President Donald Trump waves before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Elon Musk, from left, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, obstructed, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick walk to join President Donald Trump on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. | President Donald Trump dismissed business concerns over the uncertainty caused by his planned tariffs on a range of American trading partners and the prospect of higher prices, and isn’t ruling out the possibility of a recession this year.
After imposing and then quickly pausing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada that sent markets tumbling over concerns of a trade war, Trump said his plans for broader “reciprocal” tariffs will go into effect April 2, raising them to match what other countries assess.
“April 2nd, it becomes all reciprocal,” he said in a taped interview with Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” “What they charge us, we charge them.”
Asked about the Atlanta Fed’s warning of an economic contraction in the first quarter of the year, Trump seemingly acknowledged that his plans could affect U.S. growth. Still, he claimed, it would ultimately be “great for us.”
When questioned whether he was expecting a recession in 2025, Trump responded: “I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing.” He then added, “It takes a little time. It takes a little time.”
On Wall Street, it was a tough week with wild swings dominated by worries about the economy and uncertainty about what Trump’s tariffs.
Trump brushed aside concerns from businesses seeking stability as they make investment decisions. He said that “for years the globalists, the big globalists have been ripping off the United States” and that now, “all we’re doing is getting some of it back, and we’re going to treat our country fairly.”
“You know, the tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up and, you know, I don’t know if it’s predictability,” the Republican president said.
Trump last week lifted the Mexico and Canada tariffs on American car manufacturers, and then virtually all imports to the U.S., but kept them on goods from China.
More tariffs are coming this week, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” that 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will take effect Wednesday. Lutnick said Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canadian dairy and lumber though would wait until April.
“Will there be distortions? Of course,” Lutnick said. “Foreign goods may get a little more expensive. But American goods are going to get cheaper, and you’re going to be helping Americans by buying American.”
Trump whines about “globalists ripping us off.” He casually dismisses business concerns as markets plunge to new lows. The markets are not interested in Trump’s have patience advice. Investors have concerns about his tariff plans, what he is doing to our government and the affects mass deportations could have on our economy. Mr Trump drones on about the globalists and the deep state and how they are taking over the world and that he is the knight in shining armor from God who will save us. What a crock!
Trump is a cheap suit chump who’s intents are fear, ignorance and chaos. His MAGA delusions are adding layers of discontent and deepening the crisis that separates us. Trump is not going to solve our problems. Far from it. His intents are clear. Decimate our government, make claims about how much money he’s saved and launch a plan to cut taxes which always benefit the wealthy far more than low and mid income Americans. Oh yes! Trump is crowing about giving every America a five grand refund out of the trillions he’s going to save. It’s just another one of scams to bamboozle his base. Trump is a vulnerable fool. He’s hanging himself a bit more each day. Here’s more rope Mr President. God speed.