If the Republican donors at Wednesday's fundraiser in Missouri for Senate candidate Josh Hawley paid to hear President Trump complain bitterly about close allies, discuss Japan dropping bowling balls on cars, brag about his presidency, and take credit for a Democratic win in Pennsylvania, they got their money's worth, according to audio of the closed-door event obtained by The Washington Post. If they wanted to hear Trump talk about Hawley, tough luck.
Trump reportedly focused on trade for much of the 30-minute speech, going full protectionist. He mocked politicians who support NAFTA, arguing that Mexico is "spoiled," Canada was outsmarting the U.S., and "the best deal is to terminate it and make a new deal." Trump said if countries want exemptions from his trade tariffs, they have to negotiate directly with him, then he told this story of negotiating with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
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