Can an adorable 2nd grader help Trump understand trade deficits? Jimmy Kimmel gives it a try.
On Thursday night, President Trump poured gas on his nascent trade war with China, saying he may impose another $100 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, on top of the more than $50 billion his administration and Beijing have already announced for each other. This is something "just about everyone on both sides thinks is a terrible idea," Jimmy Kimmel said on Thursday's Kimmel Live. "Yesterday, he defended his plan by highlighting our trade deficit with the Chinese. He tweeted: 'When you're already $500 billion DOWN, you can't lose!' — which, by the way, is the Trump company motto."
"The thing about this tweet and the way Trump is playing this is, he seems to think that if one side has a deficit, that side is losing by $500 billion," Kimmel said. "That's not how trade deficits work. So to help the president understand it in very simple terms, we asked a second-grader named Shiloh to help explain it to him." And you know what? Shiloh did a pretty good job — Trump conceivably could learn something from her presentation, and he's not alone.
"That makes a lot of sense," Kimmel said, thanking Shiloh. "And be honest, how many of you didn't know any of that stuff either?" Kimmel raised his hand, too.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Reality TV stars charged in 'finfluencer' crackdown
Speed Read Lauren Goodger and Rebecca Gormley among seven stars charged by the Financial Conduct Authority
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
New Caledonia: is Azerbaijan to blame for deadly riots in French overseas territory?
Today's Big Question Catalyst for the disorder is new legislation that would expand the eligible electorate, but Baku is accused of fomenting turmoil
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: what has the Pope got to do with climate change?
Podcast Plus, the pros and cons of marathon mortgages, and the economic impact of Taylor Swift
By The Week Staff Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published