In an exclusive interview with NBC News set to air on Sunday, President Donald Trump claimed responsibility for the robust aspects of the economy, attributing the less favorable elements to the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Trump staunchly supported his tariffs, despite the economic turbulence that followed their recent implementation.
“Ultimately, I take responsibility for everything, but I’ve only just been here for a little more than three months,” he remarked.
“The tariffs have just started kicking in. … The tariffs are going to make us rich. We’re going to be a very rich country,” he emphasized.
This isn’t the first instance of Trump distancing himself from the economic outcomes of his predecessor’s policies; just last week, he attributed the contraction of the U.S. economy in the first quarter to Biden’s stewardship.
During the interview, Trump reiterated his earlier remarks made during a Cabinet meeting, where he dismissed concerns regarding potential supply shortages resulting from his tariffs.
“I don’t think that a beautiful baby girl needs – that’s 11 years old – to have 30 dolls,” Trump stated, arguing that children could be content with fewer toys.
“I’m just saying [children] don’t need to have 30 dolls; they can have three. They don’t need to have 250 pencils; they can have five,” he added.
Trump also minimized the likelihood of any long-lasting negative repercussions from his tariffs on the U.S. economy, even in the event of a short-term recession.
“Look, yeah, it’s — everything’s OK. What we are — I said, this is a transition period. I think we’re going to do fantastically,” he told NBC’s Kristen Welker.
