Trump Is Laughing In Your Face With His Tariff LiesGuest article by Andrew Bates, former White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary during the Biden-Harris Administration
Every single American is paying the biggest tax increase on working families since the Great Depression — Trump’s tariffs. Local news is a constant stream of reporting on the financial pain tariffs are causing all over the country as they raise the prices Trump promised to lower on “Day One.” But yesterday the White House highlighted one of their top economists, Council of Economic Advisers Chair Stephen Miran, claiming on Fox Business that there has been “no material macroeconomic impact” from tariffs.
Miran, who Trump just promoted, has multiple Freudian slips in the video, saying “consumers thus far have not seen any increase — any — sorry, any material macroeconomic increase from prices — sorry, from tariffs, at all.” It’s not hard to see why Miran had trouble keeping a straight face. Imagine telling the surging number of manufacturing workers who’ve been laid off that losing your job isn’t “material.” Or telling a single parent that the extra money every single one of them now has to pay for groceries isn’t “material.” Trump inherited an economy that The Economist magazine called the “Envy of the World” on its cover late last year. He told the country his agenda would strengthen that economy, making it take off like a “rocket ship.” By March of this year The Economist ran another cover, “The revised outlook,” which pictured Trump pouring gasoline — tariffs and chaos — onto the American economy. The tariffs are leeching money right out of the pockets of hardworking Americans and redistributing it to billionaires. The tariffs directly fund the “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act’s” debt-busting tax giveaways for the rich. So do the biggest Medicaid cuts in history. The rest of the price tag goes on the country’s credit card, fueling inflation. All this from a president and a Congress who promised to fight for working families and against out-of-touch elites. Trump and Republicans know their economic agenda is bombing with the American people — it’s why they rarely talk about their chief “accomplishment.” Instead, President Trump’s spending his time building a new White House ballroom (I’m serious), choosing which performing artists win Kennedy Center Awards, and causing upheaval as he sells out to the Swamp he swore he’d “drain.” He recently broke his promise to release the Department of Justice’s files on the most infamous pedophile in modern history, his late close friend Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has sputtered when asked about this, even lashing out at his own base. Trump’s Epstein cover-up discredits his main economic and cultural pitch to voters: “Sure, I’m an asshole. But this asshole is on your side.” Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, American citizens have had their due process rights violated — even being deported — while Jeffrey Epstein’s top accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is moved from maximum to minimum security. That was after the number-two official at DOJ spent hours meeting with Maxwell to hear the convicted child sex trafficker’s case for a pardon. Ask yourself this. If the cabal of predators Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey fight in the first season of True Detective were in charge of the federal government, would they govern all that differently than Trump? To that point, the country knows one of the few people who has done “materially” better since Trump took office: the President himself. He’s granting special access to whichever fat cat buys the most of his personal meme coin. He accepted a $400 million plane from Qatar — which funds Hamas — for his personal use. Donald Trump Jr. founded a private club called “Executive Branch” for ultra-rich individuals pursuing a better relationship with the Trump Administration. Can you imagine the shades of red Sean Hannity would turn if Hunter Biden did any of what Kim Jong Jr. and Jim Jong Eric do in one day? This culture of corruption is boiling over and scalding America’s economy. Floridian Gale Kent recently told her local news station, WKMG, “The prices have gone up...Tariffs are paid by the consumer. The companies pay it, but then they pass on the costs.” Apparently, the White House doesn’t think Gale’s struggles are “material.” “Let them eat tariffs” is a very elitist way for a self-described “populist” to lead. That’s because Trump is not a populist at all. He’s just an asshole. |
Andrew Bates was the White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary in the Biden-Harris Administration and a national spokesperson on the Biden campaign in 2020.
 | A guest post by
|
COMMENTS:
Wealth inequality is about to get much worse because your tariffs will be used to pay for billionaire tax cuts, which they will then invest and profit massively from. They’re going to profit off of your money.
Tariffs are a really HIGH tax that will *deeply* hurt the poor, and even the middle class.
The Republicans want to use the tariff taxes to help pay for the $4.5 trillion in tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy.
If you read the articles below and watch the video and you will understand the purpose of tariffs. Peter Navarro, in the video, is the president’s economic advisor, so you know this is real.
They literally want to take money out of the pockets of the poor and middle class (tariffs) to enrich the wealthy (tax cuts), "welfare" for the wealthy, the “billionaire tax.”
The wealthy will take *your* money (tariffs) to pay for *their* tax cuts, and then they will invest their tax cut money in the stock market (or other investments) and grow exponentially in wealth (with your money), while you grow poorer and poorer from widespread tariffs (so many tariffed goods).
They’ve collected $150 billion in tariffs from Americans so far, and by the end of the year they expect $300 billion. After ten years they expect $4 trillion or so in tariffs from the public to help pay for the $4.5 trillion in tax cuts that mainly benefit the wealthy. In ten years they will impoverish all Americans by about $4 trillion.
It’s deeply immoral because the very thing making the wealthy grow exponentially richer (your tariffs) is making you grow poorer and poorer over time, causing massive income inequality.
What’s really bad about this scheme is that as the prices of goods rise, so does the amount of tariff taxes collected. As example, if something costs $100, after a 20% tariff, it costs $120. If the company raises the base price of $100 by $10.00 to $110 to keep up with inflation, the new price is $132. So the product jumps from $100 to $120 to $132 because the tariff is charged against the new, higher pricing. Tariffs cause prices to “mushroom.” Both the price and the tariff will *increase* when prices are raised, and the government will get higher and higher tariff revenue over time as inflation increases.
In other words, things are going to get very expensive over time if prices keep going up to keep up with inflation because the tariff tax is charged against the new, increased prices. It means higher and higher taxes over time. It’s an “inflation bomb.”
It’s the Gilded Age.
Also unlike income taxes, tariffs are a HIDDEN TAX because you’ll never know how much you’re paying to the federal government in tariffs taxes.
Demand will decrease as people stop buying, so hopefully that will hold prices down, which will cause job-loss and business failures, unfortunately…It’s a nightmare I hope will end soon.
The issue of tariffs is being litigated in the appellate courts based on whether DT had the constitutional authority to impose tariffs, so time will tell. Even the Koch Brothers filed suit.
I’m literally *praying* that the court will find that it was unconstitutional for DT to impose tariffs.
If you’d like, Google these articles to learn the purpose of tariffs:
“Trump push to use tariffs to pay for tax cuts faces opposition in Congress” (Reuters)
“Peter Navarro: Trump tariffs will help pay for the biggest tax cut in American history” (Video)
“Republicans leery of trying to pay for tax cuts with Trump’s tariffs” (Semafor news)
There are 902 billionaires in the U.S., more than any other country; that’s because the nature of money is to gather to itself — money begets money — and also because monetary policies, like tariffs and tax cuts accelerate that dynamic of growth.
$23 trillion (50%) of the stock market is held by the 1%.
$10 trillion (almost 1/3) of our national debt came from *prior* tax cuts that we couldn’t afford, that mainly benefited the wealthy, and that we are STILL paying for.
They are dumping the debt of billionaires and millionaires on us and our great-grandchildren for generations by their tariffs and tax cuts. They’re impoverishing future generations by their tax cuts.
The Republicans are impoverishing the nation by their tariffs and tax cuts — which we’re all paying for.
By all this data, clearly, Republicans have “trickle-UP” economics.
Peter Navarro, in the video, says "Tariffs are a tax cut," but that is patently false: Tariffs are HIDDEN TAXES. It's blatant deception on his part...
God provides; He said just to ask.
John 14:14
Matthew 25:31-46
Blessings.
What are you willing to sacrifice to save our democracy, our civil rights and the future of our children?
Read - DAILY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ANTI-TRUMP & FIGHT THE OLIGARCHS RESISTANCE:
Please spread the word about these ongoing Anti-tRump & Fight the Oligarchs Resistance efforts. Here are some e-posters to screenshot and share…
Thank you for your insight!
SMOOT-HAWLEY ACT demonstrated the flaws of TRADE WARS.
People will die as a consequence of MAGA GOP.
MOMSRISING, a volunteer organization posted an article that included
END TRUMPFLATION (you can join as ANONYMOUS)
People are posting grocery store photos ...in case you didn't notice...
https://trumpflation.momsrising.org/?akid=21091.3508377.qYSD3r&rd=1&t=17&utm_campaign=outreach&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit#share-story
EVERYDAY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ANTI-TRUMP & FIGHT THE OLIGARCHS RESISTANCE! - Updated August 16, 2025
What are you willing to sacrifice, to save our democracy, our civil rights and the future for our children?
Are you doing everything you can to support the Anti-tRump & Fight the Oligarchs Resistance!? Führer tRump is the greatest threat to America. We must exhibit Consistent and Sustained ways to Resist him Everyday! Do as many of the things on this list as possible to save our democracy, our civil rights and the future of our children! Prepare to make these sacrifices everyday, until the oligarchs and the entire administration from hell has been eliminated from our government! The more people supporting the resistance the faster we bring them all down! What are you willing to sacrifice to save our democracy, our civil rights and the future of our children?
ECONOMIC BLACKOUTS & BOYCOTTS (Historically the most effective ways to resist)
~ NOT SHOPPING HELPS TREMENDOUSLY!
~ BUY NECESSITIES & GROCERIES ONLY
~ BOYCOTT BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSES (the Oligarch's) that have locations in nearly every state like: The owners/oligarchs/one percenters (they alone have more money than all the rest of Americans combined), of these companies under pay their employees and hog the money, you earn, to make themselves richer. Here are just some of their companies - Amazon, Walmart, Apple, UnitedHealth Insurance, CVS Drug Stores, Volkswagen, BP and Exxon Mobile.
~ Don't eat at fast food restaurants, like McDonald's and Starbucks
~ Don't shop at National Retailers like Kohls and Target
~ Move your money out of national banks and use local credit unions instead
~ Use Cash Only
~ NO Credit cards
~ Cancel all Delivery Services unless absolutely necessary
~ Oligarchs own brand name (usually junk) food companies. Don't buy brand name products! Buy generic or wholesale instead
~ Support Costco - they has refused to kiss tRump's ass from the beginning. Consider buying a membership, buy Kirkland essentials in bulk only and divide the cost and product between friends and family
~ Consider buy a cow/pig directly from a rancher and splitting the meat and cost with neighbors
~ Start a garden
~ Learn to can
~ Support Farmers Cook & EAT Nutritional Foods Only at Home Often
~ When possible support small local businesses, farmers markets and small grocery stores
~ Shop at Thrift Stores. Bonus: you help support a worthy cause too
AVOID SPENDING MONEY ON ENTERTAINMENT OR SOCIALIZING DO THESE AFFORDABLE THINGS INSTEAD (healthier than sitting in front of a screen all day)
~ Boycott Fox News, Paramount, other paid streaming services and media platforms kissing the tRump's ass
~ Cancel Prime and all subscriptions
~ Make arrangements where neighbors take turns preparing meals for social nights out
~ Build or support neighborhood mini-book swapping libraries
~ Share skills, start a tool library, and support local workers.
~ Walks, bike rides, games in the park
~ Organizers you photographers
~ Use the library to checkout movies and music for movie nights and dance parties
~ Some library's have games and puzzles for game nights
~ Read more books instead of watching TV
AVOID TRAVELING & STAY HOME MORE
~ Oil companies are definitely owned by oligarchs. Use less gas
~ Use local public transportation, car pool, bike or walk more
~ No air or water travel for holidays or vacations
RESISTANCE EFFORTS
~ Join the Resistance
~ Sign the Strike Card at GeneralStrikeUS.com
~ WORDS HELP TREMENDOUSLY - Write about and Talk to everyone about the resistance
~ Record & share your stories (good or bad) involving immigrates, civil disobedience or any of today's issue
~ Our seniors voices matter. Record and post their stories about growing up during past civil rights movements
~ Attend Protest Events and take two extra people every time you go
~ Volunteer to provide child/elder care for others attending/organizing rallies
~ Plan back yard potlucks or picnics in the park
~ Consider investing in a solar panel and a radio for emergencies and for very day electrical savings
~ Never Stop Spreading the Word
~ Learn more about Blackouts, Boycotting, Join One Million Rising, Join the Resistance, Use Mobilize.us and more here:
Anti-tRump Peaceful Resistance Resources & Information
ADDITIONAL ANTI-TRUMP PEACEFUL RESISTANCE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
Please forward, share or talk about this message with your family, friends, colleagues, even strangers if given the opportunity. Post or repost it on your social media accounts! Substack writers/protesters share this message outside of this political category and get it out to everyone else. It's going to take ALL of us to bring down the tRump, the billionaire oligarchs (who hog the money you earn) and the Republican Administration from Hell!
Great ideas! Thanks!
BUY FROM THRIFT SHOPS!
Kids outgrow TOYS & CLOTHES before they're worn out & THIFT SHOPS are usually connected to charitable organizations whether it's your local church or Salvation Army.
(Our local SALVATION ARMY volunteers operate a FOOD PANTRY on a shoe string!)
BUY OFF SEASON! At the end of one winter season, I bought 3 PAIRS OF WINTER GLOVES FOR $1 (I bought 6 pairs)
I know you don't like credit cards, but there are some CASH BACK DEALS that make sense (one that I use frequently gives 6% back on grocery purchases)
This may sound trivial, but we began replacing LIGHTBULBS - I replaced 2 ALWAYS ON lights with LEDS & the next month the bill dropped $5. The bulbs cost $1 each. Good return on my money.
There's a company 1000bulbs that sells commonly used LEDS for ~ $1 each.
We began replacing CFLs with LEDs, found a few old incandescents that are gone.
(We shopped around - didn't find any source that was cheaper)
What we found is that the LEDS are brighter, so we're actually eliminating bulbs - a real electronics GEEK explained the details & why they're brighter...above my pay grade!
We replaced 60 watt equivalent CFLs with 40 watt equivalent LEDs - too bright!
Experts say 15% of your bill is lighting.
If you pay for your ELECTRIC USAGE - reduce it!
There are endless ideas out there - you don't have to sit in the dark.
One man saved BUBBLE WRAP & covered his sliding glass door to conserve heat.
THINK CHEAP!
An attorney used the conference room of another attorney for meetings in the Boston area. Not knowing how traffic would be, I always arrived early & wandered around the neighborhood, ventured into shops. It was obviously a poor neighborhood with lots of junk food & a check cashing place. The prices of available merchandise were 3 or 4 times what I had recently paid by ordering ON LINE & having those items delivered to me.
Not everyone has secure places to leave deliveries, but I understand that USPS Mail stores will accept deliveries.
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!