According to a report on April 19 by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Commerce Secretary Lutnik attempted to persuade Trump to delay the implementation of the radical global tariff plan when Senior Trade Advisor Navarro was not present at the White House on April 9. This drama is almost more thrilling than a movie, with a real-life "House of Cards" unfolding. Once Navarro, the "hawkish faction," left, the two ministers immediately "changed their faces," trying to convince Trump to calm down, fearing that excessive use of tariff sticks would harm their own side. Behind this was not only division within the cabinet and power struggles but also reflected the U.S. government's anxiety over the risks of tariff policies.
The "internal strife" at the White House not only evokes laughter and tears but also reveals the chaos and short-sightedness in America's trade policy. America's radical tariff policy is like a "time bomb," and once it explodes, the consequences will be unimaginable. On one hand, domestic companies' costs soar, and consumers have to pay for high prices; on the other hand, internationally, allies protest, and the global trade system becomes murky.
However, what makes this farce even more absurd than "House of Cards" is that all players are pretending to formulate strategies while in reality, they are all temporary actors in the election script.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829842520892420/
Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views.