Sen Fetterman counters Fox News anchor over his old comment on Trump tariffs going 'pretty well'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sen John Fetterman pushed back Saturday, February 21, after a Fox News anchor suggested he had previously described President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy as going “pretty well.”

Fetterman clarified that his earlier remarks were narrowly focused on the economy avoiding collapse and not an endorsement of the broader trade policy.

The exchange came during a Fox News appearance following the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Trump’s tariffs as unlawful.

John Fetterman clarifies his earlier remarks

Anchor Aishah Hasnie noted that Fetterman, along with Bill Maher, had previously acknowledged the economy did not spiral as some critics predicted.

“Senator, you have said before that this tariff trade war has actually worked out pretty well for the US. Bill Maher has said something similar, too. We didn’t go into a deep depression, things are okay with the economy. Would you or any Senate Democrat give congressional authority to issue tariffs if he were to come and ask for it?” Hasnie asked.

Fetterman responded by explaining the context of his prior comments.

“I mean, what I said was in the context that, yeah, you didn’t crater the economy and you did not trash the stock market, but I have also said there’s part of those tariffs that I’ll never get. I don’t understand the upside to go after our allies, whether it’s Canada or Mexico or, you know, other nations in Europe. I don’t understand that because they are allies.”

He added that he would be open to tariffs if they were strategically focused.

“I think he should work with Congress because I think at least with me, you have an open mind and if we can use those kinds of tariffs to go after China and isolate China, I absolutely would vote and want to support those things.”

Fetterman speaks about global tariffs

Hasnie then asked about Trump’s newly announced 15% global tariffs and the president’s argument that tariffs provide leverage ahead of negotiations with China.

“He is going to China in a couple of weeks now and he has often said that tariffs give him a lot of leverage. So, what do you think of these 15% tariffs that he just announced?” she asked.

Fetterman acknowledged the leverage argument but drew a distinction between targeting adversaries and allies.

“Well, I do agree. That’s why those tariffs, you know, do have some leverage and I do think that the president is entitled to have some of that kind of leverage, but to use that kind of leverage on someone like China, not going after, you know, our allies like Canada and others.”

He also argued that broad tariffs have affected everyday costs.

“Like Brazil, to me, it seems like it’s just made coffee unnecessarily more expensive. So, for me, if you can isolate and hold China accountable, I would absolutely support that and use the kinds of leverage for those tariffs."