Joe Battenfeld: Trump takes a huge gamble his tariff trade war gambit will pay off

Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald on Apr 10, 2025

Published in Op Eds

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President Donald Trump is taking a big risk that his tariff trade war will ultimately pay off – but in the meantime ordinary taxpayers who propelled him into the Oval Office are taking a huge hit with their life savings.

The man who preceded him in the White House – Joe Biden – never saw the level of economic angst that Trump is now seeing.

It’s way beyond the price of eggs. People are worried about their 401(k)s tanking and the cost of iPhones soaring.

Trump faces a potential mutiny in his own Cabinet, a disaster in the mid-term election and his approval ratings tanking – all because of his stubborn belief in tagging big tariffs on countries like China.

Even conservative Republicans are now questioning his economic policies. Only die hard MAGA supporters are sticking with the president’s plan and trusting it will all turn out right in the end.

Trump’s approval ratings have sunk below 50% and most people disapprove of his handling of the economy – extremely troubling signs for his young presidency.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found Trump’s approval rating at 43%, down four points from when he took office in January.

Voters disapproved of his handling of the economy and the high cost of living, problems that also haunted Biden.

Trump should know more than anyone that the economy is always the defining issue in politics.

Americans have already suffered their share of economic pain under Biden and it partly cost Kamala Harris the election. Will they consent to face even more under Trump?

The president might have a worthy goal of restoring the trade balance and putting more Americans back to work but the question is: Is this the time to do it?

With the stock market continuing to crater, Trump will have to decide soon whether to double down on his risky plan or back off and risk looking like a wishy washy politician.

In the meantime, all these Republican lawmakers have to go back to their districts and defend Trump’s shaky policies. Some are already wavering and others will abandon him first rather than risk losing their own seats.

Trump and the Republican Congress are also coming close to touching the Third Rail of American politics – Social Security. If voters believe the GOP is even tinkering with their earned benefits, it will be an ugly scene.

Trump wants a third term? He might not even survive the second one if he messes with Social Security.

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