Politics
Trump Liberation Day tariffs to go into effect as markets melt down
Story by Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent At The White House and Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter for Ekwutosblog.com on Capitol Hill and Stephen M. Lepore For Ekwutosblog.Com
President Donald Trump did not want his major tariff announcement to be a laughing matter.
‘I was going to do it April 1st but I said, “I don’t like that date,”‘ Trump said at an event with the nation’s governors in February. ‘I don’t want to take the abuse.’
Still, he flirted with the idea: ‘Should I just do April 1st?’
‘It’s going to cost a lot of money to wait one day,’ he joked.
But then he decided to turn April 2nd into a Trump-branded holiday: ‘Liberation Day’ he dubbed it.
Liberation Day is now set to become the president’s first big event in the White House‘s Rose Garden of his second term. It will take place at 4 pm – to prevent a split screen moment of the announcement coinciding with markets tumbling.
There are still last-minute attempts to steal Trump’s thunder, with multiple Republicans joining Democrat Tim Kaine in a resolution to end the emergency declaration Trump signed in February to implement tariffs on Canada as punishment for not doing enough to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the US.
Kentucky‘s Rand Paul – who has vocally opposed the tariffs – is co-sponsoring the resolution and Susan Collins of Maine has already said she will support it. Other Republicans, such as North Carolina‘s Thom Tills, Iowa‘s Chuck Grassley, are considering it, according to Politico.
President Donald Trump has coined the term ‘Liberation Day’ for his April 2 announcement of new tariffs. It will mark the first large-scale event in the White House Rose Garden of his second term
Trump is furious at a Democrat bill attempted to cancel out the tariffs already levied on Canada which has gotten support from multiple Republicans, including Susan Collins of Maine (pictured)
Collins already voiced her opposition to the tariffs ahead of Liberation Day.
‘I think imposing tariffs on Canada, which is our closest neighbor, friendly ally, is a huge mistake and will cause disruption in the economies of both countries, particularly for a state like Maine, whose economy is so integrated with Canada,’ Collins told DailyMail.com.
‘I’m not surprised that Canada would seek to strike back, and that’s going to increase costs even more for consumers.’
Trump on Tuesday night raged at Paul and Collins as well as old rival Mitch McConnell and Alaskamoderate Lisa Murkowski in a late night post to Truth Social.
He said he hopes the gang of four ‘will hopefully get on the Republican bandwagon, for a change, and fight the Democrats wild and flagrant push to not penalize Canada for the sale, into our Country, of large amounts of Fentanyl, by Tariffing the value of this horrible and deadly drug in order to make it more costly to distribute and buy.’
Trump warned that these turncoat Senators ‘are playing with the lives of the American people, and right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats and Drug Cartels.’
He mocked Kaine’s bill as a ‘ploy’ by Democrats meant to ‘show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans, namely these four, in that it is not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it.’
Trump then asked of them: ‘Why are they allowing Fentanyl to pour into our Country unchecked, and without penalty. What is wrong with them, other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly known as TDS? Who can want this to happen to our beautiful families, and why?’
Trump raged at Paul – who co-sponsored Kaine’s bill – and Collins as well as old rival Mitch McConnell and Alaska moderate Lisa Murkowski in a late night post to Truth Social
Trump Liberation Day tariffs to go into effect as markets melt down
He then asked his to contact the four Senators to ‘get them to FINALLY adhere to Republican Values and Ideals.’
‘They have been extremely difficult to deal with and, unbelievably disloyal to hardworking Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Party itself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
Kaine, who unsuccessfully ran for vice president alongside Hillary Clinton against Trump in 2016, said he was happy to allow the GOP the chance to do the right thing and vote down a Trump tariff.
“I really relish giving my Republican colleagues the chance to not just say they’re concerned, but actually take an action to stop these tariffs,” he said.
On Tuesday, team Trump appeared undeterred and ready to go full speed ahead with Liberation Day.
At Tuesday’s White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Liberation Day ‘will go down as one of the most important days in modern American history.’
The Washington Post reported Tuesday morning that Trump was likely to announce an across-the-board 20 percent tariff on most of the nation’s imports.
Mark Zandi, the chief economist for Moody’s, told The Post that if that plan were to go into effect it would almost immediately trigger a recession that would last more than a year, and send the US jobless rate above 7 percent.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed Liberation Day at Tuesday’s briefing, telling reporters that it ‘will go down as one of the most important days in modern American history’
No matter what, it will test whether Trump and his advisers’ worldview on using tariffs to bring manufacturing back stateside is accurate.
Trump’s will-he-or-won’t-he on tariffs have already created stock market turmoil, raised the odds of a recession and started to push up inflation on household items, with economic experts fearing even more price hikes.
Ahead of ‘Liberation Day,’ Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum, a 20 percent tariff on shipments from China and up to 25 percent on good from Canada and Mexico that weren’t covered in the Trump-signed trade deal.
Last week Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on foreign cars set to take effect on April 3.
The president has also threatened to slap a 200 percent tariff on all wine and spirits from the European Union after the Europeans announced a planned 50 percent tariff on American whiskey.
That move was in reaction to Trump’s 25 percent tariff on European steel and aluminum.
In addition, he’s flirted with implementing tariffs on agricultural goods, lumber, copper, computer chips, pharmaceuticals.
He proposed blanket tariffs on Colombia – which he dropped.
Traders work the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday ahead of President Donald Trump’s major tariff announcement. Stocks opened up low as the market reacted to Liberation Day jitters
Trump also proposed blanket tariffs on the European Union, a top US ally; on Russia, over the war in Ukraine; on any country that buys fuel from Venezuela; and on BRICs nations, for wanting to develop a currency to compete with the US dollar.
Trump has enacted tariffs on $800 billion worth of goods as of March 21, The Washington Post said.
On the eve of Liberation Day, there was global concern about what was coming next.
During the Tuesday press briefing Leavitt wouldn’t confirm the 20 percent figure – but said Trump had made a decision and that the announced tariffs would be ‘effective immediately.’
‘The president said last night he has made a decision and a determination,’ Leavitt said. ‘I don’t want to get ahead of the president.’
‘This is obviously a very big day. He’s with his trade and tariff team right now perfecting it to make sure this is a perfect deal for the American people and the American worker and you will all find out from about 24 hours from now,’ Leavitt said.
On Monday night Trump had also floated ‘reciprocal’ tariffs aimed at countries that currently have steep import taxes on American products – which would represent a less extreme action than imposing a 20 percent tariff across the board.
A lobbying effort has been taking place to swat these down.
President Donald Trump and his economic advisers believe implementing tariffs on imports will help bring manufacturing back to the United States. Some financial experts are predicting that the use of largescale tariffs will push the US into a recession
Leavitt confirmed that the White House had been fielding calls from ‘quite a few countries that have called the president and have called his team in discussion about these tariffs.’
Even Fox News was skeptical, with Peter Doocy asking what would happen if MAGAnomics was wrong.
‘They’re not going to be wrong,’ Leavitt pushed back. ‘It is going to work and the president has a brilliant team of advisers who have been studying these issues for decades.’
On Capitol Hill, while some GOP senators have defended Trump’s approach to tariffs, others have been hesitant to weigh in.
‘We don’t know what we’re going to see yet, and we’ll just have to wait and see what it looks like,’ said Sen. Mike Rounds when asked about seeking exemptions.
‘Then we can make some determinations, but at this stage in the game, it’s unknown to us,’ the South Dakota Republican said.
If the tariffs do tip the US into a recession there will likely be buyers’ remorse.
Trump was reelected in November after President Joe Biden didn’t do enough to curb inflation in the years following the COVID-19 economic collapse.
The eventual Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, didn’t do enough to separate herself from Biden’s economic policies, allowing Trump to argue he was the better-for-the-economy candidate.
The Republicans have full control of Congress currently, but economic grumbling could cost them their majorities in 2026.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
Politics
Electoral act: Senate’s action confirms Nigeria ‘fantastically corrupt’, ‘disgraced’ – Peter Obi
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Senate’s refusal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, saying the move further exposes Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt and disgraced country.
Obi expressed his views in a statement shared on X on Friday, where he accused lawmakers of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that his reaction came after a brief pause to mourn victims of a deadly tragedy in Kwara State, where over 150 people reportedly lost their lives.
“Let us first pray for the souls of the innocent Nigerians lost in Kwara. That painful incident is why I delayed responding to the shameful development surrounding our electoral system,” he wrote.
Describing the Senate’s decision as intentional and dangerous, Obi said rejecting mandatory electronic transmission was not a simple oversight but a calculated attempt to block transparency.
“The Senate’s open rejection of electronic transmission of results is an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027,” he said.
According to him, the action strikes at the heart of democracy and raises serious questions about the true purpose of governance in Nigeria.
“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is a direct attack on our democracy. By refusing these transparency measures, the foundation of credible elections is being destroyed. One must ask whether government exists to ensure justice and order or to deliberately create chaos for the benefit of a few.”
The former Anambra State governor linked the post-election controversies of the 2023 general elections to the failure to fully deploy electronic transmission of results, insisting that Nigerians were misled with claims of technical failures.
“
The confusion, disputes and manipulation that followed the 2023 elections were largely due to the refusal to fully implement electronic transmission,” he said.
He added that the so-called system glitch never truly existed.
Obi compared Nigeria’s electoral process with those of other African countries that have embraced technology to improve credibility, lamenting that Nigeria continues to fall behind.
“Many African nations now use electronic transmission to strengthen their democracy. Yet Nigeria, which calls itself the giant of Africa, is moving backwards and dragging the continent along.”
He criticised Nigeria’s leadership class, saying the country’s problems persist not because of a lack of ideas but because of deliberate resistance to meaningful reform.
“We keep organising conferences and writing policy papers about Nigeria’s challenges. But the truth is that the leaders and elite are the real problem. Our refusal to change is pushing the nation backwards into a primitive system of governance.”
Warning of the dangers ahead, Obi said rejecting electronic transmission creates room for confusion and disorder that only serves the interests of a small group.
He also recalled past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt, arguing that actions like this continue to justify those statements.
“When a former UK Prime Minister described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ we were offended. When former US President Donald Trump called us a ‘disgraced nation,’ we were angry. But our continued resistance to transparency keeps proving them right.”
Obi warned that Nigerians should not accept a repeat of the electoral irregularities witnessed in 2023.
“Let there be no mistake. The criminality seen in 2023 must not be tolerated in 2027.”
He urged citizens to be ready to defend democracy through lawful and decisive means, while also calling on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The international community must pay attention to the groundwork being laid for future electoral manipulation, which threatens our democracy and development,” Obi stated.
He concluded by expressing hope that change is still possible if Nigerians take collective responsibility.
“A new Nigeria is possible but only if we all rise and fight for it.”
By Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka
President OHANEZE YOUTH COUNCIL
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has formally replied to the recent statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum, wherein they suggested that if Igbo youths truly desire Biafra, the Nigerian government should not stand in their way.
While we acknowledge this rare moment of honesty, OYC states clearly and unequivocally:-Yes — Igbo youths want Biafra. And this desire is not born out of hatred, but out of decades of injustice, exclusion, and systemic oppression.
The agitation for Biafra is the direct consequence of Nigeria’s persistent failure to build an equitable and inclusive federation.
WHY IGBO YOUTHS ARE DEMANDING BIAFRA
Our position is anchored on undeniable realities:-
*1. Political Differences:-Nigeria’s political structure has consistently marginalized the Southeast. Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Igbo nation has been deliberately excluded from key leadership positions, particularly the Presidency and critical security offices. Federal appointments, resource control, and political representation remain grossly imbalanced against Ndigbo.The so-called federal system operates more like a unitary arrangement where certain regions dominate while others are reduced to spectators.*
*2. Social Differences:-Social integration in Nigeria has collapsed. Igbo citizens face profiling, harassment, and selective enforcement of laws across different parts of the country. Peaceful protests in Igboland are met with military brutality, while violent extremism elsewhere often receives negotiation and amnesty.This double standard has deepened alienation among Igbo youths.*
*3. Cultural Differences:-Our language, traditions, and values are neither protected nor promoted within the Nigerian framework. Instead, Igbo culture is routinely undermined and treated as inferior. A nation that fails to respect the cultural identity of its people cannot claim unity.*
*4. Religious Differences:-Religious intolerance has become normalized. Christian communities in the Southeast feel increasingly threatened in a country where religious bias influences policy, security response, and governance. The absence of genuine religious neutrality further widens the divide.*
*5. Ethnic Hate Against Ndigbo:- Anti-Igbo rhetoric has been openly displayed in national discourse. From threats of expulsion to hate speeches and coordinated attacks, Ndigbo have become targets within their own country. Properties belonging to Igbos are often destroyed during crises, with little or no compensation or justice.This persistent hostility sends a clear message;we are not wanted.*
*6. Systemic Marginalization:- From abandoned federal roads to exclusion from major infrastructure projects, from poor seaport development to economic strangulation, the Southeast remains deliberately underdeveloped. Igbo youths graduate into unemployment, poverty, and despair while watching other regions benefit disproportionately from national resources.*
*This is not accidental. It is structural.*
*OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE*
*Igbo youths are not asking for war.*
*Igbo youths are asking for dignity.*
*Igbo youths are asking for freedom.*
*Igbo youths are asking for self-determination.*
*If Nigeria cannot guarantee justice, equity, and equal opportunity for all, then the call for Biafra becomes not just legitimate — but inevitable.*
*To the Northern Elders Forum: we appreciate your acknowledgment. Now let the Nigerian state also have the courage to respect the democratic will of a people.*
*You cannot force unity where there is no justice.*
*Powered by OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL (OYC)*
Electoral Act: Nigerians have every reason to be mad at Senate – Ezekwesili
Electoral act: Senate’s action confirms Nigeria ‘fantastically corrupt’, ‘disgraced’ – Peter Obi
Bosso replaces Danjuma as Imo Police Command CP
-
Business1 year ago
US court acquits Air Peace boss, slams Mayfield $4000 fine
-
Trending1 year agoNYA demands release of ‘abducted’ Imo chairman, preaches good governance
-
Politics1 year agoMexico’s new president causes concern just weeks before the US elections
-
Politics1 year agoPutin invites 20 world leaders
-
Politics1 year agoRussia bans imports of agro-products from Kazakhstan after refusal to join BRICS
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Bobrisky falls ill in police custody, rushed to hospital
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Bobrisky transferred from Immigration to FCID, spends night behind bars
-
Education1 year ago
GOVERNOR FUBARA APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR KEN SARO-WIWA POLYTECHNIC BORI