Man of steel: Trump's secret fantasies realized

[DonViejo]

Mike Allen, Jonathan Swan 3 hours ago

President Trump has long mused about doing what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. He wanted tariffs on steel and aluminum — big ones — now. He wanted to negotiate with Congress — in public, on his court, surprise and shock, all for the cameras. He wanted to ditch any P.C. pretenses and consider Singapore-style death for all drug dealers. He wanted to play by his rules alone.

Why it matters: His staff at times managed to talk him off the ledge. No more. Tired of the restraints, tired of his staff, Trump is reveling in ticking off just about every person who serves him.

Trump hates rigidity and rules. He has grown to especially hate Kelly’s rigid rules, so he purposely blew off Kelly’s process and announced planned tariffs in a haphazard way.

There are signs Trump has also had it with his National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, who he complains is long-winded and inflexible. MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace reported Trump is ready to bounce him.

The tariffs call was also a big middle finger to economic adviser Gary Cohn, who has fought for more than one year to kill tariffs that would provoke a trade war or higher prices for consumers, a de facto tax increase. Cohn, who stuck around to fight tariffs, now seems more likely to leave.

more
https://www.axios.com/trump-tariffs-steel-aluminum-fantasies-white-house-staff-9640596f-4396-47e3-a478-b967ce02ba01.html

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Follow the money

These tariffs hugely benefit some of Trump’s financiers State Side. And I will bet that Russia sees a windfall too.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Erik Prince was big into aluminum

I'm sure you're shocked by that.

[riversedge]

2. I am sorry to see McMaster go. Can't blame him.

[Orsino]

4. "Hates rigidity and rules" just means he's lazy and doesn't understand things.

Let's not elevate it to a political philosophy.

[smirkymonkey]

5. All of these people have been the only thing keeping a lid on his insanity. As they drop off one

by one he becomes more and more dangerous. The republicans need to act NOW and get this madman out of the White House for everyone's sake, including their own. He will drag them down as surely as he will drag the rest of us down.