On Friday, President Donald Trump issued a threat against the United States' top trading partners — one that has even MAGA loyalists describing him as "totally unhinged." In a rambling post on Truth Social, Trump declared he would "stop" trade with key partners if the Federal Reserve does not give in to his demands for lower interest rates. The outburst is the latest in a long-running pressure campaign against the central bank, whose policy independence is designed to insulate rate decisions from political interference — a norm Trump has repeatedly tested since his first term.

"Great jobs number just announced, breaking all estimates (except mine!) by double and triple — and you haven't seen anything yet!" Trump posted, referring to Friday's positive jobs report. "Employers added 162,000 job in August. Lower the interest rates because the U.S.A. Is a much stronger credit than it was just a short time ago! A strong country means a lower interest rate — it's a better credit... very simple! We should have the lowest rate of any country in the world, like 'the old days.' without the United States agreeing to allow them their big surpluses, and we could stop that immediately, they would no longer be considered financially elite!"

He then issued his threat directly: "Lower the rate or I'll stop trading with countries with which we have a deficit, which the U.S. Supreme Xourt, in its ridiculous and very costly tariff decision, strongly acknowledged 'the president' has an absolute right to do. It's better than tariffs! The fed board, with its great new leader, must get smart — be patriots for a change. High interest rates put the U.S.A. At a very unfair disadvantage, and I won't allow that to happen!" The reference to the Supreme Court's tariff decision alludes to the Court's ruling earlier this year upholding presidential authority over the sweeping tariffs at the center of Trump's trade agenda.

Trump's assertion that low interest rates translate into better credit is incorrect. In fact, one of the very reasons the U.S. currently has high rates is that the country is struggling with its debt burden. Moreover, the strong jobs report he is touting could actually lead to an increase in rates to quell inflation in the face of low unemployment.

Then there is the threat to cut off trade altogether. Beyond the fact that Trump does not appear to understand what a trade deficit actually is — a point even some of his supporters have noted — cutting off trade as he suggested would, by their assessment, destroy the U.S. economy. The United States runs trade deficits with dozens of countries, including most of its largest trading partners, meaning the proposed cutoff would sweep in a large share of American imports of goods.

"Trump is now threatening to stop trade with every country we run a trade deficit with, unless the Fed cuts rates," warned Geiger Capital, a pseudonymous account run by a popular conservative market analyst who voted for Trump in 2024. "Absolutely unhinged."

"This truly is unhinged," agreed an entrepreneur who frequently posts pro-MAGA content.

According to another self-proclaimed conservative reply, Trump is "going to push us into another great depression."

And as one MAGA poster declared, "He needs to be removed from office. Lunatic is gonna sink us."

"Bro..." Geiger Capital posted later, "just get out of the Middle East."