A tariff is a tax imposed by the government of a country on imports or exports of goods.
For example, a 3% tariff on corn would be a 3% tax added to the cost of corn, which would be paid by the consumer.
Donald Trump doesn't understand this.
Trump’s claim that tariffs are "not going to be a cost" to American taxpayers couldn't be more false. Tariffs are, in fact, taxes on middle-class Americans, with increased prices from tariffs hitting consumers and hurting American exporters like farmers.
And because he doesn't understand how tariffs work, he's also fixated on the word "tariff" and now brings it up even when not specifically asked about tariffs.
In his now-viral non-answer to a question regarding cutting childcare costs, Trump brought the subject back to tariffs as a means of helping struggling parents afford childcare, even though tariffs would add thousands of dollars in taxes to the average family.
Trump also wants a "wealth fund" for the country. “Why don’t we have a wealth fund?" he mused at the forum. "Other countries have wealth funds. We have nothing. We have nothing. We’re going to have a sovereign wealth fund or we can name it something different.”
Billionaire Mark Cuban has been sparring on Twitter with Trump's pet Stephen Miller and other MAGA followers over "Donold's" complete lack of understanding regarding tariffs.
Vice President Kamala Harris recently delivered her new proposals to cut taxes on small businesses and the middle class during a speech at a brewery in New Hampshire, so expect the issue of tariffs to be raised by the debate moderators on Tuesday night.