Trump’s 100 Days Interview Transcript

Trump Defends Use of Presidential Power, Touts Economic Gains in TIME Interview

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump defended his use of presidential power and asserted significant economic progress in an interview with TIME magazine at the White House on April 22. The interview,conducted by TIME Senior Political Correspondent Eric Cortellessa and Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs,covered a wide array of topics,including trade,immigration,presidential authority,ukraine,and the Middle East.

When questioned about concerns that he was expanding the power of the presidency, Trump pushed back, stating, “I don’t feel I’m expanding it. I think I’m using it as it was meant to be used.” He cited what he deemed a successful first 100 days in office, highlighting his governance’s efforts to reset trade imbalances.

The TIME interviewers pressed Trump on specific actions, including leveraging Congressional authority on trade and appropriations, removing heads of independent agencies, challenging the courts, and using governmental powers that have weakened private institutions like law firms and universities. They wanted to know if that constituted seizing power away from institutions and concentrating them inside the presidency.

Trump rejected the premise, arguing his actions aligned with his campaign promises. He defended his administration’s immigration policies, framing them as necessary to remove perilous individuals who had entered the country due to what he called President Biden’s “open border crazy, insanity.” He asserted many countries have emptied prisons into the United States, and said people walking down the street coudl be killed by these dangerous individuals, who “wouldn’t even think about it.”

“Everything that I’m doing – this is what I talked about doing,” Trump told TIME. “I said that I’m going to move the criminals out.” He doubled down on his criticisms of Biden’s border policies, claiming Biden’s administration stopped work on extending the wall, because “this guy actually wants to have open borders.”

Turning to the economy,trump claimed he had instantly brought down prices and was ushering in a golden age of America. The TIME interviewers questioned the validity of that argument.

trump said the prices of groceries and energy have gone down, but acknowledged that interest rates had remained essentially unchanged. He touted the billions of dollars in tariffs his administration was collecting, claiming that similar tariffs under his previous administration had not caused inflation.

When challenged about persistent inflation and negative economic forecasts from institutions like the IMF and the Atlanta Federal Reserve, Trump dismissed those concerns. He declared “I’ve been right about things,” adding, “You’re gonna have the wealthiest country we’ve ever had, and you’re gonna have an explosion upward in the not-too-distant future.” He also insisted he inherited high inflation and rising prices of eggs, groceries, and energy, but that those problems have been solved in his first three months in office.

On trade policy, Trump stated he wants companies to build and make goods in America, but acknowledged there are some products he doesn’t wont made here. When prodded about how CEOs can formulate long-term plans and investments if tariff policies can change from day to day, he countered by asking how they could make long-term investments if the country was losing $2 trillion a year on trade.

Asked whether he would give exemptions to small business owners from high tariffs, similar to those he’s given to Big Tech, Trump said he would have to look at the individual companies.He added that he’s recently had the heads of Walmart, Home Depot, and Target in his office, and “they think what I’m doing is exactly right.”

What impact do you think President Trump’s economic claims, notably regarding tariffs, could have on inflation and the overall economy?

Archyde Interview: Economic Analyst Sarah chen on Trump’s Economic Claims and Presidential Power

Archyde News recently sat down with renowned economic analyst Sarah Chen to discuss the key takeaways from President Donald Trump’s recent interview with TIME magazine. Chen, a Senior Economic Correspondent at the Institute for Policy Studies, provided insightful perspectives on Trump’s assertions about the economy and his use of presidential authority.

The economic Landscape: Reality vs.Rhetoric

archyde: Ms. Chen, President Trump painted a very optimistic picture of the economy in his interview. How does this align with the current economic data and forecasts?

Sarah Chen: “Well, the President’s claims of instantly bringing down prices and ushering in a ‘golden age’ are quite at odds with the current economic realities. While he cites some price decreases, the broader picture shows persistent inflation and stable interest rates. Self-reliant institutions like the IMF and the Atlanta Federal Reserve have issued warnings that don’t support the rosy outlook he presents.”

Archyde: He specifically mentioned tariffs and their impact. What’s your take on that?

Sarah Chen: “tariffs are a complex issue. While he touts the billions he’s collecting, these tariffs can substantially increase costs for businesses and consumers, potentially fueling inflation. The claim that tariffs under his previous governance didn’t affect inflation is questionable, with many economists pointing to periods of rising prices during that time coupled with supply chain interruptions. It’s not a simple equation.”

Presidential Power and its Implications

Archyde: Let’s shift gears to presidential power. Trump defended using it as it was “meant to be used.” What’s your outlook on this?

Sarah Chen: “This is a critical point. The use of presidential power should always be viewed through the lens of checks and balances. The concern about expanding powers, particularly in the areas of trade and possibly leveraging Congressional authority, is something we need to watch carefully.”

Archyde: How do you interpret his statements on immigration and border control?

Sarah Chen: “Framing immigration policies as necessary to removing perilous individuals isn’t a new political tactic, however, it is important to assess the factual basis of such statements.The implications of those policies on the economy and the country’s international reputation need careful consideration.”

The Role of Stakeholders

Archyde: towards the end of the interview, the president cited positive reactions from Walmart, Home Depot, and Target executives regarding his plans. With which firms and stakeholders do you think the President has the most influence?

Sarah Chen: From the sounds of it, it would be with the CEOs of Big Box store. I think at a certain level, this kind of influence serves to either pacify these critically important stakeholders, or to further solidify his own convictions on how to run the country.

looking Ahead

Archyde: what’s your general outlook, from an economic standpoint, for the next few months considering everything that has been said?

Sarah chen: “We’re in a time of great uncertainty and market volatility is still a concern, particularly because of the political climate. While there’s potential for growth, persistent inflation and the effects of shifting trade policies are challenges that demand attention. The choices made today will have a important impact for years to come.”

Archyde: That’s a very insightful analysis,Ms.Chen. Thank you for sharing your perspective with us.

Sarah Chen: My pleasure.

We invite our readers to share their opinions. Do you think that the President’s economic claims are warranted and what impact they could have? Leave your comments below.