Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

I’ve no idea at all what Truth Social has to do with this. Trudeau looks after Canadians, not what Trump has to say about him. While he isn’t super popular in Canada anymore, Canada is quite untied in this with regards to the reactions to tariffs.

Trump is not a rational man, we agree on that. So why on earth would you even suggest to buckle to such a human with no retaliation at all? That’s very bizarre.

Very diplomatic of him.

Remind me, why should Canada not retaliate against these tariffs? Clearly, and you’ve said yourself, Trump is unstable. Why on earth would any country just roll over to him…

Rubbish. What Trump is doing is not pragmatic, Canada is protecting itself from a bully, as it should. Pragmatism has nothing to do with this, Canada clearly won’t be walked over.

There is no reality that the bigger party wins, you’re talking as if that’s a certainty and it’s not. Americas reliance on so much from Canada doesn’t put them in the strong position you think, Canada also doesn’t want the trade war, but here we are.

No excuses need to be given or shown, Trump put his colours on the mast and this is the result. I really want him to try it with the EU next.

Canada has now announced a 25% tariff on American goods starting on Tuesday. Good.

And just to add to this before the Trump subservients come walking in throwing blame at Trudeau, he said during his press conference that he had been trying to get in contact with Trump since the inauguration and nothing, no comms from Trump.

Trump wanted this to happen, he always did.

And for most of us a very coherent well delivered speech. It baffles my mind that people see, as one of the Canadians put it, 'the convicted felon and known predator ' as a great orator.

now we are splitting hairs that have already been split!!!

It'll work well both ways but primarily It'll offset some of the issues caused by Trump whilst leaving the states in a sticky position. Reduced lumber at higher prices, reduced oil at higher prices. Everyone on this earth should accommodate the pricks and isolate them just like they want, trade round them and see how they fare out.

They're a nation that's so self absorbed and care not a single jot about the damage they inflict on others, either through idiotic political appointments or through military flexing. It's high time they're shown they're not as important as they think they are. And now is the perfect opportunity to apply that soft pressure.

How do you know she put up with it quietly? We're you present in their living room?

Edit:

Thought this was the McGregor thread. Apologies.

The US are responsible for their own issues at every level and they accept no responsibility for it. The drug trade that emerged in south America and continued into Mexico was only possible due to the market the US provided and the guns they supplied.

They are also the greatest contributors to pollution and Climate change. Both of the above issues have created major problems for the poor of Central and south America and created the migrant issues they have today.

In the middle east, their constant meddling, trying to control oil and the installation and support of the isreali state has caused the rise of multiple terrorist organisations including ISIS.

To blame Canada and Mexico for the drugs entering the US whilst ignoring the country is full of social issues which creates millions of drug addicts is peak Murica.

One of Russian’s /Putin’s overall objective is to make America WEAK, in every way, relative to Russia itself. Well Putin can ‘rest on his oars’ as up till now - and because of Trumps tariff strategy and the expected retaliation - the erstwhile partners/ allies/ likeminded nations will do it for him OR AT LEASt HELP HIM OUT

I'm not convinced that Putin isn't handling Trump behind the scenes anyway. The Greenland thing came out of left field and to me, looked like an attempt to restrict European arms going to Ukraine in case something kicked off over Greenland where the EU would have to back the Danes.

There hasn't been a single intervention from Trump in Ukraine, just talk. Once the arms Biden promised stop, Ukraine are in real bother if the EU isn't backfilling. If there's one eye on Greenland then there's less going to Ukraine and Putin gets his victory.

No one is going to sanction or tarriff the US until they get tarriffed themselves but there should be serious back channeling done between the EU and Canada to have as much of their produce come this way as possible. I'd much rather have timber and oil from Canada than from Russia and the American oil coming here now probably originated in Canada before being refined in the US.

The long term losers of Trumps attempted bullying of other nations are the American public. Like Brexit, Canada will be forced to diversify trade to make up for the shortfall and there’ll be plenty of nations happy to oblige - a deeper trade relationship with the EU seems almost guaranteed. Even if the US elects a rational president in 28 things won’t go back to normal and the US will be in a weaker position trade wise.

This is exactly what happened to soy beans with the tariff war with China. China started importing more from Brazil and US exports haven't recovered.

That was China being smart with retaliatory tariffs, tariff something which you can easily replace, but at the same time cripple an industry (soy bean farmers). Pretty much all the tariffs collected by the US went to bailout the farmers. There was zero benefit to the US.

Be interesting to see if Canada and Mexico can work together with the tariffs and import/export more to each other to make up shortfalls. Targeted approach is always better than just blanket tariffs.

There couldn't be a starker contrast in statesmanship than that between Trudeau and Trump. A capable, accomplished diplomat vs someone whose diplomatic abilities don't appear to have progressed beyond that of a high school jock and bully.

Ulmtimately I think the bully is going to end with a bloody nose. Unfortunately there's a lot of innocent bystanders who will suffer until the bully is put in his place.