By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-12 16:11:42 | Updated at 2025-03-12 20:58:29
5 hours ago
Shocking video shows the moment a Trump advisor snapped at a TV journalist who asked him why the President keeps changing his mind on tariffs.
White House Senior Trade counselor Peter Navarro furiously told Sky News's Mark Stone to 'stop that crap' as the US correspondent repeatedly probed him on the issue.
Donald Trump announced an increased tariff of 50 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminium on Tuesday before halting the plan just hours later.
Meanwhile 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US, affecting UK products worth hundreds of millions of pounds, came into effect today.
'The policy is no exemptions no exclusions, and that will change if the President changes his policy,' Mr Navarro told reporters.
'But the President seems to be changing his mind by the hour at the moment,' Mr Stone hit back, before asking Mr Navarro what his views were on Donald Trump's U-turns.
'Sir, you don't understand what a negotiation looks like, the President is negotiating strategically, so stop with the rhetoric, stop that crap,' the trade advisor said.
As he attempted to receive questions from other members of the press pack, the reporter interjected again, reiterating that the President 'does seem to be changing his mind all the time.'
White House Senior Trade counselor Peter Navarro furiously told Sky News 's Mark Stone to 'stop that crap' in a 'testy exchange' over tariffs
Another reporter who was at the scene said Mr Navarro became 'annoyed with how closely the reporter was filming with his phone'
The increasingly irate Presidential advisor told him to 'stop that crap' again, before demanding to know which news organisation Mr Stone worked for.
The journalist told him, before stating 'it is a fact that he is changing his mind every single day.'
Refusing to be drawn, Mr Navarro said in a mocking tone: 'It's a negotiation, my friend. It's a negotiation.'
Taking his point, Mr Stone then pointed out that Washington's ever-changing policies are 'causing havoc to the stock markets' which have been 'tumbling' - a reference to the $4trillion which was wiped off the value of the S&P 500 from its February 19 record high.
Mr Navarro said 'it's not causing havoc' and then yelled at Mr Stone to 'stop' as other reporters jostled to get their questions heard.
The flustered advisor then said: 'I can either stay here and answer questions and be civil about it, or your can hector me like this, so stand back, get that thing out of my face, you've had your chance to ask questions.'
USATODAY's White House correspondent wrote on X that there had been a 'testy exchange' between Mr Navarro and the Sky News reporter.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House
'Navarro was annoyed with how closely the reporter was filming with his phone,' the news outlet's correspondent wrote.
The heated questioning of Mr Navarro came as investors were spooked by Trump's sweeping tariffs.
Fears of an economic downturn have driven a stock market sell-off that wiped out $4 trillion from the S&P 500's peak last month, when Wall Street was cheering much of Trump's agenda.
A barrage of new Trump policies has increased uncertainty for businesses, consumers and investors, notably back-and-forth tariff moves against major trading partners like Canada, Mexico and China.
The cost of aluminium and steel in the United States has today been hovering around recent peaks as traders ratcheted up prices in response to the 25 per cent tariffs taking effect.
Speaking last night, the president indicated there would be some short-term pain from his tariffs but that it was a necessary step to restore American manufacturing.
'I think our country had to do this, we had to do this,' Trump said. 'Other countries have taken away our businesses, taken away our jobs.'
