At home and around the world, President Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs are sending shockwaves across global markets and diplomatic circles. Targeting aluminum, steel, cars and even fentanyl imports, these tariffs are set to spark significant legal challenges and diplomatic backlash.

The looming question is whether Liberation Day was a masterstroke of economic nationalism or a reckless gamble that could upend international trade laws and the broader economy.

The smart money is on Door Number 2.

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For Trump, tariffs have always been a go-to weapon. He used them liberally during his first term, imposing duties on China and other trade partners under the banner of protecting American jobs and manufacturing. But this latest round goes even further, branding the new tariffs as a way to break free from what he calls economic dependence on foreign powers. The political messaging is clear: America First, everyone else second. But the legal landscape is far murkier, and the potential consequences are vast.

What actually happened on Wednesday in the Rose Garden was massively anticlimactic — a

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