AMERICAN IDIOT
‘Guess You Flunked Econ 101’: Trump Mocked for Insane Rant Falsely Claiming His New Tariffs Are Paid ‘By China’

“I’ve never seen a president so proud of raising taxes on American consumers.”
They say love is blind and when it comes to President Donald Trump, it’s true. Trump loves tariffs so much he once bragged, “I am a Tariff Man.”
….I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so. It will always be the best way to max out our economic power. We are right now taking in $billions in Tariffs. MAKE AMERICA RICH AGAIN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 4, 2018
Sadly, Tariff Man does not know how tariffs work.
President Trump just imposed a 25% tariff on $200 – $250 billion in goods imported from China into the U.S.
And in a Friday morning tweetstorm he insisted those tariffs are being paid “by China.”
Talks with China continue in a very congenial manner – there is absolutely no need to rush – as Tariffs are NOW being paid to the United States by China of 25% on 250 Billion Dollars worth of goods & products. These massive payments go directly to the Treasury of the U.S….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2019
That’s false.
The tariffs are being paid by the companies – American companies – that import those products. Those companies then, more than likely, pass those costs on to the consumer – Americans – who cover the increased costs.
Trump is intentionally blind to this very basic fact of economics.
Trump is also intentionally blind to how manufacturing works.
Friday morning, apparently feeling uncertain his previous seven tweets promoting his false tariff plan had not succeeded, he added an eighth:
Build your products in the United States and there are NO TARIFFS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2019
But a quick glance at the list of Chinese products subject to his new tariffs show many of them, like copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, metal gaskets and washers, are not sold directly to consumers, but to manufacturers making other products. They are parts.
He just doesn’t get it, as many on social media were quick to point out – and mock him for his willful ignorance:
Guess you flunked Econ 101 in college https://t.co/Fu324nn0Re
— Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) May 10, 2019
Reality check: Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers of affected Chinese goods, not by China’s government or by Chinese companies. Importers then either raise costs on consumers, lower their own profit margins or both. https://t.co/6J5afZdgsX https://t.co/MjJL2XIfVd
— Axios (@axios) May 10, 2019
TARIFFS ARE NOT BEING PAID BY CHINA, YOU JAMOKE! Tariffs are paid by American businesses that import goods form China. They then pass those costs onto the American taxpayers. Honestly, have an Econ 101 book read to you or something. https://t.co/VAnJMzRD9Q
— Michael Salerno (@MikeNJD) May 10, 2019
Maybe China can pay for the wall? https://t.co/gqXqsDxxN9
— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) May 10, 2019
Spoken like a confident D-student in Micro Principles. #TaxIncidence #GradeInflation https://t.co/J4dzp0iMFb
— J.C. Bradbury (@jc_bradbury) May 10, 2019
He still has no idea how tariffs work.
I would ask why no-one has explained it to him, but I suspect they have and he doesn’t listen. https://t.co/LAKa1cATpE
— Dylan Reeve (@DylanReeve) May 10, 2019
There’s a blatant falsehood from Trump here:
“Tariffs are NOW being paid to the United States by China…these massive payments go directly to the Treasury of the U.S….”
That is false and misleading.
China does not pay a dime to the US Treasury. Importers pay the tariffs. https://t.co/56E6CjVdUh
— Terry Moran (@TerryMoran) May 10, 2019
Tariffs are paid by US citizens and businesses you moron. https://t.co/x9SrWSOaXj
— markhughes (@markhughes) May 10, 2019
I’ve never seen a president so proud of raising taxes on American consumers. https://t.co/7I1g6kfTs2
— Simon Hedlin (@simonhedlin) May 10, 2019
“tariffs are NOW being paid to the United States by China 25% on 250 Billion Dollars”
Wrong. These tariffs are being paid by *US citizens* not China – that’s just the way tariffs work… 🤫 #economics101 https://t.co/4109XL07HX
— Roy Azoulay (@rozoulay) May 10, 2019
We are reduced to having to follow the logic of a complete idiot. And to anticipate the reactions to this idiocy by machines. We are in the nether world. https://t.co/LEJlvd4kkU
— Nick Givanovic (@NickGiva) May 10, 2019
How is he still clueless about how tariffs work? And how is .@Wharton still not humiliated enough to rescind the degree they never should have given him? At the very least they owe us all a very public apology.#Kakistocracy https://t.co/UaqCfdG5T9
— W.L. Lewis (@ArtMusicLife) May 10, 2019
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |