President Donald Trump announced last week that he would impose a 5% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico, unless or until Mexico makes a more substantial effort to control the number of illegal migrants moving through that country to the southern border of the United States.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Trump critic, proclaimed on Tuesday his belief that Trump was bluffing with regard to the tariffs, but Trump fired back against that notion in devastating fashion.
Schumer’s remarks
The New York Daily News reported that Schumer’s remarks came just days ahead of the June 10 deadline for Mexico to act before the 5% import tariff would be imposed.
Should Mexico fail to respond in an adequate manner, the tariff would rise an additional 5% each month until it topped out at 25% on October 1.
The proposed tariffs sent shockwaves through the global markets and drew sharp bipartisan cries of opposition, but it was Schumer who decided to make it personal and insinuate that President Trump was bluffing, was weak, and would ultimately retreat from the hardline stance.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer said, “Frankly, I don’t believe that President Trump will actually go through with the tariffs.”
“President Trump has a habit of talking tough and then retreating, because his policies often can’t be implemented or don’t make sense…so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if President Trump doesn’t follow through on these tariffs, either,” he added.
Trump hits back
Those critical remarks came while President Trump was in the United Kingdom for an official state visit, but that didn’t stop him from responding to his senatorial nemesis as only this president can do.
Trump tweeted, “Can you imagine Cryin’ Chuck Schumer saying out loud, for all to hear, that I am bluffing with respect to putting Tariffs on Mexico. What a Creep.”
“He would rather have our Country fail with drugs & Immigration than give Republicans a win. But he gave Mexico bad advice, no bluff!” the president added.
Trump has walked back various threats in the past, typically once those threats have achieved a desired response, and that may ultimately be what happens here, as Mexico would prefer to avoid those tariffs as much as anybody else.
Creepy, Cryin’ Chuck should know that by now, just as he ought to know that calling Trump a bluffer or liar will likely only compel him to push ahead in an even more determined fashion, which both Mexico and Schumer may again find out is the case.