Trump says his tariff revenues will both pay down America’s $37 trillion debt and possibly fund a public “dividend,” but Treasury data shows they fall short of even covering monthly interest costs.
In exclusive interviews with Fortune, Wharton’s Professor Joao Gomes and AEI’s Desmond Lachman warned that while tariffs may slow debt growth, they won’t meaningfully reduce it.
Markets are largely skeptical of Trump’s math despite some unconventional revenue wins.
Best guess - is he so stupid he believes this or so dishonest he pretends?
Yes, he lies literally non-stop, so that’s always the safe bet, but with this tariff thing in particular, he seems to sincerely believe that they’re some kind of magic, and he fairly obviously has no idea how they actually work. So it seems at least possible that he genuinely believes this.
Which would take a special kind of stupid, but if there’s anyone capable of it, it’s Trump.
Trump’s not capable of much, but he’s definitely able to be simultaneously stupid and dishonest.
Stupid? Would you consider someone who stares at the sun without eye protection or recommends drinking bleach to prevent diseases stupid?
Only the most stable genius.
Stares at the sun during an eclipse. Need to make it explicit how dumb he is.
Depends. who is recommending that to whom?
Krasnov does whatever he’s been told recently. He doesn’t give half a shit what’s true. As in truely doesn’t know or care what’s true.
Based on his actual behavior, his marching orders have been to weaken the US seconomy, betray allies (especially in alliances that might constrain Russia), and destroy US soft power in science, education and culture.
What I understand he has been fixed on tariffs since the 80’s. Plus this also the man who bankrupted 3 casinos. And those are supposed to be guaranteed cash machines.
And ultimately, for someone doing as much damage as Trump, questions of his intentions are irrelevant. He must be stopped.