The Art Of The Deal Is Real

Much to the surprise of the self-appointed smart set on both the Left and the Right, it turns out that the guy who succeeded at the highest levels of real estate, luxury resorts, beauty pageants, television, and politics might know a thing or two about negotiating a good deal. On Wednesday, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker joined President Trump in the Rose Garden to announce each would hold off on further tariffs as they approach an agreement acceptable to both the United States and Europe — trade war averted, prosperity preserved.

“This will open markets for farmers and workers, increase investment, and lead to greater prosperity in both the United States and the European Union,” explained President Trump, who had recently slapped tariffs on all American imports of steel and aluminum. The Rose Garden announcement signaled the end of tariffs on all non-auto industrial goods as the EU agreed to boost purchases of U.S. soybeans and liquefied natural gas. At the same time, President Trump has also managed to pry more defense spending out of our allies in the Old World. Jen Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, boasted that “in 2014 it was three allies” who paid their fair share to the military alliance, but “now this year I expect eight allies to meet that pledge.”