Trump Shifts From Lifting Up America’s Neighbors to Hurting Them

We have a deficit with Mexico of $350 billion.”

He said in a Fox News interview in February

Maurice Obstfeldamerican economist

It is low national saving coupled with robust investment that drives the U.S. external deficit,

Maurice Obstfeld, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote in Financial Times

Massive Trade Deficit with the World, just announced, compliments of Sleepy Joe Biden! I will change that!!!

Trump posted Thursday morning on Truth Social

Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again,

he said

We’ve had two days of volatility in the markets, and everybody’s hair is on fire,

Navarro said

Rand Paulsenator

The problem with using them as a negotiation also is that they negotiated: Mexico gave them something, and then they still put them on,

Paul added

It’s the greatest show on Earth. We’ll put tariffs on tonight, but tomorrow we’ll tell you we may negotiate and take them off,

a person close to the administration, granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations, told POLITICO

Karoline Leavittwhite House press secretary

Last night the president told the truth, and he was realistic, and he level set with the American people,

Leavitt said

Businesses rely on stability and certainty in order to innovate and compete,

Johnson said

If you put a gun to his head, Lutnick’s on the no-tariff side, believe it or not,

the person said

Obviously a pause is welcome, but this constant ‘on again-off again’ of tariffs is difficult for companies that are trying to make sourcing and pricing decisions in real time,

said Tiffany Smith, vice president for global trade policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, a pro-free trade group

And the United States will not be doing that any longer. We’re not going to do it any longer,

he said

Thom Tillissenator

Whoever believes that there is any space for Vladimir Putin and the future of a stable globe better go to Ukraine,

Tillis said

If you believe that Ukraine is a country an ocean away and not relevant to our national security, think again."

Tillis also said

Diplomacy and statesmanship seem to have been checked at the door of the Oval Office today,

Curtis wrote on X on Friday, expressing hope

Mike Roundssenator

The facts are Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is the aggressor. Russia created this problem in the first place,

Rounds told NewsNation's Chris Stirewalt

Lisa Murkowskisenator

This week started with administration officials refusing to acknowledge that Russia started the war in Ukraine. It ends with a tense, shocking conversation in the Oval Office and whispers from the White House that they may try to end all U.S. support for Ukraine,

Murkowski wrote in a Saturday post

Susan Collinssenator

The deterioration of the discussion among President Trump, Vice President Vance, and President Zelenskyy was very unfortunate given how high the stakes are,

Collins said in a statement

You have no right to dictate what we should feel. You are gambling with World War III."

Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of being "disrespectful" and added

I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace."

Following last week's confrontation, Trump further criticized Zelensky on Truth Social