Mob boss?
A Convicted Criminal running the Store?
“Show Me the MONEY!’
The President of the United States of America….
If you’re a foreign leader or a CEO about to meet with President Trump — or if you want to avoid his vengeance — come bearing gifts.
Why it matters: Government officials and business leaders around the world have gotten the message and are strategizing about how to give Trump real or perceived wins to try to smooth out any relationship bumps with the new administration, and avoid economic or legal penalties.
- Some privately have compared him to a mob boss: Tributes are required, and the shakedowns come with the full weight of the U.S. government.
Zoom in: Many foreign and domestic corporations alike fear tariffs and potential changes to the tax code this year, and have tried to assuage Trump with offerings.
- Apple, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Nvidia, Softbank and more have announced large investments in the U.S. since Trump was elected in November.
- Some of those investments were already in the works, but splashy public announcements gave Trump the chance to boast that he was bringing business back to America.
- After Hyundai this week announced a $21 billion investment in the U.S., Trump praised the company and made clear what the company would get in return: “Hyundai won’t have to pay any tariffs.”
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to send 10,000 troops to the U.S. border and has helped Trump bring down illegal border crossings — a key campaign promise of his.
- As a result, Mexico has had a much better relationship with the Trump White House than Canada, which has taken more of a stick than carrot approach.
- The president has responded with myriad tariffs, economic threats and personal insults toward Canada — and repeatedly has suggested Canada should be the U.S.’s 51st state.
Meta, which owns Facebook, agreed to a $22 million settlement in late January to help fund Trump’s presidential library after Trump had sued the company for kicking him off the platform. Meta’s founder, chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was among the tech titans at Trump’s inauguration.
- Even X, owned by key Trump ally Elon Musk, agreed to pay $10 millionin a settlement for booting Trump from the site — then known as Twitter — after he inspired the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
The other side: Trump and his team believe they’re just using the levers of power in ways that other presidents didn’t, but should have….
Note….
Donald J. Trump was/IS NOT a politican….
He IS a guy who has walked thru life using other people’s money….
And being a convicted criminal has NOT stopped his act….
image….Chip Somodevilla/Getty
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