US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a fresh round of criticism at American allies, political rivals and federal institutions, accusing them of taking advantage of the United States while defending his sweeping tariff policies. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting that stretched for more than 30 minutes, Trump claimed that nations benefiting from US trade partnerships had been “ripping off” the country for years.
The President, 79, made the comments in his trademark style, jokingly refusing to name the countries he was referring to—before immediately mentioning Japan and South Korea. His remarks prompted laughter from assembled Cabinet members, even as he doubled down on his stance that tariffs were strengthening the US economy and generating unprecedented revenue.
Trump claims tariffs bringing in ‘a lot of money’
Trump highlighted the revenue generated from his global tariff structure, insisting that his strategy had reversed decades of disadvantage. “We are making a lot of money because of the tariffs. They were ripping us off for years,” he said. He went on to propose that dividend cheques funded by tariff revenues could eventually replace federal income tax—though he provided no details on feasibility.
The President has long argued that tariffs force foreign governments and manufacturers to negotiate better terms with the United States. Critics, including economists and members of Congress, have repeatedly warned that tariffs ultimately raise prices for consumers and strain diplomatic ties.
Wide-ranging grievances aired in Cabinet meeting
The meeting saw Trump vent frustrations across issues including trade, NATO, healthcare, energy and domestic affordability. He accused Democrats of misleading voters on cost-of-living concerns, calling affordability discussions a “Democrat scam”.
“There’s this fake narrative that the Democrats talk about affordability. They just say the word. It doesn’t mean anything to anybody,” Trump said.
He further attacked the Affordable Care Act, calling Obamacare a “disaster”. Without offering policy details, Trump claimed his administration had reduced drug prices by “200 percent, 300 percent, 400 percent, 500 percent, 600 percent, 700 percent, 800 percent”, drawing attention for the exaggerated figures.
Attacks Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell
The President then turned his ire toward Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, calling him a “stubborn ox” and suggesting that Powell “probably doesn’t like your president, your favourite president”. Trump has repeatedly criticised Powell despite the Fed’s statutory independence.
Such attacks have sparked concerns among financial analysts, who warn that public criticism of the central bank can undermine investor confidence and perceptions of monetary policy stability.
Takes aim at climate policy and Green New Deal
Reiterating his opposition to environmental regulations, Trump said he had ended what he termed the “green new scam”, dismissing climate-related policy proposals as “one of the greatest scams in the history of our country”.
“They talked about global warming and all that crap,” he added, reaffirming his scepticism toward climate initiatives.
Criticises media scrutiny and Biden
Trump also commented on media coverage of his public appearances, mocking what he described as excessive scrutiny whenever he goes a day without holding a press conference. “If I go one day without a news conference, suddenly ‘there’s something wrong with the president’. You people are crazy,” he said.
He then criticised former President Joe Biden, claiming that the media treated Biden differently regarding transparency and public interactions.
White House addresses visible patch on Trump’s hand
During the meeting, observers noticed a patch of cover-up makeup on Trump’s hand. The White House clarified that the discolouration was due to bruising caused by frequent handshakes and aspirin use as part of his preventive health routine.
The President ended his remarks by boasting about his physical condition. “I think I am sharper than I was 25 years ago, but who isn’t? By the way, I took my physical. I got all A’s, everything,” he said.
Trump’s comments come at a time of heightened political tension ahead of key legislative pushes. His administration continues to defend its tariff policies amid global economic uncertainty and diplomatic strain with longstanding allies.