Trump’s tariff plan triggers market crash, but social media finds humor in financial freefall

As stocks plunge, the internet finds humor in economic chaos with viral posts and memes.

President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs may have sent global markets into a tailspin, but online, users are finding comic relief in the collapse.

Last week, Trump announced a baseline 10% tariff on all foreign goods, with even higher duties on major trade partners like China and the European Union. In his signature style, the president shared a “dumb-looking chart” to illustrate his new plan.

CNBC reported that the stock market responded swiftly and harshly, with the S&P 500 dropping 5%, the Dow Jones shedding 1,630 points, and the NASDAQ falling nearly 6%. In layman’s terms? “The lines on the screens are going straight down, and all the graphs are bright red, which I think means ‘bad,’” quipped journalist Olivia Craighead.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Political Compass (@the_political_compass)

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by The Political Compass (@the_political_compass)

Despite the financial panic, social media lit up with memes and tongue-in-cheek commentary. “Didn’t even get a Roaring 20s before this Great Depression. I got f**king grad school,” one user posted. Another joked, “So what are we calling this one? Just ‘Great Depression 2’? ‘Greater Depression’? Any suggestions?”

Didn’t even get a Roaring 20s before this Great Depression. I got fucking grad school

— Meg (@megannn_lynne) April 5, 2025

so what are we calling this one. just “great depression 2”? “greater depression”? any suggestions? anybody?

— anna !!! :) 🇵🇸🌸✨🌸🇵🇸 (@frogs4girls) April 3, 2025

Well it’s a good thing I didn’t have any money in the first place

— am rod (@arod_twit) April 2, 2025

“Girl, the tariffs…” is the new excuse I’m using to not go out

— a (@boopyape) April 3, 2025

DEI stood for Da Economy Intact

— chris randle (@randlechris) April 3, 2025

how it feels to watch the economy collapse through memes on twitter pic.twitter.com/Y4fMsunNm4

— Kylie Robison (@kyliebytes) April 2, 2025

 As panic gripped investors, another user offered: “The stock market is so bad I saw this dude reflecting,” alongside a photo of a forlorn man staring out a window. And yet, amidst all the digital chaos, one post summed it up best: “Well it’s a good thing I didn’t have any money in the first place.”

Stock market so bad I saw this dude reflecting pic.twitter.com/L3tzUmvvDe

— Tom Cecil (@scopgieb) April 3, 2025

While Trump claims his plan will fix trade imbalances, critics aren’t convinced. “This is not funny,” one X user declared. “Stock markets only do this when they’re in extreme distress.” For now, it’s not clear how long the economic downturn will last, but one thing is certain: the memes will keep coming.