nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com

In a phone call from the Oval Office, President Trump had just delivered unwelcome news to three of America’s most powerful auto executives: Mary Barra of General Motors, John Elkann of Stellantis and Jim Farley of Ford.

Everyone needs to buckle up, Mr. Trump said on the call, which took place in early March. Tariffs are going into effect on April 2. It’s time for everyone to get on board.

The auto chiefs, like the leaders of other industries, had been arguing that Mr. Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on cars coming from Canada and Mexico would wreak havoc on their supply chains and blow a hole through their industry. They had won a concession of sorts when Mr. Trump agreed to give them a one-month reprieve, until April 2.

But now, the Big Three automaker chiefs seemed to realize there was no point in fighting for more. They had gotten as much as they were going to get.

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  • CaptDust
    53·
    20 hours ago

    One of Mr. Trump’s advisers, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations, said the Biden presidency proved to Mr. Trump that the stock market is not a foolproof barometer of the economy’s future, nor a useful indicator of voter sentiment. If it were, Mr. Biden, who presided over a booming stock market, would surely be the president, the adviser said.

    That’s one hell of a pivot, even for republicans.

    • Enelop@lemm.eeEnglish
      31·
      20 hours ago

      They are tearing down the economy for the benefit of the super wealthy. They have to say something to justify it.

      • CaptDust
        22·
        20 hours ago

        No doubt. I just remember a time when ‘god, guns and gains’ were the only consistent republican policies, and this wasn’t long ago. Declaring the stock market irrelevant would have had them booted from the party quicker than you can say dow jones.

        Now here we are, watching maga cult handwave it all away to liquidate. Just insane.

        • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          20 hours ago

          Not really. It’s been a team sport far longer than Trump. Multiple decades of fascist state propaganda finally created a mass mental illness for a devil like Trump to exploit.

          • CaptDust
            7·
            20 hours ago

            Full agreement about the “team sport” and them setting the field for trump, but traditionally gop members had to be team corporate interests first to even get on the bench.

            But perhaps it’s just me being shocked at the realization juggernaut companies like Ford and Intel are now being treated as “little guys” in the party controlled by individuals with billions in personal wealth.

    • FlexibleToast@lemmy.world
      9·
      18 hours ago

      I mean… They’re just believing what they themselves proved. They’re actually not wrong about that one thing. Granted, if you tank so hard that retirees feel the crushing weight of their 401ks losing value, that will definitely affect the vote.