Former President Donald Trump didn’t mince words during a fiery interview with Bloomberg News in Chicago on Tuesday, asserting that the Republican Party has become “the party of common sense.” The interview, held at the Economic Club of Chicago, saw Trump sparring with Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, as they covered topics ranging from economic plans to election predictions.
Trump Confident About Swing States
Micklethwait kicked off the discussion with economic questions, eventually shifting gears to the state of the presidential race. When asked which state he saw as crucial for victory, Trump confidently responded, “They say Pennsylvania. I think we’re doing very well there. I think you look at Michigan, too, and I’m doing very well,” Trump said. “We’re way up in Pennsylvania. We’re way up in Michigan. We’re doing very well in Arizona. In fact, somebody said they’re going to pull the plug in Arizona – they’re going to give it up because it looks like we’re quite a ways ahead.” RealClearPolitics polling averages on Tuesday reflected a slight lead for Trump in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan.
‘Party of Common Sense’ Vision
Trump took the opportunity to label the GOP as “the party of common sense,” moving beyond typical labels of liberal or conservative. “Forget about conservative, liberal. We’re, let’s say, conservative, but we’re really a party of ‘We need borders. We need fair elections. We don’t want men playing in women’s sports. We don’t want transgender operations without parental consent,’” Trump elaborated. “It is 99.9% common sense. It really is common sense. I say we’re really a party of common sense, and we want to have great people in our country.”
Trump also addressed immigration, emphasizing his stance on tighter vetting measures. “I have a good heart. I have a heart where I want people to be taken care of. But I don’t want to take in people where millions of people – 21 million people at least have come in the last three and a half years unvetted, unchecked. We don’t know anything about them.”
Defending Economic Policies Amid Criticism
The discussion soon turned to Trump’s economic record, with Micklethwait claiming that Trump’s economic plans would worsen debt and inflation. In response, Trump highlighted his record.
“Yeah, I had four years – no inflation,” Trump stated bluntly.
Micklethwait also questioned Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on foreign goods, to which Trump fired back, explaining his approach. Foreign countries will pay a “100% tariff on everything sold into the United States.” Trump said.
In 2024, Trump unveiled a plan to revoke China’s most favored nation trade status and to impose a universal 10% baseline tariff on all imports. Privately, Trump has even discussed imposing tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese goods. While some economists have expressed concerns that heightened tariffs could lead to higher prices for everyday goods, Trump dismissed such concerns. “It’s going to have a massive effect – positive effect. It’s going to be a positive effect,” he insisted. “It must be hard for you to spend 25 years talking about tariffs as being negative and then have somebody explain to you that you’re totally wrong.”
When Micklethwait warned of a potential “biggest trade war,” Trump shot back, “No, there are no tariffs – all you have to do is build your plant in the United States and you don’t have any tariffs,” Trump said. “That’s what I want.” His response earned applause from the audience.
Trump elaborated, “The higher the tariff, the more likely it is that the company will come into the United States and build a factory in the United States so it doesn’t have to pay the tariff.”
Foreign Policy: A Focus on Relationships
The conversation also ventured into foreign policy and national security. Trump boasted of his relationships with international adversaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, noting that under his administration, the U.S. was respected globally.
Trump was asked about his stance on defending Taiwan if China were to invade, especially given China’s current military exercises surrounding the island nation. “The reason they’re doing it now is because they’re not going to do it afterward,” Trump said, garnering applause.
When questioned about whether he had communicated with Putin since leaving office, Trump dodged, replying, “I don’t comment on that.” However, he added, “But I will tell you that if I did, it’s a smart thing,” Trump said. “If I’m friendly with people, if I can have a relationship with people, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing, in terms of a country.”
Trump Campaign Reaction
After the interview, Trump’s campaign praised his performance. “President Trump was in his element as he spoke passionately about restoring economic growth, prosperity, and opportunity for all Americans,” they wrote in an email to supporters, adding that he “put on a master class outlining his plan to return American citizens and businesses to the successes they enjoyed during his first term.” The campaign also took a shot at Vice President Kamala Harris, adding, “Kamala could NEVER.”
The campaign concluded by touting Trump’s vision for America, saying, “President Trump did it once with record success – and he’ll do it again.”
