Liberation Day, or Self-Aggrandisement Day?

You might have heard President Trump talk of “Liberation Day” – a term he has used to describe significant policy shifts during his presidency, though its meaning has evolved depending on the context in which he’s applied it.

In early 2025, Trump prominently referred to January 20, 2025, his inauguration day for his second term, as “Liberation Day” for American citizens. During his inaugural address in the Capitol Rotunda, he framed it as the start of a new era, promising to reverse what he called the “betrayals” of past leaders and restore America’s faith, wealth, democracy, and freedom. He tied this to immediate actions like executive orders on immigration, border security, and tariffs, portraying it as a break from the policies of the Biden administration and a reclaiming of American sovereignty and greatness. This usage aligns with his campaign rhetoric, where he sometimes predicted November 5, 2024 (Election Day) as a “Liberation Day” from an “occupied” America, overrun by crime and foreign influence, as seen in speeches and posts on platforms like Truth Social.

More recently, Trump has shifted the term to April 2, 2025, calling it “Liberation Day in America” in the context of his trade policy. He’s linked it specifically to the implementation of broad “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from most U.S. trading partners. On March 19, 2025, for example, he posted on Truth Social that April 2 would mark the day “we will start taking back some of the vast wealth” lost due to “weak, incompetent” past leaders, framing tariffs as a tool to restore economic power and respect to the U.S. He’s argued these tariffs – set to escalate on that date after initial levies on countries like China, Mexico, and Canada – will level the playing field by matching what other nations charge the U.S., potentially.

Trump’s big on announcements that he’s doing this or that for America and Americans, or restoring “America’s faith, wealth, democracy and freedom” but is that really the case? Call me a cynic, but I find it hard to believe that Trump does anything for anybody other than himself.

It’s an interesting angle to consider Trump’s tariff policies through the lens of revenge or personal satisfaction. Based on what’s been observed of his rhetoric and actions, there’s some evidence he views tariffs as a tool to settle scores – whether with countries he sees as taking advantage of the U.S. economically, like China, or even allies he’s accused of freeloading on trade deals. His language often frames tariffs as a way to “hit back” or “teach a lesson,” which could suggest a mix of strategic leverage and maybe some glee in flexing that power.

Take his trade war with China during his first term – imposing tariffs on hundreds of billions in goods wasn’t just about economics; he repeatedly called it payback for years of perceived unfairness, like currency manipulation or IP theft. He’s tweeted stuff such as “Tariffs are the greatest!” and bragged about how they punish bad actors while boosting U.S. leverage. That tone does hint at a guy who enjoys sticking it to others when he feels wronged. Even now, in 2025, with his latest moves, you can see him doubling down on that vibe – calling out nations like Canada or Mexico over border issues and trade deficits, then slapping tariffs on them like it’s a personal win.

But it’s not all revenge or pleasure, you might say. He’s also pitched tariffs as protecting American workers and industries – think steel, aluminium, or manufacturing. Whether that’s the real outcome is debated; some say it jacks up costs for consumers and tanks global cooperation, while others argue it has forced countries to rethink how they deal with the U.S. I find it hard to believe he doesn’t have economists at his disposal to nut this out. But in the chance that he does, and in the more unlikely chance that he’s heard them out, maybe his plans are less about spite or joy and more about a calculated play – though Trump’s style makes it hard to rule out him getting a kick out of it too.

Trump might argue it’s not personal – just business. He’s long griped about allies not doing enough, whether it’s defense spending or trade deals he sees as lopsided. But that’s cold comfort when you’re the one copping it.

I’ll remain a cynic. Nothing has convinced me this isn’t about himself. His constant gloating is a dead giveaway.

 

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