Donald Trump has defended his tariffs by saying that Americans “signed up for it” in a landmark interview marking 100 days since he re-entered the Oval Office.
During a tense sit-down interview with ABC reporter Terry Moran, the pair clashed over tariff policies, deportations, and his recent talks with Pete Hegseth.
The President made jabs at the journalist and the network, saying that he had “never heard” of Morgan and that the station “is one of the worst”.
He disputed suggestions that this would be a tough economic period for Americans, instead saying that he believed “great times” are ahead and that China would "eat the tariffs".
Donald Trump clashes with ABC reporter
ABC
Analysts have predicted that due to economic uncertainty caused by the tariffs announced earlier this month, American families may be paying thousands more dollars per year.
“There is a lot of concern out there,” Moran told him. “People are worried, even some people who voted for you, saying, ‘I didn't sign up for this.’ So, how do you answer those concerns?”
“Well, they did sign up for it, actually,” Trump replied. “And this is what I campaigned on. I said that we've been abused by other countries at levels that nobody's ever seen before.”
He said that the US was "losing three to five billion a day on trade" which was "not sustainable" and that Americans were being "taken advantage of us like that".
Trump added: “I could have left it that way, and at some point that would have been an implosion like nobody's ever seen. But I said, No, we have to fix it. I've wanted to do this for many years. You know, I had the best economy during my first term.”
“So your answer to the concern about the tariffs is, ‘Everything’s gonna be hunky-dory?” Moran asked.
“Everybody’s gonna be just fine,” Trump responded. “It wouldn’t have been if I didn’t do this. I had a choice. I could leave it, have a nice, easy time. But I think ultimately you wouldn’t had an implosion. Our country had inflation that was worse than they’ve ever had it before. You don’t mention that. Why don’t you mention that?”
The pair also clashed over a discussion of deported El Salvador native and Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who Trump believes was a member of the MS-13 gang.
“You could get him back, there’s a phone on this desk,” said Moran, noting a Supreme Court order to “facilitate” the release of Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador.
“I could,” Trump replied. “And if he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that. But he is not.”