A sad Saturday

Yesterday my snappy partner Ryan told you that living in Donald Trump’s world means learning to cope with investor risk.

The president could seriously damage the Fed and monetary policy, leading to inflation and a hot mess, Ryan warned. And then there’s the Greenland thing. Trump single-handedly created a geopolitical crisis. For nothing.

Well, it got worse. Saturday sucked.

The American president (possibly after reading Ryan’s piece) posted this on his social media site:

“If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken. China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.”

So if Ottawa does a trade deal with China, Trump warned, “Canada will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the USA.” This naturally threw the entire soon-to-be-renegotiated Canada-US-Mex trade deal into jeopardy. Plus Mark Carney is uninvited to pay $1 billion to join Trump’s weird ‘Board of Peace’ and won’t be attending the gala opening of the new feature film, “MELANIA”.

Source: Fox News

Now remember that just a week ago when news of the latest modest Canada-China tariff-reduction deal was announced, Trump said this: “That’s what he should be doing. I mean, it’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.”

Of course, that was Before Davos. Before the big Carney speech, applauded globally for telling the truth – that we live in an age of great powers who are squishing everyone else. We can either be compliant slaves, our PM said, or band together and build a freer structure.

Trump hated that. Now he hates us. He’s telling Canada who it can trade with. And he’s back to the 51st-state-‘Governor’ thing. Carney was right, obviously. America under Trump is not our friend, ally or a trusted partner.

Then, yesterday, there was Alex Pretti.

His murder by ICE agents in Minneapolis was egregious, according to video evidence. He was shot nine times just five seconds after trying to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed, and while he was recording the scene with his phone. Surely more facts will emerge, but within an hour the victim was being blamed for the crime. Pretti was called a domestic terrorist who was planning to ‘massacre’ cops. In America, investigations are no longer required and federal agents can kill with impunity.

So, we edge close to widespread civil unrest. Almost as if it were planned. Protests become unruly. The Insurrection Act is invoked. And the midterm elections possibly delayed – in the name of ‘public safety’? (The Homeland Security boss has suggested ICE agents will leave Minnestoa in return for the state handing over its list of voters. Guess why?)

Let’s not jump down the rabbit hole. But none of this sounds good.

And now, to complete yesterday’s events, the rising risk of another crippling government shutdown in Washington. Irked by ICE brutality and a second murder by agents of a US citizen in the Twin Cities, Democrats say they will block a spending package unless funding for Homeland Security (which funds the immigration paramilitary force) is stripped out.

Lesseee… did we cover it all?

Massive tariffs on Canada. Governor Carney and annexation. Another ICE killing. National Guard troops deployed. Political outrage. Possible government crisis. All in a single day, while a once-in-a-generation winter storm heaped snow on places where people don’t even have heated socks.

This is the world we live in. And – save for the weather – it’s all pretty much related to one guy.

As my colleague wisely pointed out, Trump the Disruptor is also the one who is cutting corporate taxes, using tariffs for American business protectionism, slashing regulations plus gutting costly environmental and DEI requirements. He may also diddle the Fed and cause rates to fall, adding a jolt of economic stimulus later this year.

In short, markets may rise while the nation falls.

Stay invested. Stay awake.

About the picture: “Here’s a smart Sri Lankan dog taking shelter from the 30C heat. Oh that we could join him!” writes Heather, from South Surrey. “I look forward to reading your free,  informative blog every day, rain or shine, at home or away. Love the cute dog pics, too.”

To be in touch or to send a picture of your beast, email to ‘garth@garth.ca’.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2026/01/25/a-sad-saturday/