WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Steve Cambronne voted for Donald Trump thrice. Now, he hopes the president’s far-reaching tariffs don’t harm his small enterprise.
Cambronne, 70 years outdated, a Fort Meyers-based artist, mentioned gross sales of his whimsical, metallic sculptures have been down this weekend, a decline he blames on public concern concerning the fallout from the tariffs. He determined to skip a coming artwork present within the Washington, D.C., space as a result of he thinks laid-off federal staff may not have sufficient spare money to purchase his artwork.
“He has to do these items, I feel, so as to right the abuse in energy that’s been round eternally,” Cambronne mentioned of Trump. However he mentioned if public concern concerning the tariffs escalates and results in a long-term slowdown in spending, “we’re in hassle.”
Just a few miles down the highway, Trump, who final week introduced plans to levy tariffs of at the least 10% on nearly all nations, spent a lot of the weekend out of sight in Mar-a-Lago, his personal membership in Palm Seaside.
As markets swooned and countries flocked to negotiate (administration officers mentioned Sunday that greater than 50 had reached out), Trump visited his golf programs. Three of them.
On Thursday, he dined with LIV Golf gamers celebrating the beginning of a three-day match at Trump Nationwide Doral Golf Membership. On Friday he spent almost six hours at Trump Worldwide Golf Membership West Palm Seaside. On Saturday he performed in a match at his golf membership in Jupiter, Fla., successful his second-round matchup of the Senior Membership Championship and advancing to the championship spherical on Sunday, the White Home mentioned.
Trump posted a video on social media Sunday of him teeing off. “Lovely,” a person exclaimed after the president swung. The White Home didn’t ship phrase of his end within the match.
This weekend’s journey marks Trump’s eighth go to to Mar-a-Lago since he took workplace 11 weeks in the past, in response to Mark Knoller, a former CBS Information journalist who retains monitor of presidential actions. The president has hung out at golf programs at the least 19 occasions, Knoller mentioned. When Barack Obama was president, Trump criticized him {for golfing}.
On tariffs, Trump has supplied few hints at his subsequent steps. He spoke to reporters aboard Air Power One on the best way to Florida on Thursday, saying that the tariffs give the U.S. “nice energy to barter.” And he has posted on Fact Social greater than 40 occasions because the tariff announcement. However he hasn’t given formal remarks aimed toward calming the markets.
An administration official mentioned Trump had tariff-related discussions over the weekend however didn’t present particulars. Senior Trump officers fanned out on tv information applications Sunday to defend the tariffs.
“President Trump is the hardest-working president the American individuals have ever had,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned. “He’s continually studying the information, taking calls from individuals throughout the nation and all around the world, and dealing offers to advance our nation’s pursuits.”
In the meantime, Mar-a-Lago continued in current days to be the epicenter of the MAGA universe. On Thursday, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, appeared at a black-tie gala on the membership. Trump didn’t cease by, in response to attendees.
On Friday, Trump attended a $1 million-per-person dinner at Mar-a-Lago to lift cash for MAGA Inc., a Trump-supporting tremendous PAC.
Cosmetics billionaire Ronald Lauder, on line casino magnate Steve Wynn and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have been noticed at Trump’s membership over the weekend, in response to individuals accustomed to the matter.
Trump didn’t journey to Dover Air Power Base in Delaware on Friday for the dignified switch of 4 American troopers who died throughout a coaching train in Lithuania. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth attended as an alternative, Leavitt mentioned. An administration official mentioned the White Home is corresponding with the households of the troopers.
The president has inspired the general public to bear with him by the potential fallout from the tariffs, which is prone to embody increased costs. “HANG TOUGH, it received’t be straightforward, however the finish end result can be historic,” he wrote on social media Saturday. “We’ll, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
Stacey Fitzpatrick, 55, of Stewart, Fla., mentioned she’s following Trump’s counsel. She misplaced cash within the inventory market in current days, however says she is giving the president an opportunity.
“You’re not in it for the brief time period,” mentioned Fitzpatrick, a saleswoman who voted for Trump. “Don’t take a look at your 401(ok) right now, tomorrow, subsequent week. Let’s see the place it goes, you understand, and see what he does with it.”
Out for ice cream in close by West Palm Seaside on Saturday, Scott and Kelly Gurosky nervous that Trump was shifting too quick. Each sometimes vote Republican, although Scott Gurosky, 56, mentioned he didn’t vote in November, not liking his selections.
Scott Gurosky, a building design advisor, mentioned the uncertainty round tariffs makes it onerous for companies in his business to plan. Kelly Gurosky, 55, a retired trainer who voted for Trump, mentioned she understands why the president needs to deliver again American manufacturing. However she doesn’t suppose he has sufficient time in workplace to implement his imaginative and prescient.
“I see the lengthy play…however he’s acquired 3½ years—and I don’t suppose in 3½ years his lengthy play goes to play out,” she mentioned.
Write to Natalie Andrews at natalie.andrews@wsj.com
