Why Wall Street is trying its best to stay on Trump’s good side

New York Post - Apr 4th, 2025

The recent announcement of new tariffs by President Trump has sent shockwaves through Wall Street, leading to a significant decline in the Dow and market turmoil globally. Despite these disruptions, top financial leaders like Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, and David Solomon remain publicly silent due to concerns about potential repercussions from the Trump administration. Behind closed doors, however, these CEOs are actively engaging with corporate clients to assess the impact of the tariffs, which have dramatically altered global trade dynamics with key economic players like China, the EU, Mexico, and Canada.

The new tariffs are expected to lead to reduced business spending and heightened market volatility, with fears of stagflation reminiscent of the 1970s economic landscape. Wall Street leaders are cautiously navigating this uncertain environment, as public criticism of Trump's policies could provoke negative responses such as regulatory scrutiny or damaging social media attacks. This climate of fear has led to a notable departure from the typically outspoken nature of these financial executives, highlighting the complex interplay between economic policy and corporate diplomacy.

Wall Street Global Trade Market Volatility Trump Tariffs Jamie Dimon Brian Moynihan David Solomon Stagflation

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant discussion of President Trump's tariff policies and their impact on Wall Street. While it effectively captures the tension among executives, its reliance on anonymous sources and lack of balanced perspectives weaken its credibility. The narrative is clear and engaging, but the absence of diverse viewpoints limits its depth. The article addresses issues of public interest and has the potential to influence opinion, though its impact on policy is uncertain. Overall, the story is informative but would benefit from more robust sourcing and balanced reporting.

Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims, such as the 1,000-point drop in the Dow attributed to tariff announcements, which are plausible but require verification. The claim that CEOs are silent due to fear of repercussions from President Trump is based on anonymous sources, which raises questions about its verifiability. The article also discusses potential economic impacts like stagflation, drawing parallels to the 1970s, which are speculative without supporting data. Overall, while the story is grounded in real events, it lacks sufficient evidence to fully substantiate its claims.

Balance

The article primarily presents a critical view of President Trump's tariff policies, focusing on the fear and silence among Wall Street executives. It lacks counterbalancing perspectives, such as potential positive outcomes of the tariffs or statements from Trump supporters. The absence of voices from different sides of the debate, such as economists who might support the tariffs, results in a somewhat one-sided narrative.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, effectively conveying the tension and concerns among Wall Street executives. The narrative flows logically, though it occasionally lacks specific details that would enhance understanding. The tone is slightly sensational, particularly in its depiction of fear among CEOs, but it remains accessible to readers.

Source quality

The article relies heavily on unnamed sources, particularly when discussing the private sentiments of CEOs and executives. This reliance on anonymous sources without clear attribution weakens the credibility of the claims. There is a lack of direct quotes from identifiable individuals or institutions, which diminishes the authority of the information presented.

Transparency

The article does not provide much transparency regarding its sources or the methodology behind its claims. The use of anonymous sources is not well-explained, and there is little context provided for the assertions made about the economic impacts of the tariffs. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the reliability of the information.