Donald Trump used Tuesday at an opening to make his frequent argument that imposing huge tariffs on foreign goods would amount to an economic elixir – one that he claims will make huge sums of money for the government, protect U.S. companies from foreign competition and protect foreign ones would encourage companies to open factories in the United States.
Appearing before a friendly audience at the Economic Club of Chicago, the Republican presidential candidate repeatedly asserted that tariffs are being misunderstood as an economic tool.
“For me,” Trump said, “the prettiest word in the dictionary is inch.” It’s my favorite word. It needs a PR firm.”
If the image of tariffs needs an overhaul, that’s probably why Mainstream economists say They actually amount to a tax on American consumers that would make the economy less efficient cause inflation to skyrocket in the United States.
The moderator, John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, often struggled to keep the conversation focused on economics and business. For example, asked whether the government should break up Google after one Antitrust proceedingsTrump began talking about fighting voter fraud in Virginia and how he felt Google had treated him unfairly.
Trump repeatedly steered the interview back to familiar territory, repeating old stories and talking points about immigrants, voter fraud and transgender athletes. He even used a fake foreign accent to report his dealings with French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
As president in a second term, Trump said he would use the threat of tariffs to force concessions from foreign leaders. He has suggested a 60% tariff on goods from China and a tariff of up to 20% on everything else the United States imports. He has occasionally threatened even higher tariffs for companies in Mexico and American companies considering moving abroad.
Trump said he began the interview knowing that he and Micklethwait had very different views on trade and the economy. In front of a supportive audience, he seemed to enjoy telling Micklethwait he was wrong. Although they weren’t nearly as rowdy as his usual rally crowd, the audience gathered at a hotel not far from Trump’s was uniformly friendly, laughing at his jokes and applauding.
At times, the dynamic became tense as Micklethwait claimed that Trump’s tariffs would lead to higher prices for consumers and that his promises of various tax breaks would drive up the deficit because “you’re flooding the thing with giveaways.”
Trump usually responded with well-known anecdotes and stories. And he insisted that mainstream economists and journalists were wrong about the impact of the tariffs, insisting that they would be paid for by foreign countries, not American consumers.
“It must be hard for you to talk about tariffs as a negative thing for 25 years and then have someone tell you you’re completely wrong,” he told Micklethwait, drawing laughter.
The former president repeated his false claim that there was a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election. In fact, his s Supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, to attempt to stop Congress from officially counting the Electoral College votes that gave Joe Biden the presidency.
Trump called Republicans the party of “common sense” and said: “We need boundaries.” We need fair elections. We don’t want men to be active in women’s sports. We don’t want transgender surgeries without parental consent.”
He also reiterated his claim that the Biden administration intentionally allowed hardened foreign criminals to enter the United States.
“They are in prison for murder, some for the death penalty,” Trump said. “They were released into our country.”
Trump doesn’t often allow himself to be subdued in critical interviews. Although he often speaks with conservative commentators and podcast hosts, he rarely meets with mainstream news outlets for lengthy question-and-answer sessions.
Trump, who has been ridiculed by Democrats and other critics for his rambling rallies, accused Micklethwait of jumping back and forth between topics.
“You have to be able to finish a thought,” Trump told Micklethwait, who often returned to topics to press Trump to answer his questions.
“They went from the dollar to Macron,” Micklethwait noted.
Trump responded that he was doing “weaving,” a term he has recently used to explain his rhetorical style.
The interview was well received by Trump’s supporters. His former White House adviser and current adviser Stephen Miller wrote on .” Period.”