‘Down the Tubes’: Trump rages against MSNBC over tariff criticism

US president Donald Trump lashed out at MSNBC on Friday after watching a segment that questioned the effectiveness of his global tariff plan. Trump accused the network of committing a “major campaign violation” and acting as a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. The outburst, shared on his Truth Social account, targeted host Stephanie Ruhle and threatened financial scrutiny for MSNBC’s parent company, Comcast. Trump called Ruhle “highly neurotic” and claimed she was spreading “lies” about tariffs. Ruhle, NBC’s senior business analyst, had said that Trump may soon walk back the tariffs due to growing signs of economic trouble.Trump further accused MSNBC of being a political tool of the Democratic Party and suggested that it should face tax penalties. He also aimed at Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, saying the media group should be “forced to tell the truth.”At the centre of the criticism was Ruhle’s remark that Trump’s tariff strategy was causing fear among business leaders and port operators. She warned that unless reversed, the plan could trigger a “Covid-like supply chain crisis” within a week.The president, however, insists that his tariffs would bring economic victory, claim that many economists and analysts dispute. “We’re going to make a fortune with tariffs, only smart people understand that, and Stephanie was never known as a ‘High IQ’ person,” he wrote.Trump also claimed the network’s ratings were “down the tubes” and accused them of lying to avoid giving him credit.