Trump Moving Too Fast?

[Hidden In Him]

Let me start this thread by saying I have always been a Trump supporter where most of his policies were concerned, and I am completely behind things like DOGE and the dismantling of the DEI. But is he making the right move slapping a 25% tariff on foreign made cars and parts? The idea is to make things tougher on foreign producers while rekindling the American automobile industry again. But will it pay off, or will this go down as the one big move Trump made early on that came back to bite Americans really hard? I had a friend who receives prophetic dreams send me word about a month ago that the Lord spoke to him early one morning and said, "Trump is burning America." I just said, "Hmm... Let's hope that means in a good way," but inside I was thinking, "But it doesn't sound like it." Now that I am seeing how fast he is moving on plans like the tariff deal, I'm wondering if it is. As the old saying goes, sometimes good intentions can pave the way to Hell.

Open to opinions of all varieties, but I will state the case of just how destructive this move could actually end up being. And please keep in mind this is not a politically-motivated discussion. I support the man personally, but I never support any human being blindly, nor do I ever just go along with the status quo. Everyone on board the Titanic was convinced they were unsinkable until they started taking on water. I state my biggest concern with the whole thing in Post #3.

Blessings in Christ, and thanks for reading.
Hidden in Him

 

[Hidden In Him]

Assorted quotes, and keep in mind that I'm fully aware CNN will take the dimmist view possible. Some parts of the articles below are typical hit piece stuff. But the sections I will quote bear genuine reflection IMO. And I will state the reasons why when I have more time.

Trump’s 25% tariff on imported cars kicked in on Thursday as part of the president’s bid to revive American manufacturing jobs. The administration plans to slap tariffs on car parts by May 3. Bank of America estimates that a 25% tariff on all imported auto parts would increase the cost of US assembled vehicles by about $26 billion — or around $3,285 per vehicle on average. Even cars assembled at US factories will likely get more expensive because they use many foreign parts. Goldman Sachs estimates the cost of foreign-made cars will increase by between $5,000 and $15,000 per vehicle due to tariffs.

“In our view, the price increases will drive demand destruction, particularly as affordability has been a challenge for all buyers,” Bank of America analysts wrote in a note to clients Wednesday.

If automakers pass through the entire 25% tariff to consumers, US auto sales could tumble by about 3.2 million vehicles, or roughly 20% of the current annual sales trend, Bank of America estimates.

The analysts found that even if automakers aim to just break even by passing along only 15% of the tariff cost to consumers, auto sales would still drop by about 2.5 million.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/03/business/car-prices-tariffs-trump/index.html

Staying on the sidelines won’t shield car owners from rising prices. Imported auto parts will be affected by tariffs, experts say. Insurance premiums will also rise as repairs become more costly, they said. “You’re going to run into all of these (expenses) that are directly impacted by the cost of tariffs on vehicles new and used,” Wheaton said. “Buckle your seat belts.”

Trump tariffs are here. Why these people are buying new cars now

Some Americans have rushed to buy cars ahead of potential price hikes tied to Trump's tariffs. Experts share advice on whether buying now is the right move.

www.usatoday.com

Bank of America estimates that automakers can reduce their tariff costs by shifting the assembly of around 1 million vehicles to existing US plants. But moving a factory isn’t easy, simple or quick. It can take considerable time to retool existing factories. And building new factories can take years and cost billions of dollars... “And nobody is really talking about where the labor is going to come from,” Fields said. Fields recalled how even during the sluggish economic recovery from the Great Recession, Ford faced challenges hiring and retaining workers. “We had a tough time getting qualified people who were willing to do this hard, repetitive work on a factory floor. And we saw a lot of attrition from people who said, ‘Wow, this is really hard,’” Fields said.

Even if automakers find the workers, they’d need to pay them much more than in Mexico and provide more generous benefits. Fields said that would add to the cost of the vehicle – a cost that manufacturers would likely pass along at least in part to consumers. Bank of America said it would be “essentially impossible” to reshore most auto parts due to the cost of labor in the United States and availability of workers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/03/business/car-prices-tariffs-trump/index.html

 

[Hidden In Him]

The markets are also badly spooked, including the US ones. Markets around the world have wavered as fear and uncertainty over tariffs and trade wars rattle investors. The S&P 500 just recorded its worst month since 2022, shedding 5.8 percent in March. The Dow plunged 2,200 points yesterday, the worst drop in years.

Here is my biggest fear: Suppose he goes through all the trouble of rebuilding US manufacturing and costs US investors billions of dollars and worse yet the US populace a massive amount of money in both domestic and foreign car prices AND used car repairs, and THEN once it's rebuilt the economy has suffered so much downfall that no one can afford to BUY new cars anymore? Then what, we will be stuck paying a ridiculously higher amount of money just to repair the old cars we have because that's all most people can afford to do? I personally think this move may be well-intentioned, but it may not pan out in reality the way they intend it to.

 

[Bob]

Thank you for your post. All good points.

These new tariffs are meant as reciprocal tariffs. If various countries (who have had their tariffs in place all along) are depending on the wealth from selling us goods, they might consider lowering their tariffs, and then so will we (see news re Vietnam!). If so, U.S. companies will gain customers etc.

But there is also the incentive for the U.S. to manufacture strategic goods in-house, rather than rely on potentially unreliable foreign sources. So yes, this security will be expensive. Paying for our vast Dept. of Defense is also expensive, along with ICE, border patrol, state troopers, city police, home alarms and video cameras, locks & sturdy doors, . . . .

Peace.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Thank you for your post. All good points.

These new tariffs are meant as reciprocal tariffs. If various countries (who have had their tariffs in place all along) are depending on the wealth from selling us goods, they might consider lowering their tariffs, and then so will we (see news re Vietnam!). If so, U.S. companies will gain customers etc.

But there is also the incentive for the U.S. to manufacture strategic goods in-house, rather than rely on potentially unreliable foreign sources. So yes, this security will be expensive. Paying for our vast Dept. of Defense is also expensive, along with ICE, border patrol, state troopers, city police, home alarms and video cameras, locks & sturdy doors, . . . .

Peace.

Thanks for the post, Bob, and blessings in Christ.

If this were happening 40 or even 20 years ago, I would have been in favor of it. My question is the timing now. If the nations we trade with were to come down on theirs and we reciprocated, it might help, but he is talking about rebuilding an industry that will be very expensive to reconstruct, and forcing the US automobile buyer and car owner (which is most of us) to foot the bill. My wife and I have been considering if now is the time to buy a new car for her, but I just told her that we'd better act before May 4th or we could be paying thousands more out of pocket for the same thing. And everyone else is thinking the same thing, cuz apparently stock is driving off the lots right now at an accelerated pace.

The whole thing is a little scary, considering there are suggestions the world's economies are about to begin paying a heavy price for all the debt they incurred during Covid.

 

[Jack]

I appreciate that America escaped a Kamala NUKE.

 

[ScottA]

The markets are also badly spooked, including the US ones. Markets around the world have wavered as fear and uncertainty over tariffs and trade wars rattle investors. The S&P 500 just recorded its worst month since 2022, shedding 5.8 percent in March. The Dow plunged 2,200 points yesterday, the worst drop in years.

Here is my biggest fear: Suppose he goes through all the trouble of rebuilding US manufacturing and costs US investors billions of dollars and worse yet the US populace a massive amount of money in both domestic and foreign car prices AND used car repairs, and THEN once it's rebuilt the economy has suffered so much downfall that no one can afford to BUY new cars anymore? Then what, we will be stuck paying a ridiculously higher amount of money just to repair the old cars we have because that's all most people can afford to do? I personally think this move may be well-intentioned, but it may not pan out in reality the way they intend it to.

I have said this before: Things are not what they seem.

The problem is, most people are drinking downstream from the poison, from the sewage...and yes, it doesn't taste good or right, and rightly so.

What is upstream and unseen, unbeknownst to most is the corruption that caused all the sickness downstream in pretty much all of modern society. And it has been going on for centuries, and only now climaxing. What has also been going on, are attempts at stopping it. Which recently has become a full scale war behind the scenes. The corruption is satanic, historically originating in the garden. But in more recent history, between 800-1200 AD by a cult mafia cabal--with operatives in government, judiciaries, media, and militaries around the world--historically originating in the area of Ukraine. What we have been witnessing--although what the mainstream media is reporting is not what is actually happening--is a resurgence of a war that Russia fought against them a thousand years ago. Only now there is an alliance of 200+ nations fighting to defeat them once and for all.

All that said, Trump has a small window to as calmly as possible do his part of defeating them among the western nations. He is a wartime president leading the final battle. Alternatively, if he does not accomplish all that needs to occur within the small window before the next US elections, Marshall Law will go from its current active, but covert status, to public chaos. So...Panama, Greenland, Canada--he's not being a bully or sword rattling, or even playing chess with tariffs--he's gathering the troops, conquering and shutting down enemy strongholds. And the stock market, BRICS, Taiwan, Gaza, Iran, JFK, RFK, MLK--those are all some of the battlegrounds. That's why a lot of that has resurfaced right now.

But we're winning.

 

[Rockerduck]

Reciprocal tariffs are to cause other countries to rethink their tariffs. If they lower tariffs to 10% then the USA lowers to 10%. If they raise tariffs to 25% then the USA will raise to 25%. Other countries can control what tariffs they want to pay. If they raise tariffs to match the USA, they shoot themselves in the foot. The USA is the largest economy in the world and a consumer nation.

 

[Rockerduck]

The markets are also badly spooked, including the US ones. Markets around the world have wavered as fear and uncertainty over tariffs and trade wars rattle investors. The S&P 500 just recorded its worst month since 2022, shedding 5.8 percent in March. The Dow plunged 2,200 points yesterday, the worst drop in years.

Here is my biggest fear: Suppose he goes through all the trouble of rebuilding US manufacturing and costs US investors billions of dollars and worse yet the US populace a massive amount of money in both domestic and foreign car prices AND used car repairs, and THEN once it's rebuilt the economy has suffered so much downfall that no one can afford to BUY new cars anymore? Then what, we will be stuck paying a ridiculously higher amount of money just to repair the old cars we have because that's all most people can afford to do? I personally think this move may be well-intentioned, but it may not pan out in reality the way they intend it to.

You do not understand the stock market. When the stocks go down, they become more affordable, and people are waiting to buy. You can buy margin and bet that the market will go down and make money. Market traders will buy low and sell high. There is a money-making economy in the stocks that people make money whether it goes up or down.

 

[Truth7t7]

Let me start this thread by saying I have always been a Trump supporter where most of his policies were concerned, and I am completely behind things like DOGE and the dismantling of the DEI. But is he making the right move slapping a 25% tariff on foreign made cars and parts? The idea is to make things tougher on foreign producers while rekindling the American automobile industry again. But will it pay off, or will this go down as the one big move Trump made early on that came back to bite Americans really hard? I had a friend who receives prophetic dreams send me word about a month ago that the Lord spoke to him early one morning and said, "Trump is burning America." I just said, "Hmm... Let's hope that means in a good way," but inside I was thinking, "But it doesn't sound like it." Now that I am seeing how fast he is moving on plans like the tariff deal, I'm wondering if it is. As the old saying goes, sometimes good intentions can pave the way to Hell.

Open to opinions of all varieties, but I will state the case of just how destructive this move could actually end up being. And please keep in mind this is not a politically-motivated discussion. I support the man personally, but I never support any human being blindly, nor do I ever just go along with the status quo. Everyone on board the Titanic was convinced they were unsinkable until they started taking on water. I state my biggest concern with the whole thing in Post #3.

Blessings in Christ, and thanks for reading.
Hidden in Him

I agree a blanket tariff is a bold move, will America respond to the demand qick enough or will it be spiraling inflation?

One thing is a fact, China is the world's enemy #1 and they must be cut off immediately

 

[Hidden In Him]

You do not understand the stock market. When the stocks go down, they become more affordable, and people are waiting to buy. You can buy margin and bet that the market will go down and make money. Market traders will buy low and sell high. There is a money-making economy in the stocks that people make money whether it goes up or down.

That may end up advantageous for people who buy stocks. But the subject at hand here is people buying cars, and it's about to get a lot more expensive, domestic, foreign, parts, repairs, and insurance.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I agree a blanket tariff is a bold move, will America respond to the demand qick enough or will it be spiraling inflation?

Yes. Trump has at least two great assets as a leader that would be in play here:

1. He can make things happen quickly; about as quickly as anyone on the planet, and
2. He's a positive thinker, and doesn't think in terms of what we have to lose but what we have to gain potentially. But while I think that approach works the vast majority of the time, I'm not sure it always does, and I could see this backfiring, or at the very least having some seriously negative effects for a lot of people, i.e especially the common man on the street.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Let me start this thread by saying I have always been a Trump supporter where most of his policies were concerned, and I am completely behind things like DOGE and the dismantling of the DEI. But is he making the right move slapping a 25% tariff on foreign made cars and parts? The idea is to make things tougher on foreign producers while rekindling the American automobile industry again. But will it pay off, or will this go down as the one big move Trump made early on that came back to bite Americans really hard? I had a friend who receives prophetic dreams send me word about a month ago that the Lord spoke to him early one morning and said, "Trump is burning America." I just said, "Hmm... Let's hope that means in a good way," but inside I was thinking, "But it doesn't sound like it." Now that I am seeing how fast he is moving on plans like the tariff deal, I'm wondering if it is. As the old saying goes, sometimes good intentions can pave the way to Hell.

Open to opinions of all varieties, but I will state the case of just how destructive this move could actually end up being. And please keep in mind this is not a politically-motivated discussion. I support the man personally, but I never support any human being blindly, nor do I ever just go along with the status quo. Everyone on board the Titanic was convinced they were unsinkable until they started taking on water. I state my biggest concern with the whole thing in Post #3.

Blessings in Christ, and thanks for reading.
Hidden in Him

Perhaps Trump is setting America ablaze, but which version of America are we truly discussing? What economy did Trump find when he was elected? Was it a working economy that benefited all the people, or an economy that benefited only the rich elite?

Furthermore, is the act of burning inherently negative, especially if it results in the emergence of something valuable, akin to refining precious metals from the flames? Perhaps America must endure some pain in order to restore freedom and liberty, including economic freedom.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Perhaps Trump is setting America ablaze, but which version of America are we truly discussing? What economy did Trump find when he was elected? Was it a working economy that benefited all the people, or an economy that benefited only the rich elite?

Furthermore, is the act of burning inherently negative, especially if it results in the emergence of something valuable, akin to refining precious metals from the flames? Perhaps America must endure some pain in order to restore freedom and liberty, including economic freedom.

It's certainly possible. I didn't know what to make of the expression, as it didn't seem to make sense in light of all the positive things he's been doing. And we had a strong economy under Trump in his first term. But there's always that x-factor of things we can't foresee. Despite everything he did for the US economy from 2016 through 2020, Covid forced the planet into a borrowing spree that... and I hate to say this, but almost doomed the planet financially in the long run. Nations have traditionally taken more than a half century to get out from under the kind of debt load some nations have now accrued, and the problem is it's almost worldwide...

I guess I'd say if anyone can pull a rabbit out of hat economically here it would be Trump (at least as far as national leaders go). My question is will he, or will what's coming be more than what even he can surmount, despite his best efforts at trying to resurrect US manufacturing.

 

[Bob]

That may end up advantageous for people who buy stocks. But the subject at hand here is people buying cars, and it's about to get a lot more expensive, domestic, foreign, parts, repairs, and insurance.

Thank you for your post.

Help me understand why the prices of cars made in the U.S will increase.

Peace.

 

[Wrangler]

@Hidden In Him

Trump Moving Too Fast?​

How fast is too fast?

• If you're going down the highway and realize you're going the wrong way, do you turn around ASAP or drive for a certain number of exits so as not to be accused of turning around "too fast?"
• You see your daughter drowning in the pool. Do you jump in right away to save her life or do you wait until she loses consciousness and sinks to the bottom so as not to be accused of saving what is precious "too fast?"

An observation I made decades ago is anytime WHAT is being done cannot be attacked with integrity, those who disagree retreat to HOW it is being done. Justice delayed is justice denied. I'm in favor of righting the ship of state ASAP.

 

[Jack]

"Trump Moving Too Fast?"​

No doubt that would scare Dems and RINO's!

 

[Rockerduck]

That may end up advantageous for people who buy stocks. But the subject at hand here is people buying cars, and it's about to get a lot more expensive, domestic, foreign, parts, repairs, and insurance.

Ford said it now sales cars at the employee discount price, so Ford has lowered its cost on their cars. When you shop, don't think name brand, buy the deal. That goes for everything.

 

[Behold]

Where Trump is causing his own issues.........regarding much of what He is trying to accomplish..........is that He likes to announce the plan, weeks or months in advance..
And that is a mistake.......as when you inform your enemy of your plan against them, then you are enabling them the TIME to find a solid counter-offensive by giving them TIME to find one.

Its just like this "Tariff's" situation.
Its not going to have the same effect, as it could have had, if Trump had imposed all the Tariff's without announcing "here they come"... for the last 4 months.
He gave all the opponents a chance to figure out what they can do, in response.......for months.

So, he was thinking they would all panic, over time.....same as with Putin and Zelensky, but instead, what they did was plan counter moves and push back confrontations........because everyone Trump is dealing with.... has had too much time to figure it out.

 

[Wrangler]

Where Trump is causing his own issues.........regarding much of what He is trying to accomplish..........is that He likes to announce the plan, weeks or months in advance..

So, he was thinking they would all panic, over time.....same as with Putin and Zelensky, but instead, what they did was plan counter moves and push back confrontations........because everyone Trump is dealing with.... has had too much time to figure it out.

I too made this observation. However, I feel there is an over-riding factor. Controlling the narrative.

Like with so much else of importance, there are pros and cons. The con of controlling the narrative is it gives his enemies time to plan a counter-attack. I believe this is given less weight in the propaganda war to control the narrative, in making the media unable to think pro-actively but be in constant reaction mode to Trump's next initiative. The best defense is a good offense. Trump's communication team has decided always be on offense.

From that perspective, I would not be surprised if they deliberately throw out false flags, where they have no intention of acting on said initiative. Running for a 3rd time is one example. Although the Press Secretary is the face of the story, it is Steven Cheung, the Director of Communications, I believe who has championed this propaganda tactic. From wikipedia:

The White House communications director or White House director of communications, also known officially as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the president of the United States. The officeholder is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the president and leading its media campaign.​