President Trump’s tariff strategy seems to be paying off already with the European Union, with both sides working towards a “zero-tariff” agreement. However, you wouldn’t know it based on the mainstream media’s coverage. On Thursday’s episode of The Andrew Klavan Show, host Andrew Klavan shed some light on the subject.
“This is a victory for Trump, it’s not ‘victory’ but it is ‘a victory’ for Trump,” Klavan said of the EU and U.S. agreeing to back away from the “trade war” that the media has been playing up. “So how do they cover it? The New York Times, a former newspaper, their headline is ‘with surprise deal, US and EU step back from trade war.’ Now, who was surprised? Where does that surprise come from? Donald Trump said this was going to happen, yesterday we played a cut of him saying, ‘oh they’re coming to the table, the EU is coming to the table.’ But who’s surprised? The New York Times — not Donald Trump.”
And it’s not just that the networks are surprised, or at least feigning surprise, they are covering the victory “truly dishonest[ly],” he said. “This is the networks trying to spin this as if Trump lost, as if it was Trump who blinked instead of the EU. I’m not saying the EU blinked, they did the sensible thing.”
After playing clips of ABC’s David Muir and Terry Moran portraying the U.S.-EU deal as Trump caving to “pressure,” Klavan said, “That is amazing dishonest reporting. They can’t just say, you know, ‘he threatened them, they came to the table.’ It’s got to be ‘he [Trump] caved, he caved.’ It’s just lying, it is lying.”
Video and transcript below:
We’re in a trade war with China, this is the one thing you have to agree with Trump about, all Trump is doing is fighting back. And yes, is it dangerous? War is dangerous — trade wars are dangerous. But the panic that you’re getting from the “Wall Street Journal”, the insane panic you’re getting from Republicans in Congress, you know, it doesn’t help in the negotiation. Trump may be wrong, he may have gotten this wrong, he may lose the negotiation. But it doesn’t help him negotiate to have all these people jumping on his shoulder saying “what’s happening?” You know, it’s like “are we there yet?” It’s like listening to kids.
I have to point out — so my one point about this is; this is a victory for Trump, it’s not “victory” but it is “a victory” for Trump. So how do they cover it? The New York Times, a former newspaper, their headline is “with surprise deal, US and EU step back from trade war.” Now, who was surprised? Where does that surprise come from? Donald Trump said this was going to happen, yesterday we played a cut of him saying “oh they’re coming to the table, the EU is coming to the table.” But who’s surprised? the New York Times — not Donald Trump. And the network’s truly dishonest reporting…it’s worth playing a minute of this, this is the network’s trying to spin this as if Trump lost, as if it was Trump who blinked instead of the EU. I’m not saying the EU blinked, they did the sensible thing. They were under threat, Trump is right about the tariffs, they should be fair, they should be at zero, and here’s the nets reporting this:
ABC’s David Muir: “To the President tonight – under pressure after his own tariffs igniting a trade war. Other countries retaliating, as many American farmers paying the price. You heard from many of them last night right here — well tonight the President with a new promise – reaching out to the European Union, he called them a “foe” just a week ago. But late today calling a press conference outside the White House to say they will now work together.”
ABC’s Terry Moran: “Reeling under increasing pressure from American farmers, congressional Republicans and nervous Wall Street investors, President Trump suddenly shed his ‘trade warrior’ persona today and declared a truce with the European Union.”
That is amazing. That is amazing dishonest reporting. They can’t just say, you know, “he threatened them, they came to the table.” It’s got to be “he [Trump] caved, he caved.” It’s just lying, it is lying. Those guys who get paid a lot of money to go in there and look into a camera and give you information, they took the money, they put on their suits and ties, they went on there with serious looks and they lied. That is what they do. To me that’s amazing. I don’t understand, I really don’t, I don’t understand what that life would be like. I do not understand what it would be like to be putting on my tie and looking in the mirror, and of course I don’t wear a tie but I occasionally look in the mirror, and you’re looking in the mirror and thinking “I’m going out there and I’m gonna sell this crap to people if it’s the last thing I do.” I do not understand what that life is like…
You know, Trump had a good, good day yesterday, in which a lot of his negotiation strategies started to bear fruit. We will see how he does, whether he follows through, whether he gets to the end. Some of these things are difficult. But all I’m saying is, when you’re watching the news, remember — you are watching the nervous wife saying “are we gonna lose the house ?” While you’re trying to get the price that you think you can afford. Because you’re looking ten years down the line to whether or not you’re gonna be paying a mortgage that’s gonna compromise your children, compromise their schooling – whatever it is. The nervous wife is saying “are we gonna lose the house?” You have to keep your eye on the goal, and that’s what the Trump administration is doing. Right now, Donald Trump is the adult in the room — which is the scariest thought I can think of (laughing).