What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[HVC]

If only the Praetorian would do the right thing. Not that Vance would be much better.

[Valmy]

Yeah they did promise to tank the economy. I tried to get people to notice that, but they just didn't believe it. Republicans can literally promise to destroy the country and people will vote for them anyway.

And hell they STILL don't believe it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/tariffs-catch-traders-off-guard-why-stock-markets-are-still-misjudging-trump-and-5-other-things-to-know-today/ar-AA1AdzAC

Tariffs Catch Traders Off Guard. Why Stock Markets Are Still Misjudging Trump and 5 Other Things to Know Today.

So President Donald Trump meant what he said all along and tariffs weren't an empty threat.

The realization finally hit investors Monday and the fallout was brutal. The S&P 500 had its worst day of the year Monday and has now fallen 2.5% since Trump returned to the White House in January.

The index's gains since the election in November are just about intact but it's hard to see them lasting much longer if the levies keep coming. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett is concerned, too—he said Sunday that tariffs are an act of war and could cause inflation.

The market's conviction that Trump's trade strategy was just one big—but ultimately harmless—game of chicken has suddenly evaporated. The 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a further 10% on China spooked investors but the ramifications don't end there.

All the president's other threats must now be seen in a new, more serious, light—including his promise to target the European Union next. Stocks across the Atlantic have marched to record highs but were selling off Tuesday. Trump's decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine made sentiment even worse—another seismic global development for those bothering to keep count at this point.

Yet, after underplaying the risk for so long, there are signs traders still don't fully believe what's in front of them. The Canadian dollar and Mexican peso fell Monday but are still trading significantly higher than the lows they reached early last month, which suggests at least some optimism.

Maybe the market thinks the 25% levies will be short-lived or it's just peak stubbornness at this point and a refusal to accept Wall Street might have been wrong.

Regardless, it leaves stocks exposed to further shocks. The world is changing rapidly and the market is playing catch up.

The fact that Republicans have tanked the economy virtually every time they have been in office for a significant period of time since Eisenhower never seems to sink in. And this guy has been calling for policies that obviously would tank the economy for years and people STILL don't believe he is bad for the economy.

[Valmy]

If only the Praetorian would do the right thing. Not that Vance would be much better.

When Vance says insane things, people might listen to him instead of just dreaming about how Vance is actually smart.

[Syt]

Yeah they did promise to tank the economy. I tried to get people to notice that, but they just didn't believe it. Republicans can literally promise to destroy the country and people will vote for them anyway.

Well, economic collapse created the grounds for the oligarchic regime of Putin in Russia. Truly a model to aspire to.

[mongers]

One interesting thing I hadn't thought of till just a short time ago: Unlike his first term, his family is nowhere to be seen. There are no random positions for Ivanka and Jerod or Eric and Don, Jr. I feel like at his current age, Barron would even have a posting if he were running things like Term 1. They are all conspicuous by their absence. That kind of leads me to believe that Trump has very little control of things and is more being directed by others in his dementia haze.

Good observation, or maybe he's that objectionable a person even his own family can't stand him?

[Valmy]

Yeah he stopped doing the nepotism thing but somehow created a regime that is even more corrupt than before.

[Valmy]

Can somebody explain to me how these tariffs work Constitutionally? Wasn't NAFTA passed by Congress? If the President can just ignore it and do something else anytime he feels like it, what was the point of having Congress vote on it?

Congress passed bills for sanctions of Russia and aiding Ukraine yet apparently the President can just not do those things if he feels like it.

So what exactly is the role of the legislative branch in our government?

[Syt]

Can somebody explain to me how these tariffs work Constitutionally? Wasn't NAFTA passed by Congress? If the President can just ignore it and do something else anytime he feels like it, what was the point of having Congress vote on it?

Congress passed bills for sanctions of Russia and aiding Ukraine yet apparently the President can just not do those things if he feels like it.

So what exactly is the role of the legislative branch in our government?

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-proceeds-with-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-and-mexico/

SAFEGUARDING THE NATION: President Donald J. Trump is proceeding with implementing tariffs on Canada and Mexico under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to combat the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, including our public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking.

I guess?

[Valmy]

Ah ok so this is a "national emergency" I guess. That explains all the fentanyl talk.

Seems about as weak a constitutional argument as Charles I's ship money.

I guess if we are always in an emergency then he can have his personal rule without parliament...er...Congress.

[Syt]

[Valmy]

Free speech? Compelled to not wear masks? I would say that is against the Bill of Rights but there is probably some emergency which means it does not apply.

[crazy canuck]

Can somebody explain to me how these tariffs work Constitutionally? Wasn't NAFTA passed by Congress? If the President can just ignore it and do something else anytime he feels like it, what was the point of having Congress vote on it?

Congress passed bills for sanctions of Russia and aiding Ukraine yet apparently the President can just not do those things if he feels like it.

So what exactly is the role of the legislative branch in our government?

I can answer the question regarding the tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Trump is invoking a power the executive has to impose tariffs when national security is at risk.  That is why he keeps going on about fentanyl. It is the fig leaf he is using to impose the tariffs.

In order for the tariffs to remain in place, he must obtain congressional approval, but I forget exactly when that must occur. It's a matter of months.

The question is what happens if he doesn't. Like so much of your constitutional framework there is a lot of doubt whether it will actually function properly for all.

[crazy canuck]

Of everything that is occurring, this  is the most disturbing.

[Oexmelin]

I fear universities and colleges will dutifully comply.

[grumbler]

Can somebody explain to me how these tariffs work Constitutionally? Wasn't NAFTA passed by Congress? If the President can just ignore it and do something else anytime he feels like it, what was the point of having Congress vote on it?

Congress passed bills for sanctions of Russia and aiding Ukraine yet apparently the President can just not do those things if he feels like it.

So what exactly is the role of the legislative branch in our government?

The president has some "emergency" powers granted by law, and he gets to determine what is an emergency.

The legislative branch of the US will not carry out its constitutional duty of serving as a check on presidential power so long as spineless Republicans retain a majority. Th problem is that, even if the Democrats win a majority of both houses in 2026, the USSC will continue to promote the Imperial Presidency that can ignore the law.