CNN’s Jake Tapper pushed back on claims that he is “on the left” on Sunday after Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized his “side” for “freaking out” over tariffs. After President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the U.S. would impose reciprocal tariffs on nations taxing its imports, the stock market fell for a second consecutive day on Friday. During an episode of State of the Union, Tapper asked Rollins how long she expects the “tariff chaos” to continue.
“Well, first of all, Jake, thank you for having me. I think it’s really important to realize that last Wednesday was when the president announced this new American order, the new American economic plan,” Rollins said. “We’re now two days in, right? You’ve got two days of data. Everyone, especially on your side — on the left — is freaking out.” At that, Tapper laughingly jumped in to say, “I’m not on the left,” which then prompted laughter from Rollins before she continued her responses.
“But at the end of the day, listen, this whole concept — all right, Jake, thank you,” Rollins said, chuckling. “This whole concept is about rebuilding an American economy around American goods, around American industry. We do already live under a tariff regime in this country, but it’s the tariff regime of China, of Mexico, of Brazil, of Australia, of countries that — Mexico won’t take our corn, Australia won’t take our beef.”
“The country of Honduras takes more pork than the entire European Union does American pork, I should say. So from our farming and ranching perspective, which is what I’m focused on, but happy to talk about anything, that it is time for a change. That’s what this president evoked last Wednesday. So I think we’ll see in short order a really positive outcome from this,” she added.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 2,200 points on Friday—the largest drop since June 2020—following a 1,679.39-point decline on Thursday. The market slide came on the heels of President Trump’s Wednesday announcement of new tariffs on about 60 countries. A baseline tariff of 10% was applied universally, but higher rates were imposed on nations that levy steep tariffs on the U.S. For instance, China, which charges a 67% tariff on American goods, faced a 34% tariff in response.
Rollins went on to state that 50 countries “have come to the table” since Trump’s proclaimed “Liberation Day,” adding that they are now “willing and desperate” to negotiate with the administration. “We are the economic engine of the world. It’s finally time that someone, President Trump, stood up for America,” Rollins said.
