President Trump defends tariffs and shutdown stance in “60 Minutes” interview

President Donald Trump sat down with CBS’s “60 Minutes” for his first interview with the program since 2020, addressing a wide range of issues.

(CNN)-  President Donald Trump sat down with CBS’s “60 Minutes” for his first interview with the program since 2020, addressing a wide range of issues — from tariffs and immigration to the ongoing government shutdown, which could soon become the longest in U.S. history.

When asked who was responsible for the shutdown, the president was quick to assign blame.
“Democrats’ fault,” Trump said.

Democratic lawmakers have insisted that Affordable Care Act subsidies be extended before reopening the government, but Trump rejected the demand.
“Obamacare is terrible,” he said. “And we can fix it with the Democrats. All they have to do is let the country open, and we’ll fix it.”

On immigration, the president defended the methods used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing they haven’t gone far enough.
“I think they haven’t gone far enough,” he said. “Because we’ve been held back by the judges — the liberal judges that were put in by Biden and by Obama.”

Trump also commented on the upcoming Supreme Court arguments that will determine whether his tariff policy is constitutional.
“I think it’s the most important subject discussed by the Supreme Court in 100 years,” he said.

Asked what might happen if the court rules against him, Trump warned of economic fallout:
“I think our country would be immeasurably hurt. I think our economy will go to hell.”

The interview also touched on the rising cost of living, global security challenges, and concerns about deploying the military to combat domestic crime.