President Donald Trump remained on Tuesday with his controversial commercial policies in an exclusive interview with ABC News, stating that China “will probably eat those rates” and try to calm the economic anxieties of Americans.
During an extensive interview with the ABC News presenter and the national senior national correspondent Terry Moran, Trump sought to reassure the Americans to the nervous, even when he recently urged them to “hang hard” as tariffs begin to enter into force, writing on their social networks platform that “it will not be easy, but the final result will be historical.”
“You told you that to the American people,” said Moran. “That is what Americans should expect? Some difficult times?”
“I have said it during my campaign,” Trump replied. “Look, we won a campaign of many. We won the seven swing states. We won the popular vote for a lot. You know, we had a tremendous campaign. I said all these things during my campaign. I said: ‘You will have a transition period’.”
“We have been scammed by all countries around the world. They laugh at us,” Trump continued. “They thought we were stupid people, and we were. And I said: ‘That will not happen. We are not going to let that happen.'”
“But the difficult times are ahead?” Moran asked.
“I don’t think so,” Trump said. “I think there are great times ahead.”
The interview is broadcast on ABC at 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT. It can also be transmitted later on Tuesday at ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.
Despite Trump’s pink perspective about the economy, surveys suggest generalized anxiety by Trump’s commercial policies. More than 7 out of 10 Americans believe that the economy is in poor condition, see its tariffs as a negative factor in prices inflation, and believe it is very likely that their economic policies cause a short -term recession, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey.
Pressing by Moran for a message to voters who may feel some anxiety about the perspective of greater costs and volatility of the stock market, Trump said he has fulfilled his signature campaign promise to reduce prices on his first day in the White House.
“Look, since I got to gasoline is down, the groceries are low, egg prices are low: many things are low, almost everything,” Trump said.
Despite the overwhelming concern of economists that Americans will pay higher prices for the tariffs of China’s goods, Trump said the Chinese “will probably eat those costs.”
Exclusive news from ABC: President Donald J. Trump sits with the presenter and national correspondent Senior Terry Moran, on April 29, 2025, since Trump marks his first 100 days in office.
Michael Le Brecht II/ABC News
“So 145% of China rates,” said Moran. “And that is basically an embargo.”
“That’s good,” Trump replied. “They deserve it.”
“It will increase prices in everything from electronics to clothing and house construction,” said Moran.
“You don’t know that,” Trump said. “You don’t know if China is going to eat it.”
“That is mathematics,” said Moran.
“China will probably eat those rates,” Trump replied. “They were cheating us as if no one had cheated us … They are no longer doing it.”
