Egotistical, incompetent, racist, and—based on even some in his interior circle—an fool. And now there’s one other title so as to add to the listing of phrases describing President Donald Trump: mob boss.
Axios reported Friday that overseas leaders and enterprise executives hoping to satisfy with Trump know that in the event that they wish to achieve favor with him, they should cough up a present.
Many companies are fearful of how Trump’s tariffs would possibly affect their enterprise and are scrambling to remain on his good facet with peace choices. Axios famous that firms like Apple, Eli Lilly, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, and SoftBank have all made huge investments within the U.S. since Trump received final 12 months’s presidential election.
Take Hyundai, for instance. This week, the South Korean automaker introduced a $21 billion funding within the U.S. between 2025 and 2028, conveniently securing an exemption from Trump’s tariffs within the course of. In fact, the administration wasted no time taking credit score for the deal—despite the fact that it was Trump’s disastrous insurance policies that created the issue within the first place.
“More investments, more jobs, and more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans—all thanks to President Trump’s economic policies,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt boasted on social media.
It’s not simply companies kissing the ring, both. In February, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum deployed the primary of at the very least 10,000 Nationwide Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist Trump curb immigration. In return? Trump hit pause on tariffs towards Mexico. The nation is now reportedly working to sidestep a looming 25% tariff on automobile imports.
President Donald Trump, left, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin shake fingers throughout a gathering in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018.
In the meantime, earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted Trump a customized portrait. Days later, Trump griped {that a} portray of him hanging within the Colorado Capitol was too ugly.
Trump has at all times responded nicely to presents, particularly after they’re paired with flattery. Forward of his inauguration in January, firms like Amazon, Google, and Meta poured cash into his orbit. Their reward? A plum seat on the desk.
Axios famous that Trump sees no challenge with this sort of transactional politics. The truth is, he thinks previous presidents have been silly to not do the identical.
“President Trump is a masterful negotiator and is using his astute business acumen to reshape our economy and reinvigorate American economic dominance,” a White Home spokesperson informed Axios. “Companies and countries are being forced to come to the table and retreat from their America Last policies and once again are betting on America.”
However the kind of present Trump prefers is determined by the giver.
Take U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for instance. Throughout his late February go to to the Oval Workplace, he introduced Trump with an embossed letter from King Charles III, personally inviting him to Britain.
Starmer performed up the invitation too, as if to flatter Trump much more. “This has never happened before,” he mentioned. “This is unprecedented.”
Trump, in fact, was delighted, gushing that the king was a “beautiful” and “wonderful” man.
The sample right here is obvious: If you wish to get on Trump’s good facet, be ready to grovel—or at the very least dangle one thing shiny in entrance of him.
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