Bitcoin experienced a sharp surge today, jumping 8% to reach $82,000, following a dramatic policy shift from former President Donald Trump regarding international tariffs. The news set off a wave of bullish sentiment across global financial markets, lifting both equities and cryptocurrencies.
A Bold Trade Move From Trump
Trump’s message, posted on his social media platform Truth Social, revealed a two-pronged approach to trade tariffs. While announcing a pause on tariffs for most countries, Trump simultaneously hit China with a major increase in import duties.
“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the world’s markets,” Trump stated, “I am hereby raising the tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately.” Alongside this aggressive move, he introduced a 90-day tariff reprieve for all other nations, during which a reduced 10% reciprocal tariff would be enforced.
Financial Markets Respond With a Rally
The announcement acted as a powerful catalyst across financial markets. U.S. stocks experienced a dramatic upswing, reflecting investor optimism about the potential easing of global trade tensions—excluding China. The S&P 500 saw a 9% jump, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq surged by 10%.
Among individual stocks, Tesla led the charge with a 14% gain. Nvidia followed with a 12% increase, while Apple rose by 11%. Other major players like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon all enjoyed 8% gains, with Google climbing 6%.
White House Voices Back Trump’s Plan
Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, confirmed he was present when the statement was drafted. Sharing his thoughts on X, Lutnick noted, “Scott Bessent and I sat with the President while he wrote one of the most extraordinary Truth posts of his Presidency. The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction.”
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a firm tone in a White House press briefing. He cautioned other nations against retaliating and encouraged them to engage in constructive dialogue with the U.S. “Any country willing to negotiate with the United States will be heard and potentially rewarded,” he said.
Strategic Play or Political Theater?
This latest development appears to be a calculated political and economic move, designed to isolate China while warming ties with the rest of the world. The timing and tone of the announcement seem engineered to both appeal to Trump’s base and provoke a global reorientation of trade policies.
Markets are clearly betting on this gamble paying off. With major indices and digital assets rallying in response, investors appear confident that Trump’s aggressive move won’t spark an all-out trade war—at least not with anyone except China.
