New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman revealed on the podcast “Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso” that President Donald Trump was unaware his tariffs on Chinese goods had climbed to 145%.
According to Haberman and fellow New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan, Trump reacted with disbelief after learning the rate.
Haberman argued Trump set tariff rates based on instinct rather than analysis: “He says put them in for 10. So that’s not a formula; that’s a gut feeling.”
Stunned, Fragoso asked, “Just to clarify, just so we have this, he is surprised about his own numbers?”
Haberman confirmed and explained the president is eager to reach a deal with China.
She also described a process where advisers, including trade adviser Peter Navarro, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, presented competing figures to Trump.
The president dismissed some and relied on aide Natalie Harp to produce his preferred numbers.
Trump escalated tariffs for about a week after “Liberation Day” before pulling back when the bond market neared meltdown, pausing levies on most countries while maintaining China’s 145% rate.
Haberman and Swan reported this story, among others, in their book “Regime Change.” Since its release, Trump has described the book as fiction and criticized Haberman on social media.
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