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

Be careful. The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos now. And even though he promised not to influence editorial, he has already done so. They are on a slippery slope which is a pity given their history.

Because we are about to be significantly tariffed by the US to the greatest extent since before WW2.

Do you know what's going to happen in the next few days?

You'll have Germany looking for like for like retaliation (all well for them) and us (and others) pleading for no retaliation.

Who will be listened to?

I doubt Ireland will be pleading for no retaliation from the EU (and that could even be hugely counter-productive….appeasing an arrogant and aggressive bully might make things even worse for us long term, rather than improve the economic situation). We have to be realistic here and expect a robust response from the EU.

So what do you suggest? That Ireland leaves the EU to try to negotiate directly with the POTUS that sold Ukraine down the river? That is trying to bully his way to taking over a sovereign country like Greenland, that is attempting to force Canada to become a state?

You think our national interests would be best served by removing ourselves from the source of our prosperity and cultural awakening on the basis of might be able to curry favour from Trump and that Trump would keep his word?

Sure, but Ireland and the border was a significant hurdle that needed to be overcome - and we were told repeatedly(by the same poster!) that our concerns will mean nothing to the Germans who’ll want to protect their economy.

But of course the EU were fully behind us on the border issues because it’s not just a project of economics - it will be the same here. There will be disagreements and negotiations but we will remain united as we navigate it.

The US companies would not have come if we didn't have unimpeded trade with the rest of Europe.

It's not as black and white as you make it.

Sure maybe we should tell the Donald that we are willing to become the 52nd State!!!

Good idea. If US companies abandon Ireland we will see our true place in the EU. A poverty stricken off shoot.

Ferris Bueller's day off movie.

Tarriffs exasperated the great depression.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cb57tPtat7E

Apparently Elon pumping 20 million into a race in Wisconsin, wearing a hat shaped like cheese on stage

and Trump trashing the dem candidate

It wasn't enough to win the day...

Called in less than 24 hours too!

It's all verbatim of what you screeched about during Brexit.

Back then it was the great white night of the UK that we owed all of our prosperity to. We needed to leave the EU and join the true union or all was lost.

The EU would look after the big two interests and throw little old Ireland under the big red bus.

Do you still think we'd have been better off leaving the EU in 2018 and aligning woth Brexit Britain? Do you think we were thrown under the bus?

Ok. At least now I understand where you are coming from.

Yes, US companies have a massive impact on our tax receipts. The likes of Apple, Google and the Pharmaceutical companies.

Do you know why they are located here?

And where did we get all the structural funds we needed to create the infrastructure to allow those companies to locate?

Now that Trump has launched a trade war directly targeted at Ireland what do you think Ireland should do?

You appear to suggest that we should go it alone. Leave the EU and go to war directly against the most powerful economy by ourselves.

What are you planning to bargain with? And when Trump inevitably reneged on the deal, like every deal he has agreed, what additional things can we do?

You are great at blaming others and pointing out problems but how about you lay out how you would deal with the threat.

I'll wait.

That is a strawman you have created that Ireland, and others, won't want retaliatory tariffs to whatever craziness trump pulls on April 2nd.

Just in case you try and claim to be "right" about your first thing later...

It's everything you ever dreamed of….and more!!