Staff Reports
The current narrative circulating through financial media that blames the recent stock market troubles on former President Trump’s tariffs is both convenient and utterly off-base. In an age of media sensationalism, it seems that some scribes just can’t resist revisiting tired tropes. Their idea that investors suddenly panicked about trade policies months after Trump left office is not only preposterous but a glaring example of lazy journalism. The markets operate on more complex dynamics than simply blaming a former president’s policies.
The real issue at hand is much more straightforward and familiar to any discerning observer: the end of the government spending binge that has characterized the economy for the past few years. Recent weeks have seen speculative tech stocks nosedive while safety investments like Treasury bonds and dividend-heavy stocks have either held steady or actually risen. If tariffs were truly the damsel in distress, one would expect widespread panic across the board. What isn’t happening is a general market collapse—rather, it’s a strategic retreat from risky stocks that many investors overindulged in during the spending frenzy.
According to financial analysts like John Rekenthaler, there’s a reason for this market behavior. Speculators have been at the wheel, enthusiastically chasing high-risk assets without regard for economic fundamentals. But now, as the confidence of investors begins to wane, there’s a rush for the exits, reminiscent of early 2022 when the Fed started tightening the monetary reins. Every dip and rise in the market can’t simply be attributed to tariffs; it reflects the cyclical nature of investor confidence and economic realities.
Breitbart Business Digest: Trump's Tariffs Didn’t Tank the Market https://t.co/fCtWwyQrFy
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) March 14, 2025
Furthermore, the timing completely undermines the tariff panic theory. Trump’s tariffs were discussed for months during his administration, yet the stock market surged in the latter half of 2017 and throughout 2018. The notion that investors somehow had a delayed reaction—as if they only just discovered the tariffs still existed—is more fairy tale than fact. Investors are reassessing the landscape, not out of fear of tariffs, but due to a fundamental recalibration in response to the changing economic environment and diminishing government subsidies.
Citing a report from Bank of America, unnamed analysts assert this market sell-off should be characterized as a rotation rather than an impending economic doom. Notably, stocks in sectors like defense and value investing are seeing gains, while speculative tech continues to tumble. This market adjustment is the essence of a healthy economy shedding the excess weight accumulated during years of unprecedented public spending. With government-driven growth losing steam, it’s no wonder investors are pulling back with a keen eye on future safety instead of chasing after the latest shiny object.
The absurd return of the “tariff blame game” illustrates how far the financial media will go to keep the narrative alive against Trump. Rather than taking an honest look at the factors truly driving the market, outlets have opted for the easy route of recycling old stories to fit a pre-established anti-Trump agenda. This sell-off isn’t about tariffs; it’s the market finally acknowledging it must grow up after years of feeding on speculative highs. In reality, those who cling to the tariff narrative are merely looking for something—or someone—to blame for their poor investments. It’s time to face facts: this isn’t a referendum on Trump but rather a long-overdue reality check for the market.
