President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday removing tariffs on beef, coffee, and over 200 other agricultural products, earning thunderous applause from supporters who apparently possess the long-term memory of a goldfish with early-onset dementia.
"The Trump Administration has signed an Executive Order that eliminates tariffs on Steaks," enthused political commentator Ian Jaeger, his 340,000 followers presumably too busy celebrating to Google "who created these tariffs in the first place."
The answer, for those keeping score at home: Trump himself, who implemented the tariffs in April during his "Liberation Day" announcement. But why dwell on ancient history from seven months ago?
During Trump's tariff experiment, beef prices climbed nearly 15% and coffee prices soared 19%—a painful lesson in economics that working-class Americans absorbed while their president insisted tariffs were paid by foreign countries, not consumers. Aboard Air Force One Friday, Trump finally conceded tariffs "may, in some cases" raise prices, displaying the kind of economic insight typically found in a freshman Econ 101 student who skipped the first half of the semester.
The reversal comes after Democrats swept off-year elections earlier this month, with voters citing grocery prices as their top concern. Funny how quickly "the most beautiful word in the dictionary"—Trump's previous description of "tariff"—becomes an ugly political liability when your base can't afford their morning coffee.
Critics couldn't resist pointing out the absurdity. "Who uh, who imposed the tariffs in the first place?" one observer asked, while another quipped, "These naturally occurring tariffs must be stopped!!"
But such cynicism misses the genius of Trump's strategy: create a problem, let Americans suffer for months, then solve the problem you created and demand credit.
The real brilliance is watching MAGA influencers who spent months defending tariffs as economic patriotism now celebrate their removal as economic patriotism.
