June 17, 2025.

Yesterday, at the meeting of the leaders of the group of 7, or G7,

a forum of democracies with advanced economies,

President Donald Trump told reporters,

the UK is very well protected. You know why? Because I like

them. That's why. That's the ultimate protection. Commenters often note that Trump talks like a mob boss,

but rarely has his organized crime style of governance been clearer than in yesterday's statement.

Also yesterday, Anna Swanson and Lauren Hirsch of the New York Times reported that Trump has taken unprecedented control over U.S. Steel.

Japan's Nippon Steel has been trying to take over U.S. Steel since 2003, but the Biden administration blocked the deal for security reasons.

In order to move it forward, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik demanded an agreement

that gives to the President and his successors, or a person the President designates,

a single share of preferred stock, known as Class G or

gold. The deal gives the president permanent veto power over nearly a dozen actions the

company might want to take, as well as power over its board of directors.

Swanson and Hirsch note that the U.S. government historically takes a stake in companies only when they are in financial trouble or when they play a significant role in the economy.

We have a golden share, which I control or the president controls, Trump told reporters on Thursday.

Now, I'm a little concerned whoever the president might be, but that gives you total control.

This kind of deal echoes those of authoritarian's Trump appears to admire. His ongoing support for

Russian President Vladimir Putin was on display at the G7 when he echoed Russian talking points

that blamed European countries in the United States for Putin's war against Ukraine,

rather than acknowledging that it was Russia that attacked Ukraine after giving assurances that it would respect Ukrainian sovereignty,

in exchange for Ukraine's giving up the Soviet nuclear weapons stored there.

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