Breaking news:Trump Speaks Out on Recession Fears, Tariffs, declared another war between two powerful figures…
Trump Speaks Out on Recession Fears, Tariffs, and Zelensky
President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo, in which he discussed a variety of issues from his first few weeks back in the White House. Key talking points included his tariffs, which have resulted in a trade war, mounting fears that the U.S. may be heading into a recession, and foreign relations—specifically that with Ukraine, after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.
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Bartiromo, who Trump just appointed to the Kennedy Center Board, sat down with the President for the interview that aired on March 9 and was filmed during the past week.
Here are some of the key topics Trump shared his views on:
Recession fears
Consumers and experts alike have shown concern about a possible recession, particularly amid the Trump Administration’s proposed reciprocal tariffs and the mass layoffs largely triggered by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk. The Atlanta Federal Reserve model suggested that economic growth might be negative in Q1 2025.
Trump did not rule out the possibility of economic hardship, arguing that the economy and the U.S. population will have to adjust to the changes being made.
“I hate to predict things like that,” Trump said, when asked if he is expecting a recession this year. “There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. There are always periods of… it takes a little time. It takes a little time. But I think it should be great for us.”
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What is happening with Trump’s tariffs
Bartiromo pushed for more detail on tariffs, stating that businesses want “clarity” and predictability for shareholder purposes amid Trump’s proposed tariffs and, more specifically, his decision to delay some of those tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
Trump said that businesses will have clarity after April 2, when his reciprocal tariffs are set to be put in place. But he also said that the tariffs may well rise over time.
“The tariffs could go up as time goes by, they may go up…” he said. “This country has been ripped off from every nation in the world, every company in the world. We’ve been ripped off at levels never seen before, and what we’re going to do is get it back.”
Trump went on to reaffirm his belief that more business and production should be carried out on American soil. “Build it here, there’s no tariff,” he said.
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Where U.S. and Ukraine relations stand after the Zelensky Oval Office confrontation
When asked by Bartiromo about the Oval Office exchange between himself and Zelensky, Trump said that Zelensky is a “smart and tough guy” and likened him getting U.S. aid from the Biden Administration after Russia invaded Ukraine to taking “candy from a baby.”
“He [Zelensky] took money out of this country under Biden like taking candy from a baby. It was so easy,” Trump said, adding: “I just don’t think he’s grateful.”
Trump went on to say if he had been President at the time, Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine. He also said that other global events—such as Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023— wouldn’t have happened if he was in the White House.
When asked about the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal—the original intended focus of Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting—and whether it will still go ahead, Trump said he “thinks so.”
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If there are plans to cut defense spending
Trump was asked about the Administration’s plan to shrink the size of the federal government, a charge spearheaded by DOGE under the watchful eye of Musk. These cuts, though, will not affect defense spending for the time being.
Trump said he would “love” to cut defense spending, but will not do so “now.”
“You have China, you have Russia, you have a lot of problems out there,” he said, rueful that the government has to spend so much on nuclear weapons.
He also reiterated his message that social security and Medicaid will not be affected by the DOGE spending cuts.
Trump’s proposed “gold card” route to U.S. citizenship
Trump addressed his recent proposal of a “gold card” route to citizenship, putting a $5 million price tag on a card that would allow foreign-born potential immigrants a pathway into the United States.
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Championing his idea, Trump told Bartiromo that major companies have reached out to him about how hard it is to hire talent from good schools when immigrants must leave the country after their education ends.
“You graduate number one at the Wharton School of Finance, or Harvard, or Stanford, and you get thrown out of the country,” Trump said. “And [businesses] want to hire these people. Now, they can buy a gold card and they can take that gold card and make it a part of their deal to get these top students—no different than an athlete.”
The future of education in the U.S.
Trump spoke out about his thoughts on America’s education system amid the news that he wishes to dismantle the Department of Education.
“We want to bring the schools back to the States, because we have the worst, literally, we have the worst Education Department and education in the world,” Trump claimed. “We’re ranked at the bottom of the list, and yet we’re number one when it comes to cost per pupil.”
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In defense of Elon Musk and DOGE
Amid mounting concerns about the oversight Musk and DOGE have been given to cut spending at the federal level—from firing the federal workforce in droves to terminating thousands of government contracts—Trump defended the Tesla and X owner.
“What he’s done is unbelievable,” Trump said of Musk, referring to him as a “patriot” and championing his ability to spot financial waste. “This is something that’s really not good for him, and yet he’s doing it. But, he’s opened a lot of eyes.”
Trump’s defense of Musk lands amid reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Musk have clashed over DOGE’s actions. Trump addressed the reports via his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday evening, stating that the two cabinet members have a “great relationship,” and any statement otherwise is “fake news.”
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Breaking news:Trump Addresses Recession Fears, Defends Tariffs, and Declares Political War Against Powerful Rival
June 12, 2025 — Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump is once again at the center of political and economic controversy after a fiery address Wednesday in which he dismissed mounting concerns over a potential recession, defended his longstanding support for tariffs, and escalated a public feud with a key political rival.
Speaking at a rally in Ohio — one of the battleground states crucial to his 2024 campaign — Trump struck a defiant tone as he pushed back on recent warnings from economists and financial analysts that the U.S. may be headed for a significant economic slowdown.
“There is no recession,” Trump declared to loud cheers. “What we’re seeing is the result of a corrupt administration ruining what we built. But make no mistake — under my leadership, we had the greatest economy in the history of the world.”
Trump pointed to high job numbers during his presidency, record stock market performance before the pandemic, and what he described as “unfair trade practices” by China and other countries that he claims were finally addressed through his tariffs.
Tariffs Return to Center Stage
The former president doubled down on one of his most controversial economic tools: tariffs. Calling them “the greatest negotiating weapon in the world,” Trump vowed that if re-elected, he would reintroduce aggressive tariffs on imports, particularly from China, Mexico, and even European allies.
Critics argue that such a move could further destabilize global trade and strain relations with key partners. However, Trump insisted the tariffs would protect American workers, reduce the trade deficit, and force companies to bring jobs back to U.S. soil.
“Our factories were being gutted,” Trump said. “With tariffs, we leveled the playing field. We brought jobs back. And we’ll do it again — bigger and better.”
A New Political War Declared
But perhaps the most dramatic moment of the speech came when Trump launched a scathing personal attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of “sabotaging the economy” and working in league with the Biden administration.
In language unusually combative even for Trump, he declared, “Jerome Powell is acting like Biden’s puppet. He’s raised interest rates to hurt me politically. This is economic warfare. And I’m not backing down.”
While Powell has remained apolitical during his tenure and emphasized the Fed’s independence, Trump’s comments are likely to spark alarm across financial markets and institutions, which rely on the Fed’s perceived neutrality.
Trump’s remarks also drew immediate responses from Democratic leaders and economic experts, many of whom condemned his rhetoric as dangerous and unfounded. “Attacking the Fed to score political points threatens the credibility of our entire financial system,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
Economic and Political Stakes Rising
The speech comes at a critical time for both the U.S. economy and the 2024 presidential race. Inflation has cooled from its 2022 peak, but growth remains sluggish, and consumer confidence is wavering. At the same time, Trump remains the Republican frontrunner, with polling showing a tight race between him and President Biden.
Political analysts believe Trump’s aggressive stance signals a strategy to energize his base by framing economic challenges as the result of betrayal by elites — both in government and global markets.
“This is Trump doing what he does best: creating a clear enemy, drawing a line, and rallying his supporters,” said CNN political analyst David Chalian. “But whether that works in a fragile economy remains to be seen.”
As the campaign heats up, Trump’s message is clear: he’s preparing not just to win an election, but to wage war — economically and politically — on all fronts.
