One of the things that attracted voters to candidate Donald Trump was the belief that he would bring his successful business practices and negotiating skills to Washington. Since winning the presidency we have witnessed two occasions where Trump had the opportunity to put his negotiating skills to use on behalf of the American people. So far Trump is 0 for 2.
CARRIER – On several occasions during the campaign Trump used CARRIER as an example of how he would stop companies from taking good jobs overseas and then selling their products back here in the states. Trump ridiculed what he referred to as “stupid politicians” and “political hacks” for offering tax breaks and abatements to entice American companies to keep their good paying jobs here in the states:
“They don’t want more money.” Trump said. “They don’t care about tax abatements….You have to be tough with them. You tell them go ahead a move your manufacturing jobs to Mexico. But when you try to sell those products back here in the states there is going to be a 35% tax on those products….Carrier wants to move manufacturing jobs overseas. I would tell them they are going to have to pay a tax to bring those products back here in the states.”
Carrier had announced its plans to move 2300 jobs to Mexico. Trump and Pence weighed in. Trump’s “tough” negotiations resulted in Carrier agreeing to keep 800 jobs here in the states. The remaining 1500 would still move to Mexico. In return Carrier would receive $7,000,000 in tax breaks over ten years.
In summary…Trump used the same tax break tactics in negotiating with Carrier that he had ridiculed “stupid Politicians” for using in the past. The result is that Indiana tax payers will pay Carrier $7,000,000 over ten years to keep in state 35% of the jobs that Carrier originally intended to move out of the country.
Ever the narcissist; Trump and Pence celebrated his” job saving win” with a thumbs-up victory lap through the Carrier plant. The hypocrisy of the con lost to all in attendance.
MEXICO – One of the cornerstones of Trump’s campaign was that if elected he would “build a beautiful wall along our southern border to stop the flow of crime and drugs from crossing into our country…And Mexico will pay for the wall.” It was a promise that he included in virtually every campaign speech he delivered. Trump continued to repeat the claim after winning the election.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has been adamant in his response to Trump that under no circumstances would Mexico pay for the wall. During the campaign the two met in Mexico. When asked later if the two discussed the wall Trump said: “It never came up.” Nieto painted a different picture; telling reporters that he (Nieto) brought up the subject and informed Mr. Trump that Mexico would not under any circumstances be paying for the wall.
So it came as a pleasant surprise to learn that the President of Mexico would be visiting the United States next week; to meet the president and discuss NAFTA and other matters of mutual interest.
As a lead up to the meeting Trump ordered congress to prepare appropriations to begin the immediate construction of the wall. Trump responded to a questioning media that he simply wanted to get started on the project and offered his assurances that “Mexico will pay us back…absolutely.”
Learning of Trump’s actions and remarks Nieto began to question whether there was any point in having the meeting as Mexico had no intentions of paying for the wall.
Staffers for both leaders had pretty well patched things up when Trump inexplicably tweeted that if Mexico refused to pay for the wall then there was probable not much point in having the meeting.
President Nieto promptly announced that he would not be coming to the US next week.
So…five days into his presidency President Trump has managed to damage relations with one of our top three trading partners and closest allies. To what end? With so many other important foreign policy issues on the table: North Korea, China, Russia, Syria, Iraq and the Middle East…one has to wonder why.
Lost on Trump the notion that countries and their leaders cannot be pushed around like politicians and CEOs. They have to save face with their constituents. Nieto’s people expect him to lead not bend his knee to the all-powerful Trump.
Trump is 0 for 2 and looked bad in both contests. I’m sure he considers both a personal win.
I’m equally certain both our allies and our enemies are watching closely.
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