Dem stumps Trump adviser on price hikes: 'We cannot build bananas in America'

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) called out Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, one of President Donald Trump's top advisers on tariffs, after he claimed bananas would be less expensive if they were grown in the U.S.

"Mr. Trump promised to bring down the cost of goods, day one," Dean said during a Thursday House Appropriations Committee hearing. "And what he has done through his trade deficit fixation and his tariff chaos has nakedly increased the cost of goods."

"The estimates are that for consumers in my area, suburban Philadelphia, $2,000 at least a year increases on goods, she continued. "I'll give you an example of one: bananas. What's the tariff on bananas?"

"The tariff on bananas would be representative of the countries that produce," Lutnick said. "Generally 10%."

"Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%," Dean observed.

"But as countries do deals with us, that will go to zero," Lutnick insisted.

"Mr. Secretary, I believe you know better," the Democrat said.

"There's no uncertainty if you build in America and you produce your product in America, it will be no tariff," Lutnick remarked.

"We can't produce bananas in America," Dean pointed out.

"The concept of building in America and paying no tariff is very, very clear," the commerce secretary replied.

"We cannot build bananas in America," Dean repeated.

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