[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]
As the US stock market experienced a sharp decline in the three major indexes and new comprehensive tariff policies are facing questions from all sides, the instigator of it all - President Trump - has shown an indifferent attitude.
According to a report by CNN on April 4th, during the day and a half after announcing the "reciprocal tariffs" list in the White House Rose Garden, Trump did not take the time to clarify whether the new tariffs were the beginning of trade agreement negotiations or a permanent change in American economic policy. Instead, he chose to head to a golf course in Florida.
"When Trump left Mar-a-Lago, financial markets had already started to fall. As the presidential limousine drove through the gate, he waved at the spectators," CNN reported. Although Trump visits Florida almost every weekend since taking office, with economic anxiety deepening, he chose to leave a day earlier (on April 4th) to go to a golf course in one of America's wealthiest areas.
The Associated Press commented that Trump often remains unaffected by scandals or verbal missteps. However, as Americans' retirement savings evaporate along with the stock market, his decision to spend the weekend in his opulent villa may test the patience of the American people.
Screenshot of Trump leaving Mar-a-Lago.
US media also noticed that before the midnight tariff deadline on April 4th, Trump remained calm on the afternoon of March 3rd, claiming that some countries had sought to reach agreements with him. However, by the morning of April 4th, Trump's tone sounded different.
CNN pointed out that on this day, China announced a series of countermeasures including a 34% tariff on all American imports. The Ministry of Finance website stated that the US government's announcement of imposing "reciprocal tariffs" on Chinese goods does not comply with international trade rules, severely damages China's legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical act of unilateral bullying.
Immediately after China took a series of countermeasures, the US dollar index futures fell by more than 1,000 points. According to CNN reports, shortly before arriving at the golf course, Trump posted a capitalized post on his self-created social media "Truth Social," insisting that his tariff policy would never change.
He wrote, "For investors who have come to America and invested heavily, my policies will never change. This is a great opportunity to make a fortune and become richer than ever!"
Afterward, Trump intermittently released several "encouraging" comments, such as "weakness leads to failure" and "hang in there, we cannot lose."
Following China's reasonable countermeasures, he loudly exclaimed, "China made a mistake, they are panicking—the tariffs are unbearable for them."
In response to Trump's "strong" reaction, a White House official said that Trump was "fully focused" on the tariff policy on April 4th and that the US president would continue to engage in dialogue with foreign leaders.
The official also refuted the claim that Trump was uneasy due to market reactions, emphasizing that Trump had warned earlier about the "short-term pain" brought by his tariff vision and the "America First" agenda.
CNN quoted a senior advisor as saying that Trump is negotiating with Vietnam, India, and Israel, hoping to reach specific trade agreements before the new tariff deadline arrives. Trump also hyped up on social media, claiming that Vietnam had proposed, if an agreement could be reached, they hoped the US would reduce tariffs on Vietnam to zero.
Kathy Jones, chief strategist at Schwab Center for Financial Research in New York, said that until there is actual change in the tariff policy or evidence of "real negotiations" in progress, the market will continue to face pressure.
Democrats condemned Trump's absurd behavior of leaving behind a mess and going golfing. According to Politico News on April 4th, Colorado Representative Jason Crow mocked on social media X, stating, "Concerns about a recession are growing. The stock market continues to fall. But don't worry, Donald Trump is playing golf."
Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico similarly expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "When Americans are struggling to put food on the table, I see Trump outside playing golf. The president should listen to the voices of the entire nation. Maybe he should walk into a grocery store and talk to people."
In a response statement, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly did not mention Trump's golf trip. She simply kept praising, "President Trump has been working for the American people. His long-standing relationships with world leaders have brought significant investments to the American economy, and no new wars occurred during his first term."
Notably, on the same day, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell rejected Trump's repeated urging for interest rate cuts. Powell said that Trump's tariff increases far exceeded the Fed's expectations, and it is difficult to assess the potential economic impact of higher tariffs under highly uncertain prospects; it is "premature" to adjust monetary policy.
Powell declined to say whether he believes the US economy is heading toward a recession, but he acknowledged that trade policy uncertainty is putting pressure on businesses, and increasing predictions suggest rising risks of a recession.
America's CNBC reported that after China countered Trump's tariff policy, people became increasingly worried that the trade war would lead to a global economic recession.
On April 3rd, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China successively expressed firm opposition to the US reciprocal tariffs and emphasized that they will firmly take countermeasures to protect their own rights and interests, urging the US to correct its wrong practices and resolve trade disputes with equality, respect, and mutual benefit.
This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7489650120574599690/
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