Trump explains dramatic reversal on tariffs: People getting ‘a little bit afraid’

Shortly after President Donald Trump suddenly pulled away on his destabilizing “reciprocal” tariffs, creating a 90-day pause for most affected nations, with the exception of China, reporters asked him what led him to the course change.

“I thought people were jumping a little from a line. They became poured. Do you know they were a little on the Yapi, they were a little afraid,” Trump said during a photo with racing champions outside the White House.

It is unclear what he was about, but he signals that he has been following the wild variable markets, including the bond market, where he said that “people are getting a little closer.”

“In the last few days, it seemed quite glamorous,” he said, before he quickly turned to turn to the stocks immediately after the 90-day pause, which he first reported in a social media publication that shook the markets and the world.

“You have to be flexible,” Trump explained, though he repeatedly insisted that his tariffs were here to stay. “You have to be able to show a little flexibility. And I’m able to do it.”

Later, in the oval office, Trump said the pause was something he had thought of for a certain period of time that “gathered this morning”.

“And we decided to pull the trigger and we did it today and we are happy with it,” Trump said.

This was a highlighted shift from his bump earlier this week. Trump told ABC News Chief Correspondent Mary Bruce on Monday that he “didn’t watch” pause.

On Tuesday night, hours before the increased tariffs came into force, his challenging message for Republican MPs was: “I know what the hell, I’m doing.”

White House staff turned Trump’s sharp turn as a bold and even part of the overall strategy for major negotiations, although the administration was sending mixed messages whether the negotiation was even on the table.

“It has taken great courage, a great courage for him to remain the course so far, and what we ended up here,” said Finance Minister Scott Bensten.

“President Trump created a maximum negotiation lever for himself. Tariffs came into force before 15 hours ago, those we have lowered … were announced a week ago and we were just buried, buried by the answer from our most allies who want to come and negotiate with good faith,” said Bessent.

White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt told the media: “You have obviously missed the art of the deal” – not a fine reference to Trump’s 1987 book.

“Finally, we have a president here in the White House, which plays a long game that does what is appropriate for the American worker in our industries here at home,” said Levit.

As the markets rose after Trump’s pause message, uncertainty continues over what happens afterwards.

Bestent said Trump wants to be “personally included” in negotiations with other nations and that “it will take some time”. Trump said he wanted to make “fair deals”.

The onset of China is a great deal, as the US and Beijing – the two largest economies in the world – escalating tariffs.

As part of the pause, the White House has said about countries that want to negotiate, the base rate level for all countries will be reduced to 10%. For China, however, Tump’s tariff has increased to a huge 125%after Beijing issued retaliatory taxes against American goods.

Trump said on Wednesday that he was “honor” that he had made the rates, claiming that no other president would do it.

“Nothing is over yet, but we have a huge amount of spirit from other countries, including China,” Trump said. “China wants to make a deal. They just don’t know how to handle it.”

Liberation Day, the discovery of high tariff rates for dozens of trading partners has noted an achievement that Trump has been persecuted for decades.

But in the coming days, the markets went down and trillions dollars were lost in pension and colleges savings accounts. Republicans and business leaders began to openly express continuous concern about the president’s vast approach, some of whom Trump said he had watched in cable news.

Republicans in the Senate and the Chamber expressed relief after the change of Trump’s heart.

“Many smiles,” said Senator Mike Rowunds.