Wall Street in Chaos: The Trump Effect
The stock market has always been a battlefield of speculation, but when the Dow Jones took a major dive, the excuses from conservative media were bound to follow. On Monday night, Stephen Colbert seized the moment to mock what he saw as the most absurd explanation yet—offered by Fox Business Network’s Charlie Gasparino. With his signature sarcasm, Colbert pointed out how Trump’s economic policies might not be the golden ticket his supporters believe.
This drop in the stock market is not an isolated event but rather part of a broader pattern of economic instability that has been brewing under Trump’s leadership. Investors are growing increasingly wary of escalating trade tensions, erratic policy shifts, and inflationary pressures that have yet to be properly addressed. The financial uncertainty is compounded by volatile tariff policies, which have disrupted international markets and caused major industries to pull back on long-term investments. While Trump continues to boast about a so-called booming economy, the numbers are painting a very different picture—one that is making Wall Street deeply uneasy.
Fox News’ “Animal Spirit” Defense
During his monologue, Colbert wasted no time dissecting Fox Business’ latest attempt at spinning bad economic news. Highlighting a clip from Gasparino, the late-night host laughed off the idea that Trump’s policies were simply “reorienting the economy.” The phrase that caught Colbert’s attention? “Unleashing the animal spirit.”
“He’s what? Unleashing the animal spirit?” Colbert quipped. “That’s not financial advice; that’s what a shaman tells you before pouring ayahuasca down your throat.” The term, coined in 1936 to describe market psychology, may have a history on Wall Street, but Colbert wasn’t buying it as a justification for the stock market’s nosedive.
This wasn’t just a case of clever wordplay—Colbert also pointed to TIME Magazine, which reported that investors are “exhausted” by Trump’s erratic decision-making. With the Dow Jones plunging and projected GDP growth sinking to -2.8% (according to the Atlanta Fed), the numbers weren’t exactly backing up Gasparino’s optimism.
Trump’s Tariffs and Wall Street’s Panic
While Gasparino tried to frame the downturn as part of a larger plan, Colbert wasn’t having it. He pointed to Trump’s unpredictable tariff decisions, which have sent shockwaves through global markets. According to HuffPost, even industries that once benefitted from Trump’s tax cuts are now seeing uncertainty as a bigger risk than regulation.
“Trump’s twitchy tariff hand is bumming out everybody on Wall Street,” Colbert said, referring to TIME’s assessment that financial markets are growing tired of Trump’s unpredictable trade policies. The joke that followed was classic Colbert: “Do you know how hard it is to exhaust Wall Street? These people wake up to a hot cup of cocaine and take more cocaine just to take the edge off.”
While Colbert’s commentary was laced with humor, the reality is more sobering. Wall Street doesn’t like unpredictability, and Trump’s impulsive approach to economic policy isn’t exactly reassuring for major investors.
Musk, DOGE, and the “Big One”
Of course, Colbert couldn’t resist throwing Elon Musk into the mix. Musk, who has oscillated between criticizing and supporting Trump, recently made waves with his statements about Dogecoin (DOGE) targeting the next big surge. However, with Musk under fire for both his social media antics and his own businesses struggling, even his biggest fans are starting to question his reliability.
Colbert delivered a final zinger: “Even Musk’s kids can’t stand him. Maybe they’re just tired of hearing about Dogecoin.”
The market may fluctuate, but if one thing is constant, it’s that Colbert will be there to call out the absurdity—whether it’s Fox News spin or tech billionaire posturing.
