Fair points, Lomo, but let’s not confuse cautious optimism with naivety. I don’t think Trump suddenly woke up craving a Carney cuddle. The man doesn’t “do” diplomacy unless it involves flattery, leverage, or a photo op with a thumbs-up showing off his fake tan and yellow hair.
However, even if Trump’s motivations are entirely transactional, which they are, Carney is uniquely equipped to play that game. He speaks the language of markets, power, and ego, all of which Trump understands very well. That doesn't mean the bromance is real, but it might be functional. And right now, functional is better than flammable. At the very least admit Carney did a great job for his first meeting as most have agreed on, even right-wingers.
As for Trump being beholden to his base, absolutely, his MAGAS are complete fools and twats, but even his base starts to squirm when jobs vanish and prices spike. That pressure trickles upward, and at some point, even Trump needs a scapegoat or a soft landing. Carney gives him the option of the latter without making it look like a retreat, which, ironically, is the kind of “win” Trump likes best.
Annexing Canada, though? C’mon man. Trump couldn’t even annex TikTok.
Listen to what comes from the mouth of a Trump loyalist called Kudlow. Perhaps you will believe him instead of Squeezie.