In a humiliating interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, failed vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was nearly brought to tears after hearing the United Auto Workers (UAW) union endorse President Trump’s tariffs. Reacting to the shameful display, conservatives mocked Walz and congratulated the UAW for their farsighted opinion.
For context, on March 26, 2025, the Trump administration announced major tariffs on passenger cars and trucks in an attempt to protect American auto jobs, which have been devastated by globalist free trade policies. The decision aligns with Trump’s longstanding economic policy, which emphasized protectionism and reshoring jobs.
Traditionally, the UAW has been a Democratic-leaning union, and endorsing Trump’s tariffs represents a major shakeup. This puts Democrats like Tim Walz in a tough spot, as many blue majorities are built on union support.
Starting off the CNN segment on April 6, 2025, Jake Tapper explained the UAW’s reaction to Trump’s tariffs to a visibly distraught Tim Walz. He said, “President Trump argues these tariffs are needed to bring American manufacturing back and to help American workers left behind in places like Minnesota. He has support from the UAW. ”
Beginning their statement, the UAW said, “This afternoon, the Trump administration announced major tariffs on passenger cars and trucks entering the U.S. market, marking the beginning of the end of a thirty-plus year “free trade” disaster… It signals a return to policies that prioritize the workers who build this country—rather than the greed of ruthless corporations.”
Building on that point, the union expressed how these tariffs are a Godsend to hard-working Americans. They said, “With these tariffs, thousands of good-paying blue-collar auto jobs could be brought back to working-class communities across the United States within a matter of months, simply by adding additional shifts or lines in a number of underutilized auto plants.”
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President Shawn Fain, the head of the union, made his own statement supporting Trump. He wrote, “We applaud the Trump administration for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades. Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions.”
When the embarrassing clip was posted to X, conservatives pounced on Tim Walz’s awkward reaction. The original post read, “Lmao. Tim Walz looks like he’s going to cry as Tapper reads the United Auto Workers’ statement in support of Trump’s tariffs. 
”
Reacting to Walz’s downcast demeanor, many in the comments mocked the failed Democrat. One of the comments said, “Feel bad for Tim. He’s over his head and has no clue how anything works and yet they keep trotting him out there like he’s got solutions. Sadly he’s just too dumb and stupid to have anything but manufactured one liners. Hard to watch”
Featured image from embedded video