He’s just full of it
Chuck sez Trump is all talk on Mexico tariffs
Sen. Chuck Schumer is daring President Trump to put his tariffs where his mouth is.
The New York Democrat predicted Tuesday that Trump isn’t going to make good on his threat to slap massive tariffs on Mexican imports, tying his theory to the president’s toothless penchant for “talking tough.”
“Frankly, I don’t believe that President Trump will actually go through with the tariffs,” Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, said in a speech from the floor. “President Trump has a habit of talking tough and then retreating, because his policies often can’t be implemented or don’t make sense … so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if President Trump doesn’t follow through on these tariffs, either.”
Schumer’s bluff-calling came six days before Trump’s potentially economically crippling tariffs are set to take effect.
The president announced last week that all goods coming into the
U.S. from Mexico will face a 5% tariff starting June 10, hitting everything from avocados and limes to cars and electronics.
The levy will bump to 10% on July 1, 15% on Aug. 1, 20% on Sept. 1 and a whopping 25% on Oct. 1 — unless Mexico heeds Trump’s demand to prevent unprecedented numbers of predominantly Central American migrants from arriving at the U.S. southern border in hopes of applying for asylum.
But Trump hasn’t set any specific parameters or clarified what exactly Mexico needs to do to avoid his tariff wrath.
The president has backtracked on previous proposals after they’ve been met with criticism, including his unfulfilled pledge to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria.
A handful of congressional Republicans have balked at Trump’s proposed tariffs, noting American consumers will be on the hook to pay for them.
Some GOP members have even floated the idea of using Congress’ power of the purse to block the tariffs altogether.
Trump warned Republicans to back off that idea Tuesday.
“I don’t think they will do that. I think if they do, it’s foolish,” Trump said during a press conference in London, where he’s holding court for a three-day state visit.
The president claimed to have a 94% approval rating among Republican voters, who he said believe “there’s nothing more important than borders.”
It’s unclear what poll Trump was talking about. Gallup put his approval score among Republicans at 91% last month.
A White House spokesman did not return a request for comment on Schumer’s floor remarks, but Trump signaled during his London press conference that he wants to push ahead.
“It’s more likely that the tariffs go on,” he said.