The No. 1 Rule for Understanding Trump
14 hours ago
- The Trump administration frequently announces policies only to reverse them, creating a pattern of 'un-happening' across trade, foreign policy, and domestic issues.
- Tariff policy exemplifies this volatility: tariffs on Canada and global 'Liberation Day' tariffs have been imposed, suspended, reinstated, and challenged in courts repeatedly.
- Foreign policy reversals include pausing and resuming intelligence sharing with Ukraine, as well as shifting rhetoric between attacking Putin and aligning with Russia.
- Courts have blocked many Trump administration actions on immigration, media access, and funding, leading White House officials to accuse judges of 'judicial tyranny'.
- Trump's chaotic approach is described as a denial-of-service attack on government, with policy ideas having a short half-life that undermines business investment and certainty.