Trump Says Tariffs Are His Favorite Word: Credits Them for Making America Wealthy

Speaking at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, President Donald Trump once again championed his controversial trade policies, describing tariffs as the foundation of America’s renewed wealth. “I love tariffs. My favorite word is tariff. We’re becoming rich as hell because of it,” Trump said, drawing cheers from supporters. He argued that for decades other nations had taken advantage of the United States in global trade, but tariffs had finally restored fairness.

Trump reminded the audience that one of his earliest executive orders was to restore the principle of merit in trade and governance, calling it the most important word “other than the word tariff.” According to him, the United States has collected trillions of dollars from tariffs since his presidency began, making the nation “rich again.”

“Now we’re treating them fairly. But the money coming in is something we’ve never seen before. The other day, they had $31 billion that they found… $31 billion. That’s enough to buy a lot of battleships,” he told the crowd, emphasizing how tariffs had bolstered America’s economy and defense potential.

Media Criticism Over Tariff Comments

The former president also admitted that his remarks sparked criticism in the press. Many questioned why he did not choose words like “love” or “family” instead. “The fake news hit me hard. So I said fine, tariff is now only my fifth favorite word. But I’m okay with that,” Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.

Tariffs and the Supreme Court Battle

Trump’s comments come at a time when his administration faces a crucial Supreme Court hearing in November over the legality of his sweeping global tariff measures. Calling the upcoming case “very bad” if it goes against him, Trump nevertheless expressed confidence that his position would prevail, insisting tariffs are essential to America’s strength and security.

India, Brazil Among Nations Impacted

The president also pointed out that countries such as India and Brazil have been among the hardest hit by recent US tariff increases. Duties on imports from these nations have reached as high as 50% since August. Trump explained that half of the tariff rate on India was imposed as a penalty for its continued purchase of Russian oil, linking it to the broader geopolitical conflict in Ukraine.

He further claimed that India and china remain key financial backers of Russian President Vladimir putin’s war effort, and warned that more “reciprocal tariffs” could be introduced if America’s trading partners impose duties on US exports.

Tariffs as Trump’s Defining Trade Legacy

By once again declaring tariffs as his “favorite word,” Donald Trump signaled that trade duties will remain at the heart of his economic vision. To his supporters, tariffs represent a tough stance on foreign powers and a means of making America wealthy again. To critics, however, they are costly policies that risk escalating global trade wars. Regardless, Trump’s latest comments confirm that tariffs will continue to be a defining theme of his political and economic legacy.