Trump's 2025 Tariff Policies and Market Impact
President Donald Trump's second term, beginning in January 2025, has been marked by an aggressive trade policy centered on new tariffs. These Trump tariffs 2025 were aimed at protecting U.S. industries and reducing trade deficits, but they immediately sent shockwaves through financial markets. Investors closely monitoring stock performance under Trump have witnessed significant volatility and declines in major indices. By early April 2025, the S&P 500 had lost roughly 15% of its value since Inauguration Day, leading analysts to call it the worst start to a presidential term in modern history. Much of this selloff came after Trump's early-April "Liberation Day" event, where he shocked markets by vowing to hike tariffs at an unprecedented pace – an announcement that accounted for about two-thirds of that 15% drop.