According to a senior MAGA-era insider, the entire thing is just a show, even though the final curtain is coming down on Donald Trump‘s second act of trade recklessness. Only two minor deals have been signed in the final days before Trump’s much-anticipated July 9 deadline for signing many of the trade agreements or bringing back sweeping tariffs.
What about behind the scenes?
A source told Politico, “It’s all fake. There’s no deadline. It’s a self-imposed landmark in this theatrical show.”
Both insiders and opposition groups claim that Donald Trump’s trade agenda has been driven more by optics than by economic theory, regardless of the fact that global markets are shaking and nations around the world are rushing.
The Republican second-time President seems to take some unnecessary pleasure in the havoc he wreaks, often changing the laws in the middle of the game and throwing new threats like confetti during a rally.
Donald Trump’s Tariff Deadline Déjà Vu, aka The Fake-Out
Built to be framed as the final phase of Trump’s self-described “Liberation Day” tariff saga, the July 9 deadline has already been pushed back to August 1. While President Donald Trump told reporters he could “make it shorter” or “extend it,” depending on how things were going, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the delay.
As reported by CNBC, he told the media on Tuesday, “We can do whatever we want.” He has, too.
The Trump administration has struck only limited deals with China and the UK since April. Recognized by his fans on Truth Social, an agreement with Vietnam ended up getting more of a wishlist kind of draft than a practical framework. The following targets are the EU and India, but those talks are rife with vague threats and signals that differ.
🚨 TRUMP TARIFFS – BREAKING: Trump announces reciprocal tariffs. To make it fair & so the US can re industrialise.
UK -10% standard tariff both ways. That’s the base line.
Oops EU, your unfair trade of charging the US 39% just stung you in the arse at 20%
Seems fair to me 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/8gXJG4AGR1
— Bernie (@Artemisfornow) April 2, 2025
“He likes the game too much,” the White House source confided to Politico.
The team behind Donald Trump, however, holds that the tariff system is a serious issue. White House representative Kush Desai refused charges of performative politics in a discussion with The Daily Beast, saying, “not a theatrical show” and that “[Donald] Trump pledged to use tariffs to level the playing field and restore American Greatness.”
But it’s hard to overlook the rustle of a script page turning when Donald Trump says to have already sent out a dozen “take it or leave it” notes to foreign leaders, and all without any visible progress when it comes to tariffs.
Trade Deals or Reality TV?
These “deals” aren’t regular trade agreements that would require Congressional approval, argues former trade adviser Everett Eissenstat. They are talking points in policy cosplay or frameworks. “Even though the deal may be done, the negotiations continue. They’re framework agreements. They’re not final,” he told Politico.
In other words, there is less fire and more smoke!
Donald Trump is very much at ease with this degree of confusion. He has the option to turn on the tariff switch if an entire country offends him or comes in short of an uncertain goal. Just ask Japan, which last week sent its trade minister to Washington only to be told out loud that they might be liable to a 35% rice tariff.
RELATED: Internet Baffled by Donald Trump’s ‘Dear Mr. Japan’
Trump slammed Japan for refusing to take American “RICE,” threatening new tariffs.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/BrlUbU80up
— AF Post (@AFpost) July 1, 2025
The Asia Society Policy Institute’s Wendy Cutler says that these contracts offer no immunity. She says that if you’re doing anything that bothers Trump, he could use it to implement more tariffs.
Also, one of Trump’s top negotiators, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, recently decided to miss out entirely in order to take a vacation in Italy. In contrast, the remaining negotiators kept up the rush between late-night conferences and news channel appearances. Priorities, right?
