Asma Khalid

And, you know, to the degree that other countries retaliate once these April 2nd big tariffs are announced, we'll have to see. I mean, the Trump administration's argument, and this is true, is that certain countries do have much higher tariff rates on U.S. exports than the other way around. And so that is their argument. They want to level the playing field.

I do think it's worth pointing out, though, that a batch of tariffs from the Trump administration, the ones that were put on China, were kept in place during the Biden years. Because I think if people just hear this at the outset, I think there's an assumption that tariffs are inherently good or bad.

I do think it's worth pointing out, though, that a batch of tariffs from the Trump administration, the ones that were put on China, were kept in place during the Biden years. Because I think if people just hear this at the outset, I think there's an assumption that tariffs are inherently good or bad.

I do think it's worth pointing out, though, that a batch of tariffs from the Trump administration, the ones that were put on China, were kept in place during the Biden years. Because I think if people just hear this at the outset, I think there's an assumption that tariffs are inherently good or bad.

And one of the questions I've had is, well, then why did a Republican administration put them in place on China and a Democratic one kept them in place? And I think that this is partly about, like, what is your end goal with the tariffs? And that's what I keep coming back to with the Trump administration. I don't have clarity over what is the end goal.

And one of the questions I've had is, well, then why did a Republican administration put them in place on China and a Democratic one kept them in place? And I think that this is partly about, like, what is your end goal with the tariffs? And that's what I keep coming back to with the Trump administration. I don't have clarity over what is the end goal.

And one of the questions I've had is, well, then why did a Republican administration put them in place on China and a Democratic one kept them in place? And I think that this is partly about, like, what is your end goal with the tariffs? And that's what I keep coming back to with the Trump administration. I don't have clarity over what is the end goal.

You know, if the end goal is to diversify your supply chains away from China, then fine. You've actually achieved that, I would say, to some degree. You have more things maybe being produced in a place like Vietnam.

You know, if the end goal is to diversify your supply chains away from China, then fine. You've actually achieved that, I would say, to some degree. You have more things maybe being produced in a place like Vietnam.

You know, if the end goal is to diversify your supply chains away from China, then fine. You've actually achieved that, I would say, to some degree. You have more things maybe being produced in a place like Vietnam.

But I think the challenge right now is when you have such sweeping tariffs on a whole bunch of countries, including your neighbors who you had a trade deal with, it's really not clear what the end goal is for putting all those tariffs in place.

But I think the challenge right now is when you have such sweeping tariffs on a whole bunch of countries, including your neighbors who you had a trade deal with, it's really not clear what the end goal is for putting all those tariffs in place.

But I think the challenge right now is when you have such sweeping tariffs on a whole bunch of countries, including your neighbors who you had a trade deal with, it's really not clear what the end goal is for putting all those tariffs in place.

Great to be with y'all.

Great to be with y'all.

Great to be with y'all.

And I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House.

And I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House.

And I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House.

It also struck me that Democrats are really struggling in this moment with just how to articulate a response to President Trump. After he was escorted out of the chamber, he made a stop at the White House traveling press hold. And we got a pool note saying that he was explicitly yelling no mandate because he was referring to the no mandates to cut Medicaid.