THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump is using an “Art of the Deal” approach to get other nations to hand over cash to lower their tariffs.
President Trump’s tariff threats have turned into a play for cold, hard cash as he tries to leverage U.S. economic power to cajole other nations to make multibillion-dollar investments in order to maintain access to America’s market.
The president’s second-term trade agenda has clear echoes of his “Art of the Deal” approach, essentially demanding that trading partners show him the money in the form of investment pledges or else face astronomically high tariffs.
The financial promises give Mr. Trump the opportunity to flex his negotiating prowess in relatable terms and show off the splashy sums he is pulling into America, adding to the reality show intrigue of his trade agenda. As the Trump administration races to reach trade deals with dozens of countries ahead of a Thursday deadline, he has embraced a strategy that goes beyond opening international markets and reducing the U.S. trade deficit.
The tactic was on display last week as Mr. Trump and his team rolled out a blitz of new trade agreements before a self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. » | Alan Rappeport | Reporting from Washington | Monday, August 4, 2025
This is SHAMELESS behaviour by the president of the USA! This is tantamount to high society BEGGING! Isn't this a form of bribery? Isn't this corruption? Trump is sailing close to the wind! Clearly, the man is unworthy of the office of the Presidency. This behaviour STAINS the REPUTATION of America. One can only guess in whose pockets this begged money will end up! This is truly DISGUSTING! – © Mark Alexander
