AP FACT CHECK: Trump's fallacious tariff tale

[spanone]

WASHINGTON (AP) — In escalating his trade war, President Donald Trump is persisting in his deceptive argument that tariffs are a pure win for the U.S. and a loss for China. He will not acknowledge that the costs of tariffs are being borne by Americans.

Trump has vowed to impose a blanket tariff of 25% on everything Americans buy from China. That would mean raising tariffs from 10% on $200 billion worth of goods by the end of the week and hitting an additional $325 billion in Chinese products with the same penalty “shortly.” His skewed explanation of how tariffs work — a staple of his rhetoric — unfolded over Twitter, where he also spread a false assertion about hurricane aid to Puerto Rico.

TRUMP: “For 10 months, China has been paying Tariffs to the USA of 25% on 50 Billion Dollars of High Tech, and 10% on 200 Billion Dollars of other goods. These payments are partially responsible for our great economic results.” — tweet Sunday.

THE FACTS: This notion of a transfer of wealth from China to the U.S. isn’t happening.

https://www.apnews.com/241205da8ec24cb2a7c591aa08b2d4e1

[mobeau69]

1. China's won't pay any tariffs. The importers do and then pass the cost along to the consumers (us).

So simple a trumpkin could almost understand it.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Why aren't those around him telling him that?

[spanone]

3. I'm sure he thinks he knows more than anybody else. I don't think he's a learner.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Trump always thinks he's the smartest guy in the room...

he generally isn't.

[malaise]

7. Generally?

[GReedDiamond]

13. Perhaps when Dummie Jr is in the room with Orange Moron...

...Orange Moron is the smarter of the two.

That's about the only scenario I can think of where OM is the smartest one in the room.

[malaise]

14. Hehehehehehhe

OK then

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. I know.

I know that, but it still distresses me that it really does not seem as though any of his so-called advisors ever seem to make any attempt whatsoever to correct his factual misinformation. And if the issue is they're more concerned about keeping their jobs, then I have nothing but contempt for anyone with such non-existent ethical standards.

[spanone]

6. I think if you do that you're probably gone. I think job keeping is 90% of your job in DC.

Otherwise it makes no sense to me. To support this man is just beyond the pale.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. Which applies equally to elected officials, unfortunately.

[yonder]

8. "I don't think he's a learner." Gotta say, that made me laugh.

[spanone]

9. maximum understatement....😎

[yonder]

10. yep

[spanone]

11. 😎🔫