Tariffs and “War Efforts”: A Financial Rethink
In the latest episode of *As the Tariff Turns*, Fox News’ Harris Faulkner has decided that Americans should treat President Trump’s impending “Liberation Day” tariffs like a national emergency—because who doesn’t want to add a sprinkle of drama to their 401(k) panic? Critics quickly derided Faulkner’s advice as “ridiculous” and “ludicrous,” proving yet again that you can’t polish a tariff.
“Are we at war?” mused Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis, prompting an existential crisis that may or may not involve therapy. Apparently, discussing retirement savings amidst stock market chaos is now akin to dodging bullets on the frontlines of finance.
On *Outnumbered*, the midday Fox News panel, Faulkner teamed up with former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany—who’s basically the Starbucks of political spin—to dissect White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s ambivalence about whether Trump might be “wrong” on tariffs. Leavitt cleverly posited that Trump is “talking about future generations,” although it’s not clear if that’s future generations of wealth or just future generations of 401(k) grief.
Faulkner confidently declared that, “everything’s going to work out,” which is a reassuring mantra that has comforted many throughout history—right before everything went spectacularly wrong. Using the markets as a “snapshot,” she encouraged those watching to prepare for a little financial turbulence—fortified by the sacrifices of World War II. You know, just your average light comparison!
“Back in the day, when this nation used to go to war, people supported the effort from their living rooms,” she asserted. Perhaps waiting to see if someone will send a care package filled with stocks and bonds, we should all just buckle up for this *bumpy period*—because financial instability is basically a ride at a theme park, right?
On social media, Faulkner was met with the kind of love usually reserved for ex-in-laws. Journalist Mike Rothschild tweeted, “A millionaire TV personality lecturing ‘401(k) people’ about sacrifices”—a sentiment that reflects what many feel when a person in a cashmere sweater talks about ‘financial sacrifice’ as though it involves downsizing their luxury yacht.
Jonah Goldberg, a conservative editor, graciously pointed out that we are not at war with our “allied trading partners,” a fact that might seem obvious if you’ve ever watched an episode of the “Real Housewives” franchise, where tumultuous ‘friendships’ don’t lead to actual battles. He noted, “There is zero evidence that things will dramatically improve after we push through this bumpy period”—which essentially translates to “don’t hold your breath.”
Progressive commentator Roland Martin succinctly characterized Faulkner’s comments as “sheer stupidity,” because there really is no better descriptor for encouraging everyday Americans to take one for the *financial team* when economic stability is hanging by a thread. Former editor Mark Jacob took it a step further, indicating that Faulkner’s perspective might belong in a *dystopian handbook for economic chaos.*
