The White House was called out over the actual impact of Trump’s beloved tariffs and it’s a supremely satisfying watch
It’s tariffs week over at the White House when Donald Trump will be flinging import taxes on anything and everything he can think of on what the White House are calling ‘liberation day’. Although, to be fair, it’s pretty much been tariffs week ever since the start of the US president’s second term.
And while Trump insists they are going to make America great again, people who have spent their adult lives studying this sort of thing suggest it will only make American’s inflationary problems worse. Much worse.
Which made it extra special when one particular journalist called out the actual impact of what Trump was doing on US car makers, and it’s a supremely satisfying watch as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempts to come up with a response.
REPORTER: Trump said tariffs are a tax on foreign countries to enrich our citizens. So then why did he have to tell domestic automakers not to raise prices?
LEAVITT: Uh, that was a private conversation that happened. I’m not sure if that comment was made or was not made. pic.twitter.com/qbrMONpQQO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 1, 2025
And here are just a few of the many comments it prompted.
1.
It’s awesome, because America is hip to tariffs and knows that this is going to be a freaking disaster, as does Carolyn Levitt you can see it on her face
— Groucho Marxist (@Richard89220241) April 1, 2025
2.
If tariffs enrich Americans, why beg companies not to raise prices?
Spoiler: because consumers pay the price, not foreign governments.
— Nikos (@NikosReggae) April 1, 2025
3.
Leavitt’s dodge on tariffs is laughable. Trump says foreign countries pay, but he’s quietly telling automakers not to raise prices, proof he knows Americans foot the bill. Her “private conversation” excuse is a weak attempt to hide the truth. Tariffs hurt us, and she can’t even…
— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) April 1, 2025
4.
Translation: “you caught us in another lie, let me deflect”.
— Denison Barb (@DenisonBarbs) April 1, 2025
5.
OMG She’s a fucking moron! pic.twitter.com/jw7yi6w4YO
— Impeach Trump a 3rd Time! (@Christo12919382) April 1, 2025
6.
Tariffs are taxes on consumers, not foreign governments.
⁰If Trump’s claim were true, he wouldn’t need to beg automakers in private not to raise prices because prices wouldn’t go up.Leavitt’s shaky response reveals the truth: tariffs sound tough, but they hit working Americans…
— Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) April 1, 2025
7.
Trump cannot control what US automakers charge. He will drive them out of business.
Trump is intentionally bringing down the economy! This is to cause chaos and widespread dissent.
Pam Bondi has been installed along with the rest of his incompetent administration to back him…
— Dede Watson (@Dede_Watson) April 1, 2025
8.
Karoline Leavitt is so underwater when it comes to her ability to think and answer a question.
— Laurence (Larry) Boorstein (@LarryBoorstein) April 1, 2025
9.
It’s so Orwellian, over and over Leavitt keeps saying that tariffs are a tax on the country selling the products.
All of Republican Congress has already been converted, they repeat what Leavitt says about tariffs.
It’s becoming so surreal…..so 1984 pic.twitter.com/X2ypdfdw1l— Michael Cleere (@mikecleere) April 1, 2025
To conclude …
Yes, this is the key point. By strongarming auto CEOs, Trump accidentally revealed that he actually does know who pays the costs of the tariffs:https://t.co/VRFl4op59P https://t.co/dFZswCBYhb pic.twitter.com/ouj0VsQ8Eh
— Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) April 1, 2025
And finally.
Hey . . . just trust us! https://t.co/khbxFZPs6F
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) April 1, 2025
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Source @atrupar