In the grand theater of global economic summits, where leaders pretend to solve problems they don’t quite understand, President Trump once again takes center stage. Remember 2018? Back then, he was the star of his own reality show, urging the Group of 7 to cozy up to Russia while throwing a tantrum over tariffs like a toddler denied a toy.
Fast forward to this year’s G7 in Alberta, and not much has changed. Trump’s quest to reduce America’s military footprint abroad sounds noble until you realize it aligns suspiciously with his habit of alienating allies and picking trade fights. Who needs friends when you can have a trade war, right?
Now, Trump faces the self-imposed Herculean task of finalizing trade deals by July. His trade advisor’s “90 deals in 90 days” promise is either a brilliant strategy or an optimistic delusion. So far, they’ve managed to scribble some framework notes with Britain and China, but the rest of the world is still waiting for something tangible—like waiting for Godot, but with tariffs.
The efficacy of tariffs as a negotiation tool is as uncertain as the weather in April. Legal challenges loom large, and if deals don’t materialize, Trump’s administration might just crank up tariffs again, sending markets into a frenzy. It’s like watching a cat play with a ball of yarn, except the yarn is the global economy.
Before jetting off to the summit, Trump assured reporters that “a few new trade deals” were on the horizon. Whether this is genuine optimism or the same kind of wishful thinking that promises unicorns and rainbows remains to be seen.
As we sit on the edge of our seats, waiting for the next act in this geopolitical drama, one can’t help but wonder: Is this all part of a master plan, or just another chapter in the annals of economic absurdity?
