Online Public Relations Thoughts

President Trump is going after companies that want to show the impact of tariffs on pricing.  He doesn't realize that lack of transparency provides cover for companies to raise prices in addition to tariffs.  Trump apparently realizes how dumb transparency pricing would make him look to the public.  So, he wants tariffs effects hidden, which just makes him look worse in the public's eyes.   

Handicapping the new Pope has started in the media already and predictably the media will get it wrong.  It would be worth everyone's time to stop the guessing and just wait for the decision.

Candidate Trump repeatedly promised to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours.  Now Trump is saying he was being sarcastic when he said it.  The problem with that is he was and is toying with the lives of millions of people.  Now the administration is threatening to walk away from peace talks altogether.  Sarcasm again or admission of failure? 

It takes nerve and effrontery to accuse Ukraine of prolonging a war it didn't start and never wanted, especially after continued bombing of the country.  Yet, that is what Trump is doing.  Putin must be laughing out loud that America is doing his work for him.  

President Trump is now saying his imposition of high tariffs on China will come down but not be zero.  This ignited the markets, which soared.  Trump is blinking because he now knows the disaster he has caused.  Had he paid attention to overwhelming testimony from experts worldwide, it would never have come to this in the first place.  His freewheeling style is dismaying and badly disruptive.

Roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans, according to the AP.  The Education Department is sending them to collection and garnishment.  Tens of thousands of the defaulted borrowers have no way to pay their loans back.  This has set up a PR disaster for the Trump Administration because for every loan garnished is a vote lost in the midterm elections.  One wonders why after all this time the government is so heavy handed.  It's a curious move for an administration that is already unpopular.  

He wasn't perfect but he lived a life of humility and mercy, and he called for justice for the poor and downtrodden.  The world misses his voice already.   

 A reminder, if you needed one, that the global currency system is built on trust and it is fragile.  

This is what universities and law firms should be doing to carry public opinion with them.   

The Health and Human Services Secretary has a strong influence on public health concerns.  It's disappointing then that he has taken a nearly hands-off approach to the measles outbreak among young children.  He has questioned the safety of vaccines.  He has not been closely involved with the fight to control the spread of the disease.  He espouses conspiracy theories.  The nation needs a better spokesperson for health issues but it doesn't look like we'll get one under the current administration.  It's sad to write but the HHS secretary has a bad influence on the public.

As this fact-checking article indicates, President Trump is too often making them up.  Some are misrepresentations and others outright lies.  How does he get away with it?  He's the president and fact-checking happens a news cycle later when few care.  All presidents shade facts to make their points.  Trump appears to be doing it more than any predecessor.  

It has come to this -- defiance of the Supreme Court and Federal judges.  How much more shameful can the White House be?  Defying the rule of law is a final step to dictatorship. 

The stock and bond markets have spooked Trump to delay his tariffs on most countries except China.  Both markets have declined and highlighted Trump's financial madness.  The message is clear.  Tariffs don't work, especially 125% on Chinese goods.  China is not backing down as Trump wants and in the face-off China will win.  Trump prides himself on being a businessman.  He's no such thing.  

 A tiny museum cannot get better publicity than this.  It's a home run, especially the pictures. 

President Trump is holding firm at this hour over his tariff policy.  He says sometimes one has to take medicine to get better and the American people understand that.  Do they?  If and when price hikes hit their pocketbooks, will they hunker and keep paying?  They voted Republican largely because of inflation and shrinking savings.  Trump's analogy might not go far with them especially if inflation continues to rise.  It's a risky message communicated after golf outings at his course.  

President Trump is seeing cracks in support of his tariff policy already.  Elon Musk wants a tariff-free Europe and has spoken out in support of his view.  Musk is apparently unafraid to run afoul of his boss.  Look for more voices against tariffs as days go by.  Will Trump listen? 

It's good to know that four Republican Senators have spines to stand up to President Trump, but they are not enough.  The House needs rebels as well.  However, the four senators have sent a message that there are limits to Trump's tariffs, which they want to keep.  The country -- and Canada -- need more like them.  

Was this effective resistance to MAGA or grandstanding for one's personal benefit?  Only time will tell.   

And now the Smithsonian falls under President Trump's bigoted gaze.  One wonders if those who voted for him understand what they have done.