Trump’s Goodyear Rant Is a Sign of Desperation
Even if voters don't punish him for it, the president’s bombast has steadily weakened his ability to get anything done.
A salesman without a plan.
Photographer: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been watching normal politicians this week. The ones who stretch the truth from time to time but try to remain anchored in something they can defend as accurate — and who usually appear to be thinking about the consequences of what they say. So I just can’t get over what the U.S. president tweeted today:
Boycotting Goodyear? As the Economist’s Jon Fasman put it: “Goodyear is an Akron-based company that employs 64,000 people. Urging a boycott seems an odd strategy for someone who wants to win Ohio.” Of course, thinking of Trump’s actions as part of any serious long-term strategy is futile. He’s a bundle of grievances, impulses and immediate reactions, and usually nothing more.