“I’m disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “So, based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs. If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100%.”
When pressed on whether Congress should proceed with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal’s (D-CT) proposal of a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, and uranium, Trump said he was unsure whether “we need it, but it’s certainly good that they’re doing it.”
“It could be very useful. We will have to see,” he said. “The 500% is sort of meaningless after a while.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is expected at the White House later Monday to discuss the Graham-Blumenthal bill.
Trump made the threat alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office after pledging last week that the United States would provide NATO allies with more weapons for Ukraine, including Patriot batteries and missiles.
“Just so you know, [Europe is] paying for everything. We’re not paying anymore,” the president said. “We make the best stuff, but we can’t keep doing this — and [former President Joe] Biden should’ve done this years ago.”
During the press conference, Trump reiterated his frustration with Putin, saying he thought “we had a deal about four times.”
The president also expressed a similar sentiment with a reporter who asked whether he would be prepared to escalate his response if Putin continues the war.
UKRAINE BENEFITS FROM TRUMP’S FRUSTRATION WITH PUTIN, BUT VOLATILITY REMAINS
“I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy,” Trump added of Putin, going on to say Putin “fooled” former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, “but he didn’t fool me.”
![Enjoy the [Road] Show Travel Mug with Handle, 14oz](https://georgedev.blazewebtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/479070202831754764_2048-300x300.jpeg)
