Trump Defends Tariffs Amid Economic Concerns: 'The Tariffs Have Made This Country a Fortune'

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade pressed President Donald Trump on Tuesday about his latest round of tariffs, which expire at the end of the week. The new tariffs, ranging from 10 to 12.5%, will be applied to US trading partners that make up around 90% of all US imports.

Trump argued that the tariffs have been beneficial for the economy and pointed to General Motors as an example, claiming they've had their best year ever due in part to the tariffs. He also mentioned chip companies building new plants in Arizona, including one worth $400 billion.

The President suggested that the Supreme Court's ruling against him on tariffs was a setback, but he has other ways of achieving his goals. Trump claimed that the threat of tariffs had stopped several countries from going to war, including India and Pakistan, and praised the USMCA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

Kilmeade asked if Trump was looking to update the USMCA deal, but the President responded by saying he'd rather be independent and that the US doesn't need either country. He added that Mexico and Canada need the US more than the other way around.