A Democratic member of Congress earlier this week made such an embarrassing mistake regarding one of the world’s most famous fruits that one could justify an IQ test for certain members of Congress.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday to defend Trump’s tariff policy when a snarky Rep. Madeline Dean (D-PA) decided to try to entrap him with a question about tariffs on bananas while holding the fruit.
After Lutnick calmly stated the answer (10%), Dean fired back and said Walmart had already increased the tariffs. Unbothered, Lutnick pointed out that there is no tariff for people who manufacture in America.
Immediately following Lutnick’s remark, Dean face-planted with a comment that is news to people in several states, including Hawaii and Florida.
WATCH:
This also happened today:
Rep. Dean: “What’s the tariff on bananas?”
Lutnick: “Generally 10%.”
Rep. Dean: “Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%.”
Lutnick: “If you build in America, there is no tariff.”
Rep. Dean: “We cannot build bananas in America.” pic.twitter.com/PgizO0Uyog
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 5, 2025
TRANSCRIPT:
DEAN: What’s the tariff on bananas? Americans, by the way, LOVE bananas… What’s the tariff on bananas?
LUTNICK: The tariff on bananas would be representative of the countries that produce them.
DEAN: And what’s that tariff?
LUTNICK: Generally 10%.
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%.
LUTNICK: If countries do deals with us, that tariff will go to zero…
DEAN: But the cost is on the American consumer now…Mr. Secretary, I believe you know better. I believe you recognize that a trade deficit is nothing to fear…I wish you would show that truth to this administration.
LUTNICK: There’s no uncertainty if you build in America…There will be no tariff.
DEAN: We can’t produce bananas in America…We cannot build bananas in America.
The truth is that bananas have been grown in America for decades, with the first banana farm established in 1876 in Florida, near Silver Lake.
Today, bananas are grown in several states, with Hawaii producing the most. Florida ranks second.
Other states, such as California, Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona, produce bananas as well, albeit nowhere near the scale of Hawaii and Florida due to their climate.
Florida is also a major exporter of bananas, particularly specialty ones such as Thai and cooking bananas.
