Trump's tariffs are the ultimate MAGA loyalty test

[marmar]

Trump's tariffs are the ultimate MAGA loyalty test
Self-preservation may start to look a little different to Republicans if the country is mired in a recession

By Heather Digby Parton
Columnist
Published April 7, 2025 9:04AM (EDT)


(Salon) On Friday, I wrote about President Trump's motivation for this daft tariff scheme. It has almost nothing to do with trade, which he doesn't understand. He's running a protection racket, shaking down other countries (as well as universities, law firms and corporations) to force them to do his bidding. If you want more proof of that, listen to him on Sunday night talking about holding up Europe for "a lot of money on a yearly basis but also for past."

....(snip)....

But then his bubble has become almost impermeable, with people around him terrified that he's going to go off half cocked and do something crazy, so he probably isn't hearing half of what people are saying. If what his Cabinet members are telling the press is an accurate reflection of his views, it's pretty clear that he's deeply deluded.

....(snip)....

The Financial Times published a very sharp editorial that featured this observation that should send chills down the spines of Republicans who will be facing the voters next year:

Those hoping for prosperity under Trump have had an unpleasant shock. Wednesday’s so-called liberation day was the culmination of a 10-week long bonfire of conservative economic convention in America. The standard fare of growth-seeking deregulation and tax cuts gave way to an act of amateurish economic vandalism that betrays both the “us vs them” ideology at the heart of everything Trump does, and the lack of any clear framework to his actions.

....(snip)....

In a normal world, there would be no question that tanking the economy would be political suicide. But Donald Trump believes he is impervious to the political laws of gravity, and in some ways you can't blame him. He has survived more scandals than any politician in American history. But at some point, you have to wonder if self-preservation may start to look a little different to the other Republicans if the country is mired in recession and the federal government has been so devastated that it can't respond. If not, they may be in for a very big surprise in 2026. ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/04/07/tariffs-are-the-ultimate-maga-loyalty-test/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I agree.

If the price of eggs rose to $20 due to the tariffs (they won’t), MAGA would “reason” that their leader wouldn’t hurt them and it was necessary.

[tonkatoy8888]

2. Let's say

that Trump doesn't defy political gravity once again. Let's say, in the hypothetical, that there is a dramatic shift in the House towards Democrats and a slight shift in the Senate giving Democrats an edge after the 2026 midterm elections.

Let's say, again in the hypothetical, that the House and Senate pass legislation to claw back their power and yank the leash on Trump.

Trump then does as he is doing now with the courts says, "Fuck you.", and does exactly what he wants.

What then? Another futile impeachment?