President Trump moved to ease fears of an escalating trade war after threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s export controls on rare earths. He posted on Truth Social: “Don’t worry about China, it will all be fine! Highly respected President Xi just had a bad moment … The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”
China responded defiantly, warning that it will “resolutely take corresponding measures” if the U.S. proceeds. The Chinese Commerce Ministry said it did not want a tariff war but would not hesitate to defend its interests.
Vice President JD Vance supported Trump’s posture, describing China’s dominance over critical supply chains as a national emergency and noting that the president holds more leverage than Beijing in this standoff.
Markets reacted sharply to the tension. On Friday, the S&P 500 dropped 2.7% and the Dow lost 1.9% following Trump’s tariff announcement. Over the weekend, futures rebounded somewhat after his calming social media post. The gyration illustrates how sensitive global markets remain to U.S.–China trade rhetoric.
To observers in conservative and Christian spaces, Trump’s combination of toughness and confidence is a potential blueprint: put forward assertive demands while projecting control and assurance. The test will come in whether China backs down, escalates, or offers a negotiated resolution.
