The trend of fighting bad publicity Former President Donald Trump has intensified this war against critics. In doing this, he’s been very extreme, firing any officials who contradict his self-serving narrative. The way his administration has repeatedly chosen to rely on loyal but opaque supporters has dire consequences for truth and transparency in governance. As Trump prepares for a multilateral meeting with European leaders scheduled for 3 pm today, global trade experts express skepticism over his economic policies, particularly regarding tariffs.
In particular, Trump’s approach to tariffs has faced criticism. Experts have noted that it is his unpredictable and undisciplined approach that makes these harmful policies even more ineffective. Economist Michael Strain noted how the increasing costs of production are hurting US manufacturing firms. This dramatic uptick in expenses, in turn, saps manufacturers of their competitiveness. There will be winners and losers, and the losers will win by a greater margin than the winners. Such critiques come at a time when Trump is projecting confidence in American manufacturing, with White House spokesperson Kush Desai asserting, “The ‘Made in USA’ label is set to resume its global dominance under President Trump.”
The former president’s approach marks a stark departure from the previous administration’s strategies. Rather, he has left behind Joe Biden’s discussed, more diplomatic “carrot-and-sticks” approach in favor of a much more aggressive, punitive attitude. This shift has raised significant questions. How sustainable are Trump’s tariff policies, what will be their effects on global trade dynamics in the long term?
The ramifications of Trump’s tariffs go further than the economic aspect. His administration recently announced plans to stop issuing exit visas to children from Gaza requiring life-saving medical treatment. This decision underscores the disastrous nationwide impact of his policies. This decision came in response to online, behind-the-scenes pressure from far-right influencer Laura Loomer, who is deeply connected to Trump.
In the meantime, Trump is preparing for his visit to European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Whether it was his original rhetoric, which is still causing chaos today. He has said things that imply that Zelenskyy has the ability to end the war with Russia whenever he wants to. “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Trump remarked.
More broadly, Trump’s statements on Taiwan point to a chaotic foreign policy picture. This includes his dubious public statement that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised him there would be no invasion of Taiwan. So long as he is in office, this promise holds true. This claim flies in the face of wider geopolitical realities and leads to skepticism about the success of Trump’s extraordinary foreign policy leaps and bounds.
Now, as we get closer to the 2026 midterm elections, Trump doubles down on attacks specifically targeting mail-in ballots and voting machines. This action is indicative of his continued dedication to remaking the electoral processes. He recently announced plans to lead a movement against mail-in ballots, describing them as “Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.” This position is consistent with his long-term strategy to energize his supporters by pursuing election integrity matters.
You’d be entirely right to wonder how safe this is. Andre Fa’aoso, a Yale student concerned about potential changes in immigration policies, noted, “I have not been thinking too far into the future because I know policy settings are subject to change overnight.” His comments show the deep-seated fear and confusion felt by everyone caught up in Trump’s rapidly-evolving, contradictory policy agenda.
The upcoming meeting will further test Trump’s ability to navigate complex international relationships while adhering to his controversial domestic agenda. Germany has already expressed concerns about tariffs affecting its economy, with a government spokesman stating, “In particular, car tariffs must be reduced quickly as agreed.”