During a heated discussion, Trump defends his economic policies and comments on key electoral states as he campaigns for a second term

In a contentious interview with Bloomberg News on October 15, 2024, former President Donald Trump proclaimed the Republican Party as “the party of common sense.” The discussion took place at the Economic Club of Chicago, where Trump outlined his vision for the economy should he win a second term, while also addressing the current political landscape.

The interview, hosted by Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief John Micklethwait, covered a variety of topics, beginning with the state of the economy. As the conversation progressed, Micklethwait shifted focus to the electoral map, inquiring which states Trump deemed critical for determining the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.

“People say Pennsylvania is crucial. I believe we’re performing strongly there,” Trump remarked, expressing confidence in his standing in both Pennsylvania and Michigan. “We’re way up in Pennsylvania. We’re way up in Michigan. We’re doing very well in Arizona.” His comments reflect recent polling trends showing Trump slightly ahead in these pivotal battleground states.

Trump elaborated on his assertion that the Republican Party transcends traditional labels of conservative and liberal, positioning it instead as a party of “common sense.” He stated, “Forget about conservative, liberal. We’re really a party of ‘We need borders. We need fair elections. We don’t want men playing in women’s sports. We don’t want transgender operations without parental consent.’ It is 99.9% common sense.”

Addressing concerns about immigration, Trump articulated his stance against what he described as unchecked influxes of people into the United States. “I have a good heart. I have a heart where I want people to be taken care of. But I don’t want to take in people where millions of people—21 million people at least have come in the last three and a half years—unvetted, unchecked. We don’t know anything about them,” he said.

Micklethwait challenged Trump’s economic plans, suggesting they could exacerbate national debt and inflation. Trump countered with a bold claim: “Yeah, I had four years—no inflation.” He dismissed concerns about tariffs on foreign goods, arguing that countries would face a “100% tariff on everything sold into the United States.”

Earlier this year, Trump had proposed eliminating China’s most-favoured nation trade status and instituting a baseline 10% tariff on imports, with some discussions hinting at tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese products. However, economists have warned that such measures could lead to increased prices for consumers, as American companies often rely on affordable raw materials sourced from China.

Micklethwait voiced concerns over Trump’s tariff plans, suggesting they could ignite a substantial trade war. “No, there are no tariffs—all you have to do is build your plant in the United States and you don’t have any tariffs,” Trump insisted, a statement that drew applause from the audience.

The dynamic between Trump and Micklethwait highlighted the tensions surrounding Trump’s economic proposals and his views on immigration and social issues. As the former president continues to campaign vigorously, he remains focused on rallying support in crucial states while framing his party as a common-sense alternative to current Democratic policies.