Yesterday, Donald Trump signed NAFTA 2. Lawrence Martin writes that Trump was full of self congratulation:
At the White House Wednesday, he was a picture of contentment owing to a trade deal he was signing with Canada and Mexico.
The band played Hail to the Chief as he triumphantly arrived at the White House South Lawn. He rarely stopped grinning throughout the hour-long ceremony. He was ending what he hyperbolically called “the NAFTA nightmare.”
It’s a “momentous” occasion, Mr. Trump beamed. The new USMCA agreement replacing NAFTA was a “colossal victory” for the United States.
Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland weren't there. And Trump didn't have much to say about Canada:
During the ceremony, while signalling out dignitaries Mr. Trump asked, “Where is the Canadian contingent?” He paused and, referring to the old NAFTA, said, "You guys did a good job on us before this deal.”
That was a compliment to Brian Mulroney’s team who negotiated that pact, though trade experts don’t believe the U.S. side got hosed the way Mr. Trump does.
Trudeau and Freeland weren't there because the deal still has to be passed by the House. And there were also no Democrats there either. But maybe their absence was a good thing. When Donald Trump is on the stage, there's no room for anybody else.
Image: DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES
8 comments:
Coverage of these events really ought to be down to reporters from Fox, AON and Breitbart by now. I don't know why anyone else bothers - the president blathering on with self-praise and gaslighting us isn't news. Go cover the Senate trial or something.
Cap
The Trump Cult is now well established, Cap. Yesterday's event had only one purpose -- to buttress the cult.
I feel a profound weariness these days when it comes to anything Trump says, Owen. On the other hand, his base seems in a constant state of near-ecstasy. Blessed are those, I guess, gifted with limited cognition.
It really bugs me Owen that a new softwood agreement was ignored during this whole process. RG
Blessae are the ignorant, Lorne, for they shall inherit the hell they created -- and they won't know they're there.
It's an imperfect deal, RG. But, in retrospect -- considering the circus which is presently taking place -- it's a miracle that the deal got done.
Not having others there is a smart move. As fewer and fewer people pay him attention, he will become crazier and crazier. He fees on attention. Not attending is like sending a toddler to his room. Even at Davos this year, fewer people paid any attention to the child in the room or the thug in the room. We could call it a form of modern shunning.
He deserves shunning, e.a.f. Unfortunately, as the president, he's hard to ignore.
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