With China tariffs in effect, Trump’s lies won’t change reality for the American people

This excerpt is from the April 29 episode of “All In with Chris Hayes.” Despite discussions on media failures during the last election and its inability to convey democracy’s stakes, the public was actually warned about Donald Trump’s authoritarian governance style. Trump believes his willpower can defy reality itself. The underreported issue of tariffs was a significant oversight. Even though Trump frequently mentioned them, they were not taken seriously. Viewers of “All In” were consistently warned about tariffs starting from January 2024.

Inheriting a strong economy, Trump has actively sought to undermine it by fixating on tariffs for over 40 years. He falsely claims that consumers won’t bear the tariff costs, but Wall Street and Washington experts argue otherwise. Trump’s belief in his willpower clashes with the escalating prices due to tariffs. For instance, Chinese retailer Temu has increased prices for imported goods from China due to Trump’s tariffs.

Reports suggesting Amazon might disclose the tariff costs to customers were met with White House disapproval. Following a conversation with Trump, Amazon decided against showing these costs. Trump, pleased with Bezos’ compliance, praised him for swiftly resolving the issue.

Trump’s desire for economic control resembles a corrupt regime, where he intimidates adversaries and favors allies. Despite attempts to downplay the impact of tariffs, the reality is that prices will rise significantly. Bezos’ understanding of this dynamic led Amazon to backtrack on disclosing tariff costs.

Trump’s efforts to manipulate facts, like downplaying Covid cases, cannot alter the reality of heightened prices and empty shipping containers due to tariffs. Despite misleading tactics, the consequences of tariffs will soon be felt by all.