WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said he can’t guarantee his policies will come to fruition. promised price This will not be the case with major foreign trading partners of the United States. raise the price For American consumers, he offered again. political opponents and federal officials Anyone who files a lawsuit against him should be jailed.
In a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, the president-elect also touched on financial policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in countries including Ukraine and Israel.
Trump often mixes declarative statements with warnings, once warning that “things will change.”
Let’s take a look at some of the issues being addressed.
President Trump speaks on whether trade sanctions could cause prices to rise
President Trump threatened widespread trade fines, but said he didn’t believe them economist’s predictions The added cost of imports for American companies will lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of fulfilling his promise to keep American households from paying more when they shop.
“We can’t guarantee anything. We can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump said, seemingly opening the door to accepting the reality of how import taxes typically work by the time a product reaches the retail market.
It’s a different approach than his typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, in which Trump framed the election as a surefire way to curb inflation.
In an interview, President Trump defended tariffs in general, saying they “make us rich.”
He vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada on his first day in office in January unless they do enough to stop illegal immigration and illegal drugs such as fentanyl from entering the United States. did. He also threatened to impose tariffs on China to force the country to crack down on fentanyl production.
“All I want is to have a level, fast and fair playing field,” Trump said.
President Trump hints at retaliation against opponents, insists he has no interest in revenge
He has been convicted of 34 felonies in New York state court and has been charged in other cases with handling national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. However, he has made conflicting statements about how he will approach the justice system after being elected. Biden.
“Honestly, they should go to jail,” President Trump said of the lawmakers who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who want to keep him in power.
The president-elect emphasized his insistence that the justice system be available to others, including Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the case regarding President Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, siege. President Trump has confirmed plans to pardon convicted supporters. He criticized their role in the riot and said he would take action on his first day in office.
Regarding the idea that revenge brings the possibility of prosecution, President Trump said: “I have an absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that.”
At the same time, President Trump named members of the House special committee that investigated the insurrection, including Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.).
President Trump said, “Cheney was behind it…so was Bennie Thompson and everyone on this committee.”
Asked specifically if he would direct his administration to pursue the case, he said “no,” suggesting he does not expect the FBI to quickly launch investigations into political opponents.
But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter to his pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi. “I want her to do what she wants,” he said.
Regardless of Trump’s contradictions, such threats are taken seriously enough by many Democratic leaders that Biden is considering issuing a blanket. preemptive pardon This is to protect key members of the outgoing government.
President Trump appeared to backtrack on his campaign statement calling for an investigation into Biden, saying he was “not going back to the past.”
A rapid response to immigration is planned
President Trump reiterated his promise to close the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program.
“I think it has to be done,” he said.
He has indicated he intends to use executive action to abolish the “inherent” citizenship rights under which people born in the United States are considered citizens, but such protections are enshrined in the Constitution.
Asked specifically about the future of people who entered the country illegally as children and have been protected from deportation in recent years, President Trump said, “I want to figure something out,” and hinted at the possibility of working with Congress to find a solution.
But Trump also said that “we don’t want to break up families” with mixed legal status. “So the only way to not break up families is to keep them together and send them all back.” Ta.
President Trump commits to NATO with conditions, waffles on Putin and Ukraine
Trump, who has long criticized NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, said he would “absolutely” remain in the alliance “as long as they pay their bills.”
Asked if he would withdraw if allies were dissatisfied with their commitments, Trump said the United States wants to be treated “fairly” on trade and defense.
He puzzled over NATO’s priorities of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump has suggested that Ukraine should prepare to reduce U.S. aid to defend against Putin’s aggression. “Maybe. Yeah, probably. Certainly,” President Trump said of cutting aid to Ukraine from Washington. Apart from this, Mr. Trump demanded an immediate ceasefire.
Asked about President Putin, President Trump initially said that he had not spoken to him since Election Day last month, but then evasively said, “We haven’t talked recently.” In response to a question, Trump added that he had no intention of “blocking negotiations.”
President Trump says Powell is safe at the Fed, but Wray is not safe at the FBI
The president-elect has said he has no intention of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to resign before his term ends in 2028, at least for now. President Trump said during the campaign that the president should do just that. Increased voice over Fed policyincluding interest rates.
President Trump gave no guarantees about FBI Director Christopher Wray’s tenure, which ends in 2027.
Asked about Wray, Trump said: “Well, I mean, if the Senate recognizes Kash Patel as Trump’s, that would seem pretty clear.” Elected Director of the FBI Then, “He’s going to take someone’s place, right? Someone is the man you’re talking about.”
President Trump is absolute on Social Security, less important on abortion and health insurance.
President Trump has promised that government efficiency efforts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. “I will not touch Social Security unless I make it more efficient,” he said. He added, “We have no intention of raising the age or anything like that.”
He was less specific about abortion and his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act.
Regarding abortion, President Trump continued: his contradictions And the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, said it would “probably” not move to restrict access to abortion drugs, which currently account for the majority of abortions. But when asked if he was committed to that position, Trump said, “Yes, I am.” That means things change. I think they will change. ”
re-enact his lines Discussion on September 10th Speaking to Vice President Kamala Harris, President Trump again said he had a “vision” for a plan to replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called “terrible health care.”
He added a promise that any version of Trump’s plan would maintain insurance protections for Americans with pre-existing health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would differ from the status quo or how it could realize his desire for “better health care for less money.”
