Why impose tariffs on penguins?

Okay, it's only a semi-serious question that Jake Tapper is asking Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture. She's obviously flummoxed by the question, which really has no sensible answer: Why impose a 10% tariff on an Australian territory with no people? When she responds that "the people that are leading this are serious, intentional, patriotic, the smartest people I've ever worked with" -- serious? The smartest people she's ever worked with? Apparently the people she's worked with are pretty damn dumb. What I enjoy most about this clip is when she says "we are unleashing a new golden age, and we will see an economy that will benefit not just every corner of America but our farmers and our ranchers and the people that have been left behind for far too long by both Republicans and Democrats." A new golden age, huh? Well, I guess time will tell; but you're not off to a very good start, lady.

TAPPER: You're imposing a 10% on the Heard and MccDonald islands. They have zero human inhabitants. Why are you putting tariffs on islands that are entirely populated by penguins?

BROOKE ROLLINS: C'mon Jake. Whatever. Listen, the people that are leading this are serious,… pic.twitter.com/QkUdyuzNRw

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025