Scott Bessent went on the Sunday shows to paint a rosy picture: Asian countries are falling in line, deals are coming together, and the Trump administration is making moves. That’s the spin. The reality is more complicated. Right now, we’re seeing the pain of Liberation Day tariffs without much payoff. Businesses are still in limbo, markets are nervous, and small business owners are being forced to make hard decisions without clarity from Washington.
Every week that goes by without a big announced deal is another week where economic anxiety grows. Markets can only handle uncertainty for so long. And now that outlets like ABC’s This Week are spotlighting small business struggles, it’s clear the political cost is rising. Trump needs a concrete win soon — something he can point to and say: “This is why we did it.” Until that happens, the pressure is only going to build.
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