The word “tariffs” is enough to make just about anyone a little punchy, but James Carville is ready to “punch” his computer in frustration over Republicans’ response to the consequences of U.S. President Donald Trump’s far-reaching taxes.
The veteran Democratic strategist suggested that “maybe Donald Trump hates the United States” while discussing the tariffs that he is imposing on Canada, China and (maybe?) Mexico, which are also affecting the President’s own nation.
On Thursday, the unpredictable Trump announced that Mexico will get a one-month pause on tariffs for most imports — but made no mention of tariffs on Canada after the economy-wide duties caused market chaos all week.
Wolf Blitzer wanted to know what Carville thought about Trump’s tariffs and the fallout from the levies on goods from Canada, China and Mexico, and if the CNN host was looking for a good soundbite, he certainly got one.
“I‘ve come to think maybe Donald Trump hates the United States,” Carville said, arguing Trump’s economic and foreign policy strategies are absurd.
“I just can‘t get it out of my mind that I think this man … there’s some possibility — we have to consider the possibility that our president hates our country.”
Blitzer proceeded to show a clip of Missouri Congressman Mark Alford speaking about the impact of Trump’s trade war.
“We all have a role to play in this, to right-size our government,” Alford said.
“And if I have to pay a little bit more for something, I‘m all for it to get America right again, to start whittling down this 36-and-a-half billion or trillion dollars worth of debt that we have. That‘s unsustainable.”
In the video, CNN’s Manu Raju asked the Republican, “Do you think that a lot of your constituents feel the same way, they‘re willing to pay a little bit more?” to which Alford replied, “Well, I think so.”
Carville was asked by Blitzer his response to Alford’s comments, and the Dem admitted he had to restrain himself from taking his grievances out on his electronics.
“Well, I‘m trying to take a deep breath here so I don‘t come out of my chair and start punching my computer,” he declared.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
“But if I recall when he ran, he was going to bring grocery prices down from day one, and he was going to give relief to the American consumer,” Carville said of Trump’s campaign promises.
“What are we, six weeks into this? Maybe not even that. And now he said, ‘Well, you might have to pay more, but it‘s good for your country.’ Did anybody ever hear that [before]?”
Carville continued: “Then you have what has to be one of the most colossally, I don‘t know, funny, stupid or, what‘s the word to it? The secretary of agriculture actually suggested that people grow chickens in their backyards to deal with the price of eggs.”
He went on to mock the Republicans’ way of thinking.
“So this is where we are. ‘Yes, you‘re going to have to pay more, but you‘re going to like it. And if you want to help it a little bit, get some chickens and put them in your backyard.’”
Carville added: “I‘m not kidding, okay. We‘ve seen this with our own eyes, and I‘m sitting in this chair just, you know, trying to take a deep breath and say, a couple of Hail Marys for strength to again, to not just punch the computer in frustration. But this is where we are, man. And we shouldn‘t kid ourselves.”
As for Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his goal is to ensure the end of all punitive tariffs, the Sun’s Bryan Passifiume reported of his comments, which came a day after he had what he described as a “colourful call” with the American president.
“I’ve been having conversations and working with Donald for over eight years now, and a lot of it is rolling with it, figuring out how to move forward constructively despite certain unpredictabilities that often come in, and remembering to stay steady no matter what.”