“Trump’s Tariff Strategy Shows U.S. Can’t Be Taken for Granted,” Says State Dept. Spokesperson

Tammy Bruce defends President Trump’s trade policy as a global reset, claims over 130 countries are renegotiating deals with the U.S.

Washington, DC | April 16: US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday praised President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, declaring them a powerful statement to both allies and adversaries that the United States should not be taken for granted. Speaking at a White House press briefing, Bruce said Trump’s trade strategy was a “herculean effort” to undo decades of what she called unfair global trade arrangements.

“Only President Trump has the vision and courage to say enough is enough,” Bruce said, calling him the “world’s best dealmaker.”

Bruce argued that Trump’s actions have reset the global trade environment, forcing more than 130 countries to renegotiate trade terms with the U.S., and emphasizing “respect and reciprocity” in international relations.

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“Tariffs Show America Is Serious”

Bruce pointed to the 125% tariff hike on China announced by Trump on April 9, following a retaliatory move from Beijing. She highlighted this as a clear message to global powers that America will no longer tolerate being “ripped off.”

“His actions on tariffs have shown that our fortunes are tied to the success of every nation on the planet. But America must no longer be exploited,” she added.

Trump, in his social media post on Truth Social, said the tariff hike was due to “the lack of respect China has shown to the world’s markets.”

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Reciprocal Pause for 75 Nations

To foster goodwill with cooperative nations, Trump also authorized a 90-day pause on tariffs for 75 countries, including India. These countries are actively engaged in trade talks with the U.S. and have refrained from retaliatory actions, according to the White House.

“I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump wrote.

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State Department Cleans House

Bruce also revealed that 139 federal grants worth $214 million were cancelled under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has prioritized programs aligned with “America First” policies.

Quoting Rubio, Bruce said:

“The American taxpayers should not be funding misguided programs. We are cleaning up the mess the previous administration left.”

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President Trump’s aggressive tariff measures, combined with renegotiation efforts and federal budget reforms, are central to his re-election strategy and his broader vision of economic nationalism, Bruce concluded.

“President Trump is restoring respect, not just for America’s workers, but for the nation itself,” she said.