As the headlines continue to swirl around two of the summer's biggest political stories, GOP strategist Pete Guidarelli joined Read Shepherd, filling in for Ryan Gorman, to break down President Trump's trade negotiations and the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein fallout.
Guidarelli praised Trump's aggressive trade stance as the president faced today's deadline with a slew of deals in hand. Most notably, he highlighted a recent agreement with the EU that includes a 15% tariff. "The tariffs have proven to be successful," said Guidarelli. "When the critics don’t say it was a great deal for the U.S., but instead worry about the EU’s future, that tells you everything."
The GOP strategist emphasized that initial fears about economic damage from tariffs were unfounded, pointing to a responsive stock market and support from financial heavyweights like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and economist Stephen Moore. "He starts the negotiation off looking for a 10," Guidarelli said of Trump. "He may end up with a six, but I think he wanted the six all along."
Shifting to the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, Guidarelli urged patience and transparency as investigations unfold. While Trump’s connections to Epstein have resurfaced, the strategist stressed the importance of waiting for all the facts. "This is a criminal case of the most egregious nature," he said. "We have to step back and let it play out."
The conversation also touched on recent closed-door testimonies before the House Oversight Committee related to former President Biden’s mental acuity. With former staff and even Biden’s physician invoking the Fifth Amendment, Guidarelli likened the situation to a scene from The Godfather. "Whoever pushed Biden into that June 2024 debate knew he would fail," he said, suggesting that uncovering that internal push could be key to understanding what happened behind the scenes.
For more of Guidarelli’s takes—including who he thinks might be the real linchpin in the Biden cognitive health investigation—listen to the full episode of The Ryan Gorman Show.