5 highlights from Trump's Mar-a-Lago press briefing: 'Is that a serious question?'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter

'Massive tariffs'

Trump touted his plan to place tariffs on foreign imports, claiming there was no inflation during his first term and that his previous tariff on steel enriched the country.

"I didn't have any inflation, and I had massive tariffs on a lot of things. We put tariffs on steel," he said. "We made a fortune on it. Tariffs properly used, which we will do, and being reciprocal with other nations, but it will make our country rich."

"Our country right now loses to everybody. Almost nobody do we have a surplus with; there are a couple of countries, and they're embarrassed by it," he added.

Trump noted how tariffs were a key part of former President William McKinley's economic policy, which he suggested contributed to what he described as "proportionately the richest" period in U.S. history during the late 19th century.

"To me, tariffs [is] the most beautiful word in the dictionary. It will make our country rich. Go back and look at the 1890s, 1880s with McKinley and you take a look at tariffs, that was when we were at our richest," he said.

Trump made tariffs a key theme during his 2024 campaign and has floated the policy of slapping 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada in part because of their border policies.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has since been hurled into disarray after Chrystia Freeland, his finance minister, resigned Monday, citing Trudeau's response to Trump's threatened tariff.

Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Post. Send news tips to jon.brown@christianpost.com

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