Podcast: What Did Donald Trump Do Today?

In the wake of a volatile economic week, the Trump administration found itself facing withering scrutiny over its newly imposed global tariffs, which have rattled markets, drawn international retaliation and raised fears of a looming recession. On April 2, President Trump declared “Liberation Day,” introducing sweeping tariffs of 10% on most imports and up to 79% on select nations, triggering the worst day on Wall Street since the COVID-19 crash. As economic analysts warned of inflation and job losses, Trump spent the weekend at his Florida properties, attending a Saudi-backed golf event and fundraising at Mar-a-Lago, notably skipping a dignified transfer ceremony for fallen U.S. soldiers—a move that drew bipartisan criticism for its perceived insensitivity. Meanwhile, administration officials attempted to defend the economic policy on major news shows but repeatedly struggled to provide coherent justifications. Economic advisors like Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaned on outdated analogies and rhetorical evasions, minimizing massive market losses and dismissing inflation risks without offering concrete timelines or mitigation strategies. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick relied on populist appeals and ideological framing, often contradicting themselves on whether the tariffs were negotiable or permanent while dodging technical critiques of their execution. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a separate Fox News interview, deflected legal scrutiny of Trump’s actions, vilified judicial oversight, and refused to clarify whether Trump respected constitutional term limits. Together, the week’s developments paint a picture of an administration advancing a radical economic and political agenda while prioritizing image over impact, ideology over data, and loyalty over legal and economic consistency.