It was the pose Vladimir Putin chose to have replicated in the flattering and “beautiful” portrait he gave to Trump, which Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said left the US president “clearly touched”. The US President liked the original image so much he has named a new fragrance after his entreaty to the crowd as the picture was taken: “Fight Fight Fight.”
Megan Cassella of cable channel CNBC asked pointedly: “Mr. President, Wall Street analysts have coined a new term called the ‘TACO trade’. They’re saying ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ on your tariff threats, and that’s why markets are higher this week. What’s your response to that?”
Then he recovered by offering an alternative, still flattering, vision of himself as the artist of the deal, the negotiator who changes the details of his position only to come out on top.
As for the European Union: “After I did what I did, they said, ‘We’ll meet any time you want.’” He suggested his moves had revived the American economy whereas “six months ago this country was stone cold dead”.
Other politicians have rued the day they ventured up to the counter. Back in 1984 Walter Mondale all but demolished Gary Hart, his rival for the Democratic nomination, by deploying the Wendy Burgers’ slogan – “where’s the beef?” – to point to Hart’s apparent lack of substance. Inthe UK, then chancellor George Osborne had to U-turn when Greggs sausage rolls were threatened by the pasty tax in his “omnishambles” Budget.
Until this revelation, he had been thought to favour the Big Mac. His critics may find this reported preference for Burger King’s Whopper apt for the politician not known for speaking the gospel truth.
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He is currently confronting his neighbours across the southern border over migrants, drugs and trade. He took much the same approach during his first presidential campaign in 2016, when he caused offence by accusing Mexico of sending “rapists” and “criminals” into the US. In an attempt at damage limitation, he posted a picture of himself on social media with a full plate and the caption: “Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are in the Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!”.
However, voters took him at his word. Last year Trump’s support from Hispanic Americans was up by 14 points to 46 per cent.
California was one of the 14 states that were party to the successful suit. Their victory was short-lived. After the White House lodged an appeal, the tariff plan will stay in place until it is ruled on by higher legal authority, most likely the US Supreme Court. Trolls have used AI to mock the President with a new, chicken-augmented look, but Trump may even feel emboldened to press on.
It is too soon to say if Wall Street is right. Trump is pressing on with his broad economic vision regardless of setbacks. Elon Musk has said he dislikes the deficit-increasing “big, beautiful bill”. Now he has been sent away from Washington DC, no longer Trump’s best buddy. Meanwhile, that bill continues to “spook Wall Street”, in the FT’s words.
It’s a score draw so far, in a battle fought on Trump’s territory. Once again he has parried insults, and made himself and his appetites the centre of attention.
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