U.S. President Donald Trump is making headlines once again—this time for his bold claims that foreign leaders are “kissing [his] a–” in the wake of sweeping new tariffs that took effect early Wednesday morning.
The tariffs, targeting approximately 90 countries, are expected to significantly raise import costs and consumer prices in the United States. China is among the hardest hit, facing a cumulative tariff rate of 104%, while smaller nations like Lesotho (50%) and Cambodia (49%) are also heavily affected.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection began enforcing the measures at 12:01 a.m. on April 9. “CBP is uniquely positioned to implement and enforce the President’s tariffs using all our enforcement and revenue collection authorities,” the agency said.
Markets across Asia took a hard hit following the announcement. Japan’s Nikkei fell by 3.8%, Taiwan’s index plummeted 6%, South Korea’s currency dropped to its lowest level in over a decade, and Indonesia’s rupiah hit a record low.
Despite global market jitters, Trump doubled down during a speech at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington, D.C., calling the tariffs “legendary” and essential to his economic playbook.
“Countries are calling us up, begging to make deals,” Trump said. “They’re kissing my a–, they really are. They’re desperate.”
He insisted that his second term will give him even greater freedom to implement trade measures without interference. “This time I’m doing what I want with the tariffs,” he said. “This is the largest transaction in the history of our country.”
Trump also took a shot at congressional Republicans who have voiced concerns about the unilateral approach, brushing them off as political showboats. “I see some grandstanding Republicans saying, ‘Congress should take over negotiations.’ Let me tell you something—they don’t negotiate like I do.”
While Trump projects confidence, his administration has sent mixed signals about the future of the tariffs. He recently said they could be permanent or open to negotiation. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS News that the tariffs are “negotiable, but not a negotiating tactic.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this stance, stating, “The president will talk to any country that picks up the phone,” adding that the administration has already received numerous requests for dialogue. However, Politico reported that several world leaders are still awaiting responses to their outreach.
Trump reiterated his belief that America has long been taken advantage of in global trade deals. “Many countries have ripped us off left and right. Now it’s our turn to do the ripping,” he declared. “We’re going to make our country stronger than it’s ever been.”
Wall Street, however, appears less optimistic. The S&P 500 dropped 1.6% while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.2%, with all major indexes sliding to their lowest points since early 2024.
Despite the economic turbulence, the Trump administration maintains that the short-term pain will lead to long-term gains.
