Meanwhile, in North Korea

A gift for Dear Leader.

Public Domain Image via Wikipedia

Gee, nothing obvious about giving Trump a gift with his name on it and on a base made of gold.

It is interesting, and more than a little nauseating, to watch political and business elites realize that the best way to get to what they want from Trump is to flatter him and play to his ego. It was what was going on with the whole “Daddy” routine from NATO, as well as the EU president making positive noises about Trump’s deal-making prowess.

All of this feels like a combination of some real concessions to get Trump of their backs alongside a heaping helping of flattery and promises that may, or may not, ever actually come to fruition.

One thing is likely clear to these people: Trump likes to announce that he won and then move on to something else. He really isn’t a details person, shall we say.

This isn’t to say that a lot of the tariff policy isn’t real and isn’t a looming disaster, because it is.

Also: none of this is the way government should operate.

FILED UNDER: Democracy, Economics and Business, US Politics, , , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter and/or BlueSky.

Comments

  1. Scott says:

    Of course, that “gift” is now considered government property which Trump will attempt to steal when he leaves office.

    12
  2. Kathy says:

    This is what came to mind reading today’s post: Treasure bath

    2
  3. Jc says:

    It is a gift of fealty. These business leaders all need to do it to receive protections from their King. Even though Cook, Bezos and their ilk do not like said King, they bend the knee to maintain and improve their interests. Kinda sad.

    6
  4. Gustopher says:

    Given the wealth of everyone involved, this is the equivalent of Tim Cook handing Trump a nickel. Which just makes the whole thing even more pathetic.

    6
  5. Ken_L says:

    @Scott: Very droll, Scott. President Trump believes he is the government, therefore gifts like this become his personal property, which is only right and proper.

    1
  6. @Gustopher:

    IMO, a really sad i have is how excited Trump is about the waterlogged wooden nickel he got from Mr. Cook.

    1