Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins argued that dozens of countries are contacting the White House following the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day,” contending that it is just the start of Trump’s plan to rebuild the economy.
Rollins stated that the United States was already under a tariff regime prior to President Donald Trump’s action on Wednesday due to foreign countries not taking U.S.-made goods, including agricultural exports like corn, pork, or beef. Due to this, the president “evoked” change to improve the U.S.’s standing in the market, and stated that 50 countries have “come to the table” that are “desperate” to talk to the U.S. about this.
“Listen, we‘ve got 50 countries that are burning the phone lines into the White House up, and probably the president‘s cell phone as well, and probably Howard Lutnick as well, and I‘ve heard from some as well,” Rollins told CNN’s State of the Union. “This is the ultimate deal maker who is a businessman at the head of our government, finally — that the American people said, all swing states, all the popular vote. Tariffs were a part of his plan. We‘re going to put America first, and he will do everything in his power all day, every day, to do just that.”
Rollins continued by stating that it has only been two business days since “Liberation Day” occurred, and there is a lot left to be determined by these tariffs. However, she underscored how Trump is “resolute” to ensure that these tariffs are used to put “America First.”
CNN anchor Jake Tapper pressed Rollins on how it seems the Trump administration is not acknowledging the “real pain and panic” that some are having over the economy. In response, Rollins argued that the administration “knew” there would be uncertainty over the tariffs but insisted that taking the financial results of the first two days is not fully accurate since the financial markets are “adjusting.” She also contended that the president is focused on longterm results over making sure “Jake Tapper says nice things about me on State of the Union.”
Earlier in her CNN appearance, Rollins contended that Tapper and others on “the Left” are “freaking out” over the current results of the tariffs. Tapper interjected that he is “not on the Left,” to which Rollins stopped herself and stated, “Alright, Jake. Thank you,” before continuing her explanation of the tariffs.
In response to Trump’s tariffs, China’s State Council Tariff Commission announced it would impose 34% retaliatory tariffs on U.S products. Trump stated on Truth Social that the U.S.’s rival country was “hit much harder” than the U.S., and that the comparison is “not even close.
On Sunday, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett also defended a positive long-term outlook on the tariffs, saying that the 50 countries calling to negotiate tariffs are “doing that because they understand that they bear a lot of the tariff.”
“And so, I don’t think that you’re going to see a big effect on the consumer in the U.S. because I do think that the reason why we have a persistent, long-run trade deficit these people have very inelastic supply. They’ve been dumping goods into the country in order to create jobs, say, in China,” Hassett told ABC News’s This Week.
TRUMP URGES OPTIMISM AND PATIENCE WITH TARIFFS AND ECONOMY: ‘WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH’
Trump has also argued that bringing back businesses and jobs through these tariffs would not be easy, but that the end result will be “historic.”
Amid the newly implemented tariffs, Elon Musk, a key ally to the president, has expressed hope that the U.S. and Europe can reach a “zero tariff situation.”
