Trump's trade gambit: Enriching chaos amid global tensions
Amid the whirlwind of recent events, Donald Trump and his entourage have enriched themselves significantly, reports the German press. "To autocratic ambitions, kleptocratic ones are added," emphasises the media across the Oder.
The daily "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" refers to the deteriorating trade relations between the USA and China, noting that rationality is currently in short supply in both Washington and Beijing.
"In their escalation, both presidents have raised tariffs on bilateral trade to over 100% within just a few days. This is clearly about a power struggle, in which each side wants to harm the other," writes the newspaper.
It adds that when two of the world's three largest economic powers – America and China – "shoot themselves in the foot in economic matters," the question arises whether the European Union, as the third economic power, can benefit. "The European Union would do well not to pour oil on the fire, but also not to agree to everything, and should aim for a noticeable reduction in tariffs and other barriers in trade talks," it reads.
"Kleptocratic ambitions"
"The US president has also flooded the world this week with attacks on the world order and the economy. In this whirlwind of events, one serious suspicion cannot be lost: that Trump and his entourage have enriched themselves significantly," writes Frankfurter Rundschau.
"This is an alarm signal for American democracy. To autocratic ambitions are added kleptocratic ones," it adds.
The newspaper recalls that on 9 April, shortly before the stock market race following his turnaround on tariffs, Trump wrote on his platform: "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT" ("It's a great time to buy").
His initials "DJT" (unusual in his posts) also correspond to the stock abbreviation of his media company. Democrats see this as a manipulative call to intentionally purchase Trump shares.
"Autocracies are often characterised by the systematic impunity of the ruling elite," notes the commentator, adding that there is reason to fear that the United States is not far from this point.
"On the brink of a financial crisis"
The policy of US President Donald Trump and the trade war are also the subject of comments in the regional press.
The Bavarian "Münchner Merkur" asks, Is another disaster looming after the stock market crash?
"Alarm signals are intensifying: the sell-off in the American bond market, triggered by the US president's tariff policy, has recently accelerated. The USA is facing a financial crisis due to Trump's policies. Sorcerer's apprentice Trump, in an act of desperation, attempted to halt the chain reaction he initiated by imposing a tariff moratorium. But that wasn't enough for the markets. When the core starts to melt, it's challenging to stop it," it reads.
The regional newspaper "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" commented on the first 100 days of Trump's second presidency, writing that "he attacks the status quo."
"He wants to undermine the foundations of liberal democracy, disrupt global orders, and reshape national structures to his advantage. To some extent, he might succeed. But this destructive impulse has sharpened many people's sense of what is essential: the need for political compromise, the principle of speech and opposition, the struggle for balance. Trump wanted to shake the world, but ultimately he invigorated it."
