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

Govt. here don't seem to want to see much of an EU reaction, at least not right away (going by statements) + prefer "watchful waiting", talking to Trumpy so he sees sense etc.

Believe I heard SF (Doherty) on radio at the weekend making same kind of criticisms of possible EU reaction as his political mirror opposite here, Kermit.

(On latter) I suppose all the eaten Brexit bread is soon forgotten and we slip back into the usual SF anti EU positions they have held for decades.

Are they all playing ‘YES MINISTER’ or more apt would be ‘YES , THE GREAT ONE ‘ and keep the apparent show on the road. Until the. Mid terms or by latest the next presidential election. And in the hope that the ‘blimate’ will change?

A potential unintended consequence of all this would be Ireland shifting a little closer to the continent.

We've stradled the US/Continent divide well but I think we're starting to move more amd more towards US style economics/values.

I prefer continental economics/values myself. Once the EU sort out the immigration issues.

yes , you are right Oodge. I was just trying to make the point that what Trump is saying re the imbalance is based on current figures and he has not factored in Irelands contribution in the past and a value put on it Or is the American attitude on of ‘ That was then and this is now’!

Naturally, we are more exposed than the rest of the EU. - Its the exact same as France asking for no possible tariffs on US alcohol as its going to hit their wine exports even more. Also, the EU never reacts quickly - they certainly wont to this. One will assume a measured and thought out response. Followed by negotiations.

ah jayzus…i really couldve done with out seeing that gobshite and me only on my second cup of coffee…

is donnie up out of the scratcher yet for his biggliest day?

Lutnick had no problem operating in Ireland with his company since 1998 and availing of the tax scheme.

Looks like his company is the right kind for associating with Trump.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/02/27/cantor-fitzgerald-ireland-fined-452790-for-failing-to-report-suspicious-trades/

Sometimes, trolls on this thread would get frustrated when overwhelmed by valid points on how much of a dangerous buffoon Trump is and how dark his agenda generally is. They'd blurt out something like, "Anyway, why are Irish people so interested in all of this? Get a life." Seeming so confident that a day would never come when the policies of another Trump administration would have even the potential of a significant impact on us.

Well…. that day has arrived.

it’s not Liberation Day. It’s been my birthday for years now.

Our interests and ability to absorb tariffs are not remotely the same as Germany.

Ireland is the world's third largest Pharma exporter - Germany is the largest!

"I know we called you pathetic freeloaders, but we enjoyed doing so and were hoping we could continue abusing you in this way. You lot investing more in your defence puts a real crimp in that plan."

While you have Americans who would cut the nose off their face in the vain hope it would upset someone of 'the other side'

Doesn't that describe an awful lot of people of a particular political persuasion these days though? The modern right wing as absolutely littered with folk that your descriptor applies to.

He's been banging on about other countries trade surplus with the United States, tariffs, defense spending etc for around 40-years now. You'd think that would be enough time for him to have conversations with people who could teach him what tariffs are.

I can only come to the conclusion he does actually know - But implementing them suits his agenda. Whether that's to intentionally crash the US economy, win concessions in other things, or something else…..who knows.

Any EU response will most likely be at the IT companies and other services - you know that 109Billion surplus that the US has with the EU that Trump conveniently never mentions. This unfortunately is double whammy for us.