Top White House and administration officials are working to reassure businesses, consumers, and fellow Republicans about the direction of U.S. trade policy, aiming to provide more "certainty" in the lead-up to President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement. However, according to Politico, even those closest to the president remain uncertain about the final details of the sweeping trade measures.
Trump has branded the upcoming tariff rollouts as “Liberation Day,” signaling a major shift in trade relations through what he calls “reciprocal tariffs” on global trading partners. Yet, despite the administration's public confidence, Politico reports that top officials—including Vice President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and several Cabinet members—are privately unsure about Trump’s final plan.
“No one knows what the f* is going on,” a White House ally close to Trump’s inner circle told Politico. “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.”
This uncertainty is fueling concerns of a chaotic roll-out reminiscent of Trump’s earlier tariff moves on March 4, which targeted Canada, Mexico, and China and contributed to a stock market downturn. While the S&P 500 has recovered some losses, all gains since Election Day have been wiped out. Inflation has also risen at a faster-than-expected pace, the Commerce Department disclosed on Friday, even before the full impact of Trump's trade measures takes effect.
Adding to the unpredictability, Trump’s surprise decision on Wednesday to impose a 25 percent tariff on the auto industry reportedly caught even his own team off guard. According to Politico, the announcement was put together so hastily that the White House had to delay scheduled programming to finalize the details.
While Trump remains committed to his aggressive trade stance, the lack of clarity surrounding the policy details is raising alarm among business leaders, financial markets, and even his own administration. As the April 2 deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the White House for a clearer picture of what’s to come.
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