"BUY!" Then Bail? Trump Posts Before Chaotic Tariff Pause/104% China Hit Sparks Manipulation Fears

Today was the day the economic levy was supposed to break. After days of market panic resembling the early shocks of the COVID pandemic – triggered by President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcements – the new, higher rates were scheduled to slam into imports from dozens of countries. The centerpiece? An almost mythical, jaw-dropping 104 percent total effective tariff rate confirmed to be hitting all goods imported from China, starting today. Markets were braced for impact, businesses were terrified, and economists were invoking comparisons to the disastrous Smoot-Hawley tariffs of the Great Depression era.

Amidst this backdrop of economic dread created by his own administration's policies, President Trump decided it was the perfect time... for some stock tips? Around 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time this morning, he took to Truth Social to declare: "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT". Yes, as the markets shuddered from the effects of his trade war, the President himself urged his followers to buy into the dip.

Hold that thought. Fast forward just a few hours. Sometime after New York City officials held a press conference sounding alarms about a "dire emergency" and billions in potential losses from the impending tariffs, another message appeared on Trump's Truth Social feed, shortly after 1:15 p.m. ET. This time, it's a stunning policy reversal: a 90-day PAUSE on implementing the new reciprocal tariffs for most countries. Just like that, amidst widespread panic, the administration hits the brakes... mostly.

Because here’s the crucial, head-spinning exception: China was specifically excluded from the pause. While dozens of other nations got a temporary reprieve, the 104% tariff hammer did fall on Beijing today, exactly as threatened. Furthermore, the administration confirmed it's cracking down on the $800 duty-free allowance for small packages coming from China and Hong Kong, adding direct costs ($75-$150 per item) for many online shoppers.

Now, let's revisit that sequence:

1. Admin policy tanks markets.

2. President publicly shouts "BUY STOCKS!" during the dip.

3. Hours later, the President announces a policy pause likely to boost (most of) the market he just told people to buy into.

4. Simultaneously, he rams through the most extreme tariff on the primary target (China), ensuring continued trade conflict.

This timeline isn't just chaotic; it's deeply suspicious and raises unavoidable questions about market manipulation and potential insider dealing. While we do not have proof of specific illegal trades by the President or his associates based on this information, the appearance is incredibly problematic. A President possesses the ultimate insider knowledge of upcoming policy shifts. Using his public platform to issue market advice just hours before announcing a market-moving policy change creates, at the very least, a staggering conflict of interest and invites intense scrutiny. Did insiders act on the "BUY" recommendation knowing a pause was imminent? Was the timing designed to influence markets for personal or political gain? The questions hang heavy in the air.

Meanwhile, the actual policy remains a mess. China, hit with the 104% levy, isn't backing down. They've called the US actions "bullying" and a "mistake upon a mistake," vowing to "fight to the end" and escalate their own retaliation, including potentially restricting vital rare earth mineral exports and filing WTO lawsuits. American consumers are still facing substantially higher prices on everything from toys to smartphones, and the pause for other countries only adds another layer of uncertainty – what happens in 90 days?

So, April 9th delivered: confirmation of an astronomical tariff on China, immediate international retaliation, a chaotic last-minute policy reversal for most other countries, and a presidential communication strategy that blurs the lines between governing and potentially manipulating financial markets. It’s hard to imagine a more potent, multi-layered, and deeply concerning Daily Dose of WTF.

Sources:

• CNN (Confirming 104% China tariff details, WH confirmation/rhetoric, market reaction, consumer impact, April 8, 2025).

• NYC Council Press Release (Reporting the timing of the tariff pause relative to their press conference, April 9, 2025).

• AP News (Context on China's "fight to the end" response, rare earth retaliation mentions from previous day's search, market turmoil context, April 8-9, 2025).

• Thompson Hine / CustomsLaw Blog (Confirming 104% China tariff and de minimis changes took effect April 9, 2025).

• American Progress (Context from previous reports on projected household costs, April 4, 2025).