Economic Chief Kevin Hassett's Epic Fail

National Economic Council leader Kevin Hassett couldn't explain why Trump is attempting to punish Brazil with huge tariffs. We know why: he disagrees with their Supreme Court rulings on Bolsonaro.

I wrote the other day that Trump is using tariffs to interfere in other countries' elections and politics. Hassett couldn't say otherwise when ABC's Jonathan Karl put him on the spot about it.

Hassett mumbled something about America First and national security issues, but they were nonsensical smokescreens that Karl didn't buy.

KARL: But let me ask you about one new set of tariffs that he announced for Brazil: a 50% new tariff.

Brazil had a $6.8 billion surplus last year. In fact, the U.S. hasn't had a trade deficit with Brazil since 2007, almost two decades.

So why, why, why are we putting a punishing 50% tariff on Brazil?

Hassett: Well, bottom line is the president has been very frustrated with negotiations with Brazil and also with the actions of Brazil. In the end, though, we're trying to put America first.

I think that a lot of people, when I'm talking to negotiators from other countries, at some point they'll say, what did we do wrong?

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