Who does he think he is?
First, President Trump said that he planned to impose a 50 percent tariff on all Brazilian imports, partly in retaliation for what he sees as a “witch hunt” against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for attempting a coup.
In a letter to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Mr. Trump wrote that the new tariffs would take effect on Aug. 1. “The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace.”
He’s just threatening countries left and right for things that are none of his business. Not only is he attempting to dominate all the cities and states of America, he apparently thinks he can order other countries around too. The only sovereign on this earth is Donald Trump.
Brazil’s president isn’t having it:
A few hours later, Mr. Lula said that Brazil would reciprocate against the tariffs. “Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being abused by anyone,” he said in a statement. He added that the case against Mr. Bolsonaro “is the sole responsibility of the Brazilian Judiciary.”
The quickly escalating dispute has the potential for major economic and political repercussions, especially in Brazil. The United States is Brazil’s second largest trading partner after China, and Mr. Trump appears to be demanding an end to Mr. Bolsonaro’s prosecution to lift the steep tariffs.
This is completely outrageous. And look at the absurd language. Do they have 6th graders writing these things?
In his letter, Mr. Trump said the 50 percent tariff was needed to “have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country” and “to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime.”
He is also completely full of shit on the trade relationship with Brazil.
Mr. Trump also incorrectly said the United States had a trade deficit with Brazil. For years, the United States has generally maintained a trade surplus with Brazil. The two countries had about $92 billion in trade together last year, with the United States enjoying a $7.4 billion surplus in the relationship. The top products traded are aircraft, oil, machinery and iron.
He also threw in that he’s issuing the tariffs because Brazil isn’t allowing tech companies to spew lies like they do here, which may be a concern but it has zero to do with trade. Lula said that Brazil’s courts are enforcing Brazilian law, apparently t=not realizing that the only law on this planet is Emperor Trump’s edicts.
Needless to say, it’s really all about him:
Mr. Trump publicly criticized the criminal case against Mr. Bolsonaro, which focuses on the former president’s attempts to hold on to power after losing Brazil’s 2022 election. He drew comparisons to his own criminal charges after losing the 2020 election. “It happened to me, times 10,” Mr. Trump wrote online on Monday. “I’ll be watching the WITCH HUNT of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters, very closely.”
Mr. Lula quickly fired back. “I think it’s very wrong and very irresponsible for a president to be threatening others on social media,” the Brazilian president told reporters on Monday. “He needs to know that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”
Emperor Trump doesn’t care what they want.
He really believes that these tariffs are a license to rule the whole world. Since he doesn’t understand them or the ramifications of his actions it appears that no one is taking him seriously but you have to wonder if that’s going to hold true. He’s getting worse by the day and you have to wonder when this little game is finally going to explode.