CBS’s Margaret Brennan asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick if he was involved in AI President Donald Trump’s extensive tariff policy On Sunday.
“Facing the Country” host faces Lutnik Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcementin many countries, the tariff rate is high. This includes benchmark tariffs on all U.S. imports starting Saturday.
The news has caused confusion among investors as the stock market has suffered some of its worst losses since the 2020 stock pandemic.
Finance Minister Bessent tells countries not to retaliate after ratifying “liberation day”
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on reciprocity tariffs in the Rose Garden held in the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 2, 2025, and the publication holds a chart. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Brennan linked market uncertainty to the “random” countries she believes are targeting, and even asked the government whether it uses AI to develop its policies.
“[W]Hen, we see the president standing in the rose garden, sticking with the chart you helped make, which isn’t really the tariff. This is actually confusing for investors because it is another formula and the country itself seems to be random. Like, why did you hear that the McDonald’s Islands are not exported to the United States and are actually inhabited by penguins, why do they face a 10% tariff? Have you generated this using AI? ”
Lutnick laughed at the question until Brennan further added him to the McDonald Islands tariff list.
“What happened is that if you put anything on the list, those countries that are trying to basically arbitrate the United States will turn to us for help,” Lutnik replied.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick answered questions about Trump’s tariff plan. (Screen shot/CBS)
He added: “They are just built through other countries, through the United States. So the president knows that he’s tired of it and he’s going to solve it.”
White House Economic Commission Director Kevin Hassett added ABC News’ “This Week”. More than 50 countries The government has been contacted to negotiate a new trade agreement. However, he acknowledged that consumers could cause short-term pain to consumers as prices are expected to rise.
Other tariffs will come into effect on April 9.
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