‘US No More a Dumb Whipping Post’: Trump Urges Americans to Stay Strong Amid Tariff Attack
US President Donald Trump on Friday declared that the United States will no longer be treated as the “whipping post” of the global economy, as his administration’s expansive tariff regime came into effect. Calling for American resilience, Trump claimed the country is undergoing an “economic revolution” aimed at restoring domestic industry and jobs.
In a strongly worded post on Truth Social, Trump said, “China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless ‘whipping post,’ but not any longer.”
The post follows the rollout of a 10 percent “baseline” tariff on most imported goods—excluding those from Mexico and Canada—under new emergency economic powers invoked by Trump. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to tackle the country’s trade deficit and protect American manufacturing from what the Trump campaign calls “unfair foreign practices.”
The White House stated that the tariffs are a response to a lack of reciprocity in global trade relationships and the impact of excessive value-added taxes imposed by other countries on American exports.
Trump further claimed that more than $5 trillion in investment has already been committed as part of this shift, and he reiterated his familiar pledge: “We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
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The international response to the tariffs has been swift and pointed. China, facing a separate 34 percent tariff on its goods starting next week, announced retaliatory measures including a matching 34 percent tariff on US products from April 10. Beijing also confirmed it would sue the United States at the World Trade Organization and impose export restrictions on rare earth elements—critical materials used in electronics and high-end medical devices.
In addition to China, around 60 other trading partners—including the European Union, Japan, and South Korea—are bracing for individually tailored tariff hikes due to take effect from April 9.
While supporters of the policy argue it could rejuvenate American industry, economists warn of potential ripple effects across the global supply chain, rising consumer costs, and trade disruptions. “These measures may result in retaliatory barriers, reducing access to global markets for US businesses,” said Mark Townsend, a trade analyst with the Global Policy Forum.
The tariff rollout is expected to be a major talking point in the upcoming US election, where Trump is positioning himself as a champion of economic nationalism and industrial revival.
