This Trump policy is putting US national security 'up for sale': analysis
In an article published Sunday, Guardian reporter Lauren Aratani argued that a cascade of high-stakes showmanship and national-security rhetoric during the Trump administration has mutated into what looks increasingly like a transactional, “pay‑to‑play” style of governance.
Aratani highlighted how Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, entered the Oval Office bearing a gift designed as much for optics as diplomacy. “This box was made in California,” he said, unveiling a glass plaque resting on a 24‑karat gold base crafted in Utah.
Moments later, Apple pledged $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing investment, and the White House promptly announced Apple would be exempt from a looming tariff on imported computer chips. Aratani frames this as emblematic of a political theater where lavish gesture meets immediate policy payoff.
READ MORE: 'Gloom' over Trump economy hits worst levels 'since the Great Recession': report
She noted that two days later, the situation took another turn. President Donald Trump approved a deal allowing Nvidia and AMD to resume exports of certain AI chips, specifically the H20 and MI308, to China. But each company must funnel 15 percent of their revenue from those sales back to the U.S. government.
Aratani underscored that trade experts see this as a precedent that could corrode the integrity of export controls. She quoted Martin Chorzempa of the Peterson Institute, who warned it gives rise to “the perception that export controls are up for sale.”
Aratani further pointed out that the chips in question aren’t the latest and most powerful, but experts caution that their capacity for AI inference still makes them strategically significant.
She also quoted tech-policy scholar Julia Powles who painted a chilling view of what might come next. “What other quid pro quo might be asked in the future? … The quid pro quo that would be of great concern … is anything that reduces their reputation for privacy and security.”
READ MORE: 'Pathetic and utterly irresponsible': Melania Trump slammed for 'weak performative stunt'
17.08.2025 14:24
👍 22
🔁 10
💬 1
📌 1
If you do not understand this picture...
DO NOT CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN
DO NOT CLAIM TO BE AN AMERICAN
SHAME!!!
11.08.2025 10:20
👍 140
🔁 43
💬 1
📌 3
11.08.2025 22:14
👍 3301
🔁 1243
💬 132
📌 47
Bowser: "I think I speak for all Americans -- we don't believe it's legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil."
11.08.2025 19:29
👍 35560
🔁 9976
💬 961
📌 533
11.08.2025 01:20
👍 546
🔁 234
💬 22
📌 2
This was today… Sotally tober… NYT clearly way off base…
30.05.2025 20:19
👍 28324
🔁 7902
💬 3614
📌 2063
18.05.2025 03:14
👍 1988
🔁 571
💬 48
📌 24
President Biden has served our country for 50+ years — & he has done so with empathy & compassion & care for all of us. Now it’s our turn to send him strength, love, and support.
We love you, President Biden.
18.05.2025 23:49
👍 1283
🔁 195
💬 14
📌 9
Exactly! Passive cowards Congressional Democrats
Seems Trump has something on 17 Congressional Democrats. It was reported they paid Trump's lawyers millions so he wouldn't attack them.
It's past time for younger Congressional members & get money out of politics
11.05.2025 21:37
👍 2
🔁 0
💬 1
📌 0
Did you see this? "Most valuable gift ever extended to the US from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar. A gift that is to be available for use by President Trump as the new Air Force One" ABC
11.05.2025 21:33
👍 2
🔁 1
💬 1
📌 0
Remember when we said that what Signalgate is REALLY about is ensuring American pilots don't get shot down because attack plans are shared in non-secure Signal chats?
Now not one but TWO F/A-18s have been lost over the Red Sea.
Where is Pete Hegseth? And what is he texting?
07.05.2025 21:53
👍 1139
🔁 265
💬 44
📌 9
Kamala Harris: The courage of Americans who are speaking out to say, it is not ok to violate court orders. Saying it is not ok to detain and disappear American citizens or anyone without due process. The courage of judges to uphold the rule of law in the face of those who would jail them.
01.05.2025 03:31
👍 25478
🔁 6494
💬 646
📌 393
If you’re in line when the polls close, stay in line. You can still cast your ballot. Your vote matters.
28.04.2025 23:01
👍 23378
🔁 3923
💬 595
📌 184
Wearing a bright blue suit, texting, and then sleeping at Pope Francis’s funeral. What an embarrassing mess.
26.04.2025 17:43
👍 39418
🔁 11026
💬 3794
📌 1537
14.04.2025 00:35
👍 41117
🔁 7018
💬 2291
📌 738
RESIST: If not us...WHO? If not now...WHEN? If not...WHY?
If you haven't joined a HandsOff / 50501 rally to protect our democracy, now is the time to do it. Check their websites for one near you on April 19th. We had somewhere between 3.2M and 5M on the 5th. We need to triple that to start hitting the 3.5% of the population to defeat authoritarianism.
13.04.2025 01:17
👍 546
🔁 169
💬 17
📌 9
This hot to the touch🔥🔥💯💯🔥🔥......
13.04.2025 02:46
👍 2640
🔁 608
💬 58
📌 27
Requiring REAL IDs and passports and birth certificates to vote?!?
Imagine if these were required to buy a gun.
13.04.2025 18:26
👍 25601
🔁 6336
💬 588
📌 294
12.04.2025 03:03
👍 31983
🔁 7032
💬 263
📌 223
12.04.2025 22:43
👍 29
🔁 15
💬 2
📌 1
Bondi going to prison
12.04.2025 22:48
👍 0
🔁 0
💬 0
📌 0
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA):
"I'm writing to the White House to demand who knew in advance that the President was going to, once again, flip flop on tariffs. And are people cashing in? There is just all too much opportunity for people in the White House and the administration to be insider trading"
09.04.2025 20:34
👍 37105
🔁 9469
💬 1826
📌 646
I hear ya.
07.04.2025 01:52
👍 1445
🔁 190
💬 33
📌 14
02.04.2025 23:37
👍 38458
🔁 7248
💬 1446
📌 452
sierraclub
Trump, Musk and Republicans in Congress are gutting services, raising prices, and racing towards slashing Medicaid, Social Security, and other life-saving programs It's time to fight back - April 5, 2025 Find out how you can join the fight at handsoff2025.com
HANDS OFF!
MASS MOBILIZATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5
handsoff2025.com
April 5, 2025
Join The Fight!
Get involved! Share!
Find out more at handsoff2025.com
02.04.2025 20:25
👍 117
🔁 48
💬 8
📌 0
Cory Booker's epic speech beat SC Sen. Strom Thurmond's, 1957 24 hours and 18 minutes speech against Civil Rights Act of 1957. Booker nodded Thurmond as a motivator.
April 1, 2025
"To hate him is wrong, and maybe my ego got too caught up that if I stood here, maybe, maybe, just maybe, I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand. I'm not here though because of his speech. I'm here despite his speech. I'm here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful."
We need a Booker not a Schumer 🔥🔥
GOP pollster Frank Lutz, “I want to emphasize what Cory Booker did over the last 24 hours may have changed the course of political history. I watched a lot of it. I listened to words. I listened to phrases.”
#SheShed
#Reformers
#ResignSchumer
02.04.2025 18:24
👍 9610
🔁 2143
💬 253
📌 86
H I S T O R I C
Thank you, Senator @corybooker.com 🇺🇸
#TeamDemocracy
Long live America.
02.04.2025 00:58
👍 40
🔁 4
💬 2
📌 0
Waltz must resign.
Hegseth must resign.
There must be accountability for this Administration’s dangerous disregard for our national security.
02.04.2025 19:11
👍 23251
🔁 5296
💬 964
📌 232
Wisconsin just defeated the richest psychopath in the world. Nice job, guys!
02.04.2025 02:07
👍 3595
🔁 419
💬 53
📌 13
02.04.2025 20:21
👍 1365
🔁 390
💬 25
📌 13
