Liberation Day: President Trump vs. History
President Trump has declared April 2 to be Liberation Day. However, historically it has had a different meaning. So let’s take a look at both definitions and whether there are any similarities.
Historical meaning of Liberation Day
Historically, Liberation Day is designated as such to celebrate a country’s freedom from occupation, colonial rule or other forms of oppression. Different countries celebrate Liberation Day based on specific historical events inherent to that nation.
Here are some examples:
April 25 (Italy): End of Mussolini’s reign and Nazi occupation (1945)
May 5 (Netherlands) End of Nazi occupation (1945)
June 6 (France): D day that started the end of Nazi occupation (1945)
August 15 (South Korea: End of Japan’s occupation
August 15 (India): independence from British rule (1947)
President Trump’s Liberation Day
President Trump declared April 2 as Liberation Day. Thia ia the day when a tariff strategy aimed at reducing the U.S. dependence on the importsof foreign goods and to address the trade imbalances would be implemented
The goal is to level the global trade playing field by dealing with what it sees as unfair trade practices and by doing so to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. The term used is to create fair trade, not free trade.
This has led to a debate between the administration, which sees it as a net positive vs. many who see it as raising inflation, dampening growth and risking retaliation but other countries.
The point here is that there is not a similarity between the historical view of Liberation Day and the way President trump sees it.
While the scorecard on this will not be judged until the dust settles, the traditional Liberation Day was originally celebrated with hope and joy, President Trump’s version will be met with worry and uncertainty.
Liberation Day: President Trump vs. History
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