Two days after his crushing election defeat, Trump said, “Tariffs up to 300% if we don’t build a factory in the U.S.” (comprehensive)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 5th (local time) that if tariffs are eliminated, foreign companies will stop building factories in the U.S., and that if they do not build factories in the U.S., tariffs will be up to 300%.

After the Republican Party's crushing defeat in the midterm elections, attention is being paid to whether President Trump will change his stance on key policies such as tariffs and the Iran war, and it is interpreted that he declared his intention to stick to it by mentioning '300% tariffs'.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters at the White House on this day, President Trump asked, 'How will we use the executive order over the next two years? When asked, "What are your plans for preserving the political legacy?" he said, "We're going to do a lot. You're going to see a lot in one week, two weeks. There's a lot to prepare for."

President Trump went on to claim that foreign companies are building about 3,000 factories and production facilities in the United States, saying, "If I remove tariffs now, construction of all of these factories will stop."

He emphasized, “99% of the reasons (for building a factory) are because otherwise you have to pay tariffs of 50%, 100%, 150%, and 250%,” and added, “Once you start construction and start operating, you don’t have to pay tariffs.”

President Trump has repeatedly said that if tariffs are eliminated, factory construction in the United States will immediately stop, adding, "There will be half-built factories across the country, and products will be imported from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines."

President Trump emphasized that once companies build factories and begin operations, not only will there be no need to pay tariffs, but prices will also drop significantly. He also called those who argued for eliminating tariffs “foolish people.”

President Trump's remarks are not much different from his existing position, but they are drawing attention because they were made two days after the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat in the midterm elections due to high inflation caused by tariff policies and the war with Iran.

It is interpreted as a statement that is tantamount to a declaration that the tariff policy will be maintained regardless of defeat in the midterm elections. 'Tariffs of 300%' is likely an exaggeration characteristic of President Trump, but it can also be seen as suggesting that significant additional tariffs may be imposed.

In response to a question about the response to Iran, President Trump said that a decision must be made between agreement and attack, saying, "I don't want to destroy what is left (of Iran) if possible, but I may have to."

He also said that Iran will not do anything regarding its nuclear program without U.S. approval. Regarding whether to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he again publicly drew the line, saying, "He is doing a fantastic job."

As President Trump's domestic political position has weakened due to his crushing defeat in the midterm elections, there are concerns that he may overindulge in areas such as diplomacy, security, and trade where the president has great discretion.