sdw2001

As a conservative, who doesn’t share the views of most members in this thread, I have to say I don’t see any problem with AppleInsider covering this. 

randominternetperson said:

I was going to post that this article is misleading by saying that "However, President Trump is still in control of the trust and has the ability to make decisions that affect the company."  Because, obviously, the only appropriate way a trust could be set up would be as a blind trust (like every other president used) where they explicitly relinquish control over their business/investments.

But then I fact checked this and I was a fool to give Trump any benefit of the doubt. Trump didn't set up a blind trust at all; he retains "significant influence or control over the activities of the trust."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2025/05/06/trump-organization-admits-president-still-controls-his-business-in-new-filing/

You can’t really set up a blind to trust with active businesses like that. And not every other president did that. President in the early days of the republic had one desk for business and one for the country. Literally in the same room.

davidmalcolm said:

I suspect that Apple is really regretting not kicking both Truth Social and Twitter off the App Store. 

Tim got played by the right wing goons and now he’s trying to keep them from doing irreparable harm to Apple’s long term future. 

Don’t get me wrong, I like Tim as much as I can like any Billionaire. But it wasn’t the working class who rigged the system so that the only options were a disingenuous lady who couldn’t even say genocide was bad, and a geriatric baby who can’t remember what he said last sentence let alone last week. 

Apple could have been pushing Biden for more reforms that would have benefitted society. They could have been working with their unions. Instead Apple like everyone else kept acting like America could keep eating its own tail and it would never get to the head. 

And honestly now it’s too late for Tim to fight back in any meaningful capacity. The only thing that will give America a chance of avoiding complete collapse in the next three years is a heart attack, stroke or some other surprise illness. Or at least something that looks like one of those. 

America’s debt to GDP is out of control and the politicians want to slash taxes for those who need it the least so they can make… more innovative… restaurant delivery apps? 

The politicians are acting like they can squeeze the working class more to dig themselves out of the debt crisis that they’ve been fostering for decades.

America is being sacrificed on the alter of Reaganomics. 

I completely disagree.  I realize it's more than fashionable here to trash Trump, the tariffs, etc.  But the reality is that our trade policy has been a nightmare for decades, particularly with China.  We had been operating in the 20th-century paradigm, both for China and the rest of world.   For the former, the theory of the case was "free" trade (which was nothing of then kind) would enable economic growth in both countries, but that China would liberalize as its prosperity grew.   In fact, China went exactly the opposite way.  China has become more closed, more authoritarian, more corrupt and more aggressive.  For the latter, our policies were stuck in the post-war mentality, when Europe was devastated and we were helping them recover.   

What Trump is doing is resetting these relationships.  His plan should now be obvious to anyone who doesn't have--pardon me---"derangement syndrome."  That goal was to triangulate China into changing the way it does business...from tariffs, to non-tariff barriers, to theft of IP, etc.  Secondarily, the goal was to improve terms with our other trading partners or "allies."   As a supporter of the president, I have to admit that I didn't really understand the strategy of going after allies as well as foes (or frien-a-mies.).   After all, why not just target China and go the opposite way with allies?  Why not treat them in a more conciliatory way, but go hard on China?  

However, as deals with India, the UK, Vietnam  and others took shape, it dawned on me.  Trump hit everyone hard (but China harder) and then proceeded to quickly work on deals with those friendlier nations.  He was able to largely correct (or is in process of correcting) the trade problems we've  had with our allies, and leave China--pardon me again---standing with its junk in its hand.   It explains why they are now negotiating and willing to stand down.  Their economy is getting hammered, millions are unemployed, factories are closing....and Trump is running around making trade deals with everyone but them.  

I'll admit it's been somewhat chaotic.  Wall Street hates tariffs.   But we're already seeing the results.  Debt growth has slowed dramatically.  Inflation is nearing the 2% target.  Prices of staples (such as eggs) continue to fall.  Ditto on energy prices.  Private payrolls are showing solid growth.   Even last quarter's GDP reduction (-.3%) was misleading, as companies like Apple rushed to import goods before tariffs kicked in (this reduces GDP in the calculation).   

You've railed against debt, tax cuts, Reagannomics, etc.   Briefly:  

Debt:  We agree on the scope of the problem.  I would think you'd support things like DOGE, energy development, tax cuts for economic stimulation, etc.   I'd certainly think you'd realize both parties have historically been a nightmare on this issue, but that the Democrat party is currently far, far worse (just take 2021-24 alone).   

Tax cuts:  I don't know where this notion of "squeezing the working class" and "tax cuts for the rich" comes from, other than the Democrat party propagandists and their media allies.  The Trump tax cuts benefited the lower and working classes more than the wealthy.  That is simply a fact.  Another fact is that Trump and the GOP are considering actually raising taxes on the wealthy in the planned extension (reconciliation) package.  

Reagannomics:  I'm not sure I see the connection.  I also have my doubts that you have a full understanding of what "Reaganomics" even was/is.   You've no doubt been told (as nearly everyone has) that it was cutting taxes on the wealthy, slashing welfare and healthcare, and giving "tax breaks" to evil corporations and the mega rich.  Sound familiar?  I wonder why?  

Oh, look, calling his tariffs “nonsensical” and using scare quotes.  Shocker.

Stabitha_Christie said:

sdw2001 said:

Stabitha_Christie said:

sdw2001 said:

Watching the absolute meltdown people are having is really something.  Those who didn’t support Trump to begin with are the loudest. But the center right is up there as well.

I would just say this. I wouldn’t bet against Trump. I don’t know whether or not this tariff strategy will work, but I’d give it better than 50-50 odds. He’s trying to reset the playing field and get countries to renegotiate. If you will look at what he’s doing compared to his past behavior, it’s exactly what he always does. He takes a maximalist position, then is happy when he gets some of what he wants.  There was no way to do this on trade without short-term pain.  We’re certainly seeing that now.   

There is a bigger picture here. It involves lower energy prices, reduced fraud and waste, and lower interest rates. One of the ways of achieving that is to force money into US treasuries, which is exactly what is happening right now. One problem Trump faced upon ansduming office is the stock market was overvalued from a P/E perspective.  It was due for a correction.  I have to wonder if they just decided to take the bath now.   

So we’ll see what happens, as the orange man likes to say.  Contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t have a bunch of idiots around him and isn’t just doing these things willy-nilly.   Hopefully, they work.

You can tell it's a cult because they just make things up to rationalize what is happening. This is just incredibly detached from reality, Trump has said the tariffs are here to stay and aren't part of a negotiating strategy but here we have a cult member insisting that is what they are. But yeah... I guess making things up is just to reassure us how well things are planned? What a bunch of clowns.

You can tell it's TDS, because they just have to engage in ad hominem attacks for no apparent reason.   

"Trump has said the tariffs are here to stay and aren't part of a negotiating strategy."   

I haven't heard him say that, but I don't follow every word, so let's assume it's accurate.  So? The last thing he is going to do is admit it's all a tactic.  Not only does it make sense that he would say this, but he's done exactly this kind of thing his entire career.  It's not about liking the tactic or disliking it....thinking it's right or wrong.  It's about understanding how the man operates.  Do you really disagree with this? 

As for plans, let me get this straight:  You honestly think Trump and his economic team are just pulling this out of their butts? Have you listened to people like Scott Bessant and Howard Lutnick?  Do you know the qualifications these men have?  Now, if you think the plan will fail, or it's not worth the short-term pain, or any other objection...fine.  But to claim there is no plan? That's an unserious as you claim the Trump admin is.  

I’ll take you at your word that you have not heard talk about his reasons for the tariffs. But that is also an admission on your part that you aren’t really informed on the subject.

Anyway, Trump and his team have given multiple conflicting answers for why they are imposing tariffs. In no particular order, they are for national security, a short-term negotiation tactic, not a short-term negotiating tactic but a rebuilding of the world order, addressing trade deficits, and intended to drive domestic manufacturing. That literally cannot give a consistent or coherent answer for their actions. 

I honestly do not believe they know what they are doing. Why? Because there is no evidence to support the claim that they have a plan. They can’t articulate what the plan is. They give contradictory explanations. They say things that are demonstrably false (examples: these aren’t reciprocal tariffs. The other countries don’t pay the tariffs). Heck, you are insisting there is a plan, but you can’t articulate it. All you have managed to do is fawn over Lutnick and Bessent. 

So we are back to this being a cult. Your entire response is devoid of any fact, and by your own admission, you aren’t informed on what Trump has been saying. Your argument is based on your blind faith in Trump and the people around him. You have offered nothing of substance. It’s a cult. 

I didn't say I hadn't heard the reasons.  I said I didn't follow every word.  I follow the admin and politics very closely.  

Anyway, Trump and his team have given multiple conflicting answers for why they are imposing tariffs. In no particular order, they are for national security, a short-term negotiation tactic, not a short-term negotiating tactic but a rebuilding of the world order, addressing trade deficits, and intended to drive domestic manufacturing. That literally cannot give a consistent or coherent answer for their actions. 

What you view as conflicting answers, I view as multiple, interconnected reasons for the actions.  They are trying to reset the game board, one that has been set "against us" for 80 years.  

I honestly do not believe they know what they are doing. Why? Because there is no evidence to support the claim that they have a plan. They can’t articulate what the plan is. They give contradictory explanations. They say things that are demonstrably false (examples: these aren’t reciprocal tariffs. The other countries don’t pay the tariffs). Heck, you are insisting there is a plan, but you can’t articulate it. All you have managed to do is fawn over Lutnick and Bessent. 

So we are back to this being a cult. Your entire response is devoid of any fact, and by your own admission, you aren’t informed on what Trump has been saying. Your argument is based on your blind faith in Trump and the people around him. You have offered nothing of substance. It’s a cult. 

The plan has been discussed in detail, particularly by Bessant.  You can accuse me of "fawning" all you want, but he's gone through it in several interviews.   Lutnick hasn't been quite as detailed.  Put simply, the plan is to use tariffs to negotiate a better trade environment (get other nations to drop their tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers), take in the tariffs that actually are imposed, and re-shore manufacturing.  Secondarily, the idea is to push money into U.S. Treasuries rather than stocks (which were somewhat overvalued from a P/E perspective), lower energy costs, interest rates and deficits.   These are all interconnected parts, obviously.  

As for "blind faith," that is neither true--nor does it make sense.   I already stated I didn't know if it would work in the long term.  I also said that given his track record, I wouldn't bet against him.  Love him or hate him, the man has consistently been underestimated since at least 2015.  Prior to Covid, it's hard to argue his economic policies weren't successful.  Take any measure you want, from real income, to GDP, to unemployment, to inflation.   

So, if noting past success, pointing out what they've explained, stating that I don't know if it will work long term (etc) makes me a cult member, you're welcome to think that.  It's certainly easier than making an actual argument.