SerpApi.Org
Fox News viewers turned on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent following his appearance on one of the network's programs, taking aim at his defense of a newly imposed tariff targeting Canada.
Bessent appeared on Fox Business' Mornings with Maria after Donald Trump announced he was imposing a new 50% tariff on Canada, claiming the country was discriminating against American products. Bessent desperately tried to defend the new policy.
However, shortly after facing backlash for unveiling a new gold coin bearing the president's likeness, Bessent also drew sharp criticism in the wake of his TV appearance. This comes after an angry Trump told a reporter "you don't know anything" after being caught out.
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Show host Maria Bartiromo pressed him on the newly introduced policies, and Bessent visibly struggled to provide clear answers. "Of course this week is a big week for tariffs," she said. "Because section 221 tariffs expire, section 301 tariffs to be implemented, and the president is poised to unleash new tariffs, fresh tariffs, on dozens of countries as soon as this week, we're told."
"As the president has imposed a 50% tariff on some Canadian goods, including cars, alcohol and dairy products," she continued. "What is the trade discrimination that is at hand causing the president to hike tariffs here on Canada?"
"Well, I think it's something that we, we've discussed with our Canadian colleagues for a long time, and uh, they haven't done anything about it," Bessent replied. "They're highly discriminatory on dairy products," he continued, before appearing to struggle.
"U.S...uh...U.S....uh...alcohol and beverages have been removed from Canadian shelves," he said. "So you, this is really just, uh, reciprocity in terms of what in terms of what they've done to our, our great U.S. companies."
Yet Bessent's comments sparked online backlash, as critics highlighted his difficulty speaking, suggesting it offered another reason to question the administration's credibility. "Bessent is really bad at this. Not smooth. Sounds like a bumbling idiot," one person wrote on X.
"US is lead by a bunch of morons. The midterms are not coming fast enough," another person said, while a third fumed, "F-g lies every single day by this incompetent administration...despicable."
"What a f-g tool. How do people become so stupid and out of touch with reality? I guess it's just a cult," a fourth slammed, while a fifth added, "He's so arrogant. Talk about an elitist."
"Trump's people make the US look really dum(b)," another person said, as an additional X user groaned, "Exhibit 1 million why no one believes this administration anymore."
Trump unveiled the new tariffs on July 20, claiming that Canada has unjustly discriminated against American automobiles, alcohol, and dairy products.
