US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will soon announce tariffs on semiconductors, but declined to share any further details.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump made the remark without specifying which countries or companies would be targeted, or when the tariffs would take effect.
Trump also declared he would sign an order this week imposing a 50% tariff on copper imports, aligning it with existing duties on steel and aluminium.
Defending the copper move, Trump said it was necessary to protect US factories, which he claims are being “undercut” by unfair trade.
“It’s a better way. It’s a more powerful way. And we send you a letter. You read the letter. I think it was well crafted,” Trump said of the tariff notices sent to multiple countries.
Trump also set his sights on the pharmaceutical sector, telling Cabinet members he wants to hit drug imports with tariffs “at a very, very high rate, like 200%.” He suggested that businesses would be given about 18 months to prepare before the measure takes effect.
Also read: Trump says all BRICS nations, including India, to face additional 10% tariff
Trump revealed that 14 foreign leaders were sent warning letters this week as the 90-day tariff negotiation window closes. Some of these countries, he said, could face tariffs as high as 70%.
“Some” countries could see import tariffs as high as 70 percent, he said. “It’s a better way,” he reiterated. “It’s a more powerful way.”
Wind energy dismissed, coal praised
Continuing his criticism of renewable energy, Trump slammed wind power as unreliable.
“We need the kind of things that’s going to fire up our plants and it’s not going to be wind,” he said. Trump added that wind turbines “ruin scenery” and only deliver power “when the wind blows.”
Countries avoiding wind and solar, he argued, are “smart,” while the US is “brilliant” for backing coal and traditional energy sources.
Furthermore, Trump also reiterated his intention to defend the US dollar’s global supremacy.
“It would be like losing a war, a major world war,” he warned. “We would not be the same country any longer. And we’re not going to let that happen.”
He backed this up by repeating his threat of a 10% tariff on BRICS nations seeking to sideline the dollar.
“I’m just saying, if people want to challenge it, they can, but they’re going to have to pay a big price,” Trump said.
“And I don’t think any of them are willing to pay that price.”
Also read: US received $100 billion in tariffs so far, may hit $300 billion by year-end, says Scott Bessent
Epstein case: Trump defends Bondi
When a reporter questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Trump intervened sharply.
Asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” was a “desecration,” he said, citing urgent issues like Texas floods.
Bondi previously told Fox News that a client list was “sitting on my desk”, but later clarified she meant the broader Epstein file.
Trump was also asked about Russia’s war in Ukraine and took aim at President Vladimir Putin.
“He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said bluntly. When asked if he planned to act, Trump replied, “I wouldn’t be telling you.”
He admitted the conflict had turned out “tougher” than initially expected.
In the same meeting, Trump launched a fresh attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for his resignation and a congressional probe.
“I think he’s terrible,” Trump said.
He accused Powell of refusing to cut interest rates fast enough to cushion the economic effects of new tariffs.
Also read: Trump threatens 200% tariff on foreign drugs, 50% on copper imports
Iran strike praised, Afghanistan exit slammed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contrasted the recent US strike on Iran with the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal under President Biden.
“You saw the debacle of what Biden allowed to happen in Afghanistan… The Iran operation reversed what happened,” Hegseth said.
Trump called the Afghanistan exit the “most botched up mess I’ve ever seen.”
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a moving update on the flood disaster in Texas.
“Very emotional, but also just so tragic,” she said, revealing she had “kind of fallen apart” during her visit. “We’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA… much like your vision of how FEMA should operate,” she told Trump.
She praised local communities, saying “God created us to take care of each other.”
Trump said he would visit the flood-hit areas on Friday.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump made the remark without specifying which countries or companies would be targeted, or when the tariffs would take effect.
Trump also declared he would sign an order this week imposing a 50% tariff on copper imports, aligning it with existing duties on steel and aluminium.
Defending the copper move, Trump said it was necessary to protect US factories, which he claims are being “undercut” by unfair trade.
“It’s a better way. It’s a more powerful way. And we send you a letter. You read the letter. I think it was well crafted,” Trump said of the tariff notices sent to multiple countries.
Trump also set his sights on the pharmaceutical sector, telling Cabinet members he wants to hit drug imports with tariffs “at a very, very high rate, like 200%.” He suggested that businesses would be given about 18 months to prepare before the measure takes effect.
Also read: Trump says all BRICS nations, including India, to face additional 10% tariff
Trump revealed that 14 foreign leaders were sent warning letters this week as the 90-day tariff negotiation window closes. Some of these countries, he said, could face tariffs as high as 70%.
“Some” countries could see import tariffs as high as 70 percent, he said. “It’s a better way,” he reiterated. “It’s a more powerful way.”
Wind energy dismissed, coal praised
Continuing his criticism of renewable energy, Trump slammed wind power as unreliable.
“We need the kind of things that’s going to fire up our plants and it’s not going to be wind,” he said. Trump added that wind turbines “ruin scenery” and only deliver power “when the wind blows.”
Countries avoiding wind and solar, he argued, are “smart,” while the US is “brilliant” for backing coal and traditional energy sources.
Furthermore, Trump also reiterated his intention to defend the US dollar’s global supremacy.
“It would be like losing a war, a major world war,” he warned. “We would not be the same country any longer. And we’re not going to let that happen.”
He backed this up by repeating his threat of a 10% tariff on BRICS nations seeking to sideline the dollar.
“I’m just saying, if people want to challenge it, they can, but they’re going to have to pay a big price,” Trump said.
“And I don’t think any of them are willing to pay that price.”
Also read: US received $100 billion in tariffs so far, may hit $300 billion by year-end, says Scott Bessent
Epstein case: Trump defends Bondi
When a reporter questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Trump intervened sharply.
Asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” was a “desecration,” he said, citing urgent issues like Texas floods.
Bondi previously told Fox News that a client list was “sitting on my desk”, but later clarified she meant the broader Epstein file.
Trump was also asked about Russia’s war in Ukraine and took aim at President Vladimir Putin.
“He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said bluntly. When asked if he planned to act, Trump replied, “I wouldn’t be telling you.”
He admitted the conflict had turned out “tougher” than initially expected.
In the same meeting, Trump launched a fresh attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for his resignation and a congressional probe.
“I think he’s terrible,” Trump said.
He accused Powell of refusing to cut interest rates fast enough to cushion the economic effects of new tariffs.
Also read: Trump threatens 200% tariff on foreign drugs, 50% on copper imports
Iran strike praised, Afghanistan exit slammed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contrasted the recent US strike on Iran with the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal under President Biden.
“You saw the debacle of what Biden allowed to happen in Afghanistan… The Iran operation reversed what happened,” Hegseth said.
Trump called the Afghanistan exit the “most botched up mess I’ve ever seen.”
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a moving update on the flood disaster in Texas.
“Very emotional, but also just so tragic,” she said, revealing she had “kind of fallen apart” during her visit. “We’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA… much like your vision of how FEMA should operate,” she told Trump.
She praised local communities, saying “God created us to take care of each other.”
Trump said he would visit the flood-hit areas on Friday.
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