Donald Trump took to twitter once more to defend trade tariffs, ahead of the President’s meeting with EU commissioner, Jean-Claude Juncker.
The 45th President of the United States took to the social media platform to praise the high tariffs he had recently imposed as “the greatest”.
He tweeted:
Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
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A few hours later, Trump once again alluded to the impending meeting over trade with the EU, which is set to take place in Washington today.
The European Union is coming to Washington tomorrow to negotiate a deal on Trade. I have an idea for them. Both the U.S. and the E.U. drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies! That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! Hope they do it, we are ready – but they won’t!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2018
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The US administration has already introduced high tariffs to EU steel and aluminium exports, and is also currently embroiled in a trade war with China.
This latest series of tweets from Trump revealed that there is no sign of the US administration relenting on trade just yet.
Another tweet from the billionaire President read:
Every time I see a weak politician asking to stop Trade talks or the use of Tariffs to counter unfair Tariffs, I wonder, what can they be thinking? Are we just going to continue and let our farmers and country get ripped off? Lost $817 Billion on Trade last year. No weakness!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2018
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Aside from an ongoing trade war and increasing pressure from EU nations, Trump is also facing mounting scrutiny domestically.
His recent summit with Russian President Putin, where he repeatedly denied Russian interference in the 2016 election despite unanimous agreement among the US intelligence agencies, prompted outrage from Democrats and Republicans unlike.
Moreover, the recent release of a recording in which Trump can be heard discussing with his lawyer a payout to Playboy model Karen McDougal two months prior to the election, despite having vehemently denied the allegations, has prompted further media controversy.
Whilst famously President Clinton was impeached for lying about an affair in 1998, Trump’s ability to get away with seemingly anything has led him to be named ‘Teflon Trump’, because nothing seems to stick.
Ultimately however, gaging whether Trump’s popularity remains resilient will be best tested by the performance of Republicans in the upcoming mid-term elections.