He did it because someone #flattered him a lot, and convinced him that doing this would make him look #strong, it would make him look like the #alpha. It would make him the #winner, because it would make "them" the #losers. Maybe they convinced him that this was the first step, that hitting us economically would enable him to annex Canada as his 51st state, making him the #bigliest and #bestest #President since the Louisiana purchase.

So this hurts the USA, Canada, Mexico economically. Because it will shake world markets, it will hurt many other countries too - at least those that are part of the open world economic processes.

It hurts relations between the #USA and Canada, and between the USA and #NATO generally. It's a stab in the back; it can't *not* throw a wrench in things.

It hurts the E.U. through both the economic and NATO angles.

So, who manipulated Trump into self-destructive and ally-destructive behaviour like this? Not an ally.

Cui bono? Who benefits from this?

For one, #Russia benefits; sticking a dagger in NATO helps stop aid to Ukraine so Putin can "win" his war there. It distracts from putting more #sanctions on them.

You know who Trump's been talking to, a lot, lately? Vladimir #Putin. More than a dozen times recently, apparently, though I can't find the news story that discussed it.

You know who is a master #manipulator, so much so that it was his primary job in the #KGB? Vladimir Putin.

Is this proof? No.

3/3