Donald Trump explains why he views tariffs as one of the most effective negotiating tools in American history, arguing that trade policy can be used to strengthen the U.S. economy and improve America's position in global negotiations.
Speaking at CPAC, Trump discusses trade relations with China, tariff policy, manufacturing, and the broader debate over international trade. He argues that tariffs provide leverage in negotiations and outlines his approach to addressing trade imbalances between the United States and other countries.
Trump also reflects on media coverage, political criticism, and the challenges of communicating economic policy in a highly polarized political environment. Throughout the discussion, he makes the case that strong trade policies can help advance American economic interests while generating revenue and creating leverage in negotiations with foreign governments.
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Video Summary
AI Generated
The speaker discusses the strategic importance of tariffs as a primary negotiating tool in international trade, specifically focusing on the trade deficit with China. He argues that tariffs generate significant revenue for the U.S. Treasury and force foreign nations to the negotiating table, while criticizing the media for misrepresenting his words and sarcasm.
No plane, no energy.
When the wind stops blowing, that's the end of your electric.
Let's hurry, darling.
Darling, is the wind blowing today?
I'd like to watch television, darling.
No, but it's true.
So the great tariff debate of 1888.
And then we had so much money.
We could do whatever we wanted.
We built forces up that were incredible.
Then in 1913, they ended tariff.
They ended tariffs.
Nobody got stupid.
And they ended tariffs.
They said, oh, it's OK for other nations to come in.
I won't use a certain word, because it's not politically.
But everybody knows the word I'd love to use.
Should I use it?
I won't do it.
Our great first lady always said,
don't use certain words, please.
I say, but the audience wanted me to do it.
She said, don't do it.
And the problem is, if I do do that,
they won't put the little preamble that we just went.
They'll just use the word.
And they'll say, isn't that terrible?
So I won't.
I've learned.
Because with the fake news, if you tell a joke,
if you're sarcastic, if you're having fun with the audience,
if you're in live television with millions of people
and 25,000 people in an arena, and if you say something
like, Russia, please, if you can,
get us Hillary Clinton's emails.
Please, Russia, please, please get us the emails.
Please.
So everybody's having a good time.
I'm laughing.
We're all having fun.
And then that fake CNN and others say,
he asked Russia to go get the emails.
Horrible.
I mean, I saw it like two weeks ago.
I'm watching.
And they're talking about one of the points.
He asked Russia for the emails.
These people are sick.
And I'm telling you, they know the game.
And they play it dirty, dirtier than anybody's
ever played the game, dirtier than it's ever been played.
But the thing that we've done is very special,
because on trade and because of tariffs.
And I know there are people in the Republican Party
and people, really, even conservatives,
good conservatives, they don't like tariffs.
I'm not liking or not liking.
The minimum, the greatest negotiating tool
in the history of our country.
Do you think China would be sending
their top representatives over?
Right now, China's paying 25% tariff
on $50 billion worth of technology goods.
I was then going to charge them 25% on $200 billion.
Not like 200 million, that's a lot.
This is 200 with a B, billion.
200 billion.
So, but I was nice, because we're
Which, if it weren't for tariffs,
and I tell this to President Xi, this is nothing to hide.
I would never be talking like this,
because in theory, it could hurt your negotiating position.
But in my case, it can't, because it's true.
I was nice, and I left it at 10% on 200 billion.
And here's the beauty.
We've lost so much money with China, $500 billion a year.
And on trade, it's such a disaster.
It's $507 billion a year.
China, just one country.
We lose with everybody, almost.
China's one country.
$507 billion for many years.
So the beauty is this.
I have $250 billion more to put tariffs on.
The numbers are staggering.
Billions of dollars, right now,
are pouring into our treasury.
And for those of you that haven't done the research,
if you look, of the 25%, our country, as it's turned out,
because it's now been on there for a long while,
our, and I'm in no rush, because I'm fine with it.
I'm fine with it.
Of the 25 point, we've paid for four points,
and China's paid for 21 points, okay?
21.
That's what the numbers are.
It's very simple.
You know, everyone said, oh, it's a tax on our.
It's not really.
And what China and other countries do sometimes
is they will subsidize it.
So the tax really is incredible,
but what it is beyond everything else, I can negotiate.
But then you have senators and a few congressmen,
but not Mark Meadows.
Where's the great Mark Meadows?
He's here somewhere.
Man, Mark and Jim Jordan,
and I wanna name every one of those couple of hundred people
because we do have a lot.
I wanna name every damn one of them.
They have been incredible.
They've been fighting, and I just see Mark in the audience.
They've been fighting with Deb, much more important.
His wife is incredible.
What an asset.
He would be nowhere without her, right?
