Markets surged on April 23, 2025, with the Dow jumping over 400 points, but this rally is masking a deeper, more troubling reality. Beneath the optimism lies an American economy buckling under the weight of its own dependencies—particularly on China. The market’s celebration is not rooted in real growth or policy breakthroughs, but in vague political reassurances and fragile confidence propped up by the Federal Reserve. As the U.S. scrambles for trade deals and loses leverage, China negotiates from a position of strength. America, once a symbol of self-sufficiency, now finds itself unable to function without its geopolitical rival. From empty ports and mass layoffs to the surreal reality of Americans financing fast food while China builds gold-backed infrastructure, the signs of decline are everywhere. This is not just a trade imbalance—it’s a collapse of economic sovereignty. The rally is a distraction. The reckoning has already begun.
