Friday, March 17, 2017

"We're a Very Powerful Company"


That little Freudian slip from the lips of the Cheeto Benito at the Merkel-Trump press conference just minutes ago. Trump was responding to a German reporter's question - to Merkel - about American isolationist leanings. Instead, Trump replied and, of course, ensured he got out the "fake news" response.

A weird press conference. Trump opened by praising Germany's job training programmes without connecting them in any way to German-American relations. He then launched into the standard "countries must pay the U.S. what they owe" as he portrayed America as a land much abused by the rest of the world. From there he moved on to radical Islam, ISIS and linked both to immigration security.

Merkel's remarks were challenging. The White House feed left her mic on full which meant that Merkel's remarks, in German, and the translator's delivery were canceled each other out.

In one clear moment, the German chancellor seemed to take a dig at Trump when she said, "It's much better to talk to one another and not about one another," which seemed a response to repeated disparaging remarks about Merkel from the Great Orange Bloat.

Earlier today, Germany's economy minister took a more direct swipe at Trump over his threat to impose a 35% tariff on German cars.

"There are procedures laid out there because in the WTO agreements it is clearly laid out that you're not allowed to take more than 2.5% taxes on imports of cars," Ms Zypries told Deutschlandfunk radio - Mr Trump has suggested a 35% levy.

"It wouldn't be the first time that Mr Trump has lost in the courts," she added.


Merkel was also quick to point out that BMW's plant in the U.S. exported more cars to world markets than Ford and GM combined. Ouch, feel the burn Trumpy.

Another German reporter asked about Trump's allegation that the Brits spied on him on behalf of Obama. He didn't back down. More tellingly, he used it to salvage something he could say he had in common with Merkel.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Re,

He then launched into the standard "countries must pay the U.S. what they owe" as he portrayed America as a land much abused by the rest of the world.

This is standard procedure for the rich and indeed the better off .
The richer and more comfortable many become the more they deny the less fortunate the same opportunities.
They also blame the less fortunate the opportunity to actually rise above poverty and mediocrity.

It's the Greedy Bastards Club all over again.

TB