More from the article ...

... As the White House faces mounting scrutiny over proposed tariffs, the director of the National Economic Council struggled Sunday to explain why President Donald Trump has proposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazil.

In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl on "This Week," Kevin Hassett appeared to argue the tariffs on Brazil are necessary not because of a trade deficit but rather to send a message about Trump's displeasure with the country's treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. ...

@#1 ... In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl on "This Week," Kevin Hassett appeared to argue the tariffs on Brazil are necessary not because of a trade deficit but rather to send a message about Trump's displeasure with the country's treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. ...

Wait, what?

The 50% tariff on Brazil is not because of a trade deficit with Brazil (we have a trade surplus with Brazil), or moving manufacturing to the US (the only US coffee is Kona from Hawaii)?

But purely because he seems to want to punish Brazil for prosecuting his apparent autocratic friend for crimes that may have been committed?

So, I ave to ask, has Pres Trump been lying about his purpose behind tariffs all along?