Unrepentant, defiant, uncaring about the consequences of his hare-brained policies, his daily press conferences are interminable diatribes rambling from issue to issue, filled with threats, untruths, imagined wrongdoings, all while singing his own praises – they are a circus.
Spineless lackies, clueless pundits
Surrounding him are spineless charlatans fearful of uttering a word of caution or criticism – reminiscent of the Nazi High Command in the 2004 film Downfall, where Hitler studies his fantasy strategies, blaming everybody for the failings, while the generals just stand by and suck it up.
Watching the pundits and the broadcast media ponder at what point he will change his mind and when there will be an end to the madness and chaos is a nightly occurrence.
One problem is clear – Trump controls all the levers of every branch of the US administration and pulls them by making his decisions via an executive order.
US business has remained largely silent even in the face of massive falls in the stock markets, and in the full the knowledge of what is to come.
No sign of any push back
The Democrats are leaderless and crushed; trade unions have a major dilemma with many union members and their families in the private sector backing Trump, while in the public sector Trump ended collective bargaining – effectively de-recognising unions while sacking thousands of employees.
What is currently left of US manufacturing could collapse while the fantasy of new auto, manufacturing and tech plants will never materialise. After this charade, what overseas companies and investors will want to come to the US to build new plants while he is around?
Even in the face of the US heading for an economic crash, who is going to persuade Trump he got it wrong?
When Liz Truss crashed the UK economy, the stock market, the banks, industry and the opposition – and people inside her own party – were on hand to say ‘enough’.
There is no sign of this happening in the US. No institution – even the courts – appears to be in a strong enough position to put an end to the chaos.
Trump vs the rest of the world
So, who can stand up to Trump?
China, at present, seems the country Trump is most fearful of because of their industrial and financial muscle. They have hit back hard, giving themselves more leverage, and Trump’s threats to tariff them out of existence won’t happen – he will be forced to do a deal of some description.
Meanwhile, the EU has been signalling retaliation and says it isn’t in the mood for concessions. Acting in a unified manner – and swiftly – is not in their nature, though.
Keir Starmer is trying to keep the balls in the air and still hopes to get a trade deal of some kind while leading a ‘coalition of the willing’ that he hopes will bring Trump and the US to their senses.
Americans, it’s up to you now
I think the main hope is that ordinary US workers and voters say ‘enough is enough’ – this is not what we signed up for. The point will be reached at which the medicine becomes poison and rocks Trump as an individual – and the goofs surrounding him also get the message and agree with the boss.
Many US citizens, especially the middle class, who invest in stocks and shares for their later financial security could face ruination, and as we have found out in the UK with a new Labour government, people anticipate quick fixes – and are not prepared to wait five years (or four, in the US) for new jobs and the policies to work.
The promise of having more money than they know what to do with won’t be happening soon.
Waiting for four years until he goes – and that is not a given – will be too long to wait for many US citizens.
