Is Trump a Genius or a Fool?
(Photo by Gage Skidmore) (CC BY-SA) (Resized/Cropped)
The singular question on Trump has always been is he a genius or a fool — I think we can all agree there’s no chance he’s neither. If he’s a genius, then the outrageous talk was a master strategy to run circles around the elite and their press minions. On the other hand, if Trump’s a fool, then the outrageous talk showed that handing him the White House is a pre-schooler with a handgun.
At the moment, the visa ban looks to me a lot more foolish than genius. It’s clumsy, egregiously vindictive, and it’s re-energizing the left. He better have a darn good reason. Because if he is simply a fool — and a nasty one at that — Congress will universally turn against him, reversing him every time he picks up a pen. He’ll end up spending 4 years a powerless lunatic in a gilded cage. On the bright side, we do get that toothless executive.
Now, there’s always the possibility that it’s a genius move — the man’s surprised before. Why? First, to gain leverage with other countries by showing that he’s not afraid to take extreme measures if they screw around — basically, gather up some bargaining chits. Second, keep the media non-stop hyperventilating so that voters eventually tune them out. If it is strategic and not foolishness, I’d guess he soon moderates. We’ll see.
Professor St. Onge holds a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University, a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from McGill University, and is Series 65 licensed. He teaches business cycle analysis and strategy, edits the Austrian Investment Monthly newsletter, and is a former Mises Institute Fellow. He managed funds for a decade, across both the dot-com cycle and the 2008 Crisis. He lives online at Profits of Chaos.
Trending Now on Affluent Christian Investor
Are You A Kingdom Worker?
Sermon On The Mount vs. Sermon On The Plain: Different Messages For Different Economies
Who Can We Blame For The Great Recession?
Nude is Natural: Should Clothing be Optional?
Wealth Equality = Stealing
Gramsci’s Plan to Overwhelm Christianity With Socialism Using Culture
Fascism Is Socialism: Here’s The Proof
King David on The Suffering Leader
Michael Novak Anticipated ObamaCare Thirty Years Ago
AD or ADD: 2019 Years From What?
The Ebola Epidemic Is Dying
An Interview With Jordan Peterson
One Year Later And The Trump Tax Cut Boom Seems To Be Petering Out
What Number Will Signal When the Dollar is About to Plunge to Zero Value?
Defending Costco’s Ban Of Gun Seller’s Donation For Sick Children, Corporate Rep Changes Story Mid-Sentence
Windmills Kill Birds And Warm The Earth
What Christian Leaders Usually Fail To Understand About Economics
Follow Us
The Affluent Mix
Two Years Of Global Cooling But Cuomo Attacks Energy Anyway... February 4, 2019 | Frank Vernuccio
Wealth Equality = Stealing February 4, 2019 | Jim Huntzinger
What Christian Leaders Usually Fail To Understand About Economics... February 4, 2019 | Roger McKinney
Last Quarter Markets Got De-FAANGed February 4, 2019 | Jerry Bowyer
Warnings From A Past Pope And A President About Socialism... January 25, 2019 | Jim Huntzinger
Parliament Brexit Rejection Is Continuation Of Elites Rejecting Popular Opinion... January 25, 2019 | Frank Vernuccio
More Tuckerism: ‘Conservative’ Journal Blames Markets For Social Ills... January 25, 2019 | Roger McKinney
One Year Later And The Trump Tax Cut Boom Seems To Be Petering Out... January 25, 2019 | Jerry Bowyer
No, NY Times, A Government Shutdown Won’t Shrink Economic Growth... January 17, 2019 | John Tamny
Tucker Carlson Serves Up Warmed Over Socialism... January 17, 2019 | Roger McKinney
Media Ignores Socialism As Reason For Venezuelan Crisis... January 17, 2019 | Frank Vernuccio
Brazil’s New President Embraces Israel (Literally) And Is World’s Best Perfo... January 17, 2019 | Charles Bowyer
Who Says States Can Nullify Federal Overreach? Madison And Jefferson... January 17, 2019 | Jim Huntzinger
Why Big Funds Overlook Places Like Columbus And Why They Shouldn’t... January 17, 2019 | Jerry Bowyer
AD or ADD: 2019 Years From What? January 4, 2019 | Jerry Bowyer
Why Christmas Won Over Greek Philosophy January 4, 2019 | Vishal Mangalwadi
Madison’s Attack On Government Suppression Of Dissent Is Still Relevant Today... January 4, 2019 | Jim Huntzinger
Stop Blaming Memphis’s Sad Present On Its Tragic Past... January 4, 2019 | John Tamny
No, Washington Post, The Virgin Mary Was Not A Socialist!... December 28, 2018 | Jerry Bowyer
Debunking The Myth That Blacks Need To Be Surrounded By Whites To Succeed... December 28, 2018 | Roger McKinney
Baby, It’s Cold Outside… For Free Speech... December 28, 2018 | Frank Vernuccio
The Economic Philosophy Of The Virgin Mary... December 21, 2018 | Jerry Bowyer
Join the conversation!
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.