Getty ImagesDonald Trump, in announcing his sweeping new tariffs on US imports on Wednesday, promised that the history books would record 2 April as America’s “liberation day”.
After two days of stock market turmoil, however, this may also be remembered as the week the president’s second-term agenda ran headfirst into economic – and political – reality.
US stocks have been in a tailspin since Trump unveiled his tariffs at Wednesday afternoon’s White House Rose Garden event, with signs that America’s trading partners – Canada, the European Union and China, most notably – are not backing away from a fight.
Meanwhile, other presidential efforts, on foreign policy and immigration, and at the ballot box – have faced notable setbacks in recent days.
The White House on Thursday felt a bit like a building battening down for a coming storm. The four big posters showing America’s “reciprocal” tariffs on a long list of…
