Cope narrative I’ve seen circulating about the tariffs. I’ll take it for now.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

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Best take I have read is that he will create pledges of loyalty from individual CEOs to get tariff exemption.

Loyalty to Trump = competitive edge.

Hmmm sounds like I am advocating for it, but I find it terrible and a horrible look for the US.

I think this is a pretty valid take.  I think all the tariffs are designed to do is to get CEOs and country leaders to beg Trump for exemptions and access to US consumers... and I don't think he has a plan B if that doesn't happen.

And/Or the tariffs are designed to tank markets so his insiders can scoop up assets cheaply and then the tariffs will disappear.

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Plan B might be: He takes back tariffs, market responds positively and he claims the stock market has never been better.

His followers are pretty forgetful and might just believe it.

Totally... but a lot of damage will have been done by that point, countries organizing new trade routes between themselves that excludes the US, companies not investing in the US because it's too chaotic, etc.   I think you're right, I think that is his Plan B, but it's terrible... not that he cares, he's got a big golf weekend.