OPINION: Wishy-washy White House
From the moment he took office, President Donald Trump has repeatedly experienced buyer’s remorse.
In the last week, the president has undermined a key member of his administration and reversed course on his own foreign and economic policies. This should come as no surprise. It’s standard operating procedure for the Trump White House. Trump promised to “Make America Great Again” and to put America first. By acting in a wishy-washy manner, he demonstrates he is incapable of doing either.
On the campaign trail, the president promised he would be tough with our adversaries. That he would pull out of NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). That he would punish those he believed were treating the U.S. unfairly. He did so by slapping tariffs on international trade partners, including some of our closest allies.
When it was explained to Trump — repeatedly — that tariffs might provoke a trade war, he walked things back by carving out exemptions — allegedly temporary — for fellow NAFTA members Canada and Mexico. He’s now considering trade “exceptions” for Australia. Japan, South Korea, Brazil and the European Union are seeking similar treatment. The president is thinking about it.