Summary
The Trump administration admitted it sent formal letters to several countries urging them to submit trade proposals by July 8, the deadline for its “90 deals in 90 days” initiative.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called them “friendly reminders,” but critics mocked the move as desperate.
The initiative began in April after Trump paused new tariffs amid market unrest.
Online commentators questioned whether deals will materialize, accusing the administration of backpedaling from bold claims about trade leverage and partner enthusiasm.
The nastiness of Trump is his appeal. They like the idea of people getting punished while they get away with it. It’s part of why his appeal is so broad. His speech’s feel like a friend making snide remarks. So they envision him punishing the people they dislike, but never them.
No one wants to admit this to themselves, never mind someone else. So they’ll tie themselves up in knots trying to justify why they like him.