I keep seeing tariff talks just assume that he's doing it to force US-based manufacturing.
But my gut says that it's just a scheme to steal money.
Is it possible that he can (or thinks he can) have very-relaxed access to the money that he collects? Or would it be as difficult for him to spend as any other budget?
Apr 3, 2025, 11:23 PM@scottmichaud It's unclear if he has a coherent motive for anything. He certainly does want money. But if the path to him getting his hands on it is too convoluted, I put it in the bucket of his other goal which is to "make big beautiful deals" - that's his stated legacy (as dumb as it is).
So my hunch is the next phase is he goes to each country in turn and tries to do a "deal" with them. Dirt-for-Javelins style.
@scottmichaud he's betting on countries, despots, sleazy industrialists to make deals with him, as part of it he will relax the tariffs but most likely receives kickbacks. Russians wash that money for him and in return Russia gets to seriously weaken America and establish a new world order.
That's my guess.