By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump’s emphasis on direct deals has been exposed as fragile as the China trade truce falters. China’s recent unveiling of export controls on rare earths and other critical materials, vital to U.S. defense and technology, sent shockwaves through specific sectors. Despite the significant implications, broader market reactions remained muted following the announcement. This development underscores the risks associated with relying on personalized agreements.
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Trump’s Dealmaking Diplomacy Grows Fragile as China Fires Back
So, it’s a bit of a stretch to call what’s been going on “dealmaking diplomacy,” isn’t it? Let’s be honest, the guy didn’t exactly build his empire on making good deals. The whole “Art of the Deal” thing was, let’s just say, not exactly a solo project. He comes from money, a history of bankruptcies, and a rather… unique approach to negotiation, which seems to lean heavily on bullying rather than actual diplomacy. What he appears to be doing isn’t dealmaking, it’s more like being a dick and not knowing how the economy actually works.
The fundamental flaw in his strategy, if you can even call it that, is a lack of long-term vision. There seems to be no coherent grand plan. It’s all about immediate wins, with little consideration for how today’s actions impact tomorrow. This “win-at-all-costs” mentality creates an unsustainable environment, where short-term gains are celebrated while the inevitable consequences are ignored. This approach of “look for a win every day, but don’t think about how today’s moves impact next year” is not a recipe for lasting agreements. It’s a recipe for a house of cards.
Take, for instance, the trade war with China. When he slapped on those tariffs, the administration likely saw it as a victory. But when China stopped buying U.S. soy, the team seemed completely blindsided. Meanwhile, other countries have been quietly setting up new trade deals, building relationships that will outlast the current administration. That’s where the real power lies: in the ability to make things, to control the supply chains. Money is just a story, and stories can be rewritten.
Here’s the kicker: Trump doesn’t seem to understand that he doesn’t have the leverage he thinks he does. China holds the debt, and they’ve diversified their sources of crucial goods like soybeans and microchips. It’s becoming increasingly clear that China is playing the long game, and it’s not afraid to push back. The whole world has spent decades giving China its manufacturing base. They hold the levers now. This is not dealmaking; it’s grifting and bribery. Real diplomacy takes years of public service and understanding of how geopolitics works.
The tariffs, which, in practice, are essentially corporate taxes levied without congressional approval, are a prime example of the self-inflicted wounds. These costs get passed on to consumers, hurting blue-collar industries. Large corporations can afford to lobby for exemptions, giving them an unfair advantage. Small businesses suffer and even close, allowing bigger companies to further increase prices without fear of competition. But the real problem here is how this is all presented as some kind of “conservative” policy. The whole thing is a mess and hurts everyone.
Let’s be clear: what Trump is doing isn’t diplomacy. It’s essentially throwing a wrench into the works with China and expecting a positive outcome, which of course, is not happening. China is not going to be pushed around, and Trump will only learn this to his great chagrin. He doesn’t negotiate; he bullies. But threats only work if people are afraid. The US’s position in the world is eroding, and instead of building lasting relationships, Trump is isolating the country.
The real danger is how much this is accelerating the US’s decline. He is just taking the US and removing it from the center of systems the world relies on. And once it is out, it is probably not getting back in. He’s just hastening the decline. His so-called deals are as fake as his game show boardroom. He’s a one-trick pony, and China sees right through it. They can tell him to go pound sand and source their supplies elsewhere. The US is not the center of the world in trade, as he’s showing through his actions.
The truth is, Trump’s approach has always been fragile. It’s been a grift from the start, all about personal enrichment, with everyone else being disposable. His “dealmaking” abilities were never strong. His important trading partners like Canada, China, Mexico, Germany, and the EU, have seen little of what he’s trying to do. The guy has no deals. He tries to hide the failures by making deals with minor trade partners, but that’s it. It seems the current administration, with all its Republican allies, is just watching as this clown destroys their country and its legacy.
And maybe that’s the most frustrating part of it all. He’s demonstrably incompetent. He’s an idiot, a fraud with no elite business skills, and yet has the longest leash of any incompetent nitwit in modern history. He simply doesn’t understand why the US was the most powerful country in the world, based on its long history of innovation and diplomacy. Without advancement and money, the country doesn’t have much to offer that other countries don’t.