Crockett’s iconic response to Trump tariff on ‘penguin’ islands

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has the perfect response to Donald Trump’s controversial new import which have also been applied, surprisingly, to two completely uninhabited islands.

The 78-year-old president unveiled a sweeping array of import tariffs for countries and regions across the globe on Wednesday (2 April).

The tariffs – taxes on imported goods brought in from other countries – include a 10 per cent baseline tax on UK imports, 20 per cent for EU countries, and other tariffs of up to 50 per cent.

The tariffs are already having a significant impact on global and US economics. The Wall Street Journal reported that, as of Thursday (3 April), the Dow Jones has seen a 1600-point decline.

Many were quick to point out that, outside of the severe political and economic implications of Trump’s tariffs, several of the percentage increases came from islands with no human population whatsoever.

Australian trade minister, Don Farrell, pointed out that the McDonald’s Islands, a 4,000km island south of Australia which is predominantly populated by penguins and seals, had been hit with a 10 per cent tariff.

Completely dumbfounded by the decision to tax the island, Texas democrat, Jasmine Crockett, posted to X/Twitter on Thursday, bewildered at the decision.

“So let me get this straight – Trump hit places with NO people and NO trade with the US with tariffs… and it’s literally just penguins out there? PENGUINS???” she wrote.

So let me get this straight—Trump hit places with NO people and NO trade with the U.S. with tariffs… and it’s literally just penguins out there? PENGUINS???

— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) April 3, 2025

Similarly, Farrell joked to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): “Poor old penguins, I don’t know what they did to Trump, but, look, I think it’s an indication, to be honest with you, that this was a rushed process.”

Another island, Heard Island, is a completely uninhabited icy tundra home to Australia’s largest and only active volcano, Big Ben. It was also hit with a 10 per cent tariff.

Analysts have theorised that the import tariffs came from data in 2022 that suggests the US imported $1.4 million worth of unnamed “machinery and electrical” products from the territory.

The Guardian, meanwhile, suggested that the tariffs could have been imposed based on incorrect or misinformed data.