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Trump Says 'Nobody Knows What Magnets Are' in Oval Office Remarks

The Oval Office digression prompted fact-checks on his tariff claims.

Overview

  • Asked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trump pivoted to rare earths and magnets, asserting China holds a monopoly and warning that cars, electronics and the internet would cease without them.
  • He said he threatened a 158% tariff that led China to "make peace" and claimed China is paying the tariffs, while reporters noted tariffs are charged to importers and often passed on to consumers.
  • Trump added that building a domestic "magnet system" would take two years and repeated the remarks in a Fox News appearance.
  • Critics on X ridiculed the "nobody knows" comment, sharing memes and references to Insane Clown Posse’s magnet lyric.
  • Coverage recalled his past magnet misstatements, and HuffPost reported China has reportedly eased some rare-earth export rules after a recent TrumpXi engagement.