President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2025. During an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with host Maria Bartiromo, he discussed various topics concerning his recent return to the White House. Among the key points were his tariffs leading to a trade war, concerns over a looming recession, and his strained relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following a confrontation in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.
Bartiromo, recently appointed by Trump to the Kennedy Center Board, conducted the interview, which aired on March 9 and was filmed earlier in the week. Here are some of the main issues Trump touched upon:
There are worries among consumers and experts about a potential recession, especially due to the reciprocal tariffs proposed by the Trump Administration and significant layoffs attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk. The Atlanta Federal Reserve model indicated a possible negative economic growth in Q1 2025. Trump acknowledged the challenges, emphasizing the need for adjustment amid ongoing changes.
**Tariff Updates:** When questioned about tariffs, Trump emphasized that clarity for businesses will come after April 2 when his tariffs are scheduled to take effect. He hinted that tariffs could increase over time to address what he perceives as past exploitation of the U.S. economy. He reiterated his stance on increasing domestic production.
**U.S.-Ukraine Relations:** Reflecting on his encounter with Zelensky, Trump praised the Ukrainian President’s intelligence but criticized him for accepting aid from the Biden Administration during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump expressed his belief that under his leadership, such events could have been prevented. Additionally, he suggested that his presence in global affairs could have deterred certain incidents, such as Hamas’ actions against Israel in 2023.
The interview shed light on Trump’s perspectives on these critical issues, showcasing his approach to economic policies, trade relations, and international affairs.
Office Showdown
In discussions about potential defense spending cuts, President Trump was questioned about the Administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, a move led by DOGE and overseen by Musk. Despite these planned cuts, defense spending will remain unaffected for the time being.
Trump expressed interest in reducing defense spending in the future but clarified that it will not happen immediately. He highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by countries like China and Russia, acknowledging the necessity of allocating significant resources to nuclear weapons.
Regarding the DOGE spending cuts, Trump assured that social security and Medicaid would not be impacted. He also elaborated on his proposal for a “gold card” pathway to U.S. citizenship, which involves a $5 million fee for foreign-born individuals seeking immigration opportunities.
Trump defended the gold card concept by citing difficulties faced by businesses in hiring talented individuals from esteemed educational institutions who are forced to leave the country upon graduation. He proposed that the gold card could enable top students to secure employment opportunities in a manner similar to athletes.
Commenting on the state of education in the U.S., Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the current system and indicated a desire to decentralize the Department of Education. He criticized the quality of education in the country, labeling it as one of the worst globally despite the high cost per pupil.
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