By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-04 16:16:26 | Updated at 2025-04-05 07:38:45
15 hours ago
CNN black sheep Scott Jennings goaded fellow panelist Richard Quest into removing his shoe as they debated Donald Trump's new tariffs live on-air.
Jennings and Quest joined CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillips on Thursday to discuss how Trump's tariffs will affect the global economy.
'The economic consequences are going to be on the whole world,' Quest, who is British, passionately said. 'This is an experiment that should not have been taking place.'
Jennings cut off Quest to say the American public 'knew' tariffs were coming, as the 47th president promised it on the campaign trail.
'No, I never expected this madness,' Quest, who has talked about the tariffs on several CNN shows, interjected.
'They expected Donald Trump to enact tariffs, he did it in his first term,' Jennings retorted.
As the panel broke out into chatter, Quest rose above them all to claim Trump's doings are 'economic vandalism.'
'I think a lot of working-class Americans would say what was done to them was economic crush,' Jennings shot back, prompting Quest, who is CNN's Business editor-at-large, to take off his shoe.
Scott Jennings and Richard Quest (pictured) joined CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillips on Thursday to discuss how Trump's tariffs will affect the global economy. The conversation grew so heated that Quest took off his shoe to make a point
The British anchor said the jobs that will be brought to America to avoid tariffs aren't actually the jobs the country needs or even wants.
'Here is a shoe,' he said after taking off the garment. 'It's my shoe, right! It is made in China. You talk about these luxury products, but you take your shoe off and see where it's made.
'Made in China, made in Vietnam. This is going to be 34 percent more expensive,' he said, pointing toward the outerwear. 'This is an ordinary shoe, bought in a discount store.'
Later in the conversation, Jennings admitted that tariffs were a 'game' and that those willing to drop their tariffs against the US 'should be rewarded.'
'I do think that if an American ally comes to the table, like Israel did, and say: "We're totally eliminating our tariffs," we should immediately reward that,' Jennings said.
'Israel did that, and guess what they did to Israel?' Phillips piped in. 'They slapped them with a 17 percent tariff.'
'I know,' Jennings said. 'I'm saying we should treat them the same.'
While he was speaking, Quest seemed to be having a hard time keeping his composure while the two conversed.
Jennings (pictured) argued Americans knew tariffs were coming, but Quest retorted that Trump's plan didn't make sense. He took off his shoe to show it was made in China and that now everyday goods would skyrocket in price
Quest retorted that Jennings' suggestion that all tariffs be equal on both sides defeats Trump's objective of adding manufacturing jobs and output in the US.
'The president is not going to get his other renaissance in manufacturing and renaissance of new jobs because of the level playing field. You make goods and services where it is economically where it is advantageous to do so,' he said.
'Some of this does not make logical sense,' Phillips agreed.
Trump slapped at least 10 percent tariffs on all countries sending the markets plummeting and plunging the global economy into uncertainty.
But the president's dramatic announcement on Wednesday does not just come at a steep cost for investors.
It's expected to have a whopping price tag for American consumers.
The conservative advocacy group Advancing American Freedom found that the Trump tariffs are the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history.
The group, founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, estimates the plan will cost American families more than $3,500 a year.
Trump slapped at least 10 percent tariffs on all countries sending the markets plummeting and plunging the global economy into uncertainty
The analysis noted the price tag would easily erase three years' worth of pay raises for most families.
It also found that major purchases such as a new home or car could cost families $7,000 more.
The Trump administration has argued Americans won't be financially impacted and have pointed to some tariffs imposed during the president's first term.
Those tariffs were specifically targeted and did come at a cost on certain products.
Advancing American Freedom said that Wednesday's move was ten times the size of tariffs imposed during Trump's first term.
It also warned the tariffs would completely wipe out the entire value of the Trump 2017 tax cuts for the bottom 40 percent of workers just as the president and Republicans are pushing to make the cuts permanent.
