In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press” Sunday, President Donald Trump vigorously defended his economic policies, particularly the recently implemented tariffs on goods from China.
While acknowledging the possibility of some price increases for consumers, the President painted an optimistic picture of the long-term economic benefits, predicting a future of unprecedented prosperity for the United States.
The interview began with a discussion about the stock market’s reaction to his presidency. The President reiterated his belief in the “Trump Effect,” asserting that the market’s initial spike after his election was solely due to his anticipated policies.
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When questioned about his tendency to claim credit for positive economic indicators while blaming his predecessor for negative ones, he argued that his administration was “overcoming” the negative impacts of past policies, citing decreases in oil and gasoline prices, as well as groceries.
Welker pressed the President on the potential for rising consumer costs due to the tariffs.
Referencing his recent comments about the possibility of children having fewer, more expensive dolls, she inquired if this was an admission that tariffs would lead to price hikes. While acknowledging that some prices might increase, the President downplayed the significance, suggesting Americans could consume less and that the trade deficit with China necessitated such measures.
“I don’t think that a beautiful baby girl needs — that’s 11 years old — needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls,” he stated, emphasizing the need to address the trade imbalance with China.
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When Welker cited examples of rising prices on items like tires and strollers, the President dismissed these as insignificant compared to the decrease in energy costs. He accused Welker of conducting a “dishonest interview,” highlighting the drop in gasoline and grocery prices as evidence of his successful economic management.
The conversation then shifted to China and the ongoing trade tensions. Welker noted recent statements from Beijing suggesting the removal of unilateral tariffs as a precondition for talks. However, Trump dismissed these statements as outdated and insisted that China was eager to negotiate due to the significant negative impact the tariffs were having on their economy.
“China’s getting killed right now. They’re getting absolutely destroyed. Their factories are closing. Their unemployment is going through the roof,” he claimed.
Despite acknowledging that lowering tariffs might be necessary at some point to facilitate a deal, the President firmly stated he would not remove them as a precondition for negotiations. When Welker raised concerns about the impact of tariffs on small businesses, he countered by highlighting the potential benefits for larger industries like the automobile sector, claiming major companies were shifting production to the United States as a result of his policies.
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The possibility of a recession was also discussed, with Welker citing concerns from some on Wall Street. The President, however, focused on the optimistic voices, predicting “the greatest economy in history.” When directly asked if he was comfortable with a short-term recession to achieve long-term goals, he did not explicitly answer yes or no but reiterated his confidence in a strong future economy, describing the current period as a “transition.”
Finally, the President touted the significant foreign investment he claimed was flowing into the United States, attributing it directly to his policies and predicting continued economic growth and job creation. He indicated that tariffs could remain in place permanently to incentivize domestic production.
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