Even as the reverberations from the US’s tariffs were still being felt in the stock markets on Monday as traders reacted to the most significant protectionist shift in more than a century, Trump was doubling down on his plans. He expressed both dissociation with the fallout of his actions and a sense of victimhood.
The martyr complex is in fashion. In the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine, Putin used a false narrative of Russian victimhood, drawing on a selective interpretation of his country’s history. If you believe Putin – and many Russians still do – Moscow has always been a blameless victim of foreign aggression, taking in the Nazi invasion in the Second World War, all the way back to the Polish-Lithuanian occupation of the Kremlin in the 17th century.
He successfully transformed the federal criminal case into the attempts to overturn the 2020 US presidential election and his involvement in the attack on the Capitol from a prosecution into a politically motivated persecution in the eyes of his supporters.
Whether the US enters a recession is yet to play out. But blaming victimhood to unleash economic carnage around the world is even more ironic when the poorest nations will be worst hit by the plans.
With nearly a quarter of its adult population suffering HIV/Aids and already struggling to access antiretroviral medicines, even a small hit to the southern African nation’s economy will have life-limiting implications. Combined with the cuts to Usaid and the UK’s foreign aid budget to boost defence spending, Africa is looking at an HIV epidemic running out of control. That makes Trump’s use of medicine as a metaphor for tariffs even grislier.
But psychologists also recommend dealing with narcissistic personality traits by establishing your own boundaries. That strategy will have to remain true even if Trump decides to make like he’s the good guy and pause tariffs.
The overall goal is the complete removal of tariffs – ideally through agreeing a form of trade deal, but Starmer is keen to set out his boundaries.
“When it comes to the US, I will only strike a deal if it’s in out national interest, if it’s the right thing to do for our national interest, if it’s the right thing to do for our security, if it protects the pounds in the pocket that working people across the country work so hard to earn for their family.”
Perhaps the Government will also re-nationalise the Chinese-owned British Steel works at Scunthorpe or provide a cash injection to modernise the plant. Starmer certainly dropped a strong hint the Government will step in.
square KITTY DONALDSON
Reeves has undermined the moral case for welfare cuts
Read MoreStarmer was asked whether he will change the fiscal rules, perhaps to borrow to spur British investment. With an eye on the bond markets, he said those rules provide the certainty that’s needed for investment. But politically, if he were to borrow more, the Prime Minister would have a happy Labour Party. His MPs have spent the last few months calling for increased spending to spur growth. Businesses, unsure of Trump’s next move and the tariffs’ impact, might be inclined to put investment decisions on ice unless the Government spurs confidence. That in turn would weigh on growth, which Starmer has put at the centre of his economic plan.
“These are examples of what we can do at speed, but they’re not the extent of my ambition when it comes to car manufacturing or any other business or sector,” Starmer said after announcing Monday’s help to industry. “If we can go further and faster we will do so. I’m not indicating they’re a particular measure, but I am indicating an openness of mind to go further. And today’s announcement should be seen as what they are, which is a down payment on the way that we’re going to be doing business.”
As he finished speaking at the car plant, workers with worried faces crowded the premier. Goodness knows they have reason to be scared. The UK economy is going to be hit. But with narcissists everywhere you look, Starmer needs to be the grown-up in the room.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump and Putin thrive on victimhood – it’s time Starmer set some boundaries )
Also on site :