President Donald Trump had a heated exchange with reporters on Thursday regarding newly signed tariffs, asserting that much of his first term was spent “fighting madmen like you.” This confrontation occurred right after a ceremony at the White House where he signed a series of enforcement actions aimed at bolstering tariffs and strengthening US trade policies.
During the conversation, reporters pushed Trump on his reasons for emphasizing tariffs now, in his second term. One reporter mentioned a law from 1977 that Trump could have invoked earlier, questioning why he didn’t do so during his first term when he could have collected significant revenue.
In response, Trump quickly stated, “Yeah, because in my first semester, I was fighting a madman like you who was trying to do it inaccurately and inappropriately to a well-elected president.” He pointed out that there were certain tariffs already in place during his initial term, particularly against China, which brought in substantial funds.
Trump also noted that the Covid-19 pandemic influenced his decision-making regarding tariffs. “When Covid came, the last thing I was trying to do is tell France, Italy and Spain that we would hit you with tariffs,” he said, emphasizing the need to focus on managing the pandemic rather than trade disputes.
A White House statement later explained that Trump’s recent actions reflect a commitment to safeguarding the US from foreign economic threats—ensuring fair and reciprocal trade relations to benefit American workers and industries.
This announcement comes on the heels of a trade agreement made with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, indicating a new phase in US-EU trade relations.
Trump mentioned that tariffs on automobiles and other sectors would be set at a linear rate of 15%. Additionally, von der Leyen shared that Europe plans to invest heavily in the US, including purchasing substantial amounts of US energy.
