'Frightening Moment In Our History': Jack Reed Outlines The Ways Trump Is Making The Economy Worse

At a town hall event on Monday, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) spoke about the economy under President Trump.

Transcript

00:00We're in the midst of a very stressful, indeed frightening moment in our history.

00:05Just look around.

00:06The stock market is collapsing.

00:09The bond market, which usually in that situation soars, is also failing.

00:16We have stress on the dollar.

00:19That's just the international economics.

00:21And these tariffs that the president's proposal will make it all much worse.

00:25When you look inside the kind of dynamic of international politics,

00:32we're alienating our friends and we're cozying out to prove it's not the right dynamic, in my view.

00:39And then the president is waging a war on all the institutions of government

00:45and also the institutions of knowledge.

00:49And what's that going to do?

00:51Unchecked, he could do anything he wants.

00:55And he's suggested some things that are just completely outside the bounds of the Constitution.

01:02And also this assault on information, the National Institutes of Health, the universities, et cetera,

01:09is going to set back our research, our innovation, substantially, which means China will leave ahead.

01:18And we're all understanding that in different ways.

01:21And it's going to come together.

01:23Now, Americans always understand their rights and in a difficult moment shoulder their responsibilities.

01:34And that's one of these difficult moments now.

01:37We are here to protect the Constitution and build a society of opportunity, not entitlement.

01:44And it's so special that you would come here tonight because you are America.

01:50You are people that believe deeply in our government and want to see our constitutional order maintained.

02:00You want to see a place where opportunity is available, not based on your zip code, but based on your effort.

02:11And I'm here to listen, frankly, because the wisdom of the American people is the surest star to follow in dangerous seas.

02:23Thank you very much.

02:25Thank you very much.