When President Donald Trump informed journalists late Monday that he had “settled” on a strategy for extensive new tariffs to be revealed midweek, several officials at the White House were taken aback.
If the president had indeed finalized his decision regarding the tariffs, it had not yet been broadly communicated within the administration.
As Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs approach, the only certainty is the location of the announcement: the Rose Garden, making its debut in 2025.
What’s still unclear is whether Trump intends to implement distinct tariff rates on all U.S. trading partners, impose tariffs selectively on certain countries, or enforce a blanket tariff—potentially as high as 20%—on all imports.
One White House official remarked on Monday afternoon that they did not expect Trump to reach a decision until just hours before Wednesday’s announcement, as he weighs last-minute proposals from his team.
A continued debate in the West Wing about how to move forward with Trump’s tariff initiative has persisted for weeks, with each of Trump’s advisors presenting different plans for new duties on imported goods.
Trump’s advisory team includes hardline tariff proponents, like trade advisor Peter Navarro, as well as advisers perceived as more moderate on tariffs, such as chief economist Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
While all of them publicly support Trump’s tariff objectives, their perspectives on implementation and extent differ behind closed doors.
Several analyses related to tariffs and economic implications were expected on Trump’s desk by April 1, but discussions regarding the tariffs had already been occurring in informal meetings with Trump before the reports were completed.
“He has an excellent team of trade advisors,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to reporters on Monday, including the treasury secretary, commerce secretary, U.S. trade representative, and various economic advisors from the West Wing.
“All of these individuals have presented their plans to the president for moving forward, and it is ultimately the president’s decision; we will not preempt him regarding the details of the announcement,” she added.
