During his appearance on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with anchor Maria Bartiromo, President Donald Trump covered a range of topics related to his initial weeks back in the White House. His tariffs, which have sparked a trade war, growing concerns that the United States might be entering a recession, and foreign policy—particularly with Ukraine, following Trump’s confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28—were among the main topics of conversation.
The President met down with Bartiromo, whom Trump just appointed to the Kennedy Center Board, for the interview, which was recorded over the course of the previous week and aired on March 9.
Trump expressed his opinions on the following important issues:
Recession fears
Both experts and consumers are worried about a potential recession, especially in light of the Trump Administration’s proposed reciprocal tariffs and the widespread layoffs that were mostly caused by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to the Atlanta Federal Reserve model, Q1 2025 economic growth could be negative.
Trump stated that the economy and the American people will need to adapt to the changes being made, but he did not rule out the potential of economic hardship.
When asked if he believes there will be a recession this year, Trump responded, “I hate to predict things like that.” Because of the size of what we are undertaking, there is a transitional phase. We are returning riches to the United States. There are times when it takes a little while. It need some time. However, I believe it will be fantastic for us.
What is happening with Trump’s tariffs
In light of Trump’s proposed tariffs and, more especially, his decision to postpone part of those levies on Canada and Mexico, Bartiromo urged for more information on tariffs, saying that companies desire “clarity” and predictability for shareholder interests.
Trump claimed that after his reciprocal tariffs go into effect on April 2, businesses will have clarity. However, he added that levies can increase in the future.
As time passes, the tariffs can increase, he stated. All countries and businesses around the world have stolen from this nation. We have been defrauded to an unprecedented degree, and we intend to reclaim it.
Trump continued by restating his conviction that more production and business should take place in the United States. “There is no tariff; build it here,” he declared.
Where U.S. and Ukraine relations stand after the Zelensky Oval Office confrontation
In response to Bartiromo’s question regarding his conversation with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Trump described Zelensky as a “smart and tough guy” and compared receiving U.S. assistance from the Biden Administration following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to taking “candy from a baby.”
Under Biden, he [Zelensky] stole money from this nation like a toddler stealing candy. Trump added, “I just do not think he is grateful,” saying, “It was so easy.”
Trump continued by saying that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been president at the time. He added that if he had been in the White House, other world events—like the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel—would not have occurred.
Trump said that he “thinks so” when asked if the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, which was the initial goal of his meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office, will still proceed.
If there are plans to cut defense spending
Trump was questioned on the Administration’s proposal to reduce the size of the federal government, which DOGE was leading under Musk’s cautious eye. However, for the time being, defense budget will not be impacted by these cuts.
Trump declared that while he would “love” to reduce defense spending, he would not do so “right now.”
He lamented that the government must spend so much money on nuclear weapons, saying, “You have China, you have Russia, you have a lot of problems out there.”
Additionally, he restated his position that the DOGE spending cuts will not impact Medicaid or Social Security.
Trump’s proposed “gold card” route to U.S. citizenship
In response to his recent suggestion for a “gold card” road to citizenship, Trump priced a card that would enable prospective foreign-born immigrants entry into the country at $5 million.
Trump defended his proposal, telling Bartiromo that big businesses have contacted him about the difficulty of hiring skilled students from reputable universities when immigrants are forced to leave the nation after completing their study.
“You get kicked out of the country after graduating first at Stanford, Harvard, or the Wharton School of Finance,” Trump claimed. And these are the folks that [companies] want to hire. Similar to an athlete, they can now purchase a gold card and use it as part of their agreement to get these elite students.
The future of education in the U.S.
Trump expressed his opinions regarding the American educational system while announcing his intention to destroy the Department of Education.
Trump asserted, “We want to bring the schools back to the States because we have the worst education department and education in the world, literally.” “Despite being at the bottom of the list, we have the highest cost per student.”