Trump Reveals Immediate Response After Mass Tariffs

This newsletter is brought to you by Brain Training 4 Dogs. Stop bad behavior by developing your dog’s hidden intelligence. For a happier dog, for a happier home…

It’s been just days since President Trump instated his sweeping tariff strategy, and already, the results seem to be undeniable. While the media and political establishment mocked the approach as reckless and outdated, what we’re hopefully witnessing instead is a masterclass in economic statecraft. Countries that once ignored America’s calls for fair trade are now lining up to negotiate, desperate to avoid the consequences of being shut out of the world’s largest and most lucrative market.

“Every country’s called us. That’s the beauty of what we do,” Trump said recently. “If we would have asked some of these countries, almost, most of these countries, to do us a favor they would have said no. Now, they’ll do anything for us.” That’s not bravado—it’s the cold, hard reality of how leverage works in global politics. Tariffs, when used strategically, put power back in the hands of the American worker and the American government. They force countries that have long taken advantage of lopsided trade agreements to finally come to the table and deal fairly.

And it’s happening fast.

Vietnam, recognizing the writing on the wall, has already eliminated all tariffs on American goods. This is a stunning about-face from a country that, for decades, benefited from the U.S. market while imposing significant trade barriers of its own. Under previous administrations—both Republican and Democrat—this kind of one-sided relationship was allowed to fester. Vietnam exported goods to America at massive volumes, while U.S. products faced red tape, duties, and discrimination in their market.

But under Trump, that era is over. Vietnam knew that if it didn’t act fast, it would face reciprocal tariffs that could devastate its economy. So, it did what Trump said would happen all along: it picked up the phone, made the deal, and dropped the tariffs.

And they’re not alone. Argentina, under the bold leadership of President Javier Milei, is now in final negotiations with the United States to become the first “zero-tariff country.” Milei understands what many global leaders are just now waking up to—working with Trump’s America is a smart economic move, not a risk. The prospect of a completely open trade relationship with the United States is a game changer for Argentina, and it’s a direct result of Trump’s take-no-prisoners approach to negotiation.

Let’s be clear: this is exactly what Trump promised he would do. For years, he warned that America was being ripped off by countries that pretended to be allies while enriching themselves at our expense. He said that the United States had become a dumping ground for foreign goods, while American companies were crushed by foreign tariffs and regulatory barriers. Now, with tariffs back on the table, he’s proving that economic strength equals diplomatic leverage.

When asked if he was open to deals, Trump gave the perfect response: “It depends.” That’s the kind of answer you give when you’re holding the cards. The United States no longer has to go begging for access or plead with foreign leaders for concessions. We have what they want—a massive consumer market, a booming energy sector, and a powerhouse industrial base ready to roar back to life under fair conditions.

“Tariffs give us great power to negotiate,” Trump said. And he’s absolutely right. In a world where diplomacy is often toothless, economic tools like tariffs are one of the last real sources of hard power. They don’t require troops on the ground or billion-dollar foreign aid packages. They simply require a leader willing to stand up for his country and say, 'enough is enough.'

And that’s exactly what Trump is doing.

The irony, of course, is that the same globalist pundits who spent years lecturing us about the dangers of protectionism are now watching in real time as Trump’s strategy forces fair trade into existence. Countries are making concessions not because they’ve had a change of heart—but because they can no longer afford not to.

This is the America First economic doctrine at work—smart, tough, and effective. It's not about isolation or closing our borders to trade. It’s about ensuring that trade is fair, reciprocal, and beneficial to the American people. If countries want access to our markets, they’ll have to play by our rules—and if they don’t, they’ll pay the price. The calls are coming in. The deals are being made. And hopefully we’ll have economic balance in the world again.