It's the Tariffs, Stupid
America faces economic ruin—courtesy of the most disastrous first 100 days ever recorded in a presidency.
Donald Trump's second term has plunged America into an unprecedented economic nightmare: the largest GDP contraction, the second-worst stock market decline, and the sharpest drop in consumer confidence in presidential history—all directly resulting from reckless tariff policies.
We are witnessing a self-inflicted economic crisis, engineered by Trump's impulsive, chaotic tariffs. In his first 100 days back in office, Trump has torched America's prosperity, leaving our economy on the brink of recession.
This catastrophe mirrors Japan's Lost Decade of the 1990s, a chilling reminder of how short-sighted protectionism cripples economies. Japan’s aggressive tariffs and bungled economic policies drove their economy into prolonged stagnation. Trump's America now dangerously mirrors these same errors. Instead of protecting domestic industries, Trump's tariffs have strangled growth, crushed consumer confidence, and sent financial markets into turmoil.
Japan’s experience shows the grim reality of tariff-driven delusions: protectionist measures initially posed as safeguards quickly become economic traps. Today, America follows that disastrous script—consumer confidence plummeting from 64.7 to 57.9, sharply signaling looming stagnation.
Trump has twisted a legitimate executive power—Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962—into a blunt economic weapon. His reckless implementation of tariffs turns national security provisions into tools of economic sabotage.
The Federal Reserve is trapped by Trump's reckless economic warfare. Forced to choose between combating stagflation or recession, the Fed now braces for desperate measures—interest rate cuts reminiscent of financial crises, not stable economies. Trump’s erratic policies have shattered monetary stability, plunging the nation's economic management into chaos.
Envision container ports jammed with unsellable goods, warehouses bursting with overpriced inventory while store shelves remain empty. Families forced to pinch pennies as tariffs drive everyday necessities out of reach. Companies frozen in place, unable to plan, invest, or hire due to uncertainty. This is not just economic mismanagement—it is economic vandalism on a national scale.
To Trump supporters, it's time for an uncomfortable reckoning: When will you admit that Trump is and always has been a charlatan, a bullshitter whose irresponsible whims are now pushing America toward bankruptcy—just as he has bankrupted his businesses so many times before? The evidence is clear. The time for denial is over.
The time for denial to be over was when he pardoned the J6 riot criminals.
It was over again when he refused to comply with the courts, including SCOTUS.
It was over again when he decided he’s staying with Hegseth after Signalgate; “He’s doing a great job”.
I could go on, but I know I wouldn’t have the patience to read through the complete list…;
The denial that needs to be eliminated isn’t just the voters who voted for chaos, it’s the intransigence of the (R) politicians who are smiling and marching in lockstep with dear fascist leader. THEY are the ones who are silently watching this Titanic as it slams into the iceberg. They are the source of the votes needed to salvage the country - by voting for impeachment. Regrettably, that eureka moment won’t arrive till the baseball bat of realization hits them in the face with the risks to their next election. The fallout from the tariffs is likely to provide the energy that swings that bat.
Trump thought that by implementing 145% tariffs on China, they would come running and begging him for a deal that he could dictate. But he was wrong. They are not calling him, which leaves him more nervous for each day that passes. My guess is that china sees this situation as an opportunity to once and for all demonstrate that tariffs cannot be used as a weapon against them.
China will suffer, but the US will suffer more. No one can import goods with a price hike of 145%. And not all Chinese export are finished goods. Which means that even US manufacturing will be affected.
And if Trump declare victory and reduce the tariffs, the damage is already done. He might reintroduce them again, who knows. Trump cannot be trusted.