Donald Trump Angry at WSJ for Criticizing His Tariffs — Then Admits They May Hurt Americans”
Early Sunday morning, President Donald Trump strongly defended his new tariff policy on Mexico, Canada, and China. He criticized the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) after it published an editorial attacking his decision, saying it could start a trade war with countries that are important allies and trade partners.
The WSJ argued that Trump’s reasons for the tariffs don’t make sense. For example, the White House claimed that Mexico and Canada have allowed illegal drugs to enter the U.S., but the WSJ pointed out that drugs have been coming into the U.S. for decades and will continue as long as Americans keep using them. The editorial suggested that Trump’s real reason for the tariffs is that he simply likes them, not because they solve any specific problem.
Trump has said things like, “We don’t need their products. We have enough oil, lumber, and resources in the U.S.” The WSJ criticized this idea, saying it sounds like Trump wants the U.S. to be a completely closed economy, which isn’t realistic or desirable in today’s world.
The WSJ also warned that the tariffs could hurt American industries like car manufacturing and farming. They pointed out that Canada and Mexico might retaliate with their own tariffs, as they have done in the past. For example, when the U.S. stopped a program allowing Mexican truckers into the country in 2009, Mexico responded by taxing U.S. products like grapes, wine, and soybeans. Similarly, when Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs in 2018, Mexico targeted U.S. pork, cheese, and bourbon.
The WSJ concluded that Trump’s actions go against the trade agreement he signed with Mexico and Canada during his first term. They warned that if the trade war continues, it could become one of the worst in history.
Trump’s Response:
Trump didn’t take the criticism well. He called the WSJ the “Tariff Lobby” and accused countries like Canada, Mexico, and China of taking advantage of the U.S. for decades. He said these countries have benefited from unfair trade, crime, and the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S., but “those days are over.”
Trump admitted that his policy might cause some “pain” for Americans but said it would be worth it to “Make America Great Again.” He argued that the U.S. shouldn’t lose trillions of dollars subsidizing other countries and that Americans shouldn’t pay more for drugs and pharmaceuticals than people in other countries.
In a separate post, Trump suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S. He claimed that Canada relies on U.S. subsidies to survive and that becoming part of the U.S. would give Canadians lower taxes and better military protection.
What Experts Say:
Most economists agree that higher tariffs will lead to higher prices for imported goods. They also expect other countries to retaliate with their own tariffs, which could reduce demand for American products overseas.
Why This Matters:
Trump’s tariff policy isn’t surprising since he promised it during his campaign. What’s unusual is that he openly admitted the policy might cause “pain” for Americans, even though he said it would be worth it. This admission is out of character for Trump and could become a problem for him politically.
