Obama breaks silence on Trump's controversial tariff plan with blunt eight word comment
Former President Obama criticizes Trump's new tariffs, stating they won't benefit the United States. On April 2, the 78-year-old Trump unveiled a fresh set of import taxes affecting goods entering the US. The GOP chief announced a global 10 percent "baseline" duty - with steeper rates for 60 countries he considers the "worst violators." Nations hit with significant customs fees include Japan (24 percent), South Africa (30 percent), and Vietnam (46 percent). Trump made this declaration during a White House Rose Garden speech on what he called "Liberation Day" for America, prompting a response from 63-year-old former President Obama.
The Democratic ex-leader, who held office from 2009 to 2017, spoke at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York on Thursday (April 4) to address these new taxes. In his conversation with College President Steven Tepper, Obama mentioned he was completing the second part of his presidential autobiography and used the opportunity to comment on US gun regulations. He then discussed his successor, Trump.
"I have strong disagreements with my most recent successor — who's now president again," he stated. "There are many policies we could discuss where I hold firm opinions," Obama added, noting his belief that dedication to strong government principles has "weakened."
Continuing, the former commander-in-chief shared his genuine thoughts about the Administration's recently-announced duties. "When I observe current events, it doesn't — look, I don't believe what we just saw regarding economic policy and tariffs will benefit America, but that's one specific policy.
"I'm more seriously worried about a federal government threatening universities if they don't suppress students exercising free speech rights," the father-of-two explained. "I find it more concerning that a White House might tell law firms, 'If you represent clients we dislike, we'll withdraw all our business or prevent you from effectively representing people.'"
Then, he delivered a pointed eight-word comment: "Imagine if I had done any of this?" Obama claimed it would be "unthinkable" that the "same groups now silent would have accepted such behavior" from him or previous presidents. However, he stressed that resolving current government issues isn't one person's responsibility.
"All of us must solve this problem. No single rescuer will appear. The most crucial role in our democracy belongs to the citizen, the regular person who declares, that's incorrect.
"I believe one key reason our dedication to democratic values has diminished is our excessive comfort and indifference."
Trump, utilizing his IEEPA powers to implement the tariffs, thinks these new fees will push US shoppers to purchase more domestic products instead of choosing imports.
"For many years, our nation has been stolen from, ransacked, violated and robbed by countries close and distant, both allies and enemies alike," he stated.
The universal 10 percent tariff affecting all nations became active today (April 5). Meanwhile, the specific higher reciprocal taxes on countries "with which the United States maintains the biggest trade imbalances" will take effect on April 9 at 12:01 EDT.
A White House statement indicates that these tariffs will continue until Trump determines the "danger presented by the trade deficit and underlying unequal treatment is addressed, concluded, or lessened."
