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President Donald Trump on Thursday praised his administration’s tariff policies, claiming they have revitalized the U.S. economy and led to a wave of new trade deals with foreign nations.
“Tariffs are making America GREAT & RICH Again,” Trump posted early Thursday on Truth Social. “They were successfully used against the USA for decades and, coupled with really dumb, pathetic, and crooked politicians, we’re having a devastating impact on the future, and even the survival, of our country.”
Trump said the situation has now shifted. “The tide has completely turned, and America has successfully countered this onslaught of Tariffs used against it. ONE YEAR AGO, AMERICA WAS A DEAD COUNTRY, NOW IT IS THE ‘HOTTEST’ COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!”
Later Thursday morning, Trump extended encouragement to his legal team as they prepared for a federal appeals court hearing involving a case brought by business and state leaders seeking to roll back several of his tariffs.
“To all of my great lawyers who have fought so hard to save our Country, good luck in America’s big case today,” Trump wrote. “If our Country was not able to protect itself by using TARIFFS AGAINST TARIFFS, WE WOULD BE ‘DEAD,’ WITH NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OR SUCCESS.”
His comments came as the U.S. finalized a new trade agreement with South Korea. The deal, announced Thursday, lowers tariffs on South Korean imports to 15 percent and includes a $350 billion investment by South Korea in the U.S. economy, along with $100 billion in purchases of American energy products, according to Trump.
The president has leaned heavily on tariffs as a central tool of his economic policy. Since taking office, the average U.S. tariff rate on foreign goods has risen to 17.3 percent, the highest level since before World War II, according to a recent analysis by the Yale University Budget Lab.
A deadline looms on Friday, when Trump’s temporary suspension of reciprocal tariffs is set to expire. Countries that have not reached an agreement with the U.S. could again face steeper duties.
Over the last four months, the administration has completed eight tariff agreements, including a sweeping deal with the European Union. Several major trading partners remain in negotiations, including Canada, Australia and India.