'That's depressing': MSNBC hosts stunned as Trump official 'evades' a simple question
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski was left stunned and speechless on Wednesday morning after listening to a sound bite of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent avoiding answering questions about who pays tariffs.
“Answer the questions I asked, please. I only have five minutes. Who pays tariffs?” Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI)asked.
“Sorry,” Bessant said in an attempt to answer.
“Who pays tariffs, Mr. Secretary?” Pocan asked again, pressing the Treasury Secretary.
Bessant attempted to stammer out a question again.
“The question is very simple: who pays tariffs?” Pocan pressed. “Mr. Chairman, I would like him to answer that question. He wants to answer another question.”
“Well, congressman, if the,” Bessant cleared his throat. “Congressman, if the exporters dislike tariffs so much, why wouldn't they. If– I think what you're trying to get me to say.”
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“Do you remember the question,” Pocan asked. “I'm not sure you did. Who pays tariffs?”
“That it's a very complicated question,” Bessant replied.
“Reclaiming my time. People pay tariffs. So I'll ask one more time. Who pays tariffs?” Pocan aggressively pressed.
“Sir, the history would show that it is a complicated mix of who pays the tariffs over various times,” Bessant replied.
Pocan interrupted, “So that's exactly the problem. If you answer— You are a very educated person, you're a very impressive bio. [You] cannot answer the question, who pays tariffs because you won't answer that, and you say it's a complicated issue. It's not complicated. Consumers pay Trump's tariff tax. That's the reality.”
The lengthy interaction between Pocan and Bessant happened on Tuesday.
“That is that's depressing,” Brzezinski said. “I mean, Scott Bessent… Yeah.”
She then brought in the panel, which included the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, who said, “We know who pays tariffs and hard-working Americans. Who, you know, put their faith in Donald Trump last year, hoping that he was going to actually make their lives more affordable. He's done just the opposite.”
Martin added, “These tariffs are going to result in a huge tax on hardworking American people. And you know, the fact that Secretary Bessant couldn't answer that question honestly just shows you what they're doing to deceive the American people."
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