Michael Steele, the host of MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” voiced his frustration over President Donald Trump’s response to the economic downturn following his “Liberation Day” tariffs. The president spent his weekend golfing in Florida.
“Folks, how many different ways do we have to tell you? He don’t care about you!” Steele exclaimed during Sunday’s broadcast, expressing concern as markets continued to decline after Trump’s broad tariff announcements.
During the broadcast, Steele and co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend discussed the escalating economic worries while criticizing the president’s apparent indifference. Sanders-Townsend noted that despite falling markets and global protests, Trump insisted that the tariffs are “here to stay.” J.P. Morgan now forecasts a 60 percent chance of the United States entering a recession.
Sanders-Townsend highlighted that Americans, from “farmers from Kentucky to dress sellers in Pennsylvania, fear for their livelihoods” amid growing economic uncertainty.
Steele also criticized Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head. After playing a clip where Musk suggested, “Both Europe and the United States should move … to a zero tariff situation. That has certainly been my advice to the president,” Steele responded with clear frustration.
“Dude, you are complicit in this!” Steele shot back as the clip ended. “Your fingerprints are all over this, and now you’re going to act like because your companies are beginning to feel the pinch?”
The increasing division among Trump administration officials over tariff policy has become more visible. While Musk has advocated for a “zero-tariff situation” between the U.S. and Europe, Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has strongly supported the tariffs, leading to noticeable disagreements within the administration. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has maintained that the tariffs should remain, although Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that more than 50 countries have contacted the U.S. to negotiate reductions.
Meanwhile, as global markets reacted negatively to the tariff announcements, Trump spent the weekend at his golf properties in Florida. He posted a video of himself teeing off on Truth Social as stocks continued to decline, though the timing of the video was unclear.
Steele expressed his frustration with those who supported Trump, who are now voicing concerns about economic difficulties. “I don’t want to hear this from people about you know, how painful this is,” he said, referring to Trump supporters.
“Donald Trump is on the golf course,” Steele continued. “You should be happy!”
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has warned that the tariffs were “significantly larger than expected” and were “highly likely” to cause increased inflation. Despite these warnings, Trump has defended his policies, asserting they would encourage companies to move back to the United States.
Democratic leaders have joined in criticizing Trump’s response to the economic situation. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC, stating that Trump’s “reckless tariffs” have increased costs for American taxpayers and harmed retirement savings. Jeffries urged Republican members of Congress to join Democrats in opposing these policies.
Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on social media: “While Donald Trump is relaxing on the golf course, working people are worried about rising prices and an economic crash.”
Economic uncertainty has also created tensions among Trump’s billionaire supporters. Several prominent business leaders, including Jamie Dimon (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co), Bill Ackman (Founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management), and Larry Fink (Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Inc., the world’s largest asset management firm), have expressed concerns about the tariffs’ economic impact. Despite suggestions of potential negotiations or a pause, the administration has denied reports of a 90-day delay in implementing the tariffs.
Steele concluded his critique with a warning to Americans about what they might expect in the coming months as economic conditions potentially worsen.
“The pain you think you’re feeling now?” Steele asked viewers. “Guess what? When you get into May, June, July. When you call an agency and nobody’s there to pick up the phone? Just know Donald Trump is on a golf course thinking about you.”
