In a move that’s sparked a whirlwind of backlash and memes online, U.S. President Donald Trump has hit pause on his controversial tariffs—for 90 days. The reason? According to Trump himself, the American public was getting “a little bit yippy” and “afraid.” Yes, yippy.
But critics aren’t buying the folksy excuse. Many on X (formerly Twitter) are calling it what they believe it is: calculated market manipulation. One user pointed out, “How many billionaires knew this was happening and bought cheap stocks to make billions when the tariff pause was announced?” The suggestion? This 90-day delay might’ve been less about public anxiety and more about private profit.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said his decision to implement a 90-day pause on tariffs was influenced by growing public anxiety.
Speaking candidly, Trump remarked that people were becoming “a little bit yippy” and “afraid,” prompting the temporary halt in trade measures. pic.twitter.com/oUWNFcSlAn
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) April 9, 2025
Others zeroed in on Trump’s shaky image as a global negotiator. “He folded like a lawn chair!!!” wrote one user, while another quipped, “Nah, he saw that the other nations don’t just bark. They actually bite back.” The term “yippy” quickly went viral, becoming an instant meme and shorthand for perceived weakness under pressure.
Some reactions were brutally blunt. “He keeps demonstrating he’s unfit,” said one post, adding, “Just say you’re out of your depth and resign.” Meanwhile, South African users added their own spice to the commentary, with one writing in Zulu, “Uyagula lo baba and ngeke a phole,” which loosely translates to “This man is sick and won’t recover.”
And the criticisms didn’t stop at just leadership style. Another user predicted chaos ahead, warning that Trump’s fast, erratic moves could “create problems for the U.S. later.” Others blasted his unpredictability, labeling him a “snake oil salesman” and suggesting that foreign nations were foolish to trust him—even temporarily.
The online firestorm shows no signs of slowing. Whether Trump’s decision was a moment of reflection, fear of global backlash, or a high-stakes market game, one thing’s clear: the internet has opinions, and they’re not holding back.
