Trump whispers his secret to reporters
Daniel Dale at the Toronto Star reports Trump’s latest Brilliant Move:
High-stakes trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. were dramatically upended on Friday morning after inflammatory secret remarks by President Donald Trump were obtained by the Toronto Star.
In comments Trump wanted to be “off the record,” the U.S. president told Bloomberg News reporters on Thursday that he is not making any compromises at all in the talks with Canada — but that he cannot say this publicly because “it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal.”
He cannot say it publicly but he can say it to reporters. Very sensible.
“Here’s the problem. If I say no — the answer’s no. If I say no, then you’re going to put that, and it’s going to be so insulting they’re not going to be able to make a deal … I can’t kill these people,” Trump said of the Canadian government.
In another remark he did not want published, Trump said that the possible deal with Canada would be “totally on our terms.” He suggested he was scaring the Canadians into submission by repeatedly threatening to impose tariffs.
“Off the record, Canada’s working their ass off. And every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala,” Trump said. The Impala is produced at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario.
Such a sober, wise, careful administrator.
Today he helpfully confirmed that he said it.
Wow, I made OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS to Bloomberg concerning Canada, and this powerful understanding was BLATANTLY VIOLATED. Oh well, just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it. At least Canada knows where I stand!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2018
How is it dishonest to report what he actually said? Isn’t it more dishonest to say, I’m going to do this to Canada, but I’m not going to tell them, and I don’t want you to either? To pretend to negotiate in good faith?
And I don’t think Canada’s as stupid as he thinks it is (actually, the country itself probably has few thoughts, but Canadians do seem to be on to Trump, and they’re probably not any happier with the rise of the violent neo-Nazis than most of us here).
From the Toronto Star:
Why can’t our press report facts like that? Probably “journalistic balance” or something.
BTW, since I copied and pasted the text above a few minutes ago, the Star just tweaked the words I’ve emphazed below. Their two edits add nice color.
Ah that’s a good tweak.