HE’S NOT THE MESSIAH…
Donald Trump proclaims himself ‘the chosen one’ after sharing tweet declaring him ‘the second coming’ and ‘King of Israel’
DONALD Trump proclaimed himself “the chosen one” yesterday after sharing comments comparing him to “the second coming” of God.
While the US president appeared to have a spiritual awakening, the religious rhetoric landed him in an unholy row.
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First, Trump thanked conservative radio host and supporter Wayne Allyn Root for singing his praises.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Trump quoted Root calling the US leader "the best president for Israel in the history of the world".
He claimed Jewish people in Israel love Trump "like he's the King of Israel. They love him like he's the second coming of God."
The messianic imagery must have stuck in Trump's head.
Later in the day, as the president was defending his trade war with China, Trump declared: “I am the chosen one.”
As he dramatically turned and looked up to the sky, he added: "Somebody had to do it."
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Trump told reporters his life would be easier if he had not mounted a trade war with China.
But he defended his actions and said he believed a trade deal between the world's largest economies was still possible.
“I am taking on China. I'm taking on China on trade. And you know what? We're winning," Trump said.
Trump acknowledged for a second consecutive day that the trade war with China could harm the US economy, although he insists a recession is not on the horizon.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has warned the consequences of tariffs Trump has ordered imposed against China and a host of other countries.
The CBO said changes in US and foreign trade policies since January 2018 will reduce inflation-adjusted US gross domestic product by 0.3 per cent from what it would be otherwise in 2020.
The International Monetary Fund has said that global economic output could be reduced by as much as 0.5 per cent in 2020 as a result of tariffs.
CBO said the tariffs were boosting domestic prices, reducing consumers' purchasing power and boosting the cost of business investment.
Real income for the average US household was also expected to drop by 0.4 per cent, it said.
Trump on Tuesday told reporters he had to confront China over trade even if it caused short-term harm to the US economy because Beijing had been cheating Washington for decades.
China's Foreign Ministry appeared to downplay the comments, emphasising the need for dialogue to resolve differences on trade issues.
A spokesman threatened to retaliate if Washington proceeded with an $8 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
Washington on Tuesday formally announced approval of a possible sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan.
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Trump's tariff plans have roiled global markets and unnerved investors as the trade dispute between the world's two largest economies stretches into its second year with no end in sight.
Growing concerns that the trade war could trigger a possible US recession weighed on financial markets last week.
Recession fears seemed to put administration officials on edge about whether the economy would hold up through the November 2020 presidential election.
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