The White House is mocking former President Donald Trump over a rambling answer he gave to a question about potential legislation that would make child care affordable.
Mr. Trump, the GOP nominee speaking to the Economic Club of New York, did not outline specific bills but suggested that tariffs on other countries’ imports would help to pay for child care.
The former president’s winding answer started with praise for Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, and Mr. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, for their work on the issue.
“I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I’m talking about — that, because — look, child care is, child care is, couldn’t, you know, there’s something you have to have it, in this country, you have to have it,” Mr. Trump said Thursday.
Mr. Trump then said he would tax foreign nations when they send products to the U.S.
“Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we’re talking about, including child care,” Mr. Trump said.
The administration said his answer, which went viral online, was confusing and that Mr. Trump’s favored economic tool — tariffs — would raise the cost of everyday goods.
“If you have any idea what the hell that answer means, you’re a better detective than I am, because these tariffs that he wants to apply across the board would amount to a $4,000 tax increase on working families,” senior deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates said on MSNBC.
High costs are a sore spot for Vice President Kamala Harris as she takes on Mr. Trump, given years of inflation during the Biden-Harris administration. Mr. Trump says costs would go down immediately under his administration, in part by unleashing American energy via drilling for fossil fuels.
The Biden-Harris team is trying to turn the tables by saying “MAGAnomics” means tax cuts for corporations and billionaires, while regular Americans pay more for goods.
“This MAGAnomics agenda would worsen inflation, would raise costs on basic items that every family needs, including items that are fundamental for child care,” Mr. Bates said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.