The Trump administration is practicing Carmen Sandiego economic theory

President Trump sent out another round of passive-aggressive tariff letters to foreign leaders Wednesay, which he posted to Truth Social so the world could marvel at his negotiating prowess.

He worded each letter exactly the same, using Find and Replace to change country names, so Cockburn will just quote the Libya letter here: “It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Libya, despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country. Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far.”

However, Trump added, “our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.” So here comes a 30 percent tariff starting August 1, and if Libya, for example, tries to retaliate, then the US will slap a penalty atop that tariff. It’s Trump’s signature hardball-softball friendly jerky boy approach to which Cockburn has grown accustomed. The oddness comes from the countries he’s chosen: the Philippines, Brunei, Moldova, Algeria, Iraq, Libya and Sri Lanka, a geographic rogues gallery of minor economic players. Has anyone been fretting about the trade deficit with Moldova? Well, maybe in Moldova. 

It’s almost as though someone in the State Department has been playing Geoguessr and decided to apply the last few days of activity to tariff letters. The Trump administration is practicing Carmen Sandiego economic theory. Where in the world are the tariffs going to strike next? “This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!” Trump said in the letter. With the stakes that high, we definitely need Carmen Sandiego.