The Source With Kaitlan Collins: Senator Markwayne Mullin Admits That Tariffs Are a Tax

"Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) called tariffs "a tax" that he says will be passed on to consumers in an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins. Mullin added that tariffs will open up other markets for the US." 

Source:CNN talking to U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (Republican, Oklahoma)

From CNN

From Mediate: 

"Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) made a frank admission on Wednesday, telling CNN that President Donald Trump’s tariffs are effectively a tax that consumers will be stuck paying. Nevertheless, the senator said he supports the tariffs as part of a longer-term effort to encourage the domestic production of goods.

Trump has announced, paused, imposed, and scaled back various tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, the two largest U.S. trading partners. The whirlwind, on/off nature of the tariffs has roiled markets and cast a cloud of uncertainty over the business world.

“[T]he businesses seem confused,” Kaitlan Collins told Mullin on The Source. “What’s a business leader left to think? Or an investor?”

Mullin acknowledged, “It’s tough right now” and that businesses “need certainty.”

“Tariffs is a tax and it will be passed on to consumers,” he conceded. “But it also allows us to have open markets. So, if you want to have open markets and access to other markets, so let’s go past Canada, and let’s go past Mexico and start talking about the rest of the countries we allow to come in here that the president says we want to have reciprocal tariffs on you. If you’re going to charge us 36%, we’re going to charge you 36%. If you want to charge us zero, we’ll charge you zero.”

Collins responded by noting Mullin’s admission that tariffs are essentially a tax. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt bizarrely claimed that tariffs amount to a tax cut for Americans.

“What you just said is important – that a tariff is a tax and it is passed on to consumers,” the host said.

“Of course it is,” Mullin replied. “Everybody knows that.”

“That is something the white house does not acknowledge,” Collins said.

“No, that is something that the president, who as a business person, understands that completely,” Mullin insisted. “No one understands the economy better than this president. There hasn’t been a president that understands the economy better than this president.”

Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that exporting countries pay tariffs imposed by the U.S. on their goods." 

From Mediate

In case you want to re-familiarize yourself with Senator Markwayne Mullin (Republican, Oklahoma) here 2 posts from The New Democrat featuring him. We only use his own words against him: 

“How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night?” Mullin demanded after Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine’s fiery line of questioning. “Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their jobs? And don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, because I know you have... 

The Oklahoma Republican went on to slam lawmakers for inquiring about whether infidelity in Hegseth’s marriages could be disqualifying for the Cabinet position, arguing that multiple politicians divorced spouses under similar circumstances.

“How many senators do you know have got a divorce before cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? No, but it’s for show,” Mullin said. “You guys make sure you make a big show and point out the hypocrisy, because a man’s made a mistake, and you want to sit there and say that he’s not qualified... 

From The New Democrat

Also from The New Democrat: 

"I'm just looking for qualifications. You didn't give me any qualifications.

Starts bringing up the fact that, what if you showed up drunk to your job? How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? (LAUGHTER)

Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job? And don't tell me you haven't seen it, because I know you have.

Kaitlan Collins: 

"I mean, first off, that's a pretty serious accusation there. Do you want to name any of the senators that you're saying-- are drinking on the job?

Senator Markwayne Mullin: 

No, and that's -- my whole point was, is that these senators, on the other side of the aisle, was trying to act like they were had more morals than Pete Hegseth. And they don't.

If you're going to hold someone accountable for their behavior, then hold everybody accountable. I'm not saying, I'm the most moral man or the perfect individual. I'm absolutely not. I wasn't the one calling him out. But if you're going to hold -- if you're going to hold someone at that standard, then hold everybody at that standard...

But I was in that room today. And when you said that, I guess, the thought that went through my head was, if what you're saying is true, and your colleagues do show up drinking, to come to work and vote, which I think would maybe be concerning to those taxpayers who pay them, how is the bad behavior of a sitting senator, a defense of someone who wants to run the Pentagon... 

From The New Democrat

Senator Markwayne Mullin: "Of course tariffs are a tax. Everyone knows that". So, either White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and President Trump are lying, (which is my bet) or they're the only 2 people in Washington who don't know that. What do you think? 

Look, I'm willing to bet that since Senator Mullin was a businessman before coming to Congress, that he simply didn't get caught telling the truth under oath (so to speak) and that he was being completely honest when he said: "Of course tariffs are a tax. Everyone knows that". 

But this is the same U.S. Senator who back in January at Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense Said: 

"How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? (LAUGHTER)

Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job? And don't tell me you haven't seen it, because I know you have... 

So is Senator Mullin speaking from personal experience here?

Did he put 1 down before he went on Kaitlain Collins show last night, just to relax? 

Perhaps he had a few before he left the U.S. Capitol to go over to CNN and do that interview? 

Would this explain how a politician gets caught not just telling the truth on national TV, or on a news program, but contradicting not just the President of the United States, but the dear leader of his own party and the MAGA movement? 

I don't want to be too insulting here (because I might have already) but Markwayne Mullin is not a dumb man or an irresponsible man. Perhaps lacks political judgment and speaks too much while trying to pull both of his feet out of his mouth at the same time. I think he's right when he said: 

"Of course tariffs are a tax. Everyone knows that". And he actually believes that because he's a successful businessman who already knew that. 

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