun to spin conspiracy theories, than to analyse trade with China.
9
Woof:
State, whether or not, the ZTE policy values US interests.
State, whether or not, the President personally benefits from the 500 Million dollar Chinese government investment in his properties.
3
Yes, now I understand why Trump is trying to help ZTE. Thanks, Woof!
2
You forgot to explain that it's just a coincidence about the big loan to Trump's Indonesia and the trademarks to Ivanka - happens all the time in 'big business'.
And, not to worry about the ZTE spy-phones, right? China can get all the info it wants from the Russian hackers so it doesn't need spy-phones, and besides, Trump is really saving American jobs, not Chinese, because of the phones are going to be sold in America and therefore Americans will buy them and obviously that's American commerce which helps American workers 'cause it's American. That's what they said on Fox Entertainment News.
Glad you cleared that up. Those darn liberals are such dim-wits sometimes....
3
Of course Trump can be bribed, since he knows that game very well, from his years of doing business with the Mafia in New York. In his mind, everything has a price.
Any one of his many ethical lapses would have driven an immediate investigation by Congress in prior Administrations. The difference now is that Congress is for sale, too- as Robert Kennedy Jr. once said in a San Francisco speech I attended:
"The Republican Party is 95% corrupt. The Democrats, on the other hand, are only 70% corrupt".
Democracy cannot function if our putative leaders are for sale, or we become Kazakhstan, or Venezuela. Maybe we already have. It's an inner sickness that no law- or focus on "Citizens United"- can overcome. Kennedy's remarks were made before Citizens United was upheld in the Supreme Court.
This all changes if voters make the decision that our leaders speak for us, not their wealthy corporate friends and donors. Unless that happens, the world burns.
47
The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution bans gifts from foreign governments as impeachable.
Yet Trump did not put his business interests in a blind trust as is the norm, and has directly changed US policy relating to trade et. al. in response to foreign investments in his projects.
These investments can be traced precisely to entities directed by foreign governments, as with the $500 million loan to an Indonesian theme park with Trump hotels and condos.
In another area, US foreign policy can largely be understood through the lens of the price of oil, which is up 70% since Trump took office.
Senator McCain described Russia "as a gas station run but the Mafia."
It is well known Putin owns large holdings in oil producers Gazprom and Rosneft, on his $112,000 Presidential salary. Putin's wealth and Russia's economy was decimated when oil plunged from $160 to less than $30.
What has Putin's Trump done to increase oil?
-withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement
-withdrew from the Iran denuclearization deal
-imposed sanctions on Venezuala to keep oil producing infrastructure inefficient despite huge supply
-Trump is even fighting energy efficiency standards in California to keep oil prices high
Putin really gave Trump his marching orders with respect to oil prices, the odd tweet aside.
The question is: are there enough decent and ethical citizens, politicians, judges, lawyers and institutions left to prevent the US from sliding into Russia's abyss.
76
America, for all its shortcomings, was once looked up to as an example for other nations. That example has been wearing thin in recent years as the US has shown decreasing ability to govern itself effectively and for the public good.
Since trump came along another kind of example is being set, that actual and would-be dictators look up to. You can break the rules of how you deal both with your own people and other nations with impunity, and get away with it.
59
The US still clings to the infantile belief that nature has a human personality, a measurement system built on the dimensions of a dead king, states competing destructively, and a glacially-paced legal system where money and influence almost always wins.
1
Well, trump's voters demanded jobs. They just weren't specific enough about where. He is certainly be creating steel jobs in China since they will just increase sales to other (huge) markets, as well as high tech jobs at ZTE. But you still love him, right?
81
What I don’t understand is if the president is unilaterally raising tariffs under the false pretense of national security, is there anything anyone can do? Seems odd...
24
Of course Congress is empowered to act, but only if the president is a member of the other political party. Remember, I’m a Christian first, a republican second and an American third (and last!)
1
In the 1950's Truman nationalized the steel industry citing the national security rationale. Ultimately the Supreme Court invalidated Truman's executive orde; hence, the courts may review it.
The republican party controls all the levers & knobs of the checks & balances to stop this sort of thing. He knows he can do anything now, ignore conflicts of interest, appoint wholly unqualified politcal hacks to head government agencies, make numerous attacks on law enforcement, industries, political rivals....do whatever he wants really. They are his enablers and are traitors in every sense of the word.
1
Well before his foray into politics Trump was a well known con man and grifter - his financial dealings proved as much. So why on earth would anyone think that he would change just because he was elected to the presidency? It doesn't matter if his actions involve trade with other countries, alienating our allies, aiding our enemies or his inane tweets. The schemes that worked for him prior to 2016 are the same schemes he's continuing to use since his election and he won't change a thing unless he's impeached or run out of office with the threat of criminal incarceration. That, ladies and gentlemen, is our president.
95
I get the point about not introducing recording devices into sensitive environments, but Prof. Krugman should be careful about basing an opinion on the notion that "many U.S.-made high-technology components ... are prohibited from being exported to sanctioned regimes."
In the good-old days when I was living outside the U.S., I was told by a U.S. vendor that it couldn't send me a particular (ordinary) printer because the U.S. Department of Commerce prohibited its export on account of its containing components whose export was controlled.
The printer was assembled in Malaysia.
15
Joe, I guess you think ZTE should get a pass.
State whether or not you approve of you president personally benefitting from a $500 Mil investment in his property.
2
Trump wants to rip up all multilateral trade agreements and personally renegotiate trade agreements bilaterally with countries that his family business is in the process of seeking patents, licensing, investors, and partners, while his son-in-law is in the Middle East with the highest security clearance selling arms, building military coalitions, threatening sanctions, and also seeking investors in his family business. How is this going to make America Great Again?
128
It is traitorous and treasonous. Surprised people don't use these terms more.
2
A dichotomy has arisen in America’s trade policy since the earlier framework was constructed; that between free-trade policy and protectionist trade policy. It has become all too easy for a politician brandishing false populism to attack free-trade inspired agreements. But, unfortunately, these two pathways can each lead toward two different extremes in the hands of unscrupulous politician officials. Free trade can lead toward the giving of a ‘free pass’ to dictatorships and authoritarian regimes; whereas protectionism and trade barriers can lead to the ‘coddling’ of dictators. The first we were all eye witness to in the 1989 Tiananmen Square tank assault, at the beginning of a free-trade era. The second we are all witnessing now, with a President who has likely cloaked and concealed a strengthening relationship with Saudi Arabia and Israel, all for what, possible arms contracts behind the latest moves on Iran treaty abrogation? And now the ZTE/Autos national security hypocrisy you point to.
This president is beginning to become reminiscent of some of Gene Hackman’s more cynical politician roles, such as in the films “The Dead Zone”, and I believe it was “Absolute Power”, things we never thought would come true but now it looks like they are possible.
30
Americans are exceptional but not in the way we think. We're not better, smarter, kinder than anyone else but we are more spooked and frightened than others.
Despite being the most powerful nation ever, able to destroy earth on demand. Despite there being more guns than households in America. And despite the greatest risk of murder and mayhem coming not from strangers but statistically from family, close friends and neighbors. And increasingly, schoolmates.
Rationally we should be afraid of our in laws but instead we fear terrorists, terrorist-looking immigrants, Blacks and Mexicans who rape, plunder and pillage because their kind are just bad to the bone. Or so the President says every chance he gets. It makes him angry. Which gives us permission to be more afraid and even angrier.
Fear makes us feel significant and is a workable alternative to having some purpose or larger meaning in life. Self-esteem for many stems from defending home, homeland and hearth from those dangerous others who should be kicked out, walled out or locked up.
Add foreign trade to afraid and angry and you have Trump's Manchurian trade policy, which is fashioned after the game show "Let's Make A Deal"(once hosted by Billy Bush...Will China trade auto tariffs for what's behind curtain #2?).
It's Memorial Day. We honor the men and women who gave their lives to keep our democracy great and free from fear. Unlike Trump who by his conduct and character profoundly insults their sacrifice.
139
Those honored today didn't fight for
open borders chaos.
There are just two horsemen of the trumpocalypse, racism and greed.
39
Cast a cold eye on life's cul-de-sac, horseman, you're on it.
In taking office, Trump promised to put America's interests first. But now, is he putting his interests above America's? He has not put his assets in a blind trust, but rather he can openly see his family's enrichment from China's loan to India, and from Invanka's Chinese trademarks. It is precisely because of possibly tainted Presidential actions that the Constitution has forbidden foreign emoluments. Whether or not those emoluments have actually swayed his actions, the fact that he and his family are receiving them is contrary to the constitution, and a violation of his oath of office. And because the conflicts of interest exist, the motives behind his policies are suspect. Will Congress act to get Trump to put his assets in a blind trust, in order to conform with past practice and satisfy the emoluments clause? Such an action would be far less drastic than an impeachment proceeding, and should be something that a supermajority of Congress can support. If the emoluments were eliminated, perhaps Trump would alter his policies once more to align them with our national security interests and also with the interests of foreign allies. And, by the way, if Congress were to act on the emoluments, maybe it could force Trump to release his tax returns as well.
38
I think we have all come to recognise that trump's interests and America's interests are one and the same. His solipsism expands to fill the space in which he operates.
Maybe President Xi Jinping told Trump that he needed to abase himself on this issue to get a trade deal he can call a “win.” Somehow this doesn’t sound much better.
Whatever the true explanation, what we’re getting is Manchurian trade policy: a president using obviously fake national security arguments to hurt democratic allies, while ignoring very real national security concerns to help a hostile dictatorship.
-- Paul Krugman
[ To me, the use of the title of this column and the characterization of China in Cold War prejudicial terms is distressing and utterly wrong. We ought to understand how harmful prejudice is and how harmful the Cold War was and not use prejudicial Cold War imagery to create antagonism against China. ]
1
So the use of the term "Manchurian" is prejudicial? In the movies, an American acts against his country's interests. How is that different? DJT is doing exactly that with ZTE. China IS a hostile dictatorship, just like the movie. China plays the long game and they are most certainly not our friend.
There is no prejudice here. There was no broadside against China and the Chinese. "Manchurian" is a useful term to describe the actions of DJT.
28
Oh please. If you want to be offended on behalf of a country we used to call Red China - it's the same place only richer - that's up to you, but it's taking political correctness to the extremes of goofiness.
1
Merry Christmas everyone.. we can say it now !
That is as deep as it goes.
Add in massive disinformation propaganda enough to confuse... like a cheap Jeti mind trick.
That is why we have our current elected leader and his supporters.
Too few risk confronting the obvious threat.
He or She no matter their affiliation, whom solves this terrible puzzle will win the trust of both middle America and our great Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Damage to our ideal has been done. More damage is likely.
The road back could be difficult; will our divisions rip society, or will our diversity heal our society.?
18
If this is true, and a bribe was taken by the President, it seems to me worse than possible collusion with Russia.
35
Mr. Little, not worse, but equally reprehensible and treasonous.
1
One can't tell if it is intentional or not, but the western alliances, on which the world and our security is built, is straining under the rule of Trump. So one must ask the question; is there Russian influence beyond the cheap, everyday corruption of this man, selling out America and her allies for a few bucks.
38
You've gone beyond collusion into conspiracy territory.
And that's where the media should be. Conspiracy is illegal, whereas collusion is not.
The griftocracy will continue unabated unless Congress changes hands in November.
53
And the upshot if "Congress changes hands in November?" The grifters will go back to being less brazen and the rhetoric austerity will soften somewhat. Policy however, will remain more or less consistent.
2
Could the most simple explanation about our Fake President's inconsistent trade policies be the most cogent? That he is an impetuous, incoherent mess of a "thinker"?
17
I would submit that the true ''Manchurian Candidate(s)'' are the republicans that controls Congress and refuse to do their duty by enforcing the emoluments clause of the Constitution against the President and his family.
We are all watching right before our eyes how the President, his family and members of this administration are enriching themselves and republicans are doing nothing about it.
The American electorate will in November.
1132
We must all wake UP and open our EYES to really see what's going on. Or we'll be doomed!
38
No they won't.
8
What can we do to stop Trump NOW?
19
As Rumpole of the Bailey would say,"Xi who must be obeyed."
59
Actually John Mortimer as Rumpole was referring to H. Rider Haggard, but yeah.
You have to hand it to Trump and the chaotic way he runs the Oval Office. In public he’s mostly concerned with his base and throwing them sone red meat but just once in a while he can’t help himself to a nice steak himself, well done with ketchup-yuck. His system works great as long as he keeps slinging the mud for two reasons. One, Nobody can keep up with it and secondly his base will buy anything he sells them as long as it framed in a understand. In their minds everyone is guilty, but he’s their guy.
14
Another republican recession/depression is right around the corner.
46
Follow the money - deals for Trump, Trump Jr., Kushner, and Ivanka Trump Kushner. This is about making the Trump’s solvent. Buy in or be kicked out. There is no loyalty in Trump - pay up
or you are out! Pay up and anything is possible. The law, taxes, and judiciary are increasingly used by Trump to control his narrative- the media is complicit in this. Where does it lead? The Saudi’s Im prison men and women with impunity, the President’s wife is absent after a popular launch of her children’s initiative, Tweets deflect normal policy channels and our democracy is fraught with conspiracy theories. Trump assumes wrong doing -not the posture of an innocent man. Our allies are now enemies, or enemies are buddies - thebase swoons! The rational despair! Andnoe Trump Jr. as a successor- Appaling!
24
Wow, Britain is more like the US every day.
1. A party controlling the government that cuts taxes for the rich and makes the poor even poorer.
2. A government that treats poverty as a moral problem rather than an economic one.
3. Elections (the Brexit vote) infested by Russian bots and social media trolls that influenced the outcome.
4. And etc.
Why do the British vote for any Conservative Party member? Why do US voters vote for any Republican Party member?
70
Using national security as a pretext for imposing tariffs feels like starting a war to gin up the poll numbers. I for one believe the Trump family is susceptible to bribes. They couldn't care less about morality, ethics or the rule of law. And I think they need the money. They are underwater by hundreds of millions on the Kushner midtown building. In fact, I believe it is all of the above. They are taking bribes. From Qatar, China, etc. And Trump is groveling before Putin and Xi. Canceling the sanctions on ZTE comes on the heels of their failure to do anything to stop present and future election interference by the Russians. That is treason according to the everyday meaning of that term.
148
The American "president," Dr. Krugman, is far less interested in national security and adhering to an international trade agreement that largely has worked for 71 years than he is in "getting over" financially.
It says here--and like you I could be wrong but I need proof--that Trump is in office precisely because he's in the soup for (alleged) money-laundering and its ancillary financial crimes.
The Times, on July 19, 2017, published a story ("Manafort Was in Debt to Pro-Russian Interests") in which tell us that "a court complaint filed in Virginia in 2015 by the Russian oligarch, Oleg V. Deripaska...claimed Mr. Manafort and his partners owed him $19 million related to a failed investment in a Ukrainian cable television business."
Whether or not Donald Trump (as candidate or as president) knew about this transaction is not relevant here. But what is is that everything Paul Manafort smokes of criminal financial activity. He claims he's innocent. But the climate surrounding the 45th American president suggests that the higher one climbs in his organization (strange word there to describe a "government," but, well), one finds money trails that go here and there and everywhere else. It's a lot like a consigliere who shields a don from prosecutorial inquiries by conveniently producing layers between the order and the deed.
Ivanka Trump has certainly done well for herself by the public till (Kellaynne Conway, anyone?) Her father, naturally, claims she's innocent.
Like him.
88
The problem is, Trump voters and the Republicans in Congress simply don't care.
They just don't care if Trump takes orders from Putin or bribes from Xi, or he sells the State of West Virginia to al-Assad so the Syrian government has coal and he gets a percentage.
Treason is a strong word. It means betraying our country, overthrowing our government. What do you think Trump voters and Republicans in Congress are doing?
Trump IS betraying America. But so are his voters and the entire Republican Party. They fit the definition of traitor.
774
It is the greatest Irony but of course the greatest injustice to see that the people, groups and politicians who are doing the most real harm to America and causing the most damage, hurt and actual harm to so many Americans...
...have no bans or sanctions, charges or actions taken against them despite all that they do going so much more further than being a potential National Security concern or issue.
They are destroying America and responsible for the deaths of so many Americans by the things that they do or don't do i.e by the decisions to cut or refund taxes to some but take away food, support and health coverage from others and the very real consequences that brings not just to those directly affected but also their families or children.
Just single example of just one of myriad acts and actions, decisions, ideological, profit, bribery modality that makes these people, groups and leaders...Actively weaken their Country and hurt their own people...without repercussions or actions against almost any...ever.
But God Help Edward Snowden for what he did and the damage to National Security he caused.....?
20
Fighting trade wars is mainly symbolism to make his base think he's trying to help them. As Fareed Zakaria pointed out recently, Trump runs a marketing enterprise to cover up his mistakes, which are legion. He knows nothing else and has no interest in learning anything else.
His base has been willingly brainwashed to believe slogans (e.g., "tax cuts pay for themselves") and somehow conclude that 11 million hard-working illegal immigrants in a country of 327 million are somehow a crisis, rather than do either analysis or thinking.
Free trade maximizes wealth for all overall, but leaves some people behind. The good news is there are open jobs for them right now, if they want to go back to college or relocate. The number of job openings and the number of unemployed are roughly equal.
That's where the Democrats come in: higher taxes on those benefiting the most, to pay for universal healthcare and education. That's what HRC campaigned on, and won the popular vote handily and those places that contribute roughly two-thirds of GDP.
Trump sold lies to those who voted for him, and his base is paying the price, with the nearly 4 million more without health insurance since 2016 almost entirely Republicans.
51
Trump's actions are undermining everything in America and everything with our allies. Yet he is being allowed to continue spouting off on Twitter, saying inflammatory and untrue things and making everyone's job much harder than it needs to be. If he's not a Russian agent he certainly ought to be.
This is what we get when we elect a completely unqualified self centered maniac to be our country's leader. He is master of chaos. He has no self control. The GOP is using him as cover while they effectively destroy life for the middle and working classes in America. I fear that we may have truly shot ourselves in both feet by electing such an incompetent man as president.
He is exactly the type of person the Electoral College was formed to prevent from taking office even if elected. Then again, so is most of the GOP. They didn't hesitate to undermine Obama just as they aren't hesitating in their destruction of America to benefit their rich donors. Trump and the GOP should be exiled from America or sanctioned so that they can never again serve at any level of government in America: state, local, or federal.
We need adults running things. We don't need a man who cannot control his itch to tweet or lie. Trump and the GOP will not make America great again. This administration is proving to be one of the most corrupt and incompetent in our history. We are helping the Chinese to become ascendant with Trump in the White House. Shame on us.
164
The sad part is that Obama was treated as Trump SHOULD be. Trump truly is abhorrent while the GOP merely made Obama out to be. Imagine for a moment if Obama had started his Administration with lies as Trump did (Admittedly, Obama's Inauguration Crowd was much larger than Trump's, just by the hotel attendance count alone let alone the real, undoctored pics.) But had Obama been this blatantly corrupt, for even the first month, he would have been led off in cuffs, and rightfully so!
So what is the GOP doing about it all? Looking the other direction or actively supporting it, depending on their own election chances and time til next election. In other words: The GOP is in collusion with whatever criminal activity the Trump Administration is guilty of, and are working hard to Obstruct the Investigation as well. Nunes needs to learn the limits of Congressional Inquiry especially when it actually involves his whole Party and possible collusion with a hostile Govt and treason for not attending to it realistically as the actual threat that it is.
Instead he is trying to get the investigation stopped and cover it all up so it goes away. Very much like a puppy that has not had his nose rubbed in it and firmly told NO for messing where one sleeps and eats. The GOP is acting like they are totally above the law, and even Republican law officers do not like seeing that, since they still have to do their jobs no matter what party, or position, the perpetrator of the actual crimes is!
8
The GOP is whistling past the graveyard.
It's been perfectly evident since Day One that Trump is for Trump, and is using his position as chief executive simply to enrich himself. Just as in his business history, he doesn't care who he hurts or who he betrays.
I'm doing everything I can to make him a one-term wonder.
103
Forget all we know about Trumps flexible ethics, for anyone holding the office of President the potential for actual or perceived conflicts of interest would be a serious problem requiring serious action to maintain the trust of the electorate. In past administrations we have seen how presidents took active, voluntary steps to avoid these conflicts. Now, unfortunately we have a president who is indifferent - at best - to this serious problem. The important lesson is we can no longer rely on the character of the president. Congress should act to ensure that business conflicts can never be the source of doubt about the presidents motivation. Public service is not without costs and it certainly should not be the source of personal profit.
28
Why should we be surprised? Trump's entire business career was built on cheating and exploiting loopholes. Bankruptcy, stiffing contractors, skirting civil rights in housing, shell companies, the list goes on and on.
Our legislators crafted laws and treaties with the default assumption that the president would be ethical, logical and always acting in the interests of the nation, rather than for his own personal interest. Thus "escape clauses" such as treaty exceptions for national security were included to meet true emergencies rather than to be exploited for routine criminal grifting.
So now we have Trump, who cares nothing for ethics, nothing for the national interest, and nothing but self-aggrandizement and self-enriching. His every action is calculated to benefit him and his family by buoying his popularity by throwing red meat to his MAGA-head "base" or through outright enrichment. He has no shame, no conscience and no legacy concern
Trump in in hog-heaven with the greatest loophole of his life: He assumes he cannot be indicted for his crimes--only impeached. And with the sycophantic Republican Congress the latter will never happen. So it's all hands on deck, full speed ahead with every crooked deal feasible and every shameless demagogic xenophobic, racist rant.
This will continue, and if Democrats don't take back at least one Congressional house, Trump will be even more emboldened. He fancies himself emperor already, why not supreme ruler and dictator for life?
220
Power never changes one's traits for the better; it intensifies the ones you have.
8
Don’t forget though...the minute Trump isn’t a “sitting” President, he can and will be indicted.
2
If ever there was a submarine captain capable of putting a torpedo into that shibboleth of an OLC opinion about indictability of an overtly criminal president while still in office, it's Robert Mueller.
Yesterday's OLC could never have imagined a future president as shamelessly criminal as this, just as the founding fathers never imagined that the harmless compromise of the Electoral College would someday subvert the will of the electorate.
1
I can't think of a better explanation. One of the reasons I voted against Trump was that it was clear he wouldn't separate his business and personal interests from the national interest.
This will be become clearer as the investigations into Cohen, Manafort and the president proceed.
55
Trump's recent demand for transparency from the Justice Department is the ultimate in chutzpah.
No tax returns, playing golf most weekends at his golf clubs and charging us for it, Jared's loan from the Qataris right after we pressure the UAE to stop their blockade of Qatar, Cohen's meeting with a Russian Oligarch in June '16, Ivanka's China trademarks while she is 'working' in the White House and ZTE is stealing our IP, and on and on.
Just outrageous corruption, and daring anyone to challenge it.
625
Sometimes I believe it is the endless onslaught of lies fed to American consumers from the time they are old enough to be affected by images on a TV set that makes us intellectually lazy- we are so exhausted from the endless mental debunking required that we can't think clearly any more.
Trump is merely the ultimate product of this exhaustion, but it extends far beyond his gullible fan club.
Bernie Sanders drew similar cheering crowds talking about how he could bring back all those high paying, low-skill factory jobs by ending NAFTA, while his fans snapped pictures with their smart phones that would likely be five times as expensive if they were entirely American made.
His focus was auto manufacturing and no one seemed to question why American manufacturers would need a surge of human workers if production went up when robotics have advanced so far since America started buying huge quantities of foreign cars and American ones started using so many imported parts.
We buy Chinese imports because they are insanely cheap. Before Japanese competition, American cars are rumored to have been designed to start to fall apart well before the odometer got to 100,000- my wife's Subaru is still running strong after more than doubling that number.
If Trump manages to stop the flow of cheap foreign imports, American consumers will likely be nearly unanimous in supporting his impeachment- but he will get the robot vote.
14
I loved both versions of "The Manchurian Candidate", and I even suspected Senator McCain of possibly being one -- may I be forgiven. But I do not understand the allusion to Trump.
As to Trump's dress code, it is as unacceptable as usual: unbuttoned coat and extra long tie that falls below the belt.
3
the chinese president for life is taking his country back to a political environment that existed under mao. trump who admires these stalinesque dictators is doing what he can to help them out so that their policies are normalized here in the US. trump clearly wants to follow in their footsteps.
21
Trump is just monetizing government. The Clintons did the same. Every one of the global power elite does it.
They're the 0.0001% - the superclass - all connected and helping each other out.
They run our governments, our largest corporations, the powerhouses of international finance, the media, world religions, and the world's criminal and terrorist organizations.
We all dance to their tune as they use our countries for personal gain.
8
Jimmy Carter’s net worth is about $5 million and he is busy with humanitarian issues. The Clinton’s net worth is about $45 million, from speaker fees, book deals, and consulting fees (no pay to play, i.e. the get no income from the Clinton Foundation). The Obama’s net worth is about $12 million. That’s a lot more than I will ever have, but it’s far from what the global elite have.
36
Enough with the false equivalancies. Many politicians of all ideological stripes have been ethically compromised. But you can't be compromised unless you have some core of decency TO compromise. Trump is corruption to the core.
6
The global Elite are not just defined by money. Influence and access is more important. Also, I consider legalized corruption, like an outrageous fee for a speech, to be as offensive as straight-up corruption.
As seen on the Internet: Once you realize Trump is on the other side, everything makes sense.
41
Trump is a self indulgent narcissist of limited ability but of unlimited greed and corruption. So he condones
Chinese malfeasance because that will benefit his global projects while he abuses the national security exemption
to impose unilaterally tariffs on our trade partners and allies for political purposes.
He does this with no introspection and studied analysis so that he can claim to his base that he is making America great again. To the contrary he is harming American interests and violating democratic processes and our Constitution.
He is truly a Manchurian President and I believe a true enemy of America's ideals and our finest democratic principles.
50
What was it about Clinton and the Clinton foundation - where presumably someone could get their wants/wishes through if they gave money to the Clintons to give away for charity?
2
Ivan,
If you are hurling one single accusation or a million about the Clintons and/or the Clinton Foundation, stop right there and PROVE IT ! Let's see your evidence.
You cannot and never will be able to furnish any evidence because the Clintons and the Clinton Foundation adhered to the law and did not break it.
End of conversation.
119
And your evidence is...?
21
there are seldom any thoughtful, fact based counter arguments in defense of Trump's aberrant behavior; it's just a littany of Obama and/or Clinton bashing.
4
"And don’t say that it’s ridiculous to suggest that Trump can be bribed".
Yes, I find it ridiculous to suggest that he or any other President of the United States can be bribed.
1
Seriously, Gabe????? You are very innocent. Not only can presidents be bribed, depending upon their character, their integrity, or lack of integrity, but so can other politicians, judges, lawyers, and a whole host of other people who should not be taking bribes in the service of enriching themselves so that others can be harmed or disenfranchised. If and when they engage in bribery, they become nothing more than common criminals. trump shows himself, each and everyday to be dishonest and contemptuous of the American people and our laws. Can he be bribed? I would say, resoundingly: YES!
3
Did you even read the article? He's already been bribed. Look at his walking back of the sanctions against the Chinese company ZTE shortly after the Chinese government paid millions of dollars to partner with the Trump Corp. to build a Trump hotel & condos in Indonesia.
Today it was announced that the Chinese government awarded Ivanka Trump 7 new Chinese trademarks shortly before Trump made the ZTE decision.
Coincidence? Right. So much for Make America Great Again, sucker.
3
Gabe,
You elected a common thief. Don’t pretend that this is normal. And please, don’t make this on a par with other presidents.
1
The entirety of His life has been, and IS, conning and scamming. The entire point of his candidacy and regime. All the Trumplings will be raking in piles of Cash, for decades. It cannot be overstated, it's ALL about the Money. An Atlantic City Condo Developer, writ large. Or a Gulf Coast Trailer Park Owner. Seriously.
39
Phyliss,
What is it “all about” with HRC and WJC? They got rich at the “public trough”!
1
We have not yet begun to see the full price we will pay for having elected someone of such debased character. And we will never know for sure if he, as president, is motivated to pursue what serves the good of the nation or enriches the current and future prospects for his personal businesses.
34
My sentiments exactly.
9
"And we will never know for sure if he, as president, is motivated to pursue what serves the good of the nation or enriches the current and future prospects for his personal businesses."
At some point, we will know, and my guess is historians will decide that trump favored himself and his personal businesses.
8
I think it's fair to say: if all of our trade agreements were fair and equitable, this column wouldn't be necessary. But it is an issue--because many of our trade agreements give advantages to our trading partners--and place burdens on our companies. In other words, the agreements we have signed, do not allow for "free trade".
The challenge with engaging any subject with a liberal--in this case, I mean Mr. Krugman, is that they get (purposefully) lost in definitions. They leave words out!
Krugman asserts that Trump is wrong--for attempting to renegotiate previous trade agreements. In Krugman's world, trade is trade. He makes no allowance in his calculations for trade deals which are not fair and equitable. He seemingly cannot consider that certain trade deals put us at a competitive disadvantage. Trade is trade--no such thing as unfair trade. Naive.
The same situation exists when talking about immigration. Liberals such as Krugman try to get away with talking about immigration--as if all immigration is created equal. Liberals question conservative values--and wonder what is wrong when they oppose immigration. It's because they leave out the word "illegal" when talking about immigration.
Words matter, Mr. Krugman. Trump doesn't oppose trade. He supports "FREE TRADE". And for the record, he doesn't oppose immigration. He supports LEGAL IMMIGRATION.
You know what you are doing here, Mr. Krugman. Shame on ya.
5
Jesse the Conservative: As Mr. Krugman claims, we do have more or less free trade, which Mr. Trump opposes with his imposition of tariffs on steel, etc. Free trade permits a win/win situation.
In a misguided effort to assist his base of working people, whose wages have been stagnant for a long time, Trump is hurting our friends in democratic Europe and helping our enemies in China.
Behind his effort is an unwillingness to separate his personal interests from the interests of the United States. He has always let his ego get in the way of his responsibilities to the American people.
340
Yet the US, even before Trump became President, severely limited beef and sugar imports into the US. Foreign producers were producing a similar or better product at a lower price than US producers, so import restrictions including the tariffs, gave US producers the leg up they needed to avoid such competition.
It is the political wrangling in the US, where deals are done to protect votes and a political base, rather than what is best for US consumers.
Trump is using US trade policy to enrich himself and his family. Trump faces so many conflicts of interests due to his wide business interests in the US and overseas. One wonders every time Trump speaks on trade matters, who he is representing, as often it is not US consumers or even US workers.
43
Barry, your note of the sugar and beef limitations by our government is spot on. Notice the red states that profit from this. It is welfare for the wealthy republicans, who hate welfare for Joe six-pack.
Unless you are someone who still believes that Trump is capable of moral or ethical behavior, the Chinese commitment of $500 million loan/investment in the Indonesia project that is planned to include a Trump hotel literally days after Trump supported US commercial relations with ZTE can only be considered a bribe. As for Ivanka, yes, she spent much of her first weeks in the WH obtaining licenses to sell her products in China.
The whole family seems dedicated to exploit the Trump presidency for financial gain, and are doing so shamelessly, and they don't seem to care a fig what anyone says. After all, Trump claims he can pardon anyone for crimes, even before they're convicted.
283
Our current category among nations: Pathological, malignant, thieving oligarchy.
The Congress, the judiciary, the Electoral College, constitutional laws and norms...all were supposed to protect us from the Trumps who are always lurking, seeking dirty money and protective power in their immoral, unethical, dog-eat-dog underworld. But they didn't -- Republicans, true to their malignant ethos, finally elevated a consummate dog-eater to power and there can be so surprise at the absolute corruption he (and his crime family, minions, dupes and lackies) relishes and spreads like ooze over everything he touches.
If it's "national security" that will redound to his (and their) financial benefit, he will play the hero-leader who saves us, albeit from the phantom threats and colored ghosts he conjures up for the purpose.
Someone said "elect a clown, expect a circus"; really, though, it should be "elect an antiChrist, expect an apocalypse".
10
Trump's against abortion and is appointing right wing judges so he gets to do whatever he wants.
7
A simpler explanation: Trump's actions on trade, and on everything else, show absolute, perfect loyalty to the only ally about whom he cares anything whatsoever.
4
To support the view that Trump is bribable, consider this simple fact; Trump has stated that he made contributions to politicians to garner support. I would go on to say they were bribes of politicians after knowing how very right wing Republican he is, as demonstrated by the last year and four months of his policy actions. Since he is such a right leaning Republican, why did he donate money to democrats when they were in power? To bribe them! To Trump, bribery appears to be a normal way of doing business.
Coincidentally, why else would Trump be trying to save a Chinese Company after affirming his opposition to trade with China?
Why does Trump want to stop foreign automobile imports? They are more fuel efficient. I'm convinced Trump has money in fossil fuels. He also sabotaged the national fuel efficiency standards that do relate to national security.
Finally; where does all that tariff money go? To the government or the affected national industries?
12
Viewing the world from someone else's perspective has never seemed to interest Trump. This behavior goes beyond international trade, and the nation is on the hook because of it. In diplomacy, for example, is the Korea summit really off, and how does that affect our perceived negotiating reliability among both our allies and our adversaries? Regarding the military and intelligence communities, will he ever stop admiring himself and acknowledge the service and the expertise of these patriotic public servants? Even on Memorial Day?
What is the morale among the rank and file at State, Justice, and right on down the line? It's unbelievable that no one in this administration seems to understand that we may need these people's talents in a pinch some day.
Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth are Trump's Magnificent Seven. I can't think of a news story about Trump that doesn't feature at least one of these, often with wild exaggeration and complete lack of inhibition and respect for others. Not just post-truth, we are in a post-normative, post-decorum era.
America has been very lucky not to have had a major financial, security, or military crisis in these past sixteen months. We have had natural disasters, and ask our fellow American citizens residing in Puerto Rico about how well that went. I can't believe it's not just a matter of time until something tests the character of this president in a critical way, and I fear the consequences.
22
I agree there is no national security risk to our country posed by the importation of foreign cars.
As far as I know ZTE has been fined a significant amount of money for their actions, 1.2 billion dollars to be exact in retaliation for sales to North Korea and Iran, two sanctioned countries. I wonder how many American companies sell products to bad state actors. Just asking. As for intellectual property “theft” Chinese companies pay American and other national companies money for their goods in exchange for the product and the intellectual property and the companies comply. I personally don’t see a crime here or the companies wouldn’t be selling. Or would they?
What I see here is an ascendant China and a declining America, thanks to the party of greed and the current president. But no matter what party the next president is in we as a nation must begin to deal with the massive problems we have. Until we do that we will devolve into a third-world country.
14
Maybe President Xi Jinping told Trump that he needed to abase himself on this issue to get a trade deal he can call a “win.” Somehow this doesn’t sound much better.
Whatever the true explanation, what we’re getting is Manchurian trade policy: a president using obviously fake national security arguments to hurt democratic allies, while ignoring very real national security concerns to help a hostile dictatorship.
-- Paul Krugman
[ Distressing Cold War-style prejudice. Turning China to a "hostile" country, doing so by resort to fearful prejudiced imagery and belittling the president of China. ]
3
While we do an awful lot of business with China, it is not an ally to the United States. The same is true of Russia. China and Russia are not enemies, either. Those are just facts.
That's not racist. It's not belittling Xi Jiping. If anything, it's Krugman demonstrating to us how Jiping understands people of Trump's mindset and uses it to his advantage.
There is nothing cold war'ish or racist about what Dr. Krugman wrote.
46
China is hostile to the US.
21
And if there was, Rima would detect it.
The Angela Lansbury character who played the Manchurian candidate's mother was supposedly modeled on Roy Cohn, the Joe McCarthy operative who became Trump's true-life mentor.
Too bad that this horror show of a presidency didn't end as satisfactorily as the original movie version.
Even the original Twilight Zone series can seem like something out of Disney compared to the zone we're all currently trapped in. One rarely-shown episode is called "He's Back." In it, a young Dennis Hopper, who bears an uncanny physical resemblance to a young Donald Trump, plays a two-bit racist demagogue who hallucinates getting mentored by Adolf himself. This was back in '62 when, even at the height of the Cold War, people still believed that "it" couldn't possibly happen here. And sure enough, the good guys take out Hopper before he ever gets elected to anything.
Giving the Trumps the benefit of the doubt over his rescue of a Chinese corporation within days of Ivanka getting those lucrative branding deals is naive, to put it charitably. Too many of us still believe, against all evidence, that "it" can't possibly happen here.
The "national security" gambit is the oldest trick in the book whenever our leaders don't want to let us in on their dirty little deals or war plans. But Trump's taking it to a whole new level, given that his fealty to a corrupt global empire "trumps" even the vicious patriotic gibberish he spews for the sole purpose of pitting powerless people against one other.
332
'Too bad that this horror show of a presidency didn't end as satisfactorily as the original movie version.'
Give it time, Karen - 'The Rise and Fall of Donald Trump' hasn't played out yet. Think of Robert Mueller in the Frank Sinatra role.
And there is any number of candidates who can play Laurence Harvey role (less violently, of course).
p.
10
Karen,
Liberals can’t beat the President in the “real world” so now it’s off to “the land of make believe”?
1
Trump continues to be given the benefit of the doubt by most all media despite behavior that is just shy of being criminal over and over.
What a contrast to Hillary Clinton who was presumed by the Times to be running for President to serve her own ego and was NEVER given the benefit of the doubt about anything. Amy Chozick was only doing good reporting when she told us about Hillary's hair and people who donated to her campaign and told us NOTHING about Hillary's efforts to change policies to benefit working class people and the Poor. To see that, you had to watch C-Span 3 at 3 in the morning in the middle of the week -- that's the only time and place those speeches were covered.
2
It's not that difficult to understand. Trump is about Trump. He stands for Trump, by Trump, of Trump, and more Trump. When he says he stands for the working class, he only does that to get cheers form the red hats at his rallies. Then he gives huge tax breaks to Wall Street banks.
Trump uses everyone and everything he can. That's how he made his money, if he really has much money. Trump is the great exploiter. Just ask one of the dozens who have worked in his administration and no longer do.
So why did he do an about face on ZTE? It was for Chinese investment capital. If he would do that in plain sight as president, what does that tell us he would do behind closed doors with the Russians before he was elected into office? Start worrying. The guy's bought and paid for. How many rubles make a dollar?
There is no substitute for character and integrity. Some call these traits a "moral compass". Trump's compass needle spins like a weather vane. He just goes where the wind pushes him. Wherever he can make the most money the easiest. That's what is running this country. I think I'll watch a gangster movie this evening. After writing this, I'm in the mood.
834
This comment is totally accurate and vintage Trump. Every action he takes is for the benefit of Trump. The fact that he tries to mask these actions as anything else is absurd. One would hope that the Republican led congress, even with their heads in the sand, could easily see Trumps motives. We do need a change in leadership to put the focus on what is good for our country and not just Trump.
28
Thanks Bruce, it's refreshing when people drop the what ifs and maybes when speaking of Trump. He's shown us his true colors over and over again it's time to accept he is the wrong man for the job and damaging us all.
32
"I think I'll watch a gangster movie this evening. After writing this, I'm in the mood."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruce, you are a better man than I (so to speak); I cannot take it anymore from trump. I have to stick to movies like FINDING NEMO or BLUES CLUES. If I really need too be reminded of trump, I can watch PINOCCHIO. It would be so great if only trump's nose would grow when he lies like Pinocchio's did whenever that little puppet boy told a lie. Can you imagine how long trump's nose would be? His nose would be AT LEAST as long as the Great Wall in China! Then the trump supporters could not deny his mendacity when they would see that huge, long nose...hmmm...or could they? (They could AND they would.) I was just watching "The Sixties"....Dan Rather just said something like: "Darkness never lasts." Let us hope that this is not the nuclear winter of our democracy, and that Dan Rather was right.
34
It's about personal gain.
Which makes it all the more alarming that he is negotiating with Kin Jong Un. Whatever transpires is likely to be about how best to benefit Trump. Remember the deal he tried to foist on the president of Mexico -- something like, "just agree to pay for the wall and we'll work it out later." So what if Trump decides that he really needs the appearance of a win more than a real one? "Just say you'll get rid of the nukes and we'll work it out later."
It is really hard to imagine the feisty little dictator of North Korea suddenly buckling to pressure and really getting rid of his favourite toys.
130
"Trump’s Manchurian Trade Policy"
I consider this reference to be a resort to early Cold War racial prejudice and I am deeply saddened by such a reference.
4
Here is the Wikipedia page for the Manchurian Candidate.
Dr. Krugman's usage of the term is appropriate, as far as I'm concerned.
75
Oopsie! here's that link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Manchurian_Candidate
23
"Cold War racial prejudice"? Obviously, you're not familiar with the novel or film. The most prominent villain is Eleanor Iselin, a right-wing Anglo. Communists are portrayed as villains as well, both Chinese and Russian.
The Manchurian Candidate has about as much racial prejudice as the Wizard of Oz. Nice try.
32
As we well know these trade policies are for a select group of American workers that have been left behind in the economy. While some of them may have some education, they are economically ignorant, they are willing to believe Donald1 the Mad will save their jobs.
The belief is if we raise the cost of imported goods, the manufacturers will return to the U.S. open factories and have the same jobs they lost to China, Bangladesh, and even Germany. Germany is a good case in point, people buy German goods,. not because they cost less, which they don't, they buy them for quality.
However, although these German made products cost more, in the long run they cost less as they do not have to be replaced as often. The same holds true for the Korean LG products, well designed, reliable, work very well.
As for ZTE, yes they have been selling products to Iran among others, but the Chinese are astute. They already have those products, they can reverse engineer them. As Hughes discovered when they were having chip failures, they sliced the chips layer by layer and using an electron microscope discovered the faults caused by static electricity.
I would wager there is a concerted effort to produce those banned chips in China.That will cost Qualcom and others significant income. When ZTE asks for a circuit design, there will be at least fives sample on the desk of the purchase agent the next morning.
23
If, after "the greatest tax cut in history", these workers did not notice that their paychecks hadn't budged a nickel, why would you expect them to notice that their jobs still haven't come back and their hometowns remain destitute? Fox News has convinced them they are living in a new golden age. Fortunately, even Fox News cannot convince a growling stomach that it is full, but that reckoning is still years away.
27
First, we got His Dotardness defending ZTE, then we got news the Russians had hacked all our routers; what are those of us sitting around with AT&T-furnished ZTE routers supposed to do now, switch to carrier pigeons ?
The trade policy of His Unhinged Unraveling Unfitness shows the exact same lack of farsightedness (and cohesive logic) that he is so notorious for exhibiting in his private biz career, which made him the 'bankruptcy king' as well as the litigation king, leaving a trail of destruction, and Americans alleging fraud.
Plus, the Manhattan D.A. almost got an indictment on 2 of djt's kids for sales relating to one of the Drumpf properties:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-ivanka-trump-and-donald-tru...
And there's the comment from our ambassador to Panama upon first meeting POTUS:
" And so his very first question to me was, so what do we get out of Panama? What's in it for us? And that was sort of - took me aback. So I gave him kind of a long run of all of the good things that we are doing. And let me make very clear, Panama is an excellent friend and ally of the United States. And so at the end of it, you know, his response was, oh, that's pretty good. How's my hotel doing down there ? "
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/27/614810113/an-ambassador-on-leaving-the-tr...
Why anyone conceived the swindling and grifting wouldn't reach Warp Speed under Pres. Rolling Trumpster Fire is a mystery.
542
I don't think Trump is a dotard, not yet. I think some of it is an act. He is interested in making America great again but only to benefit himself and his family. He behaves as if the presidency is just another con job; him conning us into believing that he cares. In that sense he's merely continuing the con the GOP is doing on us. Sadly enough Americans believe these two cons to vote in Trump, Pence, McConnell, Ryan, and the other Greatly Overrated Popinjays.
42
@hen3ry - We use the term as a derisive pejorative; after all, PBS told us that Dr. Ronny Jackson 'tested the mental capacity' of POTUS:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-don...
so who are we to believe our own lyin' eyes:
http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-limousine-631880
instead of Dr. Jackson ?
Of course, Dr. Krugman rightly told us long ago that the donald's chief characteristic is malevolence tempered by ignorance.
1
This is quintessential Trump. It’s Everything he ever says and does. The “Profit” is either direct business or financial leverage - or an act of retribution or vengeance. Never has Trump done anything as President for any other Reason.
The Horror is not Trump: our Founding Fathers knew about him and planned for his type. The Tragedy is the Powerful, Independent Congress that chooses to do... Nothing, thereby making a bad situation worse. In fact, some in Congress are actively abetting Trump’s worst Excesses - making them equally responsible for his heinous actions...
I do not hold out hope for Trump, eventual moment of Legal Accountability. It can’t all hang on one independent good man (Mueller). Forget All Things Russia: they are an unknown. It’s the long list of serious crimes that Trump is now openly committing - several times a week by now that should concern us all. They are overt, direct, and fully understood, yet Congress on the Right shrugs, while Democrats bleat like sheep - if they bother to do that much!
I fear for this once great nation!!
22
With this administration, from the day it started, on January 20th, 2017, we became an oligarchy. By definition, oligarchies are made of of wealthy citizens and their sycophants and their sole purpose is self-enrichment. Their calculus centers 100% on that.
With that preamble in mind, it follows that anything Trump, his cabinet and their underlings, and the entirety of the congressional GOP - that now has amply demonstrated where its loyalties are - all are focused on the one task in front of them: wealth extraction.
It doesn't matter whether that wealth comes from the poorest, middle class, foreign entities or out of space. If there is the possibility of extracting cash, they'll take it.
So, national security, especially in a president who showed zero interest when he was first told of Russian interference, is not a priority. It is also not a priority for Mike Pence. We know from news reports that both Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell flatly refused to work with President Obama and sign a bipartisan statement regarding Russian interference.
The old ways of doing things have been suspended for now. The old rules for analyzing what is happening to us and why, those too have been suspended for now. Bipartisanship, at this point, should be taboo. Who are we dealing with, after all?
We need to look at Trump, his family and cronies, the same way we look at mafias, while we engage the public to vote in great numbers.
---
Trump: I'm going to grab, grab
https://wp.me/p2KJ3H-23F
378
There is a group of about 30 Democrats who have consistently broken with their caucus to vote with Republicans and they are now actively running on their crowning achievement, authoring the partial repeal of Dodd-Frank. Banking isn't the only issue on which they switched sides.
With everything we now know about what Republicans are doing under Trump and just how far to the right that party now is, where is the center? How much more to the right is bipartisanship going to pull Democrats?
In normal times, bipartisanship is the goal. These are hardly normal times.
A historical reminder: https://www.rimaregas.com/2017/09/04/triangulation-when-neoliberalism-is...
72
When Democrats skew to the right on any issue, the answer is not to have a purity pout and demand Bernie-certified progressives take their place. Many come from red states and may well lose to a Republican in November. If they come from a blue state, then a serious primary challenge might be warranted. Dividing the progressive coalition for the sake of ideological purity comes at a heavy price as our Manchurian president shows every day.
Walter,
What some pundits have been terming "ideological purity" is nothing but a euphemism for what essentially is moral compromise as a cover for corrupt practices.
What has independence from party "ideological purity" translated into so far?
One of the first moves by Congress when Trump was inaugurated was to roll back Obama era water safety rules. Joe Manchin and Claire McCaskill proudly ended up voting for that.
The latest move, rolling back Dodd-Frank, included, among other things, rolling back safeguards on predatory auto lending practices aimed at minorities.
Claire McCaskill, at town hall meetings in her home state, calls Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization.
This isn't about adherence to dogma. This is about right and wrong. This isn't about making deals with people of a different bent. It's making deals with criminals and voting against the interests of tens of millions of Democratic voters.
---
How Dodd Frank was rolled back
https://www.rimaregas.com/2017/08/26/while-trump-tweets-away-democracys-...
Rolling back water regs
https://www.rimaregas.com/2017/02/02/democrats-in-disarray-demagoguery-i...
McCaskill on a variety of core issues to dem voters
https://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2Jr
Just one more Trump tit for tatter
The wisdom of ages he’ll scatter
No more will he holler
If he makes a dollar
A warm and gen’rous tip your hatter.
Oh how he adores Russian Bankers,
Those odious sly hanky pankers,
No debtor reports
Or Bankruptcy Courts,
Those huge loans for which Donald hankers.
Will we catch him flagrante delicto
With someone even he does not know?
Will he claim mem’ry loss
For this in the hay toss,
Or deny it for a year or so?
94
Larry Eisenberg, you are a national treasure!
7
Larry,
“Clinton for cash” is clear!
You just won’t say it here!
They were “broke” a few years ago!
Now you wouldn’t know!
1