President Trump renewed his love affair with tariffs at a rally in Kentucky Tuesday as his administration prepares new plans to make the levies stick despite last month’s controversial Supreme Court ruling.
At the free-wheeling rally in Hebron, Ky., Trump also took aim at his foes and even crowned his next political star.
The president boasted that he “used the word tariff” to threaten drug manufacturers to bring down the cost of prescription medicine, calling it a “beautiful word,” though no longer his favorite because of grief he received in the press.
“I used to say my favorite word … but the fake news killed me,” Trump explained. “They said, ‘What about your wife? What about God? What about religion? What about your children?’ …. Okay, it’s my fifth favorite word. Now I don’t get in trouble.”
Trump’s tariff riff comes as his administration readies to launch new trade investigations that could bring additional tariffs.
The president plans to use Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to probe whether major trading partners have policies that either discriminate against US goods or violate trade agreements. The investigations are a direct response to the high court striking down Trump’s use of emergency powers to unfurl “reciprocal” and “fentanyl” levies.
Trump later stirred up his supporters with blistering attacks against California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who represents Hebron in Congress.
The president accused Newsom – a potential 2028 White House hopeful – of being unfit for the Oval Office because he has “mental problems.”
Using his “Gavin Newscum” nickname, Trump claimed the Golden State governor “admitted he has mental problems, that he’s not a smart person.”
In his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry,” Newsom wrote about his struggle with dyslexia, a common learning disability.
“He’s unable to read a speech, he can’t read, and all of the other things he said. He said he has a lot of mental problems,” Trump continued.
“Nothing’s wrong with it, but I don’t want the president of the United States to have a cognitive deficiency,” Trump said, adding, “When he admitted this, I said, I think he just lost the Democrat nomination.”
Meanwhile, Trump argued Massie has been disloyal, describing the congressman as a “loser” who needs to be voted out of office immediately.
“He is the worst person,” Trump said as he went on a long riff against the Kentucky Republican. “There’s something wrong with him.”
“I just can’t stand this guy.”
Trump described the seven-term Republican congressman as a “disaster” for Republicans.
The president has endorsed Massie’s opponent, Ed Gallrein, in the May primary, and brought the candidate on stage with him during the rally – noting that Gallrein is “strong as hell.”
“He shook my hand. My hand is still recovering,” the president quipped.
Near the end of the rally, Trump brought boxer and supporter Jake Paul on stage and predicted the social media star will some day run for office.
“I’m going to make a prediction that you will be, in the not too distant future, running for political office,” Trump said.
“And you have my complete and total endorsement,” the president added.
Paul, 29, was born and raised in neighboring Ohio.
He told the crowd that the president has taught him the value of “courage” and to “never back down from a fight.”
“We need more factories like this thriving all over the country,” Paul said. “And I know [Trump’s] going to be the one to bring that here to us.”
The rally was delayed for several minutes midway through Trump’s speech when an elderly woman in the crowd behind the president fainted.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a trained cardiothoracic surgeon, came to the woman’s rescue and helped bring her back to her feet.
“It’s Dr. Oz. Can you believe it?,” Trump said.
When the woman stood up, Trump raised his hands in victory.
“He’s a good doctor. Thank you, Oz,” the president said before returning to his remarks.