Do I think that Donald Trump brokered the big tax break deal for Carrier to keep some of the jobs it was going to send to Mexico here in the States primarily or solely because he has an investment in Carrier's parent company?
No, I don't.
But it's another example of how Trump's far flung-finances, which he keeps saying he'll somehow "divest" himself from, add another layer of uncertainty to his actions as POTUS in the future. Is he acting ideologically? Is he acting to reward friends? Is he acting to stroke his ego? Now add to that, is he acting to make money?
It's ironic, because the GOP has often criticized "business uncertainty" under Democrats because of the possibility that regulations might drop at any time. But business actually had some capability of figuring out what sort of regulations might be coming (regs don't magically crop up — they have to go through a lengthy process of planning and public comment and approval).
But now we have a President-Elect who is essentially unpredictable. He might jump in any direction at any time for any number of reasons. How much "business uncertainty" is going to come from that? Will something happen (good or bad) because Trump promised it would? Will something happen because Congress wants to do it? Will something happen because Trump and the Congress are in disagreement? Will something happen because some company or country has buttered up Trump? Will something happen because some company or country has cheesed off Trump? Will something happen because it stands to benefit Trump's business interests, or those of his family?
"Loose cannon" is too kind a term. And it's only going to get worse over the next four (or more) years.
That Great Deal Donald Trump Made to ‘Save’ Carrier’s Worker Jobs? He May Have Profited Financially From It.
Did Donald Trump Benefit Financially From the $7 Million Tax Break His Vice President-Elect Just Handed to Carrier?
