Donald Trump mocked for imposing tariffs on penguins living on uninhabited islands

Donald Trump announced the long-awaited 'Liberation Day' tariffs yesterday (2 April), which are set to be imposed on countries across the world.

The US President vowed to make the moves as he claimed that their taxpayers had 'been ripped off for more than 50 years'.

In a highly-anticipated announcement yesterday, the 78-year-old announced that every country would be hit with a tariff of at least 10 percent, while China got the brunt of it with tariffs that could rise to 54 percent.

Luckily for Brits, the UK is in the 10 percent bracket, with talks between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump currently ongoing to strike an economic deal.

But while people across the world may be reeling at the incoming price hikes of everyday items, some regions that have been hit have no people at all.

That's right, in the President's bid to give the US 'economic independence', he has put tariffs on islands inhabited by animals.

Not just any animals, but penguins and seals.

Luckily though, those on the Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic have only had a ten percent tariff imposed on them.

You can only feel for Pingu, Happy Feet and co, how could they have seen this coming?

Luckily for our waddling friends, they haven't been considered among the 'worst offenders' among America's trading partners and given higher tariffs.

With an area of 372 km² across the two islands, it proves that nobody is safe from the US tariffs, and this includes sea creatures that spend up to three quarters of their time in the water.

Unsurprisingly, a number of officials and members of the media wasted no time in ridiculing the move to place tariffs on the islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean.

The islands are two-thirds of the way to Antarctica from Madagascar (Google Maps)

While Heard and McDonald Islands are technically Australian territory, it is located 4,100km from the city of Perth, on the west coast of the country.

A White House official told Axios that because of this, it would be included on Trump's chart.

For reference, if you're looking at a globe, you'll have to turn it upside down to spot the tiny islands.

Taking to social media, Trump's former communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, joked: "The penguins have been ripping us off for years."

Other former government officials, such as ex-Congressman Tom Malinowski, also shared his thoughts online, saying: "The Heard Island and McDonald penguins have been taking advantage of us for too long - it's about time we stood up to them!"

The Washington Post National Security editor shared these thoughts, adding: "For far too long, the penguins on the uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic have ripped off American taxpayers.

"That ends today."

That's a relief.

Other animals on uninhabited islands across the world should be worried (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Members of the public also couldn't believe the news, sharing what they thought online.

"Trump has put a 10 percent tariff on the Heard Island and McDonald which has a population of ZERO people and is inhabited only by penguins. What do the penguins sell to the USA?" One asked.

Another wrote: "Y’all thought being a penguin would protect you from Trump’s tariffs.

"Guess again."

A third put: "Imagine being a penguin living on an island with no people, and no industry, and suddenly being forced to look for a job in order to pay for Trump’s tariffs?"

As you can imagine, GIFs of the Penguins of Madagascar, Happy Feet, and even Surf's Up flooded timelines as people were in disbelief over the move.

We can only hope that the penguins have started budgeting as a result.