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Why 'Liberation Day' tariff transformation is so risky
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/31/politics/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-risk/index.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc President Donald Trump is set to gamble the success of his second term, the economy and the personal finances of millions of Americans this week on his long-held belief that tariffs can re-create a golden age of US wealth and independence.
Or is he? Such is Trump’s capricious leadership that nothing is certain until it happens. And adamant orders — especially on trade — are often reversed as soon as they are given.
snip
Trump’s trade-war policies have already wiped trillions of dollars of stock markets — the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 700 points on Friday alone — and worsened fears of a recession as consumer confidence ebbs. He’s also alienated US allies as his foreign policy starts to unravel the Western system of alliances.
As Wednesday’s deadline approaches, the president is further damaging the confidence on which economic stability depends by raising contradictory expectations — suggesting, for instance, that some nations or industries may get opt-outs from the new tariffs. His whiplash leadership risks as much damage as the policies themselves.
Or is he? Such is Trump’s capricious leadership that nothing is certain until it happens. And adamant orders — especially on trade — are often reversed as soon as they are given.
snip
Trump’s trade-war policies have already wiped trillions of dollars of stock markets — the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 700 points on Friday alone — and worsened fears of a recession as consumer confidence ebbs. He’s also alienated US allies as his foreign policy starts to unravel the Western system of alliances.
As Wednesday’s deadline approaches, the president is further damaging the confidence on which economic stability depends by raising contradictory expectations — suggesting, for instance, that some nations or industries may get opt-outs from the new tariffs. His whiplash leadership risks as much damage as the policies themselves.
IMO, he uses every threat he can come up with as leverage and a beg for bribes, just as a bully will threaten everything until smacked down.
George? , GEORGE?
