Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s return to power would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy and leadership style. Known for his unconventional approach to governance, Trump’s presidency challenges traditional political norms, often prioritising bold, headline-grabbing decisions over consensus-building and institutional decorum. For investors, this could create both opportunities and uncertainties. Our Chief Investment Officer, Jeff Brummette, outlines some of the immediate actions taken by Trump following his recent inauguration.
_______
President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated this past Monday promising “the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.” He issued dozens of executive orders to start this “revolution”, notably a measure to make drilling for oil and gas easier, the elimination of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hiring practices in the U.S. federal government, and declaring a national emergency at the southern border, requesting U.S. Army assistance in securing it.
What was just as notable, however, was what Trump didn’t do. He refrained from imposing any new tariffs, much to the relief of financial markets, which tend to see a pickup in volatility at the mere mention of tariffs. You may recall that JP Morgan famously created the Volfefe Index during Trump’s last tenure. He did, though, sign an executive order directing federal government agencies to review U.S. trade policy and present their findings to him by April 1. While tariffs were mentioned in various press conferences, Trump hinted at the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 25% on Canada and Mexico by February 1, and even suggested additional tariffs on China – though also left open the option of not pursuing them.
In addition, Trump has threatened further sanctions on Russia if they do not end the war with Ukraine quickly, and he has issued an order to stop the shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. He has even discussed the possibility of the U.S. purchasing the app.
This is our new reality. President Trump does not adhere to the traditional norms of politics and policymaking. He is extremely comfortable blurting out policy ideas on social media, often without thinking about the immediate financial market consequences.
For the past few years, financial market participants have been focused on the central banks’ fight against inflation. Now, the focus will shift to understanding how President Trump’s plans to “Make America Great Again” will unfold and how the world will respond.
_______
Hear more from the Oakglen experts
Our investment team continue to provide interesting and informative content to help keep you in the loop on recent global news and market trends. See below for our recent H2 2024 Discretionary Investment Management Service Update from our Senior Investment Manager, Myles Renouf, and previous coverage of Donald Trump’s rise to political power again from our Chief Investment Officer, Jeff Brummette:
Read more:
You can read other articles from the team on our News & Insights page.
Sign up below to receive similar content directly into your inbox.
Want to become an Oakglen client?
Get in touch with one of our wealth team via the Contact Us page to hear more about our products and services, and how suitable they are for you and your personal circumstances.