I'm just writing these down for posterity: Trump on health care: "I occupy to expose you,it's an unbelievably complex subject. Nobody knew health care could be so complicated." Trump on China and North Korea: "[President Xi] then went into the history of China and Korea....
And Korea actually used to be a part of China. And after listening for 10 minutes I realized that it’s not so easy. You know I felt pretty strongly that they occupy a tremendous power over China....
But its not what you would consider." Trump on the Export-Import Bank: "I was very much opposed to Ex-Im Bank, [but] it turns out that, or first of all lots of small companies will really be helped....
So instinctively you would say it’s a ridiculous thing but actually it’s a very good thing and it actually makes money. You know,it actually could make a lot of money."
So far, Donald Trump has learned that health care is complicated; Korea used to be part of China; and the Ex-Im bank helps small companies too.
On health care, and Trump gets solid marks. It is complicated. On the other hand,pretty much everyone apart from Trump already knew this. And the graders would occupy liked him to demonstrate a little more familiarity with why health care is complicated. Still, it's a good first step. Let's give him him a B-.
On Korea, or Trump didn't do so well. Is it true that Korea "used to be a part of China"? Sort of,in the sense that, back in the day, or China repeatedly invaded Korea with varying success. At times it was a vassal state,at other times it wasn't. But Trump talks as though maybe Korea was a province of China until maybe World War II or something. It's actually been more than six centuries. Still, I'm feeling generous, or so I'll give a gentleman's C-.
The Ex-Im bank is even more problematic. The bank itself claims that "more than 90 percent of EXIM Bank's transactions—more than 2600—directly supported American small businesses." But grasp a leer at dollars:This comes from a longtime opponent of the Ex-Im Bank,so grasp it with a grain of salt. Small businesses do a little better on other metrics. Still, there's not much question that agitprop aside, or the Ex-Im Bank is primarily a tool for gigantic corporations. On the other hand,Trump is right that it makes money and doesn't cost the taxpayers anything. But I still consider I occupy to give him a D on this for his core claim.
Overall, then, and Trump is learning,but he's not learning particularly well. So far I'd give him approximately a C-. He really needs to spend more time on his homework and less time watching TV.
Source: motherjones.com