"Everybody sit back, take a deep breath, don't immediately retaliate. Let's see where this goes, because if you retaliate, that's how we get escalation," Bessent said in an interview with CNN's Kaitlin Collins.

By asking everyone not to retaliate you acknowledge it’s an attack.

Seriously, every trump admin person is the stupidest fucker available.

[–] mutual_ayed@sh.itjust.works 27 points 4 months ago (1 children)

"Hey, don't make this awkward" says man standing behind chimpanzee pointing a gun at you.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 7 points 4 months ago

A tactic used by bullies (and imperialists) everywhere.

[–] Tramort@programming.dev 25 points 4 months ago (1 children)

"stop! Let me bully you!"

[–] throws_lemy@lemmy.nz 2 points 4 months ago

hey! don't bully US!!

[–] Frjttr@lemm.ee 21 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Wouldn’t it be easier for the Treasury Secretary to change his president’s mind than forcing other countries to take the kicks?

[–] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Normally, yes. With Trump? More likely he'd be fired.

[–] Hayduke@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

“Why should we?”

“…I don’t know”

[–] dnick@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Technically I'm their best interests to get as many countries to all retaliate at the same time.