“The numbers we see aren’t those of Trump, but Biden’s. We arrived in January, and these are quarterly numbers, reflecting a policy I was radically against,” stated the President in an interview with NBC.
Trump acknowledged that his tariff policies might lead to higher prices for certain products but insisted, as he did earlier this week, that the American public should be prepared to endure a degree of austerity.
“Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a baby stroller. You don’t need 35 dolls. A child can have two, three, four and save a lot of money. We don’t need to feed the beast,” he emphasized.
Trump asserted that the economy would gradually improve once the short-term impacts of his decisions subside, dismissing concerns of an impending recession.
“Everything will be okay, and it’s true that anything can happen, but I believe we’ll have the best economy in our nation’s history,” he added.
The President of the United States further stated that the “positive aspects” of the American economy are a result of his policies, while the “negative aspects” stem from his predecessor Joe Biden’s actions.
Despite growing economic unease as reflected in economic barometers, official indicators remain stable, with an unemployment rate of 4.2% in April and inflation at 2.3% in March, slightly above the U.S. central bank’s target.
Regarding Beijing, against whom he has imposed a 145% surcharge on “Made in China” products, Trump claimed they essentially broke “trade relations by imposing such high tariffs,” which “is not an issue,” he added, ensuring his desire to lower tariffs “to a certain point.”
In the interview, Donald Trump also confirmed he “will not seek” a third term in the 2028 elections and identified his Vice President, JD Vance, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as potential successors.
“There are many people throwing their hat in for 2028, but that’s not what I’m pursuing. I want four excellent years and to hand power over to someone—a great Republican, I hope—who can continue (…). I think four years is enough time to do something truly spectacular,” he assured.
