Donald Trump has not yet taken office as 47th President of the United States, but the Regime Media have already set out to torpedo his agenda. Specifically, by sowing panic among the viewing audience over potential Trump tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico.
Watch as ABC's David Muir opens their item on the tariff threat with his hallmark lengthy introduction, before sending it to correspondent Terry Moran:
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
11/26/24
6:39 PM
DAVID MUIR: Now, to the economy tonight, and President-Elect Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on Day One against our neighbors Canada and Mexico. Tonight, Mexico says it will slap a tariff on U.S. goods in exchange. Trump pointing to the border, fentanyl, and illegal immigration. But tonight, this question here -- who pays for these tariffs? U.S. companies bringing the products into the U.S. pay the tariff at first, and then sell those products to U.S. shoppers. So will those costs be passed onto consumers? Here's Terry Moran tonight.
TERRY MORAN: In a statement that rattled markets worldwide, President-Elect Donald Trump declared that on Day One of his new administration, he will impose the most sweeping tariffs in recent history, targeting America's nearest neighbors and biggest trading partners. "I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous open borders," Trump posted on social media. "This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country." It's the fulfillment of a campaign pledge.
DONALD TRUMP: And I'm putting tariffs on Mexico, every damn thing that they sell into the United States has got to have like a 25% tariff until they stop drugs from coming in.
MORAN: The United States does more than $1 trillion in trade with Canada and Mexico every year. From consumer electronics to cars and trucks, to fresh fruit and vegetables. Trump's new tariffs would not be paid by Canada and Mexico, but by U.S. companies and stores, who will pass on much of the cost to consumers by raising prices on their products.
I don't recall the networks ever doing such a detailed explainer of tariff policy. They certainly didn't do it when President Biden recently extended Trump-era tariffs on certain Chinese products. That would've conflicted with the Harris campaign's "Trump Tax" narrative. Additionally, such coverage would've cut into time allocated for coverage of the "dogs and cats" controversy out of Springfield, Ohio. So the Regime Media ate the tariff story and pushed "cats and dogs" to the moon.
For the most part, the networks report the tariffs as a fait accompli. In order to do so, they neglect that these tariffs are performance-based. The last time that Trump saber-rattled about immigration-related tariffs, the president of Mexico deployed the National Guard, and that was it for the tariffs. CBS correspondent Kelly O'Grady's fearmongering was a bit more discreet...
KELLY O'GRADY: From avocados to automobiles, to everyday tools- you could end up having sticker shock.
...unlike NBC's Hallie Jackson.
HALLIE JACKSON: Remember, tariffs are a tax on things other countries send here and the other countries don't pay the tax directly. It gets passed down to companies instead and, often, to you.
The media's disinterest in covering potentially Biden-adverse economic news contrasts with today's gleeful attempt to sow panic in the community. If it weren't for Regime Media, we'd have no media at all.
Click "expand" to view the transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective evening newscasts on Tuesday, November 26th, 2024:
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
11/26/24
6:39 PM
DAVID MUIR: Now, to the economy tonight, and President-Elect Trump says he will impose 25% tariffs on Day One against our neighbors Canada and Mexico. Tonight, Mexico says it will slap a tariff on U.S. goods in exchange. Trump pointing to the border, fentanyl, and illegal immigration. But tonight, this question here -- who pays for these tariffs? U.S. companies bringing the products into the U.S. pay the tariff at first, and then sell those products to U.S. shoppers. So will those costs be passed onto consumers? Here's Terry Moran tonight.
TERRY MORAN: In a statement that rattled markets worldwide, President-Elect Donald Trump declared that on Day One of his new administration, he will impose the most sweeping tariffs in recent history, targeting America's nearest neighbors and biggest trading partners. "I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous open borders," Trump posted on social media. "This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country." It's the fulfillment of a campaign pledge.
DONALD TRUMP: And I'm putting tariffs on Mexico, every damn thing that they sell into the United States has got to have like a 25% tariff until they stop drugs from coming in.
MORAN: The United States does more than $1 trillion in trade with Canada and Mexico every year. From consumer electronics to cars and trucks, to fresh fruit and vegetables. Trump's new tariffs would not be paid by Canada and Mexico, but by U.S. companies and stores, who will pass on much of the cost to consumers by raising prices on their products. Best Buy and Walmart already warning today new tariffs will mean higher price tags. Reaction to Trump's announcement was swift. Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum threatening to impose retaliatory tariffs on American goods.
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM (IN SPANISH): One tariff will be met with another tariff in response.
MORAN: Saying the border crisis cannot be solved "With threats and tariffs," warning that if the U.S. imposes tariffs, "It is not acceptable and would cause inflation and job losses in the U.S. and Mexico." Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a softer line, saying he spoke to Trump.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU: This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that's what we'll do.
MORAN: Trump is using these tariffs to pressure Canada and Mexico to help him deliver on his key campaign promise -- securing the border. Today in Texas, Trump's incoming border czar Tom Homan was laying the groundwork for mass deportations.
TOM HOMAN: Let me be clear. There is going to be a mass deportation. Because we just finished a mass illegal immigration crisis on the border.
MORAN: And Homan warned local officials and ordinary citizens not to stand in the way.
HOMAN: We're a nation of laws, and we're going to enforce those laws. And I'm sending a message to the people who said they're going to get in our way, they're going to stop us from doing what we're doing- interior enforcement operations, I've said it 100 times in the last week, don't cross that line.
MORAN: Trump also declared in a separate social media post that he will slap a 10% tariff on all imports from China, until Beijing stops the flow of illegal fentanyl into the U.S. And, again, though Trump says China will pay those tariffs directly to the U.S. Treasury, that's not how it works. U.S. Importers and companies pay those tariffs and they pass the costs on mostly to consumers through higher prices. David?
MUIR: We'll be watching this in the months ahead. Terry Moran, live in Washington. Terry, thanks.
CBS EVENING NEWS
11/26/24
6:35 PM
NANCY CORDES: Tonight a trade war could be brewing between the U.S. and its three largest trading partners. President-Elect Trump is threatening to hit all goods from the U.S. from Mexico and Canada with a 25% tariff and an additional 10 percent on imports from China. Trump cites immigration and the fentanyl crisis across the border, but could Americans end up paying the price? Here's CBS's Kelly O'Grady.
KELLY O'GRADY: From avocados to automobiles, to everyday tools- you could end up having sticker shock.
DEBBIE KAVOURIAS: Our prices will go up. We would be paying more for every object that came from China, Mexico, Canada, therefore we have to put that on to the customer.
O'GRADY: Debbie Kavourias owns New York City-based Columbus Hardware, which has been around for decades. Almost everything in her store is imported.
KAVOURIAS: This is our hardware section. 95% of this comes from China.
O'GRADY: And what about Canada and Mexico, what about some of those?
KAVOURIAS: Some of these bulbs come from Mexico, but a lot of them come from China, but a lot of the cleaning supplies come from Mexico. That would affect your everyday customer.
O'GRADY: The three countries targeted are America's three largest trading partners. Last year altogether they accounted for $1.3 trillion in imported goods. China is key for items like electronics and furniture. Mexico, for produce and plastics. Canadian exports include aluminum and lumber. For example, analysts predict the average price of a car coming from Canada or Mexico could increase as much as $3000 with a 25% tariff. Debbie also warned retailers like Amazon can keep prices lower because of their size. As a small business, she could lose those buyers forever.
KAVOURIAS: If- they look at the prices here and if we're not pretty even with those competitors, they won't buy.
O'GRADY: Now, one argument for tariffs is leverage. There is a key trade deal that's with Mexico and Canada, it's up for review in 2026. Leaders of these nations warn a trade war could hurt everyone, but both the Canadian Prime Minister and the Mexican President have indicated a willingness to talk. Nancy.
CORDES: Kelly O'Grady in New York City. Thank you.