Podcast: The Politics Of Fear And Trade

Donald Trump's vision of power involves not only political clout or the ability to bring about a desired change—if you've been around over the past two years you will know that is not the case. As Bob Woodward explains in his recent book on the Trump Administration, at the core of the US President's worldview is a need to look strong, even if it means using intimidation, and failing to utter the right words or at least, to ensure a nuclear war does not take place.

But while "Fear: Trump in the White House" has gotten considerable media attention for exploring what really is going on around Trump, this podcast interview goes in depth on what this means for the President's view of the economy. In short, it's gloomy.

In conversation with The Economist's Soumaya Keynes and the Peterson Institute's Chad Bown, Woodward gives necessary context to the trade wars conducted from the Oval Office and the recent agrement of NAFTA 2.0. 

"From snatching trade agreement withdrawal letters off the president’s desk to impromptu Oval Office meetings with steel company CEOs", Trump may not have such a concrete view of the economy after all, and he might just be playing an extension of his fear-based politics in the context of economic negotiations. The world economy is in for a bumpy ride.