Trump jokes about tariffs on lettuce and smoke
President Donald Trump jokingly suggested imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada in response to a foodborne illness outbreak and wildfire smoke. The comments were made during an Oval Office press conference amid ongoing public health and environmental concerns.
Why it matters
The remarks highlight the intersection of domestic health crises and international trade policy rhetoric.
Hear this story President Donald Trump joked Friday, July 24, that he may need to impose tariffs on Mexico for “the lettuce” and Canada for “the smoke," referencing two issues that have recently affected millions of Americans: a growing foodborne illness outbreak and wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada.
The remarks came during an Oval Office press conference after Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked when it would be “safe to eat lettuce again.”
“I think we'll put a major tariff on Mexico because of the lettuce. And we'll put a big tariff on Canada because of the smoke,” Trump said.
The president's comments come as a time when federal health officials are investigating a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people nationwide, while smoke from Canadian wildfires has repeatedly triggered air quality alerts across parts of the United States.
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