Do you ever wonder how Trump plans to “make America great again”? Well, his latest decision has caught everyone off guard. He just imposed a 10% tariff on all foreign imports —and that’s just the start. China, Vietnam, and the European Union made it even worse, with some tariffs as high as 54%!
People expected Trump to target major trade partners like China. But what no one saw coming was that his new tariffs also applied to some of the most remote places on Earth—places that barely had any economic activity.
One of the strangest parts of this new tariff plan is that it affects the Heard and McDonald Islands. Never heard of them? You’re not alone. These islands, located near Antarctica, are entirely uninhabited. The only living creatures there are seals and penguins!
Yet Trump’s administration has decided that the islands need to pay a 10% tariff if they ever decide to start exporting to the United States. Since the islands have no businesses and no trade deals, people are scratching their heads over how this could make sense.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the news by saying, “Nowhere on Earth is safe.”
But that’s not all. Trump’s tariffs are also hitting Norfolk Island, a tiny island northeast of Sydney, Australia, with just over 2,000 people. Unlike the empty Heard and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island exports a few goods, mostly leather shoes.
In 2023, the island sent about $655,000 worth of goods to the U.S., with $413,000 coming from footwear sales. But now, Trump has slapped a 29% tariff on Norfolk Island’s products, making them far more expensive for American buyers.
Local business owner Richard Cottle thinks it’s all just a mistake. “Norfolk Island is a little dot in the world. We don’t export anything,” he told Reuters.
Another resident, Guy Duncan, was equally baffled. “Products from Norfolk Island are going to have a 29% tariff? Well, there is no product, so it won’t have an effect. They probably don’t even know where Norfolk Island is in the world. It’s just probably an anomaly.”
Just as Trump made his big tariff announcement, CNBC aired a side-by-side clip of him speaking and the stock market crash in real time. It was a moment that perfectly captured how investors felt—worried, confused, and probably laughing through their frustration.
Of course, Trump defended his decision. He bragged about the stock market’s performance during his term, saying: “From the day of my election, the stock market went up in my first term 88% with Nasdaq going up 155%, more than any president has ever had in any term in office by far. And I think we’re gonna blow that away.”
Oh my god. At the exact moment Trump announced his tariffs the market crashed in real time.
CNBC is SAVAGE for doing the side by side.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) April 2, 2025
But given the market’s instant adverse reaction, many wonder if his confidence is misplaced.
In theory, Trump’s tariffs protect American businesses from foreign competition. However, these high taxes mean that many products imported into the U.S. will become more expensive. This could lead to higher prices for everyday Americans, from shoes to cars to electronics.
Even more bizarre is the claim that some of these remote locations with no real economies are engaging in “currency manipulation and trade barriers.” It’s unclear how that’s possible for places that don’t even have people, let alone a financial system!
Featured image via Screengrab
