Trump defends tariffs, criticizes illegal immigration in Chicago interview
CHICAGO - Donald Trump had a contentious conversation in Chicago on Tuesday.
The former and perhaps future U.S. president was interviewed in front of about 300 people at the Fairmont Hotel. The primary focus of the conversation was economics.
"These are seriously sick people. And no, I don't want them in our country, and they are in our country right now," Trump said, returning to the issue of illegal immigration during a one-hour interview hosted by the Economic Club of Chicago.
Speaking of Chicago, Trump started the talk with a mild jab. "Even today as I was driving over, you see these empty old beautiful steel mills, factories that are empty and falling down," he said.
In front of a crowd of business leaders, the forum largely focused on economic issues. Moderator John Micklethwait of Bloomberg News challenged Trump’s economic plan.
"People like the Wall Street Journal, which is hardly a communist organization, they've criticized you as well. You’re running up enormous debt," Micklethwait said.
"What does the WSJ know? I’m meeting with them tomorrow. What does the WSJ know? They’ve been wrong about everything. And so have you, by the way. You’ve been wrong about everything," Trump responded.
Security inside the ballroom was extremely tight, with Chicago police officers lining the walls. Outside, a number of streets around the Fairmont were closed to traffic.
Trump also faced questions about his support for tariffs.
"To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff," Trump said.
Most economists say tariffs will dramatically raise prices and inflation, hurting American trade.
"The higher the tariff, the more you're going to put on the value of those goods. The higher people are going to pay in shops," Micklethwait said.
"Ready? The higher the tariff, the more likely it is that the company will come into the United States and build a factory in the United States so it doesn’t have to pay the tariff," Trump responded.
"That will take many, many years," Micklethwait added.
"No, it will go quickly," Trump said.
So, how did Trump play in Chicago? It depends on who you ask.
"It was a bit of a combative environment, but I thought he got his points across. That’s what he wanted to do," Mick Agliata said.
"Not a lot of substance. Standard of what I’ve heard from Trump," said Iqbal Brainch, a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.
"He’s Trump. Some of the things he’s spot on. And I’m here because my 11-year-old boy wanted to come down," added Brad Stephens, the mayor of suburban Rosemont.
Gov. JB Pritzker released the following statement ahead of Trump's appearance:
"Every time he opens his mouth, Donald Trump reminds us that he is a racist, misogynist 34-time convicted felon who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. On a recent visit to Chicago, he spewed insults at Kamala Harris and no doubt we’ll hear it again today as he tries to peddle his economic plans that would raise costs for American families by $4,000, spike inflation, and kill jobs…"
Mayor Brandon Johnson released the following statement after Trump's speech on Tuesday:
"Chicagoans know Donald Trump all too well. Last time he was in our city, Trump deployed shameful dog whistle rhetoric casting doubt on Vice President Kamala Harris’s heritage. Now, he’s back with his 'economic plan' which is nothing more than a massive tax break for billionaires and big corporations while working people get stuck with higher prices for everyday goods because of his foolish tariff proposals. Meanwhile, Trump relentlessly attacks reproductive freedom, affordable healthcare, Social Security and Medicare, our environment, the labor movement, and the foundations of our democracy itself. Chicagoans overwhelmingly stand with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and in three weeks Trump and his Project 2025 agenda will be rejected once and for all."