Trump threatens to halt trade with top partners unless Fed cuts rates

8 points by ivell 26 days ago | 7 comments

Can anyone steelman this for me? What is the rationale for halting trade with trade partners as a reasonable response to the Fed not cutting rates?

To my (perhaps cynical) mind, it looks almost like using trade (or maybe even the whole economy) as a hostage to pressure the Fed.

Can anyone make this make sense?

dekhn 26 days ago | |

No, nobody can steelman this for you, it's clear that trump is just playing his usual game of trying to manipulate people with bombastic statements.

JojoFatsani 26 days ago |

Guy is crashing out. See what happens at the midterms if you can’t buy a Toyota or a Samsung.

mikewarot 26 days ago |

DivingForGold 26 days ago |

He is threatening to "bring down the house", economic blackmail.

allears 26 days ago | |

And this will pressure the Fed how? If the economy grinds to a halt, nobody's going to blame them.

jleyank 26 days ago | | |

Blackmailing oneself is an interesting development. Does saying "yes" or "no" hurt more? Isn't think one of the jokes in Blazing Saddles?