Ex-Treasury secretary on Trump's tariffs: 'People are overreacting a bit'
Share and Follow


Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he disagrees with analysts who have sounded alarms about a potential economic slowdown and thinks “people are overreacting a bit” to the new Trump administration’s policy changes.

“I don’t think anybody should look at what’s a natural, healthy correction of these indexes as indicating that the economy’s in trouble,” he said Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

President Donald Trump’s escalating trade tensions and oscillating policies with Canada, Mexico and China have sent the stock market reeling in recent days, and the Labor Department reported Wednesday that consumer prices ticked up during Trump’s first full month in office. Economists have expressed concerns about a possible recession, though Mnuchin said he disagrees.

“I don’t think we’re going to have a recession,” he said. “I don’t think the outlook looks like we’re going to have a recession.”

Trump has demurred on the country’s economic outlook and on Sunday downplayed the recession talks.

Mnuchin, who served most of Trump’s first term and is now in the private sector, said he prefers to look at long-term markets, rather than day-to-day activities.

“I always said I was focused on the stock market longer term, not where it was on any day,” he said. “And I do think the stock market longer term is a great parameter of the economy.”

Mnuchin sees similarities in Trump’s economic policies today compared to his previous term, he said.

“His focuses on the economic issues are tax cuts, regulatory relief and trade, and the president has always believed in having tariffs, so, I think, that’s what we’re seeing in the market today,” he said.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Japan's ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as new leader, likely to become first female prime minister

Japan’s Ruling Party Chooses Sanae Takaichi as Leader, Potentially the First Female Prime Minister

TOKYO — Japan’s governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister…
Feds acting like ‘white supremist organization': Chicago official

Chicago Official Accuses Feds of Acting Like a ‘White Supremacist Organization’

() A Chicago alderperson who was handcuffed by federal immigration authorities while…
Woman shot after attempting to hit ICE agents with car in Chicago: Officials

Chicago Incident: Woman Shot After Allegedly Trying to Ram Car into ICE Agents, Say Officials

CHICAGO (WGN) Federal authorities opened fire on a woman who was allegedly…
Woman shot by border agents in Chicago out of hospital, in FBI custody

Chicago Border Shooting Victim Released from Hospital, Now in FBI Custody

() A woman shot by federal immigration authorities Saturday morning in Chicago…
Suspect arrested, charged in shooting deaths of 2 teens found dead months ago in Arizona wilderness

Suspect arrested, charged in shooting deaths of 2 teens found dead months ago in Arizona wilderness

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Authorities in Arizona have…
Federal worker union sues over Education Department shutdown emails

Federal Workers’ Union Files Lawsuit Regarding Education Department’s Shutdown Communications

A federal worker union sued the Trump administration on Friday due to…
Judge temporarily blocks use of National Guard in Portland

Court Halts Deployment of National Guard in Portland

A federal judge in Oregon on Saturday temporarily blocked the deployment of…
Pete Hegseth helps set world record at Navy football game for most people doing pushups at same time

Pete Hegseth Contributes to New World Record for Largest Group Pushup Attempt at Navy Football Game

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had a record-breaking presence during Navy’s 34-31 win…