US alliances weakening, trade war threatens economy
In response to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, the Democrats cautioned that US alliances are deteriorating and the trade war is posing a serious threat to the economy.
“Today’s world is deeply interconnected. Migration, cyber threats, AI, environmental destruction, and terrorism require global cooperation. We need allies, and our safety depends on it,” said Senator Elissa Slotkin in her televised Democratic rebuttal.
Referencing former Republican President Ronald Reagan, she remarked, “Reagan understood that true strength required America to combine military and economic power with moral clarity. He must be rolling in his grave after Trump’s treatment of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.”
Slotkin criticized Trump for his approach to foreign relations, accusing him of “cozying up” to Russian President Vladimir Putin while undermining allies like Canada. She emphasized the importance of US leadership, stating, “I would rather have American leadership over Chinese or Russian leadership any day.”
Slotkin, a former CIA official and a senator from Michigan, also raised concerns about Trump’s economic policies, warning that they could lead to a recession.
“If he’s not careful, he could walk us right into a recession,” she said, highlighting the negative impact of trade wars on manufacturers and farmers while raising costs for consumers.
She also criticized Trump’s proposed tax cuts, claiming they primarily benefit billionaires at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Additionally, she took aim at Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accusing him of reckless budget cuts and mishandling sensitive tax data without proper cybersecurity protections.
Slotkin concluded by slamming government layoffs under the cost-cutting program, stating that essential workers were fired only to be rehired later. “No CEO in America could do that without being fired,” she remarked.
