Treasury Secretary Bessent Urges Trump to Clarify Tariff Endgame/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago urging a clearer message on tariffs and a focus on securing trade deals. The administration faces mounting pressure as markets fluctuate and global leaders seek clarity on ending the trade war. Conflicting narratives from Trump’s team have only intensified confusion.
Bessent Urges Focus on Tariff Endgame: Quick Looks
- Bessent visits Mar-a-Lago, pushes Trump to clarify trade goals.
- 70 countries approach U.S. to negotiate after new tariffs.
- Trump insists tariffs are leverage, but not necessarily temporary.
- Markets rattled by mixed White House messages and false reports.
- Japan trade talks launched; EU offers zero tariffs on autos.
- Trump doubles down: “We’re going to get fair deals.”
- Some aides urge quicker wins to reassure anxious Americans.
- Navarro pushes hardline stance, says “This is not a negotiation.”
- Economic adviser says internal disagreement is part of process.
- Netanyahu leaves Washington with no tariff relief for Israel.
Treasury Secretary Bessent Urges Trump to Clarify Tariff Endgame
Deep Look
Bessent to Trump: Align Messaging, Focus on Trade Deal Outcomes
As financial markets reel from sweeping new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a private message to President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend: zero in on the endgame.
Sources familiar with the discussion said Bessent emphasized the urgent need to communicate a clear path toward negotiated trade deals — the intended long-term benefit of the tariffs. Without that clarity, he warned, markets could spiral further, undermining both investor confidence and Trump’s economic credibility.
The Mar-a-Lago conversation highlights a growing rift within Trump’s economic circle, where officials disagree on whether to frame the tariffs as permanent tools or as leverage for new international trade agreements. While Bessent supports Trump’s aggressive trade stance, he believes reinforcing a results-oriented message will help stabilize both the markets and political messaging.
Global Response: 70 Countries Request Talks
Since Trump’s high-profile Rose Garden announcement last week, more than 70 countries have approached the administration requesting talks to lift or reduce the tariffs. The European Union offered to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods and automobiles. Japan, after a phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, agreed to begin negotiations led by Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Despite those developments, there’s still no consensus within the administration on whether the current wave of tariffs is a negotiating tactic or a permanent feature of U.S. trade policy.
Mixed Signals Create Market Whiplash
Confusion deepened Monday after a social media rumor falsely claimed Trump was considering a 90-day pause on new tariffs. The false report caused markets to surge — only to fall again once the White House dismissed the story as “fake news.”
Later, from the Oval Office, Trump reaffirmed he had no plans to delay the tariffs. “We’re going to get fair deals and good deals with every country,” Trump said. “And if we don’t, we’re going to have nothing to do with them.”
He also insisted there was no contradiction between implementing permanent tariffs and holding trade negotiations. “They can both be true,” he said, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu left Washington without a promise that the 17% tariff placed on Israeli goods would be lifted.
Internal Divide Emerges in Public
Within the span of a few hours Monday, divergent messages emerged from the White House.
Bessent posted about launching talks with Japan, signaling openness to diplomacy. But Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro countered the message in a Financial Times op-ed, insisting that the administration’s tariffs are not a negotiation tool. “This is not a negotiation,” Navarro wrote.
Meanwhile, Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, acknowledged during a talk at the Hudson Institute that internal disagreements persist.
“There are conflicting narratives because everyone’s got an opinion,” Miran said. “That’s fine. Disagreement is how you can avoid groupthink.”
But that open divergence is sowing uncertainty among investors and U.S. trading partners alike. Without a unified message, markets remain vulnerable to speculation and misinformation — something highlighted by Monday’s brief but intense surge-and-slide market movement.
Bessent Walks a Tightrope
Though aligned with Trump on the use of tariffs, Bessent is among those urging the administration to present a clearer framework. He reportedly told Trump that while patience is essential, giving Americans signs of progress — such as preliminary deals or tariff relief in exchange for concessions — could restore faith and stabilize financial markets.
“You need to instill hope in people who are watching their 401ks dwindle and the stock market crash,” a Trump ally told CNN. “They need to see it’s all leading somewhere.”
Some administration insiders suggest Trump may be better served by taking early deals from lower-risk partners to claim “wins” that show his strategy is bearing fruit.
Wealthy Backers Divided
Prominent Trump supporters like hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman have expressed frustration, calling the administration indifferent to the economic damage. But others have remained silent, either to avoid public disagreement or because they are focused on other policy goals.
Some advisers to major donors have privately urged patience, hoping Trump’s hardline strategy will force foreign governments to lower their own tariffs and make broader structural reforms.
Looking Ahead
While negotiations with Japan have begun and other countries are queuing up to meet with U.S. officials, the administration’s internal dissonance could undermine its ability to deliver consistent results.
Whether Trump will pivot toward deal-making or continue wielding tariffs as a blunt instrument remains to be seen. For now, the world — and Wall Street — watches closely.
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