President Trump’s presidency has been marked by a volatile stock market and his own aggressive actions to reshape trade deals and influence government. However, it appears that the U.S. stock market’s recent downturn is more of an unexpected roadblock than an adversary. Despite pushing through a series of policies aimed at challenging China and re-shaping federal agencies, Trump has found himself responding to the markets’ reactions rather than driving them. 2023 began with a tumultuous year for the S&P 500, with Trump’s aggressive trade tactics causing a rapid decline in stock values. The president’s response? A series of abrupt reversals – from rolling out tariffs on Chinese goods to pausing their implementation after seeing a market plunge. Trump’s team cites these changes as part of his strategy for pushing other countries into trade agreements, but they have been met with warnings that the tariffs would significantly damage supply chains and consumer prices.