CNN
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President Donald Trump sat for a wide-ranging interview with TIME on April 22, referring to tariffs, peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia, the Iran nuclear deal, wanting Canada to turn into a US state and extra.
The sitdown included Trump saying he would signal a ban on members of Congress buying and selling shares, that he doesn’t need to use “loopholes” to run for a 3rd time period and that he has not requested El Salvador to return a mistakenly deported undocumented immigrant. He rejected the concept he’s increasing the powers of the presidency, saying he’s utilizing the workplace, “because it was meant for use” in his second time period.
“What I’m doing is precisely what I’ve campaigned on,” he stated.
The president additionally trod on some acquainted themes, together with claiming, with out proof, that there was “dishonest” within the 2020 and 2024 elections and that tariffs are good for the nation.
Listed here are 9 moments that caught out from the transcript of TIME’s Trump interview:
Trump stated within the interview that he’s made “200 offers” with firms and nations after pausing new tariffs on nations. However the White Home hasn’t introduced any of them, and Trump declined to element any particular offers.
Moreover, Trump stated if the US nonetheless had tariffs of fifty% on international nations a yr from now, he’d nonetheless take into account {that a} “complete victory” as a result of “the nation could be making a fortune.”
Requested why he hasn’t introduced the offers which have been agreed to, Trump stated commerce negotiations could be wrapped up within the subsequent few weeks. Trump initiated the 90-day pause on April 9.
“I might say, over the following three to 4 weeks, and we’re completed,” he stated. “We’ll be completed.”
Nonetheless, Trump left himself room for flexibility, saying some negotiations might proceed past that benchmark: “Some nations might come again and ask for an adjustment, and I’ll take into account that.”
Trump maintained within the interview that talks are ongoing with China on tariffs, although Chinese language officers are firmly stating the alternative.
Trump even stated that Chinese language President Xi Jinping has known as him, saying: “He’s known as. And I don’t suppose that’s an indication of weak spot on his behalf.” Trump didn’t supply specifics on the decision or when it befell.
Nonetheless, when pressed by CNN Friday morning on if Trump has spoken to Xi since tariffs had been carried out on Beijing, he declined to remark.
“I don’t need to touch upon that, however I’ve spoken to him many occasions,” Trump stated in response to CNN’s Alayna Treene when leaving the South Garden.
Trump informed TIME that he has not requested El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to ship again Kilmar Abrego Garcia — an undocumented immigrant that US officers mistakenly deported to El Salvador — regardless of a Supreme Courtroom ruling that stated the Trump administration needed to “facilitate” his return.
“I haven’t,” Trump stated. “He stated he wouldn’t.”
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