NYT: Trump Abruptly Changed Course On Tariffs Without Warning Advisers

The U.S. President called it an ‘instinctive’ move.

Donald Trump changed his stance on tariff policy without notifying his advisers. Officials were baffled by the decision, and their public statements contradicted what the president later said, The New York Times reports.

Trump unexpectedly suspended previously imposed strict tariffs for 90 days. Most of his senior advisers learned about the decision only after it was made—despite the fact that earlier that same morning, the president had publicly endorsed a tough stance.

"I know what the hell I’m doing," Trump told Republicans on Tuesday.

However, by the afternoon of the same day, Trump had reversed his position—amid a stock market plunge and a sharp rise in government bond yields.

According to sources, even U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer only found out about the policy shift while testifying before Congress. Other key officials—including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt—tried to convince the public that everything had been planned.

"This was his strategy all along," Bessent said.

"You clearly don’t understand what President Trump is doing here," Leavitt added.

However, Trump himself made a statement that contradicted both Bessent and Leavitt. When asked why the tariff policy had changed, the U.S. president responded:

"Instinctively... It’s really more of an instinct."

The decision caught the administration off guard. Some advisers still don’t know whether the tariff suspension is meant for negotiations or if it’s merely a temporary concession to market pressure. The Treasury Secretary denied that financial losses were the reason:

"I have nothing indicating that... We actually had a pretty good 10-year auction today."

In private conversations, advisers admit that market panic was the real cause. Despite attempts to portray the pause as a calculated move, it’s clear: even Trump’s closest circle was unaware of his tariff policy shift.

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