Trump Clashes with Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief, Calls Economic Deals ‘Stupid’

In a fiery interview with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago, former President Donald Trump stood firm on his economic policies, sparred over trade tariffs, and took shots at the “stupid” trade deals made by previous administrations. The conversation, which covered everything from tariffs to China’s aggression toward Taiwan, revealed Trump’s sharp economic vision as he campaigns for another term in the White House.

Micklethwait opened by noting that Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s 2024 rival, had declined a similar interview opportunity, setting the tone for a lively back-and-forth that was sure to follow.

One of the more contentious exchanges came when Micklethwait tried to frame tariffs as a “massive tax” on Americans echoing Harris’ talking points despite the fact that the Biden-Harris administration left many of Trump’s tariffs in place. Trump quickly turned the argument on its head, asserting that his tariff policies were designed to bring jobs back to America, not hurt consumers.

“There are no tariffs all you have to do is build your plant in the United States and you don’t have any tariffs,” Trump explained. The audience, largely supportive of Trump’s vision, broke into applause as he underscored the benefits of incentivizing companies to manufacture domestically. When Micklethwait pushed back, citing the economic impact of 10-20% tariffs, Trump responded with his signature confidence, insisting the effect would be overwhelmingly positive for American workers.

“The higher the tariff, the more likely it is that the company will come into the United States and build a factory here,” Trump said, emphasizing that the goal is to make America the best place for manufacturing and job creation, not to impose unnecessary taxes.

The conversation also touched on China’s growing aggression toward Taiwan, a pressing issue as the communist nation reportedly prepares for a potential naval blockade. Micklethwait questioned whether Trump would send American troops to defend Taiwan if China invades. Trump’s response was both direct and indicative of his foreign policy stance: “The reason they’re doing it now is because they’re not going to do it afterwards,” hinting that China wouldn’t dare challenge him if he wins in November.

As the discussion moved to the U.S. trade deficit, Trump didn’t hold back, blasting the previous administrations for signing what he called “stupid” deals. “I saw trade deals that were so stupid that you’d have to be an idiot to sign them. And we signed them for years,” he said, vowing that under his leadership, bad deals would be a thing of the past.

Of course, no mainstream media interview with Trump would be complete without a reference to January 6th, and Micklethwait didn’t disappoint. He tried to draw Trump into a conversation about whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, a question designed to resurrect tired talking points from the left. Trump responded bluntly: “You had a peaceful transfer of power,” referencing his departure from the White House in January 2021 without incident.

Micklethwait, in an attempt to needle Trump further, quipped that the transfer was “peaceful compared to Venezuela, but it was by far the worst transfer of power in a long time.” The audience wasn’t having it, booing the editor’s comment, prompting Trump to turn to the crowd and say, “Thank you, I appreciate that.”

In typical Trump fashion, the former president came out swinging, defending his economic policies and refusing to be drawn into liberal media narratives. As the 2024 race heats up, interviews like these showcase Trump’s unwavering stance on bringing jobs back to America, standing firm against foreign threats, and rejecting the political games that have plagued previous administrations.

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