UAW President Defends Trump Tariffs In Verbal Slugfest With Befuddled MSNBC Hosts

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain engaged in an 11-minute verbal battle with MSNBC hosts Alicia Menendez, Symone Sanders-Townsend and Michael Steele on Sunday over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Trump announced reciprocal tariffs to address import duties and “horrendous imbalances” in trade with other countries during an April 2 Rose Garden event a week after he imposed a 25% tariff covering imported cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and light trucks, in addition to parts including engines and transmissions, citing “national security concerns.” Fain, who had been critical of Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, said the tariffs would provide an incentive for jobs to return to the United States.

“Now, we’ve been very clear,” Fain said. “We do believe, and we know, when it comes to auto, when it comes to heavy truck, and agricultural implementation, we know that tariffs will influence these companies to do the right thing and reinvest in this country and reinvest in factories in this country.”