To the editor: For a man who appears to imagine he’s the neatest individual in each room, President Trump’s newest threats present he doesn’t know squat about tariffs or how they’re meant to work (“Trump says 8 European nations might be charged a ten% tariff for opposing U.S. seizing Greenland,” Jan. 17).
Tariffs are an financial mechanism utilized to imported items as a method of leveling a home-product taking part in area, such because the tariff positioned on Japanese-made bikes to assist U.S. producer Harley-Davidson within the mid-Nineteen Eighties. They aren’t meant to be a political mechanism deployed to punish different nations, as Trump believes. The cash from tariffs that flows into the Treasury is paid by U.S. importers and shoppers, not the international exporters. Therefore, they’re an enhanced tax on the American public.
I’m not an economist, however I took Econ 101 in school. It seems Trump skipped that class.
Rhys Thomas, Valley Glen
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To the editor: Not content material with extorting legislation corporations, universities, politicians and companies, Trump now employs the approach to coerce Europe to comply with his desired seizure of Greenland.
He’s tried to rename the Gulf of Mexico. What’s subsequent? “The USA of Blackmail”?
John Ladner, Los Angeles
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To the editor: As a substitute of imposing their very own counter-tariffs or crashing our financial system by promoting U.S. debt, the eight European nations focused by Trump in his newest tantrum ought to do one thing more practical: Boycott the World Cup. Think about a World Cup with out England, France and Germany. It will be a well-deserved black eye for this administration and Trump’s ego couldn’t let it occur.
David Wiechert, San Juan Capistrano
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To the editor: Trump all the time brings up “nationwide safety” as a cause for his actions. He talked about medicine and “terrorists” coming into the U.S. from Venezuela as a cause for that invasion. After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured, most references to medicine disappeared and had been changed by getting “our oil” out from beneath Venezuela.
We’re seeing the identical state of affairs play out with Greenland. We have to personal Greenland to guard it from Russia and China, however Trump’s actual curiosity is undoubtedly in “our” minerals and oil beneath Greenland soil.
Les Hartzman, Los Angeles
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To the editor: It makes completely no sense for the U.S. to accumulate Greenland. We have already got a treaty with Greenland and the NATO alliance to deal with our nationwide safety wants within the Arctic. With an escalating nationwide debt, there’s no good financial cause for it. And why would Greenlanders need to be a part of the U.S. and doubtlessly hand over common healthcare for Trump’s idea of a plan?
June Thompson, Los Angeles
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To the editor: How is Trump’s quest for Greenland completely different from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s quest for Ukraine? Each Greenland and Ukraine don’t need to merge with a bigger state.
How can Trump again Ukraine however not Greenland? Solely by hypocrisy.
Ted Proffitt, Santa Ana
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To the editor: If you happen to suppose it’s arduous to defend America with out Greenland, strive defending America with out allies.
David Sims, Lengthy Seashore
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To the editor: If there was a Nobel Prize for essentially the most childish communication from one world chief to a different, Trump would lastly win his award, hands-down (“Trump ties his stance on Greenland to not getting Nobel Peace Prize, European officers say,” Jan. 19).
“You mentioned I wasn’t good, so regardless that I’m the nicest individual ever born, I’m now going to be dangerous — so dangerous — as a result of that’s what you mentioned I used to be. That’ll serve you proper!”
That’s completely analogous to what Trump wrote to the prime minister of Norway about not considering “purely of Peace” after being denied the peace prize. Apparently, that is the kindergarten degree of petty grievance into which United States diplomacy has fallen. And worse, there’s no instructor within the room to make him take a timeout.
As with so many pronouncements from the present resident of the White Home (or what’s left of it), it might be amusing riot if it weren’t wrapped within the stench of dying.
Bob Walter, Sierra Madre
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To the editor: Trump sullies the nice custom of American diplomacy along with his whiny reference to the Nobel Peace Prize, and he sows mistrust around the globe as he trivializes peace efforts, turning them into his private plaything. The matches and begins of his tariffs create uncertainty amongst our allies and disrupt long-established relations.
After a collective 5 years in workplace, Trump nonetheless registers as an novice in worldwide affairs, unable, in a number of cases, to rein in his ego within the curiosity of any higher good. Trump’s earlier rejection and dismissal of skilled professionals within the State Division and the Pentagon appear to be extra dangerous than ever. American international coverage is now being carried out alongside the traces of his private pathology, and we’re all the more serious for it.
D. Keith Naylor, South Pasadena
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To the editor: The emperor has no garments.
As must be apparent, safety of Greenland from interference or takeover by Russia or China (and, accordingly, safety of the pursuits of america) is best achieved by the united efforts of the 32 member nations of NATO performing collectively than by america performing alone whereas alienating the opposite NATO members.
This also needs to be apparent to each member of Congress who ought to go a struggle powers decision to stop the president from taking ill-advised actions in Greenland.
Trump is obsessive about showing sturdy, however he whines about not receiving the prize he covets and ties it to selections impacting world affairs. That is each infantile and incompatible along with his duties as president.
Marcia Scully, Whittier
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To the editor: Let me get this straight: Trump’s mad as a result of he didn’t get a peace prize, so now he’s threatening to start out a struggle. Let that sink in for a second.
Whoever mentioned “fact is the primary casualty of struggle” was incorrect. Irony died first.
Peter Scofield, Corona del Mar
