Fri Apr 04 14:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Tariff Threat Triggers Stock Market Plunge

**New York, NY –** Wall Street experienced a significant downturn on Monday, driven by reports that former President Donald Trump is advocating for a more aggressive tariff policy. The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.6%.

The news, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal, suggests Trump is pushing for tariffs of up to 20% on goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners, specifically targeting countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit. The possibility of “reciprocal” tariffs is also reportedly under consideration. Trump is expected to make a major announcement on this issue on Wednesday.

This aggressive stance contributed to a sharp decline in tech stocks, often referred to as the “Magnificent Seven.” Tesla (TSLA) plummeted 6.4%, Nvidia (NVDA) fell 5%, Amazon (AMZN) dropped 4%, and Meta (META) declined 3.4%. Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOGL) also saw significant losses.

The potential for increased trade tensions also contributed to a heightened sense of recessionary risk. Goldman Sachs economists raised their recession probability forecast for the next 12 months from 20% to 35%. While the Chicago Business Barometer PMI for March unexpectedly rose to 47.6, a reading below 50 still indicates economic contraction.

Beyond the tariff concerns, several individual stocks experienced significant volatility. Moderna (MRNA) plunged 12% following the resignation of the FDA’s top vaccine official, Dr. Peter Marks, who cited interference from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Coinbase (COIN) fell 4% alongside a decline in Bitcoin prices. Other cryptocurrency-related stocks also suffered losses. The death of U.S. Bancorp’s Vice Chair Terry Dolan in a plane crash also contributed to a slight dip in the bank’s stock price.

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