Newsroom
In true Donald Trump fashion, the former U.S. President lit a firestorm overnight, not with policy, but with his words.
Speaking at a Republican fundraising dinner in Washington, Trump claimed that world leaders are “kissing [his] ass” in hopes of securing trade deals with the United States. His remarks came just hours before a sweeping series of new tariffs on imported goods officially kicked in—ones he pushed for and championed as part of his ongoing trade war strategy.
“They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything sir,’” - US President Donald Trump
“I am telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump said, to laughter and applause from his audience at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner. “They are dying to make a deal. ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything sir,’” he continued, mocking foreign leaders with a theatrical tone.
While Trump's supporters may see this as just another example of his no-filter style, others are asking a serious question: Is this really how the leader of the free world should be speaking about global allies and trading partners?
Tariffs Trigger Global Market Chaos
Trump’s brash language came as new tariffs—announced back on April 2—went into effect on Wednesday morning. They include a jaw-dropping 104% duty on Chinese imports and additional levies of up to 50% on goods from dozens of other countries, including members of the European Union.
The market reaction was swift and brutal.
Asian stock markets tumbled as the tariffs kicked in:
- Nikkei (Japan): -5.1%
- TOPIX (Japan): -4.6%
- Hang Seng (Hong Kong): -4.3%
- Taiwan Index: -5.7%
These are not minor jitters. These are the kinds of plunges that shake investor confidence and threaten to upend fragile economies still recovering from the aftershocks of the pandemic and global inflation.
And Trump? He doubled down.
Pharmaceuticals Are Next
“We’re going to tariff our pharmaceuticals,” he said at the dinner. “Once we do that, they’re going to come rushing back into our country because we’re the big market.”
It’s a high-stakes gamble. By increasing costs on foreign-made medicine, the strategy could backfire—hitting American consumers and health systems before it pressures pharmaceutical companies to move production stateside.
*With information from Politico
