Trump officials, allies grow anxious about April 2 tariffs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

03/29/2025 07:00 AM EDT
Updated: 03/29/2025 11:58 AM EDT


Top White House and administration officials have been promising businesses, consumers and fellow Republicans more “certainty” on trade in the coming days, eager to calm skittish markets and avoid the stock market plunge that accompanied the White House’s initial tariff roll-outs. But they have one problem: Donald J. Trump.

Just days out from Trump’s April 2 announcement of global tariffs, which he has hailed as “Liberation Day,” even those closest to the president — from Vice President JD Vance to his chief of staff Susie Wiles and his own Cabinet officials — have privately indicated that they’re unsure exactly what the boss will do, according to three people who have spoken with them.

While some details of the administration’s plan for what Trump has dubbed “reciprocal tariffs” on global trading partners are starting to trickle out, the president has at times upended them or floated contradictory policies that are keeping everyone — even his inner circle — guessing.

“No one knows what the fuck is going on,” said one White House ally close to Trump’s inner circle, granted anonymity to speak freely. “What are they going to tariff? Who are they gonna tariff and at what rates? Like, the very basic questions haven’t been answered yet.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/29/trump-aides-tariffs-liberation-day-fears-00259081

[BOSSHOG]

1. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK IS GOIN ON

Can MAGA put that on a ball cap?

[EarthAbides]

2. "Liberation Day"

Dumpster Trump is going to make this "announcement" the day after Election Day. He is waiting to see who wins these elections and then he will decide what to announce. The announcement might have to do with tariffs, it might not. My guess is if the fascists suffer major losses on April 1st, then the announcement might include some kind of martial law, their idea of "Liberation Day."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. No.There will be no martial law April 2 or 3. There's no groundwork for it, no excuse.

Yes, I know, they don't need an excuse, but if they want it to stick, they need lots of groundwork before hand so that they can claim certain things (which have not happened yet, like riots) make it necessary. It is possible there may be martial law at some later date, but not April 2 or 3. Even if events move quickly the earliest I see it possible is after mid-summer. If they did try to do it April 3, then they would not get compliance from even their own side.

But folks, get real. Fantastical imaginings not grounded in actualizable contexts spin wheels and make a lot of smoke but don't contribute to preparedness or resistance.

[EarthAbides]

4. Social security

If he announces that they are pulling the plug on social security that will be enough of a lead in.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. That is not going to happen that way and not on April 2 like you are so certain of, if it happens. . . . . . nt

[Javaman]

6. The orange idiot will back down at the last minute or a day after

It’s his fucked up cowardly pattern.

Then he will claim success.

I don’t think that’s going to happen this time.

Oh he will back down but all the people he pissed off will not

[louis-t]

7. I have a feeling if he does put more tariffs

it will be the straw that breaks the camel's back and the markets will crash. By mid-summer, this country is going to be a real mess.