Watch: Scrambling Trump Cabinet member unable to name one trade deal president has 'inked'
Donald Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins found herself desperately searching her memory on CNN for one trade deal the president has pulled off when asked about his boast in a Time magazine interview.
Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," with host Dana Bash, the very talkative Rollins responded to a question about Trump's much derided "200 deals" boast that has since fallen apart by promising something might be coming soon.
"The president told Time magazine, quote, 'I have made 200 deals," Bash pointed out to her guest. "He didn't give us any details about what those could be, what countries he's talking about. Has he actually inked any trade deals and with whom?"
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Rollins first pivoted to an earlier discussion about the price of eggs –– a hot topic in the 2024 election –– which led host Bash to interrupt with, "Let's focus on the trade and on the deals."
"Yes, for sure," Rollins replied. "On the deals, we have 100 countries that are knocking on the door, I believe. I'm not in the room, I'm not negotiating the trade deals, but my understanding is we should have several this week that are coming forward that are very, very close."
"China is a very important one," he quickly added. "Every day we are in conversation with China, along with those other 99 countries that have come to the table. Many countries have already flown to Washington and are meeting with [Commerce] Secretary Lutnick, meeting with [Treasury] Secretary Bessent, meeting with our USTR Jamison Greer. And there is a tremendous amount of progress on all fronts that we'll see again more this week."
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Pressed by Bash, "You said that there are talks with China every day. Who are the talks with and at what level because the Chinese are saying that's not true," Rollins demurred.
"Well, according to our team in Washington, the conversations are ongoing regarding multiples of trade," she attempted. "But here –– multiples of the trade goods that are coming out and going in –– but the bottom line with China is this they need us more than we need them. They need our money, they need our markets, they need our consumers and all of the above. So the president has been, I believe, exactly correct. I mean, he is the ultimate dealmaker."
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