Summary
Trump escalated his trade war with China by raising tariffs to 125%, even as he dropped tariffs on other nations to ease recession fears.
China retaliated with 84% tariffs on U.S. goods, triggering a high-stakes standoff with both sides refusing to back down.
Experts warn the escalating tit-for-tat threatens global markets and diplomacy. Trump’s team calls China a “bad actor,” while Beijing frames the U.S. as a bully.
Each side believes time favors them, making de-escalation unlikely. Business leaders urge talks, but neither leader wants to appear weak.
Trump looks weak by every act he does, from smearing on his orange clown makeup in the morning to vomiting out thin-skinned unhinged screeds over Xitter at night, and every insecure bullying coward act in between. He’s the weakest president the US has ever had, by a mile.