President Trump moderated his stance on tariffs and the Federal Reserve after facing pressure from major retailers and witnessing market declines.
CEOs from Walmart, Target, and Home Depot warned him that continued tariff policies could lead to empty shelves and price increases within two weeks.
Following these warnings and a market slump, Trump softened his rhetoric, signaling potential trade talks with China that could reduce tariffs from 145%, and backing away from threats to fire Fed Chair Powell.
While White House officials describe this as strategic negotiation rather than weakness, Trump faces declining economic approval ratings amid concerns about inflation, slowing growth, and potential recession.