BUSINESS/ECONOMY/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “It might very well be that Donald Trump tweets himself into a one-term presidency. Following the President’s recent tweets about Amazon and news of a growing trade war with China, stocks slid on Tuesday [4-3-18] and Wednesday [4-4-18] morning. While the stock market rebounded on Wednesday afternoon, more rocky days are likely. Without any advisers in the Oval Office who are willing or capable to say ‘Stop!’ to the President, the situation is likely to deteriorate if there are more tweets about major American companies or trade battles overseas. The tweets about Amazon — making anti-trust a political battering ram — have converged with Trump’s aggressive moves to increase tariffs. He started by announcing new tariffs on aluminum and steel. He then set his sights on Asia when the administration released a list of 1,300 Chinese exports that would face 25% tariffs. Now, as the war of words escalates, China has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of exports.This week has moved President Trump into a political red zone… Now the tweet-storms are encroaching into dangerous territory for the President. His tirades are starting to spook the markets and to trigger retaliatory tariffs that can have a damaging economic impact.”
– Julian Zelizer, “Trump just put himself in a political red zone,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, April 6, 2018 10:30 am