Opinion

Trump’s mob boss approach to global markets will backfire

The US president has discovered that it is easier to shake down a law firm than to reshape the international trading system.

Gideon RachmanColumnist

Apr 9, 2025 – 11.30am

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The mafia movie is one of America’s great contributions to world culture. People everywhere can hum the theme tune for The Godfather or repeat lines from Goodfellas or The Sopranos.

But it is still a surprise to see the mob’s methods imported into the Oval Office. There is a distinct whiff of Don Corleone in Donald Trump’s approach to trade and diplomacy.

Financial Times

Gideon Rachman is chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times. His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation.