Gerstner frames Trump's 25% tariff threat as negotiating anchor to achieve objectives, not final position.
“He's gonna raise these tariffs in order to achieve national objectives, and then he's gonna be willing to negotiate away from them, but only if he achieves the national objectives.”
Gerstner cites Scott Bessent describing Trump's tariff strategy as loaded gun that will rarely be discharged.
“His nominee to be treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has said, quote, the tariff gun will be loaded but rarely discharged, end quote.”
Gerstner argues Trump may have principled decade-long belief in tariffs beyond tactical negotiating.
“I think that Trump may in fact have a much, much deeper and more principled belief in tariffs. If you listen to his speeches, if you read them, and this goes back over a decade.”
Gerstner suggests Trump believes America peaked during 1880s high-tariff era before income tax replaced tariff revenue.
“So prior to 1910, which is when we got the income tax, right, the vast majority,”
Gerstner quotes Trump proposing to cut defense budgets in half for US, China, and Russia.
“He said, You know, if I could wave a magic wand, I would cut the defense budget in half for The United States, for China, and for Russia.”
Gerstner predicts Trump will pursue the biggest-ever China deal, calling himself a deal junkie at AI summit.
“He said at the AI summit last week, I'm a deal junkie. I like to do deals. You can't be the biggest deal maker in the world without doing a big deal with China.”
Gerstner predicts president wants biggest-ever China deal and is not ideologically rigid on China.
“I think this president wants to do the biggest deal ever done with China. I don't think he's dogmatic at all. I don't think he's some big China hawk.”
Gerstner claims Trump told him in under five minutes that Trump Accounts represented the entire purpose of his presidency.
“It took him less than five minutes to say, ‘This is the whole reason for my presidency.’”
Gerstner explains that in a school of five hundred students donors give to the foundation which distributes account links
“@k5sbnzxgbg @TrumpAccounts How many kids? In a school of say 500 students, you would donate to school foundation & head of school or foundation would get links to each account & distribute accordingly. https://t.co/j84Xtf5BvE Investment Accounts for Children | Invest America | Trump Accounts”
Gerstner apologizes for rollout frustration and suggests downloading the app to start over
“@realkpr16 @Raj_Menon @LincGerstner @InvestAmerica24 @TrumpAccounts Apologies. Download app and try to do from scratch. If still unable will report.”