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Trump tells Davos elite to invest in U.S. or face tariffs

72 Comments
By ZEKE MILLER, JOSH BOAK and JAMEY KEATEN

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72 Comments

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Trump has a tremendous lack of imagination.

15 ( +22 / -7 )

No mention of the reiterated threats to Canada to become a US state from the President of the United States?

Threats, coercion, aggression, posturing, bullying....buuuut, the US is a pillar of Democracy and World Peace according to the Rose Coloured Glasses set.

At least the people present had a good old laugh about it.

10 ( +20 / -10 )

He is all around.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

someone should slip trump a note that only 7% or less of oil imported to the u.s. comes from opec.

canada and mexico provide most of it because u.s. refineries use heavy crude for gasoline.

oil prices were expected to decline anyway this year. duh.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Regardless of what you think about The Donald, if you care about national sovereignty then this is only a positive. In fact, this is EXACTLY what a leader is supposed to do - stand up to the sick corrupt globalist elites pulling the strings and put their own country first.

If anything, it's a shame more countries don't have leaders who feel they can reject the WEF's authoritarian control and actually FIGHT for their people, instead of selling out to globalist agendas that only make a handful of rich richer and the rest of us poorer.

GOOD RIDDANCE to the agenda of twisted unelected bureaucrats who think they can dictate policy to sovereign nations. The future is indeed looking bright.

-18 ( +9 / -27 )

Not now with tax on Mexico and Canadian oil,his instability will cause Wall Street to cradle

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Trump has tremendous ambition. When he refers to tariffs and "pay(ing) down debt", that obviously refers to the forecast 'external revenue service', which will collect money from foreign companies and governments to bolster the Uncle Sam's bottom line.

This is a plan to actually pay down the whopping $36 trillion national debt, which is quite ambitious as no one in decades has seriously come up with any realistic proposition; let alone implement it.

This is what all empires do: squeeze all their satellites like an orange, demand tributes etc because serious, sovereign competitors (sometimes branded adversaries) are not going to be plundered. May not be imaginative but a good shake down is coming.

-13 ( +7 / -20 )

he won’t put a tariff on oil. no one is that stupid.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Trump commanded the attention of world political and business leaders today, and owned them.

-13 ( +6 / -19 )

he won’t put a tariff on oil. no one is that stupid.

He can put them on other items.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

No mention of the reiterated threats to Canada to become a US state from the President of the United States?

It was mentioned apparently, and the audience reacted as you might expect.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Trump has made radical statements such as "I want Canada to be part of America" ​​and "I want Greenland to be American territory!", but unlike China and Russia, he has not mobilized his military.

They're annoying. Communist countries that violate Japan's airspace and territorial waters every day.

If OPEC is raising oil prices too much, then they should impose tariffs.

America can produce enough crude oil domestically.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

stand up to the sick corrupt globalist elites pulling the strings

Trump is in bed with the world's richest men - if they aren't the globalist elites, who are they?

Oooh, "pulling the strings" - the shadowy figures in the background who secretly control everything. I get your dog whistle now. I bet you consider George Soros to be one of them.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Oooh, "pulling the strings" - the shadowy figures in the background who secretly control everything. I get your dog whistle now. I bet you consider George Soros to be one of them.

Look, you can blow George Soros' whistle as much as you like - but newsflash: questioning global elites who openly boast about influencing policies is no longer taboo, my friend.

If you're so allergic to facts, maybe stick to your echo chamber where accountability is just a conspiracy theory.

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

Trump is in bed with the world's richest men - if they aren't the globalist elites, who are they?

I think they’ve been told to dislike the elites apart from the elites they’ve been told to like.

It’s not much more difficult than that.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

US population: 335 million. RotW population: 7,665 million.

Just pivot away from the US for a bit. Leave Trump to do his own thing.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

bass4funkToday  07:14 am JST

he won’t put a tariff on oil. no one is that stupid.

He can put them on other items.

yes, because he is that stupid.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Jay

GOOD RIDDANCE to the agenda of twisted unelected bureaucrats who think they can dictate policy to sovereign nations. The future is indeed looking bright.

And yet Musk is dictating policy to the US...

8 ( +13 / -5 )

yes, because he is that stupid.

And yet, these countries are all terrified of Trump threatening them with tariffs. When the U.S. sneezes, everyone catches a cold.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

JJE

This is a plan to actually pay down the whopping $36 trillion national debt, which is quite ambitious as no one in decades has seriously come up with any realistic proposition; let alone implement it.

And neither has Trump. Looks like he isn't the only one who doesn't understand tariffs.

This is what all empires do: squeeze all their satellites like an orange, demand tributes etc because serious, sovereign competitors (sometimes branded adversaries) are not going to be plundered. May not be imaginative but a good shake down is coming.

That's old school thinking where nobody wins. The creation of the WTO eliminates all the trade fighting and makes trade simple and efficient where everybody wins. I doubt that Trump understands the WTO.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Trump has tremendous ambition. When he refers to tariffs and "pay(ing) down debt", that obviously refers to the forecast 'external revenue service', which will collect money from foreign companies and governments to bolster the Uncle Sam's bottom line.

What is telling about Jupiter's ignorance of history and of how the US Government works is that his so-called "External Revenue Service" not only already exists but is one of the oldest agencies in the Federal Government. Until recently it was known as US Customs, not called Customs and Border Protection. The Customs service was founded to collect tariffs and customs duties on imported goods. That was their raison d'etre. They controlled the Revenue Cutter Service who's duty was to find and stop smugglers who were avoiding paying customs, seizing their ships and goods and arresting the crews. The Revenue Cutter Service would later merge with the Lighthouse Service to become the US Coast Guard, still part of the Treasury Department along with US Customs. Jupiter doesn't need to create a new agency. One already exists, unless of course he doesn't really want to cut waste from the Federal budget.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

 When the U.S. sneezes, everyone catches a cold.

Fortunately, the other countries who catch this cold aren't gutting their medical research and/or trying to get tinfoil hat weirdoes confirmed as health secretary, so they know how to treat it.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

he won’t put a tariff on oil. no one is that stupid.

Why not? America doesn't need foreign oil anyway. Drill baby, drill.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

bass4funk

And yet, these countries are all terrified of Trump threatening them with tariffs.

That's because if you start a trade war, everybody loses. Which is why the WTO was created.

Trump's Dunning-Kruger ignorance about how trade works will push the world back to the days of trade wars and everyone will lose.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

He can put them on other items

All the dingalings will end up paying more - not the countries that he impsoes tarriffs on. He understands nothing about businesses. Well, nothing about profitable ones, anyway.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

That's because if you start a trade war, everybody loses. Which is why the WTO was created. 

And?

Trump's Dunning-Kruger ignorance about how trade works will push the world back to the days of trade wars and everyone will lose.

Ignorance, you don’t become a billionaire and President and beating your opponent by their own strategy by being an ignorant.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

The WEF might be finished. Hopefully this is not due to a game of switcharoo, where something more sinister takes it's place, you know, like a 500 billion dollar AI platform.

https://english.pravda.ru/world/161509-davos-forum-trump/

1 ( +3 / -2 )

As most of the time, Donald doesn't know what he is doing.

He doesn't even have a basic understanding on how economies work.

He doesn't know that his decisions will back-fire sooner than later!

The downfall of the USA has just started!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Trump tells Davos elite to invest in U.S. or face tariffs

Or in MAGA=speak; "Pay me bribes or I'll invade you"....

5 ( +8 / -3 )

As most of the time, Donald doesn't know what he is doing.

He doesn't even have a basic understanding on how economies work.

A billionaire real estate developer, but doesn’t know what he’s doing….lol

He doesn't know that his decisions will back-fire sooner than later!

The left continue to say this and have been for nine years and have been proven wrong each time.

The downfall of the USA has just started!

Wrong, the uptick of the U.S. is on its way and out of the abyss.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

bass4funk

Ignorance, you don’t become a billionaire and President and beating your opponent by their own strategy by being an ignorant.

No, you inherit 100's of millions from your father and stiff contractors.

It's stunningly obvious that Trump is ignorant about international trade.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

In 2023, the United States imported about 8.51 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum from 86 countries. Will there be tariffs?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Ignorance, you don’t become a billionaire and President and beating your opponent by their own strategy by being an ignorant.

You would think that, but it turns out that when your supporters are completely brainwashed by a their media echo chamber, you absolutely can!

Oh and also you have to be a conman without a shred of dignity or shame (see: trump university, trump meme coin, trump steaks, trump sneakers...)

(Reminder: Donald Trump had no idea what happened at Pearl Harbor. This is the level of ignorance we are dealing with.)

5 ( +9 / -4 )

The wealth of combined billionaires increased by $2 trillion last year but poverty levels remained the same.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

bass4funkToday  07:57 am JST

When the U.S. sneezes, everyone catches a cold.

There's that parroted phrase again. What do you say to someone who sneezes and coughs all over you, by the way? I don't suppose you would mind if it was Donald Trump.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

“a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury”

“One thing very important: I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon and get that war ended,”

These were the highlights though the whole thing was a chuckle fest. He’s a moron, plain and simple.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Trump is reduced to begging Saudi Arabia to lower oil prices. Not exactly winning bigly.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

A good move.

And he should sign an executive order to prevent any WEF members from holding a position in the US government and civil service. These people are economic and social cancer.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

I am not an American and not a fan of Trump, but I wish every nation should have a president like Trump. People hate him, but truly this guy knows what it means to be a head of a nation.

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

Boycott the USA, now.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Boycott the USA, now.

If you’re suicidal, sure.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

I am not an American and not a fan of Trump, but I wish every nation should have a president like Trump. People hate him, but truly this guy knows what it means to be a head of a nation.

This is very nicely stated.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Boycott the USA, now.

If you’re suicidal, sure.

Plenty of very big global corporations have no footprint in the US. You ought to know from traveling all the brands sold abroad you never see in the US. Big oil companies like Eneos, Equinor, PTT, Repsol, Total, Enbridge, etc.. Woolworth and K-Mart couldn't make it in the US but seem to do fine in Australia and New Zealand. Same for Lawsons.

It wouldn't be a boycott per se but with tariffs a lot of companies are going to reassess the profitability of operating in the US and many will leave. Building a plant in the US just for the US market is not going to be efficient because US labor costs are too high.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

trump wants to be the mafia boss of the world.

I do not think the world will be very pleased by him and the USA. The US is going to be the next russia.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Boycott the USA, now.

If you’re suicidal, sure.

Tariffs are going to change the profitability of operating in the US. Many firms will find it unprofitable and leave. Companies that have plants sized to produce profitably for a global market are not going to be able to scale a profitable plant to supply the US. US labor costs are too high. They will either raise prices to cover the tariff and accept lower sales (negative sloped demand curve) or if sales are forecast to be too low to be profitable they will leave.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

And yet, these countries are all terrified of Trump threatening them with tariffs. When the U.S. sneezes, everyone catches a cold.

Very arrogant of you! You will be surprise how weak the US is and can be.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Threats, coercion, aggression, posturing, bullying....buuuut, the US is a pillar of Democracy and World Peace

The US is always this way - Trump is just open about it. His "civilized" opponents are more discrete in public but even worse behind the scenes.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

“a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury”

The value of goods and services imported into the US in 2024 was $351.6 Billion. A 25% tariff imposed on every nation importing goods and services to the US would generate $87.9 Billion in revenue. Jupiter is both ignorant of the scale of US imports and didn't stay awake in math class. He could impose tariffs of 100% and not generate more than $350 billion in revenue. In short the idea that tariffs are going to make a dent in the deficit is a pipe dream.

Moreover the actual revenue collected will be far less than the $87.9 billion because goods subject to tariffs will cost more and less will be purchased, driving down tariff revenues.

Jupiter and his fanbois are not very good at some really basic macroeconomics.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

These first few days have exceeded my expectations.

I've stated before I'm looking forward to the Trump Showtime for belly-laughs, but he has outdone himself.

The Davos Spiel - and it was a Spiel - just iced the cake after only a few days which included wobbly interview responses, esp the hilarious Hannity ramble, wacky condemnations eg calling Bishop Mariann a ""Radical Left hard line Trump hater and nasty and not compelling or smart” etc.

I thought I was watching a MAGA campaign rally.

Again another chance to reach out this time to the Big World and use a bit of statesmanship, wit, nouse and clarity to gel with them. I'm the New Trump - tough but New.

But no.

Back to the same old same old, and this time he's beginning to show his age and acuity. Audience just shaking heads all over again.

Doubt he'll make the 4 years - but lots of laughs on the way.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

The world’s financial dependence on the U.S. is significant and stems from several key factors. Here’s an overview of how this dependence manifests:

As per Google

1. The U.S. Dollar as the Global Reserve Currency

• **Reserve Currency Status**: The U.S. dollar is the world’s dominant reserve currency, held by central banks worldwide. As of 2023, around 58% of global foreign exchange reserves are in U.S. dollars. • **Trade and Transactions**: Many international transactions, including commodities like oil and gold, are priced and settled in U.S. dollars. This is often referred to as the “petrodollar system.” • **Impact**: Changes in U.S. monetary policy, such as interest rate hikes or quantitative easing, ripple through the global economy, affecting exchange rates, inflation, and capital flows.

2. The U.S. Economy’s Size and Influence

• The U.S. has the largest GDP globally, contributing about **24% of global GDP** as of 2024. • The American consumer market is one of the largest, and countries worldwide depend on U.S. demand for their exports. For example, China, Mexico, and Canada are heavily reliant on trade with the U.S. • U.S. tech companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google, dominate global markets, creating dependencies in digital infrastructure, innovation, and intellectual property.

3. Financial Markets

• The U.S. financial markets, particularly Wall Street, serve as a hub for global investments. U.S. Treasury bonds are considered one of the safest investments, making them critical for global investors and central banks. • The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ are the largest stock exchanges by market capitalization, influencing global capital markets.

4. Debt and Borrowing

• The U.S. is the largest debtor nation, with countries like China and Japan holding substantial amounts of U.S. Treasury bonds (around $870 billion and $1 trillion, respectively, as of late 2024). • Any instability in U.S. debt (e.g., debates over the debt ceiling or potential defaults) can cause global economic disruptions.

5. Technological and Military Dominance

• The U.S. leads in technology and innovation, with many countries reliant on American tech infrastructure, from semiconductors to software. • Its military presence worldwide ensures the security of global trade routes, such as the South China Sea and the Persian Gulf, which many countries depend on

Like I said, they all know where their bread is buttered.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

can someone remind me why maga hates canada now? i forgot.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The WEF is irrelevant. It’s a group of unelected people who want to replace national sovereignty with a utopian view that most of the world rejects.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

wasn’t the war in ukraine suppose to be over two days ago? what happened? egg prices are going up. what happened? his magic wand didn’t cure avian flu?

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Such a pleasure seeing Trump put the elites in their place.

Via Zoom!

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Trump threatens tariffs on its three largest trading partners: the EU, Canada, and Mexico—Trump trade wars.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The walls are closing in on globalists. And they're running scared.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Trump brings his Orange Clown Act to Davos - and gets the same result he does in the US - laughed at, ridiculed, and humiliated...as the old, demented fool he is...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Once all the country will push back and opposed trump, the USA will be very alone and so weak. Sadly the price will be paid by the American and not trump.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Such a pleasure seeing Trump put the elites in their place.

Do you mean the elites you don’t like?

Can those railing against ‘elites’ do us the service of identifying the good or bad elites? Our resident free-thinkers could finally come in useful here.

Just for the sake of clarity.

Cheers.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Americans maybe want to buy products produced elsewhere for reasons of cost or quality.

Watch inflation grow as you add tariffs.

Watch reciprocal tariffs from other countries affect the cost of US products in the receiving country, thereby affecting demand and production in US.

Watch Trump stumble his way through an economics lesson a high school kid would understand.

The world spent decades undoing tariffs between nations because it distorts the cost of production.

Some nations produce goods at a lower cost than others.

Pretty simple really

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Make it in the USA or face tariffs.

Does that include all the Trump Chinese-made products, Bible, hats, t-shirts, watches, and sneakers?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Tariffs are usually paid by the end consumers. In this case, Americans.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

can someone remind me why maga hates canada now? i forgot.

I love Canada, just not their beer.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Do you mean the elites you don’t like?

In the same way they don’t like the U.S.

Can those railing against ‘elites’ do us the service of identifying the good or bad elites?

Pretty much all of them in the West, just being fair.

Our resident free-thinkers could finally come in useful here.

Just for the sake of clarity. 

Always and done.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

But they don’t pay for the tariffs, consumers do.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Maybe the question to ask is

Why don't US products sell as well as the competitors ?

I wouldn't buy a US made car in preference to a Japan made one.

Now, talk about bombs that kill indiscriminately and Uncle Sam is my "go to " person .

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Trump tells Davos elite to invest in U.S. or face tariffs

Is it the new "pay the protection money or else"? USA=Mafia thx trump.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

--do us the service of identifying the good or bad elites? 

Pretty much all of them in the West, just being fair.

How about these elites, good or bad?

Elon Musk

Vivek Ramaswamy

Howard Lutnick

Scott Bessent

Charles Kushner

David O. Sacks

Marc Andreessen

Sam Altman

Donald J. Trump

5 ( +6 / -1 )

*That's because if you start a trade war, everybody loses. *

And?

And?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

plasticmonkey, I would not add trump in the "elite" list

Elite= a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.

He has no ability and a gorilla would be superior in all point.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

How about these elites, good or bad?

Elon Musk

Vivek Ramaswamy

Howard Lutnick

Scott Bessent

Charles Kushner

David O. Sacks

Marc Andreessen

Sam Altman

Donald J. Trump

Very, very good

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

MIAA Made in America Again.

This is not going to happen even with low tax rates. Too much investment in building new plants, finding and training employees. Paying higher wages.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

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