CNBC Anchor Sara Eisen Clashes with Whoopi Goldberg on The View Over Trump Tariffs
Financial news journalist Sara Eisen left Whoopi Goldberg momentarily speechless during a live broadcast of The View on Thursday, after delivering a brutal fact-check of the host's attempt to criticise former President Donald Trump's economic policies. The panel discussion quickly descended into a heated squabble over the impact of Trump's tariffs, with Eisen providing a starkly different perspective from the show's regular co-hosts.
Market Sentiment and Presidential Policies
Goldberg welcomed CNBC anchor Sara Eisen onto the talk show, immediately probing her with the assertion that "the market doesn't really pay attention to who is president, the market does what it does." Eisen responded matter-of-factly, countering: "The market likes who is president. There's a lot of upbeat sentiment from companies and from investors about policies that are helpful for growth."
Seemingly searching for negative commentary, co-host Sunny Hostin interrupted Eisen mid-flow to demand: "Do you think the tariffs are helpful for growth?" Eisen acknowledged that tariffs typically are not beneficial for growth, but added a crucial caveat: "They haven't been as bad as everybody expected." Co-host Joy Behar interjected, arguing that the policies "help for rich people. It doesn't help for poor people or middle-income people."
Eisen's Unwavering Defence of Market Performance
Standing firm, Eisen then argued that despite widespread fears at the time of President Trump's initial tariff announcements, none of those dire predictions materialised. Goldberg fell silent after quizzing Eisen about Trump's appeal to financial markets. Eisen told the panel unequivocally that, contrary to their beliefs, stock markets did indeed respond positively to President Trump.
She elaborated: "Companies have absorbed it. You know what, they've never been more profitable right now. But also they like tax bill." Hostin pressed further, stating: "So, if you're an investor, or you're wealthy, then it's great. If you’re middle class or under the middle class, then it’s not good at all." Eisen agreed with that assessment but urged more Americans to participate in the stock market to benefit.
When Hostin pointed out that minimum wage earners lack exposure to stocks, Eisen highlighted that Trump was advocating for expanded 401k programs to address this very issue. As tensions escalated, Goldberg intervened, remarking: "Sorry about that, it's very rare that we get to sit with a financial person." Defiantly, Eisen encouraged the group to "keep it coming."
Supreme Court Ruling and Broader Implications
This intense exchange on tariffs followed a significant Supreme Court ruling against Trump's economic policy the previous week. In a 6-3 decision, the court determined that Trump lacked the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose tariffs. Trump had utilised this law as the legal foundation for his extensive tariff strategy, which he claimed would enrich the nation.
According to Reuters, citing the Penn-Wharton Budget Model, an estimated $175 billion in tariff revenue is now at stake. Notably, the Court provided no clear guidance on how the administration should handle the billions already collected. This rejection occurred despite the President benefiting from a conservative majority on the bench, having appointed three Supreme Court Justices during his first term: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Intriguingly, despite the Court's 6-3 conservative lean, both Gorsuch and Barrett ruled against the President last Friday, while Kavanaugh authored the dissenting opinion. Trump had imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China upon entering the White House and had threatened other nations with similar measures. The discussion on The View underscored the deep divisions and complex economic realities surrounding these contentious policies.
