### Trump's Aides Reveal Strategy to Curb Tariffs on China

In a recent discussion with The Washington Post, key aides to President Donald Trump disclosed the strategy they employed to persuade him to ease his stringent tariffs on China. They revealed that by leveraging data indicating how significantly his core supporters, including truckers and longshoremen, were impacted by these tariffs, they convinced the President to reconsider his stance.

Earlier this week, Trump announced a significant shift in the U.S.-China relationship, declaring a "total reset" following a 90-day pause on mutual tariffs. This new agreement, according to insiders who spoke to the Post anonymously, stemmed from candid discussions among Trump's senior aides. The revelation highlights growing frustrations within Trump's base as they struggled with rising costs due to the tariffs.

Among those at the forefront of these discussions were White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. These officials explicitly warned Trump that the escalating tariffs were jeopardizing his stronghold on his loyal supporters. "The key argument was that this was beginning to hurt Trump's supporters - Trump's people," one insider told the Post, indicating that this warning was pivotal in shifting Trump's perspective.

As a result of his aides' counsel, Trump agreed to negotiate with China, leading to a partial deal to lower tariffs. Various factors contributed to this milestone, but the increasing discontent among his followers played a major role.

This change in Trump's typically unwavering stance is far from an isolated incident. The President has revised his tariff policies over 50 times during his term, as reported by the Post. Such rapid changes in trade policy are unprecedented; historically, the fastest period of change was from 1806 to 1812, with annual modifications.

Dartmouth economist Douglas Irwin described Trump's frequent policy shifts, aimed at close allies such as Canada, as "unprecedented" and "overwhelming", noting that many of these policies were short-lived, often revised within days due to immediate economic and political backlash.

Critics argue that Trump's administration has only successfully secured one notable trade deal—an agreement with Britain, which offered minimal concessions. Meanwhile, White House spokesman Kush Desai asserted that Trump's decisions are solely influenced by what he perceives to be in the best interest of the American people.