US President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his aggressive trade policies toward China, claiming that Beijing “probably will eat tariffs” in a bid to justify his administration's sweeping new levies, upon completing 100 days in the Oval office.
Speaking to ABC News anchor Terry Moran in a televised interview, Trump defended his ongoing trade war and downplayed American economic anxieties.
“So 145% tariffs on China,” Moran noted. “And that is basically an embargo.”
“That’s good,” Trump responded. “They deserve it.”
When challenged that such steep tariffs could drive up prices on everything from electronics to clothing and home construction materials, Trump remained defiant: “You don’t know that. You don’t know whether or not China’s gonna eat it.”
Moran pushed back, calling the price hikes “mathematics.”
“China probably will eat those tariffs,” Trump repeated. “They were ripping us off like nobody’s ever ripped us off … They’re not doing that anymore.”
'We've been ripped off by every country'
Trump positioned the tariffs as part of a long-overdue reset of America's global economic relationships. “We’ve been ripped off by every country all over the world,” he said.
“They thought we were stupid people, and we were. And I said, ‘That’s not gonna happen. We’re not gonna let that happen," Trump said.
Asked if Americans should brace for tough times, Trump replied, “I don’t think so. I think great times are ahead.”
Still, polling paints a more cautious picture. A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found over 70% of Americans believe the economy is in poor shape, and many see Trump’s tariffs as a contributor to inflation and potential recession.
In response, Trump insisted he has already delivered relief. “Look, since I came in gasoline is down, groceries are down, egg prices are down — many things are down, just about everything,” he claimed, despite economists’ warnings that tariffs often shift costs to consumers.
“Hang tough,” Trump urged Americans again, insisting, “It won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic.”
Speaking to ABC News anchor Terry Moran in a televised interview, Trump defended his ongoing trade war and downplayed American economic anxieties.
“So 145% tariffs on China,” Moran noted. “And that is basically an embargo.”
“That’s good,” Trump responded. “They deserve it.”
When challenged that such steep tariffs could drive up prices on everything from electronics to clothing and home construction materials, Trump remained defiant: “You don’t know that. You don’t know whether or not China’s gonna eat it.”
Moran pushed back, calling the price hikes “mathematics.”
“China probably will eat those tariffs,” Trump repeated. “They were ripping us off like nobody’s ever ripped us off … They’re not doing that anymore.”
'We've been ripped off by every country'
Trump positioned the tariffs as part of a long-overdue reset of America's global economic relationships. “We’ve been ripped off by every country all over the world,” he said.
“They thought we were stupid people, and we were. And I said, ‘That’s not gonna happen. We’re not gonna let that happen," Trump said.
Asked if Americans should brace for tough times, Trump replied, “I don’t think so. I think great times are ahead.”
Still, polling paints a more cautious picture. A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found over 70% of Americans believe the economy is in poor shape, and many see Trump’s tariffs as a contributor to inflation and potential recession.
In response, Trump insisted he has already delivered relief. “Look, since I came in gasoline is down, groceries are down, egg prices are down — many things are down, just about everything,” he claimed, despite economists’ warnings that tariffs often shift costs to consumers.
“Hang tough,” Trump urged Americans again, insisting, “It won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic.”
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