Trump 100 days: GOP pleads for patience

REPUBLICANS ARE PLEADING FOR PATIENCE at President Trump’s 100 day mark, as voters express deep concern over tariffs and the economy.

“In any new administration, it’s a roller coaster, right?” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday. “When you come in and make dramatic change… there’s some bumps along the road. We’re changing everything…and when you’re doing that it’s disruptive in a way. People…have an emotional reaction sometimes to the big changes, but what we’re seeing…is that they’re understanding that we’re headed somewhere.”

Trump will look to highlight his economic achievements in a speech marking his 100th day in office this evening in Michigan, where he’s expected to tout new corporate investments in the U.S., his de-regulatory policies, lower inflation and the creation of new jobs outside of the government. 

Watch Trump's speech at 6 p.m. EDT here.

The Trump administration did not have any trade deals to announce at the beginning of his 100th day in office, and polls show his tariffs and the trade war with China have created deep uncertainty around the economy.

A new CNN poll finds that about 60 percent say Trump’s polices are making the economy worse. Tariff fears have driven consumer confidence levels to a five-year low.
Detroit-based General Motors (GM) said Tuesday it would delay its first quarter earnings conference call until later in the week “based on recent reports regarding updates to trade policy.” GM said its 2025 financial guidance “does not contemplate the potential impact of tariffs.”

The Trump administration later said it would scale back its 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts so that carmakers are not hit twice for tariffs that were already imposed on foreign metals.
Meanwhile, the White House lashed out at Amazon over a report they planned to display how much tariffs add to the cost of some items.

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Why did Amazon not do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”

Amazon later denied the report, saying it was only under consideration for its “ultra low cost Amazon Haul store” but never intended for its main website.

“This was never approved and is not going to happen,” said spokesman Tim Doyle.

BESSENT TAKES THE LONG VIEW

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged investors and consumers to take the long view during a press briefing Tuesday, saying the impacts of Trump’s strategy will come to fruition later this year.

Bessent said China is ill-equipped for a standoff with the U.S., though he declined to say whether talks are underway with Beijing.

“The Chinese could lose 10 million jobs very quickly,” he said.“Remember, we are the deficit country, they sell almost 5 times more goods to us than we sell to them, so the onus will be on them to take off these tariffs. They’re unsustainable for them.”

He said tariff revenue could provide income tax relief next year and that “consumers will feel the deregulation impact by the 3rd or 4th quarters.”

In addition, Johnson argued that once the GOP-controlled Congress passes Trump’s agenda, it will “turbo-boost” the economy.

“It will be very powerful for domestic investment,” Bessent added.

The Hill's Liz Crisp compares the first 100 days from Trump's second term to the first 100 days of his first term.