I’ve seen a lot of wild things in politics, but what’s happening right now with Trump’s economic policies is next-level chaos. It’s like watching someone try to fix a leaky faucet by blowing up the entire plumbing system. The latest? Trump’s threat to slap 200% tariffs on European champagne, alcohol, and other products. Yes, you read that right—200%. Because apparently, making your weekend brunch cost as much as a mortgage payment is the key to “winning” a trade war.
Let me set the scene: America’s top business leaders, usually the epitome of calm and control, are now sweating like they’ve just been told their investments are tied up in a Ponzi scheme. The Wall Street Journal—hardly a liberal mouthpiece—published an article that had these executives practically begging for a time machine to undo Trump’s tariff obsession. And when the Journal’s editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, showed up on Fox (yes, Fox) to discuss it, you could almost hear the sound of stock portfolios crumbling. She described how the mood has shifted from “growth and deregulation” to “brace for impact” faster than you can say “market crash.” Back at Davos earlier this year, she noted, American CEOs were buzzing about boom times. Now? They’re floundering, blindsided by tariffs slapped on in a haphazard mess.
Then there’s Steve Liesman from CNBC, who put his career on the line to say what everyone’s thinking: Trump’s policies are “insane.” And honestly, when a financial journalist is willing to risk it all to call out the president, you know we’re in deep trouble. Liesman didn’t hold back: “It is absolutely insane. It is about the eighth reason we’ve had for the tariffs.” He even pointed out that Trump’s actions are scaring away foreign capital, which is like trying to attract tourists by setting the city on fire. He went further, suggesting Trump’s even floated 50% tariffs on Canada unless they join the U.S. as the 51st state. If that’s not unhinged, I don’t know what is.
And the market? It’s not just reacting—it’s in freefall. The Dow is down over 500 points from Trump’s starting line, the S&P is teetering on correction territory, and investors are starting to wonder if their retirement plans include a tent in the backyard. Businesses are stuck guessing which tariffs will stick, which will double down, and how much of the cost they’ll have to shove onto consumers. Spoiler: prices will go up—maybe not today, but soon enough, because companies can’t eat these losses forever.
Let’s not forget Trump’s campaign promises. He swore he’d bring costs down “day one.” Instead, we’re looking at higher prices, panicked businesses, and an economy that’s starting to resemble a house of cards in a windstorm. His team’s out there touting lower egg prices and cheaper gas like it’s a victory lap, but it’s a flimsy distraction from the chaos he’s unleashed. It’s not just bad policy—it’s a slap in the face to the very people he claimed to fight for.
So, here we are, watching Trump’s economic strategy unravel in real time, and it’s clear: this isn’t a plan. It’s a disaster.
