Trump says things are ‘going very well’ after worst stock market drop in years over tariffs

WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump offered a rosy assessment after the stock domain dropped sharply Thursday over his tariffs saying I think it s going very well The markets are going to boom the stock is going to boom the country is going to boom he disclosed when petitioned about the industry as he left the White House to fly to one of his Florida golf clubs The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than points on Thursday as U S stocks led a worldwide selloff after the Republican president s announcement of tariffs against much of the world ignited a shock like none seen since the COVID- pandemic Trump on Wednesday declared a minimum tariff of on imports with the tax rate running much higher on products from certain countries like China and those from the European Union The announcement jolted markets worldwide but Trump announced that was to be expected He compared the United States to a sick victim in need of surgery when sought by a reporter for his reaction to the worst stock field drop in years I think it s going very well We have an operation like when a sufferer gets operated on and it s a big thing I reported this would exactly be the way it is he disclosed an apparent reference to the selloff He talked about trillions of dollars in funding that is coming into our country from companies that want to make their products in the U S to avoid tariffs The rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal he reported Later speaking with the reporters on aboard Air Force One Trump commented that he d be open to using tariffs to negotiate with other countries and that it would depend on whether they had something phenomenal to offer in return He maintains that other countries have been taking advantage of the U S for a long time and he wants it to stop For several years we ve been at the wrong side of the ball and I ll tell you what I think it s going to be unbelievable Trump disclosed as he left the White House to attend a Saudi-backed golf tournament at his club in Doral Florida