In Reply to: 'It's the ecosystems, stupid' posted by ClockBlocker on February 18, 2025 at 17:46:31
It looks to me like Trump is trying to build an executive branch that can operate independently of any Congressional funding. Presidents have been given a lot of leeway in the way tariffs are applied. He doesn't need a vote of Congress to impose them.
Because of that, it would not surprise me if he thinks--or has someone telling him--that money from tariffs are his to spend however he wants. During the campaign, he made a speech where it seemed pretty clear that he thought tariffs could be used to get foreign governments to pay for the cost of U.S. government.