Jake Tapper hammers deputy press secretary on how farmers have already been impacted by Trump's tariffs

CNN's Jake Tapper hammered President Donald Trump's deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley during a conversation about the trade war with China. Gidley tried to claim that the administration is taking steps to , but Tapper called the bluff.

Tapper began by asking when and if Trump will actually "pull the trigger" on his tariff threats and attributed the 570 Dow drop to that promise. Gidley claimed that to place blame for the Dow drop on Trump is wrong and that China is the real one to blame for acting unlawfully.

"We're putting forth some measure that's could protect the American worker, the American economy, the American business and merge agriculture," Gidley promised.

"I don't think people are questioning whether China is guilty in terms of the larger trade issues. The problem is how best to deal with it," Tapper explained. "You mentioned agriculture, a lot of farm states, members in the senate, are really worried about this. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), in response to the latest threat of tariffs tweeted, 'Hopefully president is blowing off steam again. but if he's even half serious, this is nuts. with a plan that punishes them instead of us, this is the dumbest the possible way to do this. >>

Gidley swore that the president was working with the Secretary of Agriculture to make sure farmers and ranchers aren't impacted.

"They have already been impacted," Tapper cut in.

Gidley then pivoted back to blaming China for everything.

Watch the exchange below: