President Donald Trump is facing a grilling from social media users after he appeared to confuse his tariff deadline.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced early Sunday that the administration would reimpose the president’s April “Liberation Day” tariffs on dozens of countries if they do not come to a deal with the United States by Aug. 1, effectively extending the initial July 9 deadline. Less than a day after announcing the sweeping tariffs, which rocked global financial markets and raised fears of a recession, the administration implemented a 90-day pause on most trading parters to allow time to negotiate deals, setting a goal of reaching 90 in 90 days.
Before departing Bedminster, New Jersey, a reporter asked Trump if his tariff rates would change on July 9 or Aug. 1.
“What are you talking about?” Trump asked.
The reporter repeated: “Tariff rates. Do they change on July 9 or Aug. 1?”
“They’re going to be tariffs. The tariffs are going to be the tariffs. I think we’ll have most countries done by July 9, yeah. Either a letter or a deal,” Trump said.
Lutnick then chimed in to clarify: “But they go into effect on Aug. 1. Tariffs go into effect Aug. 1, but the president is setting the rates and the deals right now.”
His comments were immediately mocked on social media, with some users speculating about whether Trump was running the country.
“He has no idea what’s going on,” the MeidasTouch Network account wrote on X.
Keith Olbermann, a former sportscaster and political commentator, said: “We have a president who literally doesn’t know what day it is. He may or may not know what month. Nor what he’s said previously. This president is on the verge of mental collapse.”
“Who’s signing these deals? Is it auto-pen? The Deep State? Who’s actually running the White House right now? Why is Lutnick answering questions for the president here? Who’s controlling Lutnick?” someone added.
Another user wrote: “He has absolutely no idea what’s going on in his own administration. Not on his signature policy. Not on his signature economic negotiations. Nothing.”
“Who’s is charge here? Tweedle Dee or??” a different user said.
The “Republicans against Trump” account also posted: “Trump has no f***ing idea what he’s doing with trade deals and tariffs. He just says whatever pops into his head at the moment. A total clown and buffoon.”
Although the administration’s pause is set to expire on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also told CNN that “we’ll see,” adding “I’m not going to give away the playbook.”
“President Trump’s going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don’t move things along, then on Aug. 1, you will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level,” he said. “So I think we’re gonna see a lot of deals very quickly.”
Trump had also posted later on his Truth Social platform: “I am pleased to announce that the UNITED STATES TARIFF Letters, and/or Deals, with various Countries from around the World, will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7th. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Bessent maintained that the beginning of August is not a new deadline, and said that Trump is in the “midst” of discussing new deals, but did not specify.
“We are saying, ‘This is when it’s happening.’ If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that’s your choice,” he said.
Trump had issued a separate warning late Sunday of an additional 10% tariff against countries that align themselves with BRICS, a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
His comments come as an anonymous person close to the White House told Politico that Trump’s tariff conversation is only part of a show.
“I find it hard to believe he’s going to surrender it that easily. It’s all fake. There’s no deadline,” they said.
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