Did Nostradamus predict global stock market crash after Trump tariffs? Here's what he said

The 16th-century French astrologer and seer, Michel de Nostredame — widely known as Nostradamus — remains a figure of fascination for his cryptic quatrains compiled in his 1555 book Les Prophéties. With 942 poetic verses, the collection has been interpreted over centuries to have predicted major historical events, from wars to natural disasters. Now, in light of the current global financial turbulence, some believe that Nostradamus may have foreseen an economic catastrophe that eerily mirrors recent stock market upheavals triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies.

Nostradamus and the 2025 Economic Collapse

According to several interpretations of his quatrains, Nostradamus predicted a period of extreme financial distress in the year 2025. These verses have been linked to a potential global economic collapse, marked by widespread job losses, bankruptcies, and social unrest. While the verses are vague and open to interpretation, believers point to lines that hint at global instability, suggesting that major economies could be brought to their knees by policies that disrupt international trade.

This speculation has intensified with recent economic developments, particularly the chaos unleashed by Trump’s sweeping tariff regime. With global markets experiencing steep declines, some wonder whether Nostradamus’ words are becoming reality.

Market Crash and the Trump Tariff Fallout

Earlier this week, global stock markets tumbled following Trump’s announcement of a 10% universal tariff on all imports into the United States. The policy, which his administration called “Liberation Day,” was coupled with even steeper, country-specific tariffs — including a 54% levy on Chinese goods and a 25% duty on all imported automobiles.

Defending his move, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold.”

The impact was immediate. The U.S. stock market lost nearly $6 trillion in value within days. The S&P 500 dropped over 10% in just two sessions, while the Nasdaq Composite officially entered bear market territory. Asian markets followed, with Taiwan’s index crashing nearly 10%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng falling by more than 10%.

In India, investor wealth worth over Rs 20 lakh crore was wiped out within hours. The Sensex plunged 3,939.68 points and Nifty tumbled over 1,160 points. Analysts blamed the steep fall on panic selling triggered by fears over the long-term effects of Trump’s trade war.

Ajay Bagga, a market expert, told ANI, “India will need a fiscal, monetary, and reform package to protect the domestic economy from this global economic winter that is threatening to settle in.”

Comparisons to the Great Depression and Warnings from Experts

Trump’s approach has drawn parallels to the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which many economists believe worsened the Great Depression by provoking retaliatory tariffs and collapsing global trade. “Big business is not worried about the Tariffs, because they know they are here to stay,” Trump posted online. “But they are focused on the BIG, BEAUTIFUL DEAL, which will SUPERCHARGE our Economy.”

However, warnings are growing louder. Jerome Powell, U.S. Federal Reserve Chair, cautioned that such protectionist strategies might lead to “higher inflation and lower growth.” Investment giants like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have raised their global recession forecasts to 60% and 35% respectively.

Amid this backdrop, Nostradamus’ writings are once again under scrutiny. While he never mentioned Trump by name, his verses about financial turmoil, social unrest, and collapsing empires are being interpreted by some as eerily close to today’s reality.