The White House has stepped in to defend President Donald Trump’s sudden changes to his tariff plans after a rocky week that saw markets swing wildly. Top officials from the Trump administration appeared on several US television networks on Sunday to calm nerves, saying the president’s economic strategy is still strong and under control.
Following Trump’s decision to exempt certain electronics from tariffs — including smartphones and laptops — global markets rallied. According to AP, the S&P 500 rose 1.7%, the Dow Jones was up by over 430 points, and the Nasdaq jumped 2.5 per cent on Monday morning. Major technology firms like Apple and Nvidia led the gains.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the exemptions were only temporary. “This isn’t a rollback, it’s a pause,” he told reporters, adding that the administration is working on a new tariff plan targeting the semiconductor industry.
Trump later added to the confusion by saying online that there was “no exception” at all — claiming the goods were only moved into a different tariff category and would still face a 20 per cent tax due to China’s role in fentanyl trafficking.
White House adviser calls rare earth limits ‘concerning’
AP also reported that Kevin Hassett, a key White House economic adviser, expressed concern about China’s decision to restrict exports of rare earth minerals — essential materials for electronic manufacturing. “We’re studying it very carefully. It’s concerning,” he told reporters outside the White House.
China pushes back, calls for end to tariff war
Chinese President Xi Jinping, while visiting Southeast Asia, said that trade wars benefit no one. “There are no winners in a tariff war,” Xi wrote in an editorial shared by Chinese and Vietnamese state media. He urged for strong global trade cooperation and stable supply chains.
Political analyst Nguyen Khac Giang told AP that Xi’s trip was aimed at showing China as a “responsible superpower,” in contrast with Trump’s unpredictable moves.
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Trump declared ‘fully fit’ after physical exam
The White House also released the results of Trump’s recent physical, saying he is in good health. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, said Trump, now 78, had lost 20 pounds since 2020 and remains “fully fit to execute the duties of Commander-in-Chief.”
Trump himself told reporters: “I enjoy what I’m doing and I like the results. It keeps me feeling good.”
Trump slams ’60 Minutes’ over reports, demands FCC action
After CBS’s 60 Minutes aired reports on Ukraine and Greenland, Trump lashed out on his Truth Social platform, saying the network should “pay a big price” for being “derogatory and defamatory.” He also urged the FCC to fine the network.
Trump is already suing 60 Minutes for $20 billion over what he says was unfair editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. According to AP, both sides are now reportedly in talks to settle.
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El Salvador’s president visits amid deportation controversy
President Trump is also hosting El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at the White House. As AP reports, El Salvador has accepted more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants from the US, placing them in a maximum-security prison, although no clear evidence of gang activity has been provided.
The US has also deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, despite court orders to bring him back. Senator Chris Van Hollen has threatened to travel to El Salvador this week if Garcia is not returned.
“This administration is ignoring the courts,” Van Hollen said in a statement, demanding urgent action.
Trump officials try to project calm amid shifting strategy
Trump’s team spent the weekend trying to present a calm, confident image amid sharp reversals in trade policy. White House aides said Trump’s shift to a 10 per cent tariff for most countries and 145 per cent for China was still part of his broader strategy to boost the US economy.
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But the mixed signals have raised questions. “One week it’s maximum pressure, the next week there are exceptions,” one analyst told AP. “That uncertainty rattles markets and businesses.”
Despite this, Trump has remained firm. “I think we’re making America great again,” he said. “And it makes me feel good.”
