This is a very interesting interview because Jake Tapper makes Larry Kudlow face up to the previous statements he’s made on tariffs, and Kudlow does a pretty decent job of explaining what he thinks.
Watch below:
I’m not sure if Kudlow sufficiently explained the difference between his previous view and his current Trumpy view. Basically he says he was against broad-based tariffs, but not necessarily against specific tariffs targeting China. And he’s right – nearly no one, except China, denies that they cheat, and that the market is not completely fair because of their manipulation. BUT he doe seem to contradict himself when he dismisses the talk as just negotiation and then says he’s in favor of them anyway. He’s also said that there won’t be a trade war, even as the rhetoric continues to escalate.
So has Kudlow sold his soul to populism?
Neil Cavuto definitely thinks so: