President Donald Trump's trade war and the significant cuts in scientific research at U.S. agencies are moving "America down the value chain," political analyst Jonathan Chait wrote for "The Atlantic" on Monday.

Trump inherited a "healthy economy," only to "burn [it] down," Chait wrote. He questioned whether it was incompetence or if there was something strategic Trump was attempting to do.

In a way, he said, the answer is both.

"The administration does have a plan, or at least a vision, for what will spring up from the ashes," he wrote. "The trouble is that the long-term economic program is even worse than the short-term one."

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that all of the new factories he claims will be built for manufacturing in the U.S. after Trump's tariffs will make perfect jobs for federal workers who were recently dismissed.

However, Bessent said most of those jobs would be handled by AI or robots.

Chait explained how a nation's economy moved up the value chain:  A poor country develops export markets by specializing in low-wage manufacturing, gradually these industries  become more complex, adding more value, For example initially they build toasters and cameras, then cars, then robots. These industries generate tax revenue that can support better education and other forms of public investment, feeding back into the developmental cycle. That’s how the 'Asian tigers' (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past two generations.

Trump is running the same play, but "in reverse," said Chait.

He said that removing staff from the National Institutes of Health and cutting funding grants from the National Science Foundation "has had a catastrophic effect on a wide array of high-tech fields." It was so serious that a "group of medical-innovation investors took the immense risk of putting their names on a letter to the administration warning that the research cuts 'are an assault on the foundation of biomedical and technological progress.'"

Meanwhile, Trump has raised tariffs on metals, making building things more expensive, although it is an incentive to restore the production of steel and aluminium back to the US.

In this way Trump moves the US industrial economy down the value chain, rather than up.

Trump's long-term strategy is 'even worse' than his 'burn it down' plan: analyst

Trump is like a kid playing with matches in a house.

 

If America is lucky, he won't burn the house down.

 

The sofa is already on fire in the stock and bond markets.

8 minutes ago, bannork said:

President Donald Trump's trade war and the significant cuts in scientific research at U.S. agencies are moving "America down the value chain," political analyst Jonathan Chait wrote for "The Atlantic" on Monday.

Trump inherited a "healthy economy," only to "burn [it] down," Chait wrote. He questioned whether it was incompetence or if there was something strategic Trump was attempting to do.

In a way, he said, the answer is both.

"The administration does have a plan, or at least a vision, for what will spring up from the ashes," he wrote. "The trouble is that the long-term economic program is even worse than the short-term one."

 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that all of the new factories he claims will be built for manufacturing in the U.S. after Trump's tariffs will make perfect jobs for federal workers who were recently dismissed.

However, Bessent said most of those jobs would be handled by AI or robots.

Chait explained how a nation's economy moved up the value chain:  A poor country develops export markets by specializing in low-wage manufacturing, gradually these industries  become more complex, adding more value, For example initially they build toasters and cameras, then cars, then robots. These industries generate tax revenue that can support better education and other forms of public investment, feeding back into the developmental cycle. That’s how the 'Asian tigers' (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past two generations.

Trump is running the same play, but "in reverse," said Chait.

He said that removing staff from the National Institutes of Health and cutting funding grants from the National Science Foundation "has had a catastrophic effect on a wide array of high-tech fields." It was so serious that a "group of medical-innovation investors took the immense risk of putting their names on a letter to the administration warning that the research cuts 'are an assault on the foundation of biomedical and technological progress.'"

Meanwhile, Trump has raised tariffs on metals, making building things more expensive, although it is an incentive to restore the production of steel and aluminium back to the US.

In this way Trump moves the US industrial economy down the value chain, rather than up.

Trump's long-term strategy is 'even worse' than his 'burn it down' plan: analyst

Yes, I think that Trump wants to make sure that he will be in the history books forever - although nothing positive about it.  He has failed so many times that he realizes this is his chance to be remembered forever!  What an idiot and sure glad that I am old.  Those govt employees being dropped will have passed away from old age before any new manufacturing plants are built if any!  And to top it off, most of the MAGAites and Congressfolks are letting him get away with destroying an economy that was booming in comparison with the rest of the world.  Now he has trashed the friendly relationships between our allies and our nation.  Since he won the election, the world's people are blaming all Americans for him being elected. MO anyway.

Tourism trump slump 

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/fewer-foreign-visitors-traveling-us-sign-trump-slump-120593634

 

Fewer foreign visitors traveling to US in what some see as sign of a 'Trump Slump'

Visits to the U.S. from overseas fell 11.6% in March compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary government data released Tuesday

ByDEE-ANN DURBIN AP business writer

April 8, 2025, 2:32 PM

•  

 

 

26 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Trump is like a kid playing with matches in a house.

 

If America is lucky, he won't burn the house down.

 

The sofa is already on fire in the stock and bond markets.

and a house that is dosed in gasoline and he has just swallowed his mum's ADHD meds

The Trump Slump is real, and it's only gonna get worse as he furiously transforms the US from leader of the free world to the world's biggest banana republic.

Attacks on the free press, on the courts, weaponizing DOJ and other departments against political opponents all point to a once proud nation heading to the abyss.

To have voted for this criminal one was excusable. Twice? No way.

11 hours ago, BLMFem said:

and it's only gonna get worse

so you're predicting he will burn down the house? 

 

 

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so you're predicting he will burn down the house? 

No prediction involved as he is already burning down the house and the US's reputation around the world.

15 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

The Trump Slump is real, and it's only gonna get worse as he furiously transforms the US from leader of the free world to the world's biggest banana republic.

Attacks on the free press, on the courts, weaponizing DOJ and other departments against political opponents all point to a once proud nation heading to the abyss.

To have voted for this criminal one was excusable. Twice? No way.

IMHO only of course, I think that Trump figured from the voting that people forgot just how many times he was a big loser and he wondered how he could be remembered forever - TARIFFs, he did learn something in college after all, what an idiotic thing to do, destroy the whole world's trade systme and he will go down in history as the biggest loser of all time - the KING of losing!!! got his throne now!

12 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so you're predicting he will burn down the house?

If, by burning down the house, you mean thrashing the US economy and it's standing in the world, making enemies out of allies etc. then, yes.

Seems to be a thing among the violent right.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/know-arson-suspect-fire-pa-gov-josh-shapiros-residence-rcna201096

11 hours ago, BLMFem said:

Seems to be a thing among the violent right

speaking of violence, a teen was plotting to take down trump.

 

 

I dare the op to start a thread that isn't about trump. 

 

Double dare.

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

I dare the op to start a thread that isn't about trump. 

 

Double dare.

 

Bristol maybe?

33 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

speaking of violence, a teen was plotting to take down trump.

Just one?

3 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Bristol maybe?

 

People moan about harrisfan but the poster starts decent threads from time to time. 

Putin and Xi couldn't wish for a better result - a MAGA death cult destroys the country without a shot being fired.

‘Homegrowns are next’: Ominous new warning from Trump suggests he’ll try to deport US citizens

‘Homegrowns are next’: Ominous new warning from Trump suggests he’ll try to deport US citizens | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

3 hours ago, blaze master said:

I dare the op to start a thread that isn't about trump. 

 

Double dare.

I could start one about Trump's rottweiler, the one that could only stand the cold in Greenland for three hours.

3 minutes ago, bannork said:

I could start one about Trump's rottweiler, the one that could only stand the cold in Greenland for three hours.

 

Are you accustomed to cold weather ? 

9 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Are you accustomed to cold weather ? 

What's your point? People travel to Antartica on trips and pay a furtune he got his trip for free

1 minute ago, still kicking said:

What's your point? People travel to Antartica on trips and pay a furtune he got his trip for free

 

My point is that a dog taken to a cold climate will struggle to deal with the cold if it's not accustomed to said climate. The rest of your comment is strange and irrelevant

9 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

My point is that a dog taken to a cold climate will struggle to deal with the cold if it's not accustomed to said climate. The rest of your comment is strange and irrelevant

I fancy bringing dogs to that conversation. I know he looks like one, but what about all dog breeds brought to hot climates, bred for cold climates, and brought into hot climates?

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

I fancy bringing dogs to that conversation. I know he looks like one, but what about all dog breeds brought to hot climates, bred for cold climates, and brought into hot climates?

 

I just can't anymore.

On 4/15/2025 at 6:35 PM, still kicking said:

‘Homegrowns are next’: Ominous new warning from Trump suggests he’ll try to deport US citizens

‘Homegrowns are next’: Ominous new warning from Trump suggests he’ll try to deport US citizens | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

Not only that, even the one that the SC told him to facilitate the return of that one, he has discussed this with the El Salvador leader so that the US has zero control on any of those sent there so that fellow sent illegally won't be returning in this lifetime.  Trump is an Anti-American traitor to the nation (IMHO) who wants to rule the world and in his mind only of course thinks he rules the world right now.  Meanwhile all the rest of the world except for a few mentally ILL (IMO) leaders like Trump's actions!  It is about time for the Congress and Supreme Court to intervene and have him committed to some insane asylum IMHO

On 4/15/2025 at 5:49 AM, Presnock said:

IMHO only of course, I think that Trump figured from the voting that people forgot just how many times he was a big loser and he wondered how he could be remembered forever - TARIFFs, he did learn something in college after all, what an idiotic thing to do, destroy the whole world's trade systme and he will go down in history as the biggest loser of all time - the KING of losing!!! got his throne now!

So its ok for you the others to charge high import 100 =250% rates and the US 2-2/12 % ?  Why don't you mention what the last presidency did to our country?

Major companies are coming back pumping billions of USD's into our economy, gas is now $1,90 gallon in some states. We are winning not loosing as you said. 

 

 

58 minutes ago, Jorn T said:

So its ok for you the others to charge high import 100 =250% rates and the US 2-2/12 % ?  Why don't you mention what the last presidency did to our country?

Major companies are coming back pumping billions of USD's into our economy, gas is now $1,90 gallon in some states. We are winning not loosing as you said. 

 

 

More nonsense. Tariffs are actually very low between most of most of America's trading partners, particularly the advanced nations. Some right wingers cherry pick a few really high tariffs and make believe that these are typical. And the US does impose some hefty tariffs on things like sports utility vehicles which are the most profitable segment of the US automobile industry. It's 25%.

9 hours ago, Jorn T said:

So its ok for you the others to charge high import 100 =250% rates and the US 2-2/12 % ?  Why don't you mention what the last presidency did to our country?

Major companies are coming back pumping billions of USD's into our economy, gas is now $1,90 gallon in some states. We are winning not loosing as you said. 

 

 

as countries move into a possible recessin and economic on the dole, gold usually increases in value, oil usually drops drastically as folks cease to spend money on unnecessary travel.  IThe reason the US has poor trade policies is in the hands of whatever administration negotiates - between Mexico, Canada and the US, Trump and his team negotiated the NAFTA agreement during his first term.  Now he doesn't like it.  The world is a lot different today but the US consumers are still the big spenders in the buying of necessities, especially if the prices are cheap.  Yeah, much from China I would not even consider buying including food stuffs (fruits and veggies in the grocery stores, I always check from where and if not on any label I ask the store employees in that section and they look it up and show me if it is not China).  Biden's administration - Have known what a loser he is since 60's, I worked in Delaware and heard nothing positive about him as an elected official from all my co-workers.  I have been anti-democrat since I was old enough to vote - got that from my parents and their dislike of the support from the Democrats that they and their co-workers got.  I didn't like Nixon's faults and quit the Republican Party to be Independent and as life goes on, don't have much positive to say about any politicians, US or otherwise as all seem to basically be of the same mold, teat suckers instead of truly working for the betterment of their constituents and country.  I realize some may be good but like I said I haven't met any of those.  MHO of course.