Justice Brett Kavanaugh, left, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, center, and retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy listen as US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress (REUTERS)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Evan Feigenbaum delivered an in-depth take down of President Donald Trump’s threat to U.S. market partners seeking to “play games” with the “ridiculous Supreme Court decision.”
After the U.S. Supreme Court ended Trump’s illegal use of emergency orders to institute tariffs at a whim, Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing countries that have “ripped off” the U.S.A. for years, and even decades,” threatening that they will be met with a much higher tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to.”
“BUYER BEWARE,” Trump warned.
On Friday, Trump announced that he would impose a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 under the Trade Act of 1974, which gives the president the ability to impose tariffs of up to 15 percent for 150 days. But Trump still needs Congressional approval to extend them. Later, on Saturday, Trump boosted the tariffs to the 15 percent.
After the president’s retaliation, the European Parliament halted the ratification process of a trade deal it had entered with the U.S., with European lawmakers saying the U.S.' side of the deal is now "so uncertain."
But Feigenbaum, who advised two Secretaries of State and a former Treasury Secretary, blasted Trump for daring to accuse other nations of “playing games.”
“The President threatened to increase tariffs on Canada because he didn’t like Ontario’s television commercial quoting Ronald Reagan verbatim,” Feigenbaum posted on X. “He says he increased tariffs on Switzerland because he didn’t like the president’s tone of voice on a phone call. He announced an increase of tariffs from 10 percent to 15 percent in less than 24 hours last weekend, invoking a section of law that his own DOJ argued against to SCOTUS.”
“He imposed the world’s highest tariff rate on Brazil because he was pissed that they were prosecuting his political ally. He imposed a Russian oil purchase tariff on India while not imposing one on China, which in fact buys more Russian oil than India does,” Feigenbaum continued. “But sure, other countries are the ones ‘playing games’ with the tariff regime.”
Some MAGA critics tried to retaliate in the comments. One accused Canada leaders of “playing games misrepresenting a Ronald Reagan quote” in an ad against Trump’s hurtful tariffs last year, but Feigenbaum wasn’t having that.
“Sorry pal, but it is not normal to impose tariffs over a television advertisement. Period,” Feigenbaum said.
