Trump: "America Has Been Raped and Pillaged... April 2nd, 'Reciprocal Tariffs' Day of Liberation"

Strong Language Used in Fox News Interview

U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that he has no intention of easing the reins on the 'tariff war,' stating that April 2nd (local time), the announced date for the 'reciprocal tariffs,' will be "America's liberation day."

In a Fox News interview broadcast on the 19th, recorded in advance, when asked whether he would hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June, Trump said, "I am not opposed to a summit," and added, "But something will happen, and that is the tariffs on April 2nd," saying, "China will pay, and other countries will pay as well."

President Trump continued, "We have been exploited by every country in the world, friends and foes alike," emphasizing, "I will call April 2nd 'America's liberation day.'" He also said, "Look at NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Before I got involved with NATO, we were paying all the costs," he claimed.

Regarding the federal government debt issue, he stated, "We have to pay off the debt," and said, "We will collect (tariff revenues, etc.) for years," adding, "We allowed our country to be 'raped' and 'plundered,'" and claimed, "Much of it was done by allied countries."

He went on to say, "Look at the European Union (EU). We can't sell them cars, but they sell millions of cars to us," and "They don't buy our agricultural products, but we buy theirs."

When asked about concerns over a U.S. economic recession due to the 'tariff war,' President Trump dismissed them, saying, "We will have the strongest economy in history worldwide." He also said, "I only represent America's interests," and added, "I am a patriot, and I take pride in that."