Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) spoke out against President Trump late Thursday, questioning his mental acuity amid the economic distress initiated by his aggressive tariff policies.
“It’s surprising that no one challenged his mental clarity or his capacity to serve,” she remarked during an MSNBC interview with Chris Hayes.
“They were busy labeling Joe Biden as ‘Sleepy Joe Biden,’ and as I’ve stated earlier, you could rest peacefully knowing your 401(k) wasn’t vanishing overnight,” she continued.
Her remarks arrive after a significant decline in the stock market this month following Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs affecting nearly all U.S. trade partners. The market saw gains after the president rolled back some tariffs, yet consumer confidence remains low.
In her appearance on Thursday, Crockett criticized the president for undermining the economy that Biden left for the current administration.
During the 2024 election race, Democrats focused on Trump’s mental fitness while also addressing concerns about Biden’s age and cognitive stability.
On Friday, Trump underwent a cognitive evaluation during his annual health check-up at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with results expected to be disclosed on Sunday.
Both politicians’ comments come after a temporary halt of Trump’s administration on most reciprocal tariffs, particularly excluding China.
The 10% baseline tariff affecting Beijing remains, where Trump has imposed an additional 125% import tax. The Chinese government is pursuing a lawsuit regarding its elevated tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%.
Experts have alerted to increasing costs due to the administration’s tariff policies, and on Saturday the administration decided to exempt electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, and semiconductor components.
During her time in the House, Crockett emerged as a controversial figure, elevating her status within the Democratic Party last year. Her “hot wheel” comments directed at Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and his wheelchair earlier this year drew scrutiny for their provocative nature, also stemming from past encounters with controversial Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
