‘That’s the Idea’: Trump White House Dunks on Chris Matthews Over Tariff Criticism
The White House offered a short and blunt response to Chris Matthews after he questioned how the United States could ever “create more wood” to make up for lumber imported from Canada.
Matthews joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday where he accused Republicans of being “half brain dead in their inability” to tell the president he is wrong on tariffs. Trump has insisted amid stock market troubles that his tariffs on nations will lead to more beneficial deals and a boost to U.S. manufacturing.
Matthews argued, however, that much of the imports the country brings in will be difficult to replicate. The longtime Hardball host was most perplexed at how we will make up for Canadian lumber.
The United States imports a large portion of lumber from Canada, relying on the northern neighbor mainly for their softwood production. According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Canada sent $28 billion worth of lumber to the United States in 2021, which would account for almost half of lumber imports.
Matthews earned pushback from MAGA supporters on social media on Wednesday for his take that the United States can’t make up for lumber shortages that will result from Trump’s tariffs.
He argued:
We get so much of our lumber, our two-by-fours, from Canada. That’s where we get it from. Canada! We get our newsprint from up there for newspapers. The fact is we get, what are we going to do, have more lumber made in the United States now? What is our plan now? Oh, we’re not going to import wood, so we’re going to make more wood? We’re going create more wood, is that it? I don’t think we are in a position to simply replicate the imports coming into this country with our own products. They can’t always be done. And I think a wood’s example of that, wood. Are we going to more wood in this country because of our trade deal? I don’ think so.
The rapid response team account for the White House responded to Matthews question by confirming that, yes, the plan is to “make more wood” in the United States.
“That’s the idea,” the X account Rapid Response 47 wrote in response to a clip of Matthews.
The message also included a White House statement from March announcing several actions to kickstart the “immediate expansion of American timber production.”
Watch above via MSNBC.
