Trump Sends Markets Tumbling Again

Punchbowl News: “Trump can’t resist being in the middle of everything. Trump sees his presidency as driving the news, always being at the center of attention. Trump wants everyone — Congress, foreign leaders, the American people – to react to him, not the other way around. It’s his greatest asset in many ways, yet also his greatest vulnerability.”

“On that point, Trump announced on Monday that he was ready to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Japan and South Korea. While the new tariffs don’t kick in until Aug. 1 – giving Trump time to make a deal, naturally – this renewed trade war with two of the United States’ most important trading partners and allies made global financial markets swoon…”

“The sheer unpredictability of Trump’s direction and ultimate goals in this trade war and what it means for the U.S. and global economies is a problem for him. Trump likes to keep opponents off balance, yet markets crave predictability.”