Trump Asserts ‘US Wants To Make Tanks, Not T-shirts’ As He Defends Tariffs

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his tariff policy to reporters in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One. He claimed that the nation should focus on producing military and high-tech goods rather than boosting the textile industry. 

While asserting his stance, he said that, “I’m not looking to make T-shirts, to be honest. I’m not looking to make socks. We can do that very well in other locations. We are looking to make chips and computers and lots of other things, and tanks and ships.” 

“We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to do the AI thing with computers,” he added further. 

The remarks came in light of treasury secretary Scott Bessent's remarks where he questioned the need for a “booming textile industry”. The remarks were supported by Trump despite being criticised by the National Council of Textile Organisations. 

The American Apparel and Footwear Association President Steve Lamar said that, “With 97% of the clothes and shoes we wear being imported, and with clothes and shoes already the most highly tariffed industry in the US, we need to focus on common sense solutions. More tariffs will only mean higher input costs for US manufacturers and higher prices that will hurt lower income consumers.”

While speaking to the reporters, Trump also mentioned the extension granted to the European Union until July 9 that would delay the earlier order of levying 50 percent tariffs on European goods by June 1. The move came after he held a call with EU President Ursula von der Leyen.