Trump clashes with Bloomberg editor over tariffs

Former President Trump clashed with the editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News during an economic forum in Chicago on Tuesday over the GOP nominee’s insistence that tariffs would not have negative consequences in a possible second term.

Bloomberg’s top editor, John Micklethwait, repeatedly pressed Trump at the Economic Club of Chicago over his plans to impose a universal tariff on imports and his threats to use tariffs on American companies that outsource their manufacturing. 

Micklethwait noted Trump’s plans would essentially halt trade with China, place at least a 10 percent tariff on European nations and have a drastic effect on the U.S. economy, where 40 million jobs rely on trade.

“That is going to have a serious effect on the overall economy,” Micklethwait said.

“It’s going to have a massive effect — positive effect. It’s going to be a positive effect,” Trump responded. “It must be hard for you to spend 25 years talking about tariffs as being negative and then have somebody explain to you that you’re totally wrong.”