Global stock markets reeled Monday as President Trump defended his escalating trade war, comparing steep new tariffs to bitter but necessary “medicine.” The #TrumpTariffs upheaval sent shockwaves from Asia to Wall Street, with indices swinging wildly between panic sell-offs and fragile rebounds.

🔥Market Meltdown—and Miraculous Reversals

The S&P 500 plummeted 4.1% intraday, briefly entering 🐻 bear market territory (down 20% from February’s peak), before clawing back to close just 0.2% lower—a historic intraday recovery. The Dow Jones sank 0.9%📉, while Europe’s FTSE 100 crashed 4.4% to a 12-month low. Japan’s Nikkei 225 nosedived 7.8%, its worst drop since 2020, as investors fled risk assets.

Trump doubled down, dismissing reports of a tariff “pause” for allies: “We’re not looking at that,” he told reporters, later threatening an additional 50% levy on China if Beijing retaliates. His Truth Social post urged supporters: “Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid!”

🚨Wall Street’s Warning Bells

Corporate titans and investors issued dire alerts:

✅ BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: “The economy is weakening as we speak… Most CEOs think we’re already in a recession.”

✅ JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon: Tariffs risk “exacerbating inflation” and slowing growth. “The quicker resolved, the better.”

✅ Billionaire Bill Ackman: Warned of a “self-induced economic nuclear winter” if policies aren’t reversed.

Even Trump allies broke ranks. Tesla’s Elon Musk took a swipe at trade advisor Peter Navarro, posting: “Navarro ain’t built shit.”

Global Dominoes Fall

🛢️ Oil prices collapsed to 4-year lows (Brent Crude at $61/barrel) on fears of a demand-killing recession.

😱 Fear gauge VIX spiked to 60, a level unseen since August’s market chaos.

🐉 China tensions: Trump confirmed trade talks are “terminated,” with Beijing poised to retaliate.

💼 Corporate Casualties Mount

Virgin’s Richard Branson slammed the “predictable and preventable” crisis, claiming firms are already buckling under a weaker dollar and rising costs. “Change course before America faces ruin,” he urged.

What’s Next?

With 10% global tariffs already active and steeper, targeted levies set for Wednesday, markets brace for more pain. Analysts warn the longer tariffs drag on, the harder they’ll be to unwind—potentially derailing the post-pandemic recovery.

Is Trump’s “medicine”💊a tough-love cure for trade imbalances or a toxic recipe for global recession? The answer may define 2025’s economic fate. #TrumpTariffs

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