Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo pressed former President Donald Trump regarding his extensive tariff proposal and the assertions of economists that his 200 percent tariff plan would increase consumer prices and the national debt.
Trump has established tariffs as a fundamental component of his economic strategy in anticipation of a potential second term.
During an exclusive interview on Sunday Morning Futures, Bartiromo probed him on the concept.
“News in your Detroit speech. I want to get your take on your economic policy. You said you want to eliminate taxes on tips. On overtime pay. Ending double taxation. Interest tax deductible. You even introduce a 15 percent tax rate to encourage companies to produce in America and hire American workers. But how will you pay for it? The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says your plans will increase the debt by $7.5 trillion.” Bartiromo said.
“But they don’t know…” Trump said in response.
“The Wall Street Journal says your plans will increase the debt and deficit more than Kamala Harris’s,” she continued.
Trump continued to issue warnings that China was constructing car factories in Mexico that would significantly impact the US auto industry upon completion.
“If I get elected, I will put a 200 percent tariff on every car and you will never sell them into the United States because if they ever build those plants Detroit is finished. South Carolina is finished. Everything is finished. They think they will go over there and build the biggest plants in the world in Mexico and sell them in, not going to happen. The autoworkers are way down in the last four or five months. They’re doing this ridiculous electric mandate. You sell gas-propelled cars, you sell hybrids, and you sell electric. Electric is great, it’s wonderful for some people, but not for everybody. As soon as I started talking about what I’m going to do, they stopped building all of the plants in Mexico. I said I would put tariffs. It is a beautiful word. It is a word that will make our country rich again. Without tariffs we have a busted country.”Trump said in response.
“What about the criticism, the Journal has done this as well, if you put 200 percent tariffs on a product that’s only going to mean higher prices for consumers. It’s got to be passed on somehow.” Bartiromo said in a follow up.
“Put 200 or 500, I don’t care. I’ll put a number where they cannot sell one car. I do not want them to sell their car because I don’t want them hurting our car companies. We will have a lot of companies moving into the United States. When I use 200, I don’t want their cars. They will not be able to sell cars.” Trump concluded.
[READ MORE: Trump Makes New Vow to Make Interest on All Car Loans Tax Deductible]
