Trump: right or wrong?

Polar opposite views are flooding the media about Trump. One says he is genius other says he is totally opposite. What is true? Real answer is - It depends. Let me explain.

Trump has opened a can of worms with tariffs, DOGE, etc. all within first 100 days. The markets are crestfallen. The experts are confused - half of them think this is batshit crazy and other half thinks this will pass. In reality what Trump’s actions have done is create a space for rethinking the global order from the ground up.

The world is a sick man!

It was evident in the spring of 2007 that the world economy was sick. The economic arteries were clogged and it was massively unfit. The crash of 2008 was like a heart attack. The world needed saving.

And it was saved. But instead of cleaning up arteries and putting the world on a strict diet and exercise regimen, the powers-that-be pumped loads of cash and stimulants into this sick body. The result was that this sick man became even more sick but was able to run a bit. Markets cheered this as a sign of health!!

But you can cheat everyone except reality. The sick man is even more sick now. Many assume that it was just the US economy that was dysfunctional with its hollowed out middle class. No. The economic health of the entire world is messed up. Hence his shock to the world.

Trump realised that there is not much further to go for this sick man. Some time in the future this global economy will get one hell of a cardiac shock and all hell will break loose. OR Trump could shock the patient into changing. That is what he did. Any corrective action will lead to pain.

But shocking the sick system does not guarantee anything!

The Trump shock has opened the eyes of the world. It has opened the space for fundamental rethinking of global order from first principles basis.

But does Trump team understand the first principles and are they ready to recalibrate the entire global system in the right manner. That requires two things (a) ability to conceptualise and design the system (b) intent to create it in the face of economic pain.

This is what is unknown. So ultimately, time will tell.

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