Did ChatGPT Secretly Write Trump’s Tariff Plan? The Internet Thinks So—and the Markets Just Reacted

Did Trump’s new tariff policy come from ChatGPT? Discover how an AI-generated formula rocked global markets and what it signals for the future of policy-making.

The U.S. just redefined global trade policy—and it might’ve used ChatGPT to do it.

At a recent "Liberation Day" event, Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping tariff plan that sent global markets reeling. Almost immediately, AI experts and economists noticed something uncanny: the numbers matched nearly word-for-word what large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini would generate if asked to "design a tariff policy."

In this article, we’ll break down how Trump’s latest tariff plan mirrors AI-generated outputs, why economists are sounding the alarm, the impact across major industries, and what strategic leaders should be doing right now to stay ahead.

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The Big Picture – What Happened?

📊 President Trump proposed a tariff scheme with a flat 10% base rate and escalated charges for nations with larger trade deficits with the U.S.

The fallout was swift:

• 📉 S&P 500 dropped 4%

• 📉 Nasdaq plummeted over 5%

• 🌍 World leaders and allies scrambled to interpret and respond

Markets crashed, not just from the policy—but from the realization it may have been AI-assisted.

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The Formula Controversy

🎯 The alarm bell rang from political commentator Steven Bonnell (aka Destiny), who tested ChatGPT with a prompt eerily similar to what the administration seems to have used.

ChatGPT’s formula?

"Divide the trade deficit with a country by the value of imports from that country. Apply 10% minimum."

This was the exact logic used in Trump’s chart. Coincidence? Unlikely.

Reem’s Take: If your policy sounds like an AI prompt, it probably is one. That’s a governance risk, not a tech triumph.

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AI Echo Chamber – Gemini, Claude, Grok, ChatGPT All Agree

🧠 When economists tested the same prompt across multiple AI platforms—Claude, Grok, Gemini—they all returned similar formulas.

Economist Rohit Krishnan called it:

“The first large-scale application of AI technology to geopolitics.”

That might sound revolutionary—until you consider the fragility of basing national policy on public AI models.

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The Administration’s Defense and Denial

The White House eventually released its official formula. But to critics, it looked suspiciously like a rephrased AI output—right down to the structure and methodology.

Public trust didn’t improve. Neither did Wall Street’s mood.

Reem’s Take: Even if AI wasn’t used, the resemblance raises questions about competence, transparency, and accountability.

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Why Experts Are Sounding the Alarm

🧨 James Surowiecki called the method “extraordinary nonsense.”

Here’s why:

• It oversimplifies complex trade dynamics

• It assumes static, linear relationships in global economics

• It creates volatility in diplomatic and commercial relations

The biggest concern? It introduces the risk of AI-generated hallucinations bleeding into national decisions.

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The Sector Fallout

🎯 Industries are already bracing:

• Technology: Disrupted sourcing for semiconductors and rare-earth components

• Supply Chains: Unpredictable customs and tariff shifts across regions

• Global Markets: Rising protectionism as retaliation brews from Europe to Asia

Reem’s Take: AI isn’t the enemy—bad usage is. When deployed without guardrails, it becomes an accelerant for chaos.

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The AI Governance Gap

🕳️ Here’s what’s missing:

• No transparency around AI use in policymaking

• No ethical oversight for executive decisions involving LLMs

• No federal standards for vetting AI-generated outputs in public policy

Legal, financial, and defense sectors could be next unless proactive frameworks are implemented.

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Strategic Moves for Leaders

🧭 What should you be doing right now?

• Audit Dependencies: Is AI being used in your organization’s strategic decisions?

• Scenario Planning: Prep for fallout when AI-driven policies hit your market

• Policy Vetting: Establish internal AI ethics boards, especially for public-facing decisions

Reem’s Take: Your AI advantage is only as strong as your governance. Use this moment to lead responsibly.

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Ethical & Legal Implications

⚖️ The big questions no one wants to answer:

• Who owns responsibility if an AI output drives failed policy?

• Will future administrations rely on AI for real-time geopolitical strategy?

• Where are the international AI standards?

Until these are addressed, we’re navigating a minefield with our eyes half-closed.

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Looking Ahead: AI in the Halls of Power

The next decade may look like this:

• AI evolves from background advisor to strategic co-pilot

• Real-time policy generation becomes technically feasible

• Public trust depends on traceability and explainability

Reem’s Take: The question isn’t “Will AI be in government?” It’s “Will we be ready when it is?”

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Balanced Perspective

Let’s keep it real: