CNN Panel Blows Up as Scott Jennings Argues Dems’ Stance on Trump Tariffs ‘Makes No Sense’

CNN NewsNight’s panel erupted into a heated exchange Wednesday night as conservative commentator Scott Jennings argued with host Abby Phillip and fellow panelists that higher income taxes backed by Democrats would ultimately be passed on to consumers in much the same way Democrats argue tariffs are.

Jennings was debating Trump’s economic policies with former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, The View co-host Ana Navarro and Democratic strategist Bakari Sellers, when he challenged critics who describe tariffs as a tax ultimately paid by American consumers.

“I have a sincere question for you because you all very concerned about the tariffs as taxes,” Jennings said. “If Donald Trump tomorrow said, ‘I’ll trade you elimination of all tariffs for elimination of all corporate income taxes,’ would you take the deal?”

The question was met with several seconds of puzzled silence around the table before Phillip cut in: “What is that, Scott?”

“Would you take all taxes down to zero?” Jennings replied.

De Blasio answered, “No,” while Navarro waved away the premise.

“What is the point of that hypothetical, Scott?” Phillip pressed.

As laughter was heard, Jennings argued that Democrats’ opposition to tariffs was inconsistent with their support for higher corporate taxes. He would go on to argue that both measures impacted consumers in the end.

“The point is this, because you’re mad about certain taxes, but every Democrat constantly argues for tax increases on corporations while arguing against tariffs. It makes no sense,” he said.

Phillip responded: “Scott, you’re the conservative at this table. That’s why, in some ways, it’s so comedic.”

Jennings then turned toward Sellers, who was laughing, and raised his voice: “Do you not understand this? It’s a very simple argument!”

Phillip pushed back: “We’re talking for a second. You have to bend over backwards to explain the conservative rationale for tariffs and I don’t see you doing it. You keep telling me this is what Trump believes.

“You got to make a choice,” quipped Navarro.

“Trump believes that if you stop trading with countries, you make money,” Phillip continued. “That’s not how that works, and that’s not how tariffs work. Tariffs are taxes on Americans, not on other countries.”

“The rationale is very simple. They believe tariffs will stimulate manufacturing jobs in the United States. And in fact, last month it did. That’s number one,” Jennings replied.

Phillip interjected: “So let’s pause there for just a second because yes, you’re right, last month it did. It did not for 2025. So it has not been a clear story of a manufacturing boom as a result of these tariffs. In fact, many factory jobs stagnated in Trump’s first year in office, Scott. Look, it is fine to want to strategically reshore American jobs, but nothing that we are talking about right now is strategic. Trump slapped a random number, percentage-wise on tariffs, on every country in the world. Explain that.”

Jennings replied: “Let me answer your specific question about tariffs as taxes. I agree with you. Tariffs are a form of taxes. So are corporate income taxes. My question to you all is very simple. If you’re so upset about tariffs as taxes being depressive of economic activity, would you trade all the tariffs for a zeroing out of corporate income tax?”

He added: “Why are certain taxes bad? Because Trump did one. And you want to do the other.”

“Not to mention that tariffs have been deemed unconstitutional and yet –” Navarro began as the panel descended into chaos and chatter.

Navarro added: “And the people running for the Senate, the Republicans running for Senate in Maine, like Susan Collins and Mike Rogers in Michigan, that border Canada are going to be running on how they oppose these tariffs.”

Sellers: “No person running for United States Senate is going to take Scott’s position on that, either, because it’s patently absurd.

“It’s absurd? What’s absurd?” Jennings shot back.

“You’re asking people to trade. You’re asking me, do I want to get rid of corporate taxes or get rid of tariffs?” Sellers laughed.

Jennings returned: “I’m saying get rid of all of it.”

Navarro then mockingly began demanding her tariff and DOGE rebate checks, promised but undelivered by the Trump administration: “Give me my checks, Scott!”

Jennings then used the moment to double down, calling the reaction “revealing”: “You say taxes on corporations in the form of tariffs are passed on to consumers. Where do you think corporate income taxes go on to consumers? Where do you think corporate income taxes go? On to consumers!”

“Hold on a second. No, no, no. I don’t think that they’re both the same. They’re not,” the host countered.

“You just said they’re all taxes!” Jennings protested.

Phillip went on to argue that tariffs raise the price of goods, while Jennings countered that raising income taxes likewise impacted businesses in a way that forced them to raise the price of goods.

“Any tax raises the price of all goods!” he said. “If you were the Abby Phillip Corporation and I taxed you, you’d pass it on to your products, whatever they were.”

“Income taxes do not raise prices,” Phillip insisted.

“Oh my goodness, Abby!” Jennings pleaded.

Watch above via CNN.

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