Trump's inconsistent statements on trade and economic policy have raised concerns among corporate executives and Republican lawmakers, even leading to tensions within the White House.

According to a Wall Street Journal report on the 12th, senior officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, have received "panic calls" from CEOs and lobbyists urging the government to calm the turbulent market by establishing a more predictable tariff agenda.

At a business roundtable on Tuesday, Trump stated that tariffs "are having and will have" an "extremely positive" impact, and indicated that tariffs might increase exponentially. He clarified that he does not deny rumors of a recession in the USA, and expressed confidence in the nation's economic prosperity, saying, "The market will rise and fall, but we must rebuild our country."

The conflicting messages from Trump and his advisors have also raised concerns among some Republicans who believe that Trump lacks a coherent economic plan. Former Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Holtz-Eakin commented:

"This is a terrible start for the economic policy team."

Collective anxiety from business and political circles: Seeking policy clarity.

Trump's radical tariff policy has left some economic officials in the Trump administration feeling uneasy. The Wall Street Journal cited informed sources stating that the president's economic advisors warned Trump that tariffs could harm the market and economic growth, but he was essentially unfazed.

Faced with the Trump administration's uncertain trade policy, many business leaders have given up trying to get the president to change the direction of trade and are instead urging the White House to clarify its stance. They urgently hope to receive clearer policy signals so that they can better plan and invest.

Trump's tough tariff strategy has not only caused market turbulence but also created friction within his economic advisory team. Reports indicate that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has frequently spoken out in the media, while he has not maintained close communication with other advisors, including Kevin Hassett, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and officials from the Council of Economic Advisers.

Furthermore, the uncertainty of the tariff policy has also frustrated some of Trump's allies in Congress, who are increasingly concerned about the impact of tariffs on the economy. North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis stated that the "stop-start" nature of tariffs is leading to stock market losses and difficulties in corporate planning:

"Businesses hate uncertainty."

South Dakota Republican Senator Mike Rounds expressed that he is "very frustrated" with the uncertainty that the tariff agenda is causing for farmers and businesses in the state:

"We don't know what tomorrow will look like."

Tennessee Republican Senator Bill Hagerty acknowledged that the market is "trying to digest" the information about tariffs coming from the White House, but he hopes that certainty may be on the way.

Editor/lambor