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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Comment
Greg Jericho

The IMF’s banal language is sane-washing an economic crisis created by the egomaniacal Donald Trump

Donald Trump speaking at a press conference with the US flag behind him
‘The IMF wants to pretend all is calm and nice. It is not. This pretence just gives Trump more permission to smash everything and anything that takes his fancy.’ Photograph: ABACA/Shutterstock

This week the IMF released an update to its World Economic Outlook, titled “Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces” and, seriously, in what fricking world are they living? It was yet another example of international groups, governments and parts of the media sane-washing the utter crisis we all exist in because Donald Trump is an egomaniacal bully with the impulses of a spoiled toddler.

How’s this for timing: on Sunday Donald Trump announced from 1 February he will levy a 10% tariff “on any and all goods sent to the United States” from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, and will increase it to 25% from 1 June unless they let the US gain control of Greenland.

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