Fox Host Rips AOC, Newsom for Lacking 'Cojones' to Impose Tariffs

Kayleigh McEnany claimed Democratic leaders lack the 'fortitude' and 'bravery' of Trump on trade policy

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed on Fox News that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and other Democratic leaders lack the 'cojones' or courage that former President Donald Trump had to impose tariffs. Her comments were widely criticized online, with many arguing the Democrats avoided tariffs because they 'have a brain' unlike Trump.

Why it matters

McEnany's comments reflect the ongoing partisan divide over Trump's aggressive trade policies, which many economists have criticized as harmful to American consumers and businesses. The debate over tariffs also highlights broader differences between the Republican and Democratic parties on economic issues.

The details

During a segment on Fox News' 'The Five', McEnany said that leaders like Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Amy Klobuchar 'don't have the fortitude, the strength, the bravery President Trump had' to use tariffs. She claimed they 'wouldn't have bombed Fordo [Iran], they wouldn't have captured [Venezuelan leader Nicolás] Maduro, they wouldn't have used tariffs to leverage great deals for the United States.' Her comments were widely mocked online, with critics arguing the Democrats avoided tariffs because they 'have a brain' unlike Trump.

  • McEnany made the comments on Friday, February 13, 2026 during an episode of The Five on Fox News.

The players

Kayleigh McEnany

Former White House Press Secretary under President Donald Trump and current Fox News host.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic Congresswoman representing New York's 14th district.

Gavin Newsom

Democratic Governor of California.

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What they’re saying

“ONLY Donald Trump has the cojones to hit Americans with a super regressive tax like this.”

— S.V. Dáte, HuffPost White House correspondent (X)

“They wouldn't have implemented tariffs because they have a brain. Something Donald Trump does not have.”

— Vince Wilson, Liberal political commentator (Twitter)

The takeaway

McEnany's comments highlight the deep partisan divide over Trump's trade policies, with Democrats arguing the former president's tariffs harmed American consumers and businesses while Republicans view them as a sign of strength and economic nationalism. The debate over tariffs reflects broader ideological differences between the two parties on economic issues.