Trump Can't Guarantee Tariffs Won't Raise US Prices, Won't Rule Out Revenge Prosecutions

Trump Can't Guarantee Tariffs Won't Raise US Prices, Won't Rule Out Revenge Prosecutions.

Donald Trump has stated that he cannot assure that the tariffs he has pledged on significant foreign trade partners of the United States will not lead to increased prices for American consumers.

Donald Trump stated that he cannot assure that the tariffs he has promised on significant foreign trade partners will not result in increased prices for American consumers. He reiterated his belief that certain political opponents and federal officials who have initiated legal actions against him should face imprisonment.

In a comprehensive interview with NBC's “Meet the Press” that aired on Sunday, the president-elect addressed various topics, including monetary policy, immigration, abortion, healthcare, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel, and other regions.

Trump frequently combined definitive statements with qualifications, at one point warning that “things do change.”

Here are some of the key issues discussed:

While Trump has threatened extensive trade penalties, he expressed skepticism regarding economists' forecasts that the additional costs on imported goods for American businesses would inevitably lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. However, he refrained from making a commitment that American households would not experience increased costs while shopping.

“I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump remarked, seemingly acknowledging the typical implications of import tariffs as products make their way to the retail market.

This represents a departure from Trump's usual rhetoric during the 2024 campaign, where he positioned his candidacy as a definitive solution to inflation.

In the interview, Trump expressed his support for tariffs, asserting that they would "make us rich."

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He has committed to implementing a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada on his first day in office in January, contingent upon those nations effectively addressing illegal immigration and the influx of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States. Additionally, he has indicated the possibility of imposing further tariffs on China to compel that nation to take action against fentanyl production.

“All I want to do is create a level, fast, but fair playing field,” Trump stated.

He provided inconsistent remarks regarding his intended approach to the justice system following his election victory, despite facing a conviction of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other matters related to his management of national security secrets and attempts to reverse his 2020 defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.

“Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump remarked about the members of Congress who conducted investigations into the Capitol insurrection instigated by his supporters seeking to maintain his presidency.

The president-elect emphasized his belief that he could leverage the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who oversaw the case concerning Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6, 2021. Trump reiterated his intention to grant pardons to supporters convicted for their participation in the riot, stating that he would initiate this action on his first day in office.

Trump commented on the notion of revenge driving potential prosecutions “I have the absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that."

Simultaneously, Trump identified members of a specific House committee that had examined the insurrection, mentioning Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, and former Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming.

“Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said.

When questioned directly about whether he would instruct his administration to initiate legal actions, he responded with a definitive, “No,” indicating that he did not anticipate the FBI to promptly investigate his political adversaries.

However, at another juncture, Trump mentioned that he would defer the decision to Pam Bondi, his chosen candidate for attorney general. “I want her to do what she wants to do,” he stated.

Many prominent Democrats have taken such threats seriously, prompting President Biden to contemplate the issuance of blanket, preemptive pardons to safeguard essential members of his outgoing administration, despite the inconsistencies in Trump's statements.

Trump appeared to retract his earlier campaign rhetoric that advocated for an investigation into Biden, stating that “I’m not looking to go back into the past.”

Trump consistently emphasized his commitments to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and to implement a mass deportation initiative aimed at removing millions of individuals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization.

Image by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Donald Trump, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66881482

“I think you have to do it,” he said.

He proposed that he would attempt to utilize executive action to terminate "birthright" citizenship, which grants citizenship to individuals born in the United States, despite the fact that such rights are enshrined in the Constitution.

When questioned directly about the prospects for individuals who were brought into the country illegally as children and have been protected from deportation in recent years, Trump responded, "I want to work something out," suggesting that he may pursue a resolution in collaboration with Congress.

Trump also stated he does not “want to be breaking up families” of mixed legal status, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.”

Former President Trump, who has long criticized NATO members for their insufficient defense spending, stated that he would absolutely remain part of the alliance provided that member nations fulfill their financial obligations.

When questioned about the possibility of withdrawing from NATO due to dissatisfaction with the commitments of allies, Trump emphasized his desire for the United States to be treated "fairly" in matters of trade and defense.

He expressed uncertainty regarding NATO's objective of countering Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

Trump indicated that Ukraine should brace for a potential decrease in U.S. support for its defense against Putin's aggression, responding affirmatively when asked about the likelihood of reduced assistance from Washington. Additionally, he has advocated for an immediate ceasefire.

In response to inquiries regarding President Putin, Trump initially stated that he has not communicated with the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but later clarified, “I haven’t spoken to him recently.” When further questioned, he expressed a desire not to “impede the negotiation.”

The president-elect indicated that he currently has no plans to request the resignation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell before the conclusion of Powell's term in 2028. During his campaign, Trump asserted that presidents should have greater influence over Federal Reserve policies, including those related to interest rates.

Trump did not provide any assurances regarding the future of FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is set to expire in 2027. When asked about Wray, Trump remarked, “Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious” that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as his nominee for FBI director, then “he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? Somebody is the man that you’re talking about.”

He assured that the government efficiency initiative led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would not jeopardize Social Security. “We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient,” he stated, adding that “we're not raising ages or any of that stuff.”

Trump was less definitive regarding his stance on abortion and his long-promised reform of the Affordable Care Act. On the topic of abortion, he maintained his inconsistent position, suggesting he would “probably” refrain from restricting access to abortion pills, which currently account for the majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that advocates for abortion rights. However, when pressed to commit to this stance, Trump responded, “Well, I commit. I mean, are -- things do -- things change. I think they change.”

Reiterating a point from his September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump mentioned that he has “concepts” for a plan to replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he criticized as “lousy health care.”

He made a commitment that any iteration of Trump’s plan would preserve insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. However, he did not clarify how this approach would differ from the current system or how he intended to achieve his goal of providing “better health care for less money.”

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Donald Trump's recent statements on tariffs, legal actions, and domestic policies highlight an unpredictable and inconsistent approach to governance. His inability to guarantee that tariffs won't raise consumer prices undermines his promises of economic relief. Additionally, his rhetoric on using the justice system to target political adversaries raises concerns about potential abuse of power.

Trump's shifting stances on issues like abortion and healthcare reflect a lack of clear policy direction, leaving his supporters and critics alike uncertain about his true intentions. These contradictions suggest a presidency marked by uncertainty and political divisiveness rather than effective leadership and solutions.