The Secretary of the Treasury:
WELKER: The markets lost more than $6 trillion in value. Was this disruption always part of the plan?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
BESSENT: We had record volume on Friday and everything is working very smoothly. So the American people can take great comfort in that. pic.twitter.com/VH6gKcccaC
WELKER: Trump promised he was going to improve the economy starting on day one. What is your message to Americans who want to retire right now and have just seen their lifetime savings drop significantly?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
BESSENT: Most Americans who have put away for years in their savings… pic.twitter.com/YEdrdx0qOi
BESSENT: Most Americans who have put away for years in their savings accounts don’t look at the day to day fluctuations of what’s happening.
He’s wrong. But just like the rest of Trump’s inner circle, he’s massively wealthy and has no clue what “most Americans” do.
The Secretary of Commerce:
Brennan: "Why are the Heard and McDonald Islands, which don't export to the U.S. and are quite literally inhabited by penguins, why do they face 10% tariffs? Did you use AI to generate this?"
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) April 6, 2025
Lutnick: "No."
Brennan: "Why are they on the list?" pic.twitter.com/S3Q4uDKVxe
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says President Trump put tariffs on the Heard and McDonald Islands, which are inhabited by penguins, to prevent any other countries from using “loopholes” to avoid the tariffs. “Basically he said, look, I can’t let any part of the world be a place where China or other countries can ship through them,” Lutnick says. “So he ended those loopholes, these ridiculous loopholes.”
Lutnick: "The army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones — that kind of thing is going to come to America." pic.twitter.com/g9TqxGxLHs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
SEC. LUTNICK: –the armies of millions of people- well, remember, the army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little- little screws to make iPhones, that kind of thing is going to come to America. It’s going to be automated and great Americans- the tradecraft of America, is going to fix them, is going to work on them. They’re going to be mechanics. There’s going to be HVAC specialists. There’s going to be electricians, the tradecraft of America. Our high school educated Americans- the core to our workforce, is going to have the greatest resurgence of jobs in the history of America to work on these high-tech factories, which are all coming to America. That’s what’s going to build our next generation of America.
Sure. All the millions of jobs will be replaced by robots that will be serviced by five guys who fix the machines and a janitor. Are people stupid enough to buy that this is great? (Don’t answer that question.)
Trump’s top trade adviser:
Peter Navarro: "You can't lose money unless you sell … we will hit 50,000 on the Dow easily by the end of this term." pic.twitter.com/yDySRkKcbo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
The Secretary of Agriculture:
TAPPER: You're imposing a 10% on the Heard and MccDonald islands. They have zero human inhabitants. Why are you putting tariffs on islands that are entirely populated by penguins?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
BROOKE ROLLINS: C'mon Jake. Whatever. Listen, the people that are leading this are serious,… pic.twitter.com/QkUdyuzNRw
“C’mon Jake. Whatever. Listen, the people that are leading this are serious, intentional, patriotic, the smartest people I’ve ever worked with.“
‘Nuff said.