Trump responds as reporter asks ‘the best question’ he’s ‘ever been asked’

During a White House press conference, President Trump was asked about recent comments by economist Torsten Sløk, who had reversed his earlier criticism of Trump’s tariff strategy. Sløk, once a vocal skeptic, now suggests that Trump may have “outsmarted everyone” with his approach. After taking office, Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imports from major U.S. trade partners, including China, Mexico, and Canada.

Despite widespread criticism and fears of a recession, the U.S. economy has remained strong. On June 27, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit record highs, prompting reconsideration of earlier economic forecasts. Sløk, who now serves as chief economist at Apollo Global Management, acknowledged this shift in his thinking during a recent blog post.

When a reporter cited Sløk’s change in stance and asked for a response, Trump was enthusiastic. He called it the best question he had ever been asked, citing the strong economy and low inflation. He emphasized that the U.S. was collecting “billions and billions” from other countries due to the tariffs.

Pressed for a message to his critics, Trump responded sharply, saying they should “go back to business school” because the benefits of the tariffs were obvious. He reiterated that the U.S. had gained financially without triggering the economic downturn many had predicted.

In his blog post, Sløk proposed a new strategic outlook: continuing with tariffs while allowing a grace period for trade partners to adjust. He argued this approach could generate $400 billion annually for the U.S., boost global cooperation, and stabilize markets.