'Those aren't actual deals': ABC host busts treasury secretary on Trump's trade 'deals'
Source: Raw Story
April 27, 2025 10:27AM ET
ABC News host Martha Raddatz challenged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after President Donald Trump claimed that he had made 200 trade deals in his first 100 days in office.
"He said that he has made 200 deals on tariffs. 200 deals?" Raddatz told the secretary on Sunday. "Who has he made deals with? Is there actually any deal at this point?" "I believe that he is referring to sub-deals within the negotiations we're doing," Bessent replied.
"But those aren't actual deals," Raddatz pointed out.
"Martha, if there are 180 countries, there are 18 important trading partners," the Trump official opined.
Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/scott-bessent-trump-deals/

underpants
(190,442 posts)Can you share with whom?
Because the deal is a deal that I choose. View it differently: We are a department store, and we set the price.
underpants
(190,442 posts)Countries in the World:
There are 195 countries in the world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
Irish_Dem
(69,302 posts)They are not DEALS.
They are SUB DEALS.
paleotn
(20,323 posts)The Sec Treasury won't publicly say his boss is full of shit, even when it's obvious he's full of shit. So he resorts to semantics and hand waving.
Irish_Dem
(69,302 posts)I know it was hilarious to watch this guy twist like a pretzel.
They are fragments of a concept, of a thought of an idea of a dream of a plan of a deal. Plain English: Vaporware.
marked50
(1,492 posts)We need more Subs and Sub Parts. Or we can sell more Subs and Parts. Or maybe these deals are just "underwater".
Irish_Dem
(69,302 posts)marked50
(1,492 posts)LuvLoogie
(8,012 posts)Amaryllis
(10,326 posts)Bluetus
(1,018 posts)"So, it is agreed that my undersecretary will meet for lunch with your undersecretary Thursday at 11AM?"
"Yes, that is agreed. We have a deal."
"And can we agree they will not have fewer than 2 martinis but not more than 5?"
"Yes, again, we agree, That is another deal."
"Wonderful. We are making good progress here."
Irish_Dem
(69,302 posts)These are all deals.
Doodley
(10,851 posts)NickB79
(19,901 posts)BOSSHOG
(42,263 posts)So the treasury sec doesnt know what the fuck the president is talking about. My amateur guess is theyre both lying in tandem. Lies. They are the basis of all conservative speak. Meanwhile the pain is coming THANKS TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
unblock
(55,068 posts)i mean, i guess kudos to them for pointing out that the number of deals is incorrect, but this is way too gentle.
it's done in such a way that does little to nothing to deter future lying. arguably, it still rewards the lying. when all you do is counter the lie with the truth, some -- maybe even most -- leave believing the truth, but more than a few will believe the lie, especially if it gets repeated, which is something you can count on republicans to do.
the news story here is that they lied. they advanced a deliberately grossly misleading number. this demands a follow-up.
"why would you lie?"
"don't you worry about your credibility?"
"why should we believe you?"
"is everything else you said a lie?"
ok, yeah, i get that some of these a bit much for standard journalism, but the point is, they lie with impunity, repeatedly, because they're never punished for it, and usually quite well rewarded.
the msm made a staple of ripping into clinton for lying about monica, and al gore for supposedly "lying" about the internet. they can certainly be harsh and punitive on political figures when they want. when they're democrats, of course....
This, absolutely!
maxrandb
(16,539 posts)He defines that as a "deal".
Yes, that's how stupid he "knows" his MAGAt dipshits are.
Bernardo de La Paz
(55,336 posts)yellow dahlia
(2,352 posts)He creeps me out.
Why is he supposedly respected in the business community?
patphil
(7,775 posts)And one of them puts money in His bank account!
BidenRocks
(1,427 posts)No it isn't, yes it is, ....
IbogaProject
(4,369 posts)Is the likely explanation.
lonely bird
(2,286 posts)And he needs to be called that to his face. Every. Damn. Time.
IronLionZion
(48,730 posts)this administration spews BS nonstop despite being called out on it. No evidence whatsoever of any deals.
If it was so super secret, put it on a signal chat and include some journalists.
Maybe they have concepts of a deal.
Martin68
(25,698 posts)Grammy23
(5,989 posts)and his writers will do with these tidbits! Comedy gold. Just what tRump loves people laughing at him. 🙄 Kimmel is fearless and just keeps on hammering him. Keep it up, Jimmy. It is saving sanity for the rest of us!
wolfie001
(4,858 posts)
We will feel this reverberation by the end of June if not earlier.
Old Crank
(5,645 posts)Montauk6
(9,074 posts)KG
(28,775 posts)Grammy23
(5,989 posts)And feel any sense of confidence in this guy? He seems bumbling and unsure of himself. I thought he is supposed to be so good and well respected. For what?