OAN’s Alicia Summers
10:22 AM – Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Markets are back in the green today after a few days of red, rebounding on hopes for tariff deals. The White House says nearly 70 countries, including Japan and South Korea, are reaching out to make deals as Trump’s sweeping tariffs are set to go into effect tomorrow. However, China remains the major adversary, still firing back with 34% retaliatory tariffs. In response, Trump is threatening a crushing 50% tariff hike, pushing duties on Chinese goods to 104% unless China backs off. The White House claims China wants a deal but doesn’t know how, and Trump is ready for a call from Xi Jinping. The goal is clear: stop unfair trade practices, reduce reliance on adversaries for essential goods, bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., and address the trillion-dollar trade deficit and crushing national debt. But the big question remains: Can Trump’s broader economic plan, including tax cuts, deregulation, and trillions in new investments, actually address these inequalities and help future generations, especially those nearing retirement and struggling with debt? Dale Smothers, President and CEO of RDS Wealth Management, joins Alicia Summers to weigh in.