Welcome to logoff. Today, I focus on Donald Trump's impact on the economy. Because we see early signs of how the president's policies are affecting the rest of us.
What's the latest? It got two early indications of how Trump's economy is doing today. The government reported that the US added net 151,000 jobs in February. And financial markets closed for their worst week since early September.
Is Trump's fault for this mediocre economy? During the period of inflation under Joe Biden, his defenders quickly pointed out that the economy is influenced by factors outside the president's control. The same can be said for the current president.
But Trump is far from being criticized. Estimates of employment growth reflect some, but not all, of the administration's large layoffs. And in the market, analysts say the uncertainty of Trump's implementation of tariffs in Canada, Mexico and China, and subsequently partial walkback uncertainty has driven the slide.
What is the overall picture? Trump's promise to an immediate economic boom has always been pointless. The US economy is a giant that takes time to change courses, even under the most growing policies. And economists think that mass federal layoffs and heavy tariffs are growth recipes, if any, very few.
Perhaps more interesting is how (and) the market slides will affect Trump in the future. Skeptics say bad market responses could curb the administration as observers consider whether they will experience massive tariffs that Trump is constantly threatening. But it's easy to know. Trump on Thursday said his tariff walkback this week “has nothing to do with the market.”
And so, it's time to log off…
I choose it myself on Friday. If you're in the mood for reading, Vox's resident book critic Constance Grady is Great Gatsby. This book turns 100 this year, and the behind-the-scenes story is fascinating. If you're in the mood for a lighter fare, I absolutely loved this 3-minute BBC Earth video about Mud Kipper. I hope you have a great weekend. See you here on Monday.
