Corporate media has often warned that Donald Trump’s tariffs would trigger significant price increases.
In an unexpected move, Trump announced a 90-day suspension of tariffs on April 2, reducing most to a baseline of 10%. Even with this 10% obligation and persistent media alerts, inflation hasn’t spiked as predicted.
As one commentator noted, “It’s tariff disorder syndrome… all of these predictions were baseless and flops. And no one wants to admit it. We don’t have a recession. The truth is, the economy is very strong.”
For instance, ABC News reported on March 26 that some “experts” believed the new tariffs would escalate the trade war, push consumer prices higher, and potentially slow down economic growth. Similarly, a CNBC piece from May 13 acknowledged that while inflation eased in April, there were concerns about future price rises linked to job retention.
However, May’s inflation rate turned out to be lower than anticipated, reaching its lowest point in four years.
The Guardian also weighed in with an opinion piece on April 22, arguing that tariffs are bound to raise prices, stating that “there is no way that tariffs of this magnitude can be absorbed.” Both producers and consumers would feel the pinch, leading to higher costs.
Chris Cuomo, a host on News Nation, echoed some of these sentiments, claiming, “In February, tariffs were going to affect inflation. I think it will boost our economy—it never happens, okay? The idea that you do tariffs on your path and no longer have income taxes—it won’t happen.”
On June 20, CNN reported that the predicted inflation surge from tariffs has not materialized. Mainstream economists had anticipated dire consequences when Trump implemented his tariffs, but the expected inflationary spike hasn’t occurred at all.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent commented that those predicting doom from Trump’s tariffs are experiencing “customs crazy syndrome.” He observed that while many Democrats traditionally support tariffs, Trump’s leadership on this issue complicates their stance.
Bescent claimed that predictions have often been unfounded. He further noted that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by only 0.1% in May, a statistic released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 11.
Additionally, the U.S. economy added 147,000 non-farm payroll jobs in June, exceeding previous projections that expected only 106,000 new jobs.
As of now, ABC News, CNBC, and Cuomo have not responded to requests for comments. The Guardian also chose not to provide any input on the matter.
