Trump defends economic and immigration policies in one-on-one interview
President Donald Trump is standing by his economic policies and pushing forward on immigration, despite criticism and concerns over their impact.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump is standing by his economic policies and pushing forward on immigration, despite criticism and concerns over their impact. In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, the president was optimistic about the direction of the economy—starting with his stance on tariffs. “The tariffs are going to make us rich,” Trump said. “We’re going to be a very rich country.” While many analysts warn that tariffs could lead to higher prices—and polls show most Americans remain skeptical—President Trump insists small businesses don’t need relief. “They’re not going to need it. They’re going to make so much money,” he said.
On the broader economy, the president dismissed talk of a possible recession. “Anything can happen. But I think we’re going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country,” he told Welker. “I think we’re going to have the greatest economic boom in history.”
He also pointed the finger at President Biden for the country’s economic challenges. “The good parts are the Trump economy, and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he’s done a terrible job,” Trump said.
The president also doubled down on immigration—calling it the most important issue of his administration. He said mass deportations are part of keeping a campaign promise. “Some of the worst, most dangerous people on Earth. And I was elected to get them the hell out of here,” he said, blaming court decisions for slowing the process. When asked whether his administration is upholding the Constitution amid concerns over due process, Trump replied: “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
The sit-down comes just days after President Trump marked 100 days in office. A new NBC News poll shows his approval rating has fallen to 45 percent—down from where it stood at the time of his inauguration.
