Friday felt like a financial rollercoaster—and not the fun kind.
U.S. stock markets took a massive hit, with the Dow crashing over 1,600 points and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both tumbling nearly 5%. It’s shaping up to be the worst week for Wall Street since the dark days of 2020. What’s going on?
Well, it’s a mix of rising tension, investor nerves, and one powerful speech.
China announced brutal new tariffs—34% on all U.S. goods—just days after the U.S. did the same. The move triggered fears that the trade war is no longer just noise but a real threat to global stability. Investors, already edgy, hit the panic button.
Then came Fed Chair Jerome Powell with a sobering reality check. He admitted the tariffs are “higher than anticipated” and openly said it’s too soon to know how the economy will respond. Translation? Even the Fed isn’t sure what’s next.
Despite a solid jobs report—yes, 228,000 new jobs were added—the bigger picture feels shaky. Recession fears are creeping back in, and investors are betting the Fed will cut interest rates five times this year to soften the blow.
President Trump didn’t help calm the waters. His message? Tariffs are here to stay. China “played it wrong,” he posted online.
Numbers don't lie..
— Deke Bridges (@dekebridges) April 4, 2025
but politicians do.
How far will Trump crash
a perfectly good economy?
When will the GOP man up?
Dow Jones 38,867
Trump took office: 44,025
S&P: 5,136
Trump took office: 6,049
Trump says 'some pain' is worth it.
Stupid comment.
Where's Trump... golfing pic.twitter.com/Q9c8kEHCH4
While Nike stock briefly saw a bounce thanks to Vietnam’s willingness to play ball on tariffs, it wasn’t enough to lift overall market mood.
The message from Wall Street is clear: if tariffs spiral, we all pay the price. And right now, it feels like we’re already paying
