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The tariff plan appears to be contradictory and not well thought out by the Trump administration. On some days, the tariffs are non-negotiable. On a different day, a different administration official will say that the tariffs are part of a negotiation.
The inconsistency represents instability and chaos.
Perhaps the symbol of how ill-conceived this policy seems to be is the fact that Trump put a 10% tariff on an island that is inhabited by penguins.
CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins about this, and the conversation didn’t go great for Rollins.
Video:
Tapper asked, “ And you’re imposing a 10% tariff. On the Herals and McDonald Islands, the Herald and McDonald Islands have zero human inhabitants. They have zero exports, they have zero imports. They do have a lot of penguins. Why are you putting import tariffs on islands that are entirely populated by penguins?”
It is a great question, and Rollins answered:
Well, I mean that, come on, Jake. Obviously, here’s the bottom line. We live under a tariff regime from other countries. We have too long seen the, the McDonald Islands is not imposing the idea that America first. I mean, come on. Oh, I whatever.
