On Trump’s Actions and Policies

I find myself opposed to many of President Trump’s actions. Not all, though. The recent ceasefire in Gaza, for instance, is a positive step, and I genuinely hope it lasts. But overall, I suppose I have a sort of begrudging admiration for how he consistently performs even lower than my already low expectations.

It’s somewhat baffling, honestly. He does things that, well, most would find outrageous and often disregards the law, but you can’t help but admit there’s a kind of creativity to it. Just a couple of weeks ago, someone mentioned things like, “Tear down part of the White House” or “Punish Canada.” I mean, it almost reads like a strange bingo card of Trump’s antics, right?

So, there’s this unusual move by Trump—imposing tariffs on Canada related to a television ad. Essentially, Canada aired an ad on American TV featuring a 1987 speech by President Reagan, where he explained why tariffs are generally a poor policy that ultimately harms American workers. Trump, apparently incensed by what he deemed a “deceptive” ad, decided to slap a 10% tariff on Canadian goods, demanding its immediate removal.

You can imagine the fallout from that. Despite his tendency to overlook constitutional guidelines, he can’t escape a phenomenon known as the Streisand effect. If he had stayed silent, this ad wouldn’t have gained much traction. Now, though, it’s sparked major discussions nationwide about Reagan’s views on free trade.

Now, regarding Trump’s plan to penalize Canada, it’s likely illegal. Non-U.S. nationals operating outside the U.S. aren’t protected under those rules. Canada acted within constitutional bounds, and there’s the First Amendment concern, too. Punishing a foreign nation for communicating openly with Americans on matters of public interest goes against the Constitution’s spirit. If someone in the U.S. had aired that ad, it would have enjoyed full protection under the First Amendment.

Not to mention, the ad was actually truthful. It used Reagan’s words verbatim, accurately reflecting his views on tariffs. You could see it for yourself; there’s no misleading aspect here. If you take a look at it—well, judge for yourself.

Even under Trump’s interpretation of the law, he retains authority to impose tariffs, but a Canadian ad quoting Reagan doesn’t appear to qualify as a threat, odd or otherwise.

But there’s a deeper issue at play here. Trump claims these tariffs are part of his “America First” doctrine aimed at bolstering the U.S. economy. Yet, in this instance, it looks more like a personal vendetta against Canada for trying to communicate directly with Americans.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked that this situation is a propaganda campaign against the American public. He even called it an espionage operation, questioning its purpose other than to influence public sentiment. It’s both sad and somewhat amusing that Trump’s administration sees efforts to foster debate as a “psychological operation.”

Some are stating that this ad might sway the Supreme Court; it’s absurd to think the courts would cave to a commercial. I do worry about the conservative majority’s objectivity, but even then, it’s hard to believe media influence would tip the scales.

This new tariff approach against Canada fits a troubling pattern. Trump has also placed a hefty punitive duty on Brazil, which has caused a surge in hamburger prices stateside. This was in reaction to their political situation after former President Jair Bolsonaro faced indictment. There’s hardly a valid economic rationale for these tariffs, and Trump has never even attempted to offer one.

Ultimately, neither the Brazilian nor Canadian tariffs will genuinely protect American jobs. As prices for basic goods like lumber and beef continue to climb, American consumers and businesses could lose billions. It feels as though Trump is simply wielding trade policy for his amusement.

On a slightly more hopeful note, the Senate did vote recently to limit Trump’s ability to impose such tariffs. But let’s be honest—if you expect Congressional Republicans to challenge Trump effectively, you might want to temper those expectations. The vote garnered only four Republican supporters, indicating many still lack a moral compass.

Whether he’s imposing tariffs or contemplating the demolition of parts of the White House, Trump seems to have transformed the entire federal government into a vanity project. When American policy diverges from American interests and becomes subject to his whims, it’s truly hard to see any potential benefits.

It feels like we’re in for a long three years.