US President Donald Trump turned Easter Sunday into a platform for economic warning and political warfare. Alongside his holiday greetings, Trump released a list of alleged "non-tariff cheating" by America’s global trading partners—an eight-point charge sheet accusing foreign governments of rigging the rules.
"These non-tariff barriers are just as bad as tariffs—maybe worse," Trump’s post on Truth Social read, drawing attention to practices like currency manipulation, VATs acting as export subsidies, product dumping, and government-backed export incentives.
He went further, naming counterfeit goods, IP theft, protectionist technical standards, and transshipping to dodge tariffs as part of what he sees as a global playbook of economic sabotage.
“Yeah, we’re talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times,” Trump told reporters last Thursday, hinting at renewed negotiations with Beijing. His post comes days after announcing a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs—a reprieve extended to most countries except China.
The “bowling ball test” returns
Trump also revived a controversial claim first made in 2018—Japan’s supposed “bowling ball test” for imported American cars.
“It’s the bowling ball test,” Trump wrote. “They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesn’t qualify. It’s horrible.”
Though previously dismissed by the White House as a joke, the anecdote was repeated without irony, underscoring Trump’s longstanding belief that foreign markets are rigged against US goods.
From resurrection to rebuke
But the economic broadside was just one part of Trump’s Easter message.
In an explosive series of posts, he also took aim at Democrats, judges, immigration officials—and President Joe Biden.
“Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well-known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country,” Trump wrote.
The post followed a federal judge’s decision to block his controversial policy allowing the US to deport migrants to third countries. Trump was unrelenting.
“Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten!”
He didn’t stop there.
“Sleepy Joe” in the firing line
Taking direct aim at his predecessor, Trump accused President Biden of deliberately opening US borders to violent criminals.
“Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America,” he claimed.
“He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing.”
Trump also repeated his baseless claim of widespread electoral fraud in 2020.
“But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!”
A softer note, briefly
In a follow-up post, Trump attempted a more traditional tone.
“Melania and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter! Whether you are heading out to Church or, watching Service from home, may this day be full of Peace and Joy for all who celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. HE IS RISEN!!”
At an Easter prayer event earlier that day, he told supporters, “There is so much to celebrate this Easter; I hope this will be one of the greatest Easters ever because we have something going that I don't think this country has seen in a hundred years.”
“With God's help, we can overcome any challenge, triumph over every evil, and restore the spirit of faith in the United States for generations to come. We have a very simple slogan—Make America Great Again, and that's exactly what we are doing.”
The convergence of faith, nationalism, and trade warnings in one post is classic Trump—part populist pitch, part warning shot to the world.
His eight-point list wasn’t just a swipe at unfair trading partners. It was a reminder that Trump’s economic worldview remains combative, even as the US navigates fragile global alliances and inflation at home.
With trade talks ongoing, legal troubles mounting, and an election year underway, Trump’s Easter message read more like a rally cry than a holiday greeting.
"These non-tariff barriers are just as bad as tariffs—maybe worse," Trump’s post on Truth Social read, drawing attention to practices like currency manipulation, VATs acting as export subsidies, product dumping, and government-backed export incentives.
He went further, naming counterfeit goods, IP theft, protectionist technical standards, and transshipping to dodge tariffs as part of what he sees as a global playbook of economic sabotage.
“Yeah, we’re talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times,” Trump told reporters last Thursday, hinting at renewed negotiations with Beijing. His post comes days after announcing a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs—a reprieve extended to most countries except China.
NON-TARIFF CHEATING:
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 20, 2025
1. Currency Manipulation
2. VATs which act as tariffs and export subsidies
3. Dumping Below Cost
4. Export Subsidies and Other Govt. Subsidies
5. Protective Agricultural Standards (e.g., no genetically engineered corn in EU)
6. Protective Technical Standards…
The “bowling ball test” returns
Trump also revived a controversial claim first made in 2018—Japan’s supposed “bowling ball test” for imported American cars.
“It’s the bowling ball test,” Trump wrote. “They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesn’t qualify. It’s horrible.”
Though previously dismissed by the White House as a joke, the anecdote was repeated without irony, underscoring Trump’s longstanding belief that foreign markets are rigged against US goods.
From resurrection to rebuke
But the economic broadside was just one part of Trump’s Easter message.
In an explosive series of posts, he also took aim at Democrats, judges, immigration officials—and President Joe Biden.
“Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well-known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country,” Trump wrote.
The post followed a federal judge’s decision to block his controversial policy allowing the US to deport migrants to third countries. Trump was unrelenting.
“Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten!”
He didn’t stop there.
“Sleepy Joe” in the firing line
Taking direct aim at his predecessor, Trump accused President Biden of deliberately opening US borders to violent criminals.
“Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America,” he claimed.
“He was, by far, our WORST and most Incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing.”
Trump also repeated his baseless claim of widespread electoral fraud in 2020.
“But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!”
A softer note, briefly
In a follow-up post, Trump attempted a more traditional tone.
“Melania and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter! Whether you are heading out to Church or, watching Service from home, may this day be full of Peace and Joy for all who celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. HE IS RISEN!!”
At an Easter prayer event earlier that day, he told supporters, “There is so much to celebrate this Easter; I hope this will be one of the greatest Easters ever because we have something going that I don't think this country has seen in a hundred years.”
“With God's help, we can overcome any challenge, triumph over every evil, and restore the spirit of faith in the United States for generations to come. We have a very simple slogan—Make America Great Again, and that's exactly what we are doing.”
The convergence of faith, nationalism, and trade warnings in one post is classic Trump—part populist pitch, part warning shot to the world.
His eight-point list wasn’t just a swipe at unfair trading partners. It was a reminder that Trump’s economic worldview remains combative, even as the US navigates fragile global alliances and inflation at home.
With trade talks ongoing, legal troubles mounting, and an election year underway, Trump’s Easter message read more like a rally cry than a holiday greeting.
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