AGF Logo
  • Home
  • Industry and Expert Views
  • Investing and Market Views
  • Capitol Insights
  • Personal Finance
  • Français
  • AGF.com
  • InstarAGF.com
Skip to content
AGF logo
Insights and Market Perspectives
  • Industry and Expert Views
  • Investing and Market Views
  • Capitol Insights
  • Personal Finance
  • Contributors
  • Français
  • Search
Search
Close
Donald Trump, the Populist Outsider

  • Industry and Expert Views

For Print Only Logo
Insights and Market Perspectives

Donald Trump, the Populist Outsider

Author: Greg Valliere

August 28, 2020

DESPITE BEING PRESIDENT for three and a half years, Donald Trump portrayed himself as a populist outsider last night, fighting against the establishment and describing how terrible things are in American cities. Neat trick — he’s the president!!

WE HAVE LONG ARGUED that you underestimate Trump at your own peril. He goes after opponents mercilessly and is a very clever political strategist and marketer. The idea that he could sound like a populist outsider last night was astonishing.

TRUMP BASHED DRUG COMPANIES, boasted that troops are coming home, said he’d fight for good jobs, and ripped into China. Bernie Sanders could have said the same things.

BUT WHAT TRUMP DID NOT DO was offer a clear vision of his agenda for the next four years. As we wrote yesterday, that’s crucial, but Trump was vague — build more of the wall, land a woman on the moon, produce more energy, and of course cut taxes further.

SO — WILL HE GET A BOUNCE? Probably, maybe two or three points, as some viewers agree that U.S. streets aren’t safe. We thought last week that the Democrats had to address urban violence, not just police misconduct, but they didn’t and that was a mistake.

OUR GUESS IS THAT POLLS THIS WEEKEND will show Biden with a lead of 5 or 6 points — but his bigger concern is that the race has narrowed in key battleground states.

THE THREE DOMINANT ISSUES ARE CLEAR —

1. Continued urban unrest, an issue Trump and his aides will exploit ruthlessly.

2. The state of the economy, which may falter if there’s no stimulus bill (talks between Nancy Pelosi and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows failed yesterday).

3. And perhaps most importantly, how the public views Trump’s handling of the virus. He thinks he has done a tremendous job but statistics don’t lie — the U.S. has about 4.3% of the world’s population, and about 23% of the fatalities.

BIDEN NEEDS TO KICK INTO ANOTHER GEAR, ASAP: The Democrats were cocky in July, talking about an electoral landslide. Now they may see a race that’s nearly tied by the first debate, on Sept. 29. Trump has a huge war chest and is the populist outsider, a good place to be as the real campaign now begins.


The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies.

The views expressed in this blog are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of the date of publication and should not be considered as personal investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy and/or sell securities. Speculation or stated believes about future events, such as market or economic conditions, company or security performance, or other projections represent the beliefs of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in these commentaries at the time of publication; however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market conditions may change and AGF accepts no responsibility for individual investment decisions arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein. Any financial projections are based on the opinions of the author and should not be considered as a forecast. The forward looking statements and opinions may be affected by changing economic circumstances and are subject to a number of uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward looking statements. The information contained in this commentary is designed to provide you with general information related to the political and economic environment in the United States. It is not intended to be comprehensive investment advice applicable to the circumstances of the individual.

AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). AGFA and AGFUS are registered advisors in the U.S. AGFI is a registered as a portfolio manager across Canadian securities commissions. AGFIA is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. The subsidiaries that form AGF Investments manage a variety of mandates comprised of equity, fixed income and balanced assets.

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

For further information, please visit AGF.com.

©2021 AGF Management Limited. All rights reserved.

Written by

Greg Valliere

Greg Valliere

Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

AGF Investments

Also Read

  • Investing and Market Views

Putting Industrials to Work in Your Portfolio

April 13, 2021

  • Investing and Market Views

Emerging Markets Take the Lead on Inflation

April 6, 2021

  • Investing and Market Views

The Beginning of the End of an Era in Bonds

April 6, 2021

  • Investing and Market Views

Stimulus Sweepstakes

March 30, 2021

Get perspectives straight to your inbox.

Subscribe now

More articles like this.

Greg Valliere, Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

  • Industry and Expert Views

Why Have Bond Yields Slipped?

Greg Valliere | April 15, 2021

Timely insights from inside Washington.

Read More
Greg Valliere, Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

  • Industry and Expert Views

Momentum Slows for Biden Bills; Focus Shifts to Chip Shortage and Geopolitics

Greg Valliere | April 14, 2021

Timely insights from inside Washington.

Read More
Greg Valliere, Chief U.S. Policy Strategist

  • Industry and Expert Views

Who’s Running for President in 2024?

Greg Valliere | April 13, 2021

Timely insights from inside Washington.

Read More
AGF Logo
Categories
  • Industry and Expert Views
  • Investing and Market Views
  • Capitol Insights
  • Personal Finance
  • Subscribe
Follow AGF

AGF Web Site Pages © 2021 AGF Management Limited. All rights reserved.

Links
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Privacy For EU Residents
  • AGF.com
  • InstarAGF.com