This is called Extortion. It’s obvious he thinks he can run the presidency like a mafia operation. But I think people in general are about done with putting up with this bullshit.
He didn’t even think it through that much. His thought process was:
“The UN won’t let me do what I want. I’m going to make my own UN with me in charge so I can do anything I want.”
“The UN I’m making is so awesome because I’m in charge, I should charge people to join.”
“The King of France was mean about my super awesome UN, I’m going put tariffs on him! What does France sell? Wine and Champaign.”
Thoughts 2 and 3 are completely unconnected. If you spent 10 minutes explaining the connection to him he’d think “I’m smarter than I thought, either way I get money!”
Does the French economy make 1 billion in champagne and wine? If not, then it’s better to cover the losses by subsidizing the industry as opposed to giving even more away to some corrupt organization.
Some folks seem to think he is saying “pay into the fund for the Board of Peace”, but I am quite convinced he means pay him that money personally.
Same with the donations for the inaugural ceremony… they directly ended up in Trump’s grubby hands without anything to show for towards the American public.
It’s not “Join the Board of Peace or get tariffs”, it’s “Give me a billion dollars or get tariffs”
This is called Extortion. It’s obvious he thinks he can run the presidency like a mafia operation. But I think people in general are about done with putting up with this bullshit.
He didn’t even think it through that much. His thought process was:
“The UN won’t let me do what I want. I’m going to make my own UN with me in charge so I can do anything I want.”
“The UN I’m making is so awesome because I’m in charge, I should charge people to join.”
“The King of France was mean about my super awesome UN, I’m going put tariffs on him! What does France sell? Wine and Champaign.”
Thoughts 2 and 3 are completely unconnected. If you spent 10 minutes explaining the connection to him he’d think “I’m smarter than I thought, either way I get money!”
It’s only extortion if it’s from Southern Italy, otherwise it’s just a shakedown
Sparkling shakedown
On the first go around Congress told him that “quid pro quo” is okay, so of course he’s doing more this time.
But not real mafia, this is a mafia movie trope at best.
Does the French economy make 1 billion in champagne and wine? If not, then it’s better to cover the losses by subsidizing the industry as opposed to giving even more away to some corrupt organization.
They make about 820 million euros in champagne exports to the US (keep in mind this is only for champagne wines and only exported to the US) .
Thanks! That’s a lot more than I would have thought.
I can’t imagine US citizens drinking so much wine and champagne and the ones who do might even pay the triple price.
I thought so too. The import will never drop to zero, so the difference can be subsidized if France would think its wine industry is in jeopardy.
Ya know, privatize profits, socialize losses. Nevertheless, it would still be the better economic choice for France.
Spend 1 billion on Trump, or cover the losses for the wine industry. I know which number is bigger.
Some folks seem to think he is saying “pay into the fund for the Board of Peace”, but I am quite convinced he means pay him that money personally.
Same with the donations for the inaugural ceremony… they directly ended up in Trump’s grubby hands without anything to show for towards the American public.
That is what it means. He can spend the money on whatever he wants.
It’s also just another power play.
Give me PERSONALLY a billion dollars, too.