Rep. Suhas Subramanyam Mocks Trump’s Tariffs On Penguins

Photo: @RepSuhas

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, announced on April 2, are so broad they even reach the penguins—literally. The uninhabited Heard Island and McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean, where even the seals are probably wondering how they got involved, are now part of the list of places facing a 10% tax on U.S. imports.

Yes, you read that right—these remote, volcanic islands are included because they’re technically Australian territory.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) weighed in with his hilarious take and image on X, “BREAKING: Residents on Heard and McDonald Islands Unfazed by Trump’s Tariffs (they are penguins).”

Located more than 2,000 miles southwest of Perth, Australia, these islands are home to penguins, seals, and a few very confused birds who probably didn’t sign up for this. While the landscape is mostly barren (except for the wildlife that apparently didn’t get the memo about tariffs), the inclusion of these islands on the list has raised some eyebrows.

“Why not?” seems to be the White House’s response, with an official explaining that since the islands are part of Australia, they’re fair game for tariffs too. These islands, which require a permit just to visit, might be more than a little far from the U.S., but that’s not stopping the taxman.