Trump: US trade deficit reduced by 78% because of tariffs, will go into positive territory during this year | Metals Mine

Trump: US trade deficit reduced by 78% because of tariffs, will go into positive territory during this year | Metals Mine

Trump: US trade deficit reduced by 78% because of tariffs, will go into positive territory during this year

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump · Feb 18, 2026

THE UNITED STATES TRADE DEFICIT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 78% BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS BEING CHARGED TO OTHER COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES. IT WILL GO INTO POSITIVE TERRITORY DURING THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY DECADES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

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Feb 18, 2026 7:57pm

Quoting future911

Disliked

{quote} I know but the best that can be done with the situation is paying off the debt. Or else we will need a recession to cool down the boom cycle, which will def. not happen willingly unless it's crisis induced. Thinking about it it will probably do NOTHING given tax cuts & subdued growth (non-AI). What i think will happen is "stimulus checks" which will end up in elite tax haven funds, which is ultimate robbery.

Ignored

Instead of raising taxes on the ultra-rich and the corporations to somewhat reduce the debt, this is what politicians do: steal from the rest of 90% of the population via consumption, which in the long run will make people with less disposable income, and claim that other countries paid for the tariffs. If any politicians even mention raising taxes on the ultra wealthy, the ultra wealthy and the media will spin it as communism or socialism, and the working class will soak up this narrative like SpongeBob SquarePants.

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Feb 18, 2026 7:24pm

Quoting future911

Disliked

Hopefully it goes directly to paying the debt

Ignored

What do Americans not understand??? Tariffs are a tax on imports so the buyer of goods pays the tariff not the exporter. Maybe this is why 77million people voted for this buffoon. Trump did say that Republican voters are stupid and easily fooled!

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Feb 19, 2026 3:12am

Quoting marketchaos

Disliked

{quote} What do Americans not understand??? Tariffs are a tax on imports so the buyer of goods pays the tariff not the exporter. Maybe this is why 77million people voted for this buffoon. Trump did say that Republican voters are stupid and easily fooled!

Ignored

If tariffs are so bad, why does virtually every country on the planet apply them?

3

Feb 19, 2026 4:26am

Quoting oxbuck

Disliked

You anti-Trumpers just don't get it. Learn the truth and quit spitting out your globalist propaganda. You still don't understand the beauty of the American Revolution which birthed a nation based on the inalienable rights of man given, not by earthly governments, but the Divine himself. Perhaps you should seek to uphold these Divine rights in your countries' as well. The real war has always been about God-given freedom vs. man-made control, Banking slavery vs. one's right to control their own property. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YUb8BBYvM&t=61s...

Ignored

Exactly right. All the Countries around the world, most of which are much, much more mature age wise still can't understand why the 'F' the American economy and ingenuity dominates the World in innovation and progress towards a more advanced civilization of the world just like this exchange of of ideas and beliefs around the world (with spell check) that didn't exist when I was already 40 years old. Think about that. Do you want freedom and choice or 'equality' where everyone is controlled by a few Headmasters? Watch the fuck'n video and then decide your fate and of those you leave behind.

3

Trader#1322

Feb 18, 2026 7:09pm

Can anyone be more stupid than that orange monkey? No one in the world pays you any duties, you stole it all from the American people, they paid for it all. Every American pays $1000 more than they would if you didn't steal from them, but Americans are the stupidest nation in the world, so they deserve to live in poverty.

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Feb 18, 2026 7:48pm

You anti-Trumpers just don't get it. Learn the truth and quit spitting out your globalist propaganda. You still don't understand the beauty of the American Revolution which birthed a nation based on the inalienable rights of man given, not by earthly governments, but the Divine himself. Perhaps you should seek to uphold these Divine rights in your countries' as well. The real war has always been about God-given freedom vs. man-made control, Banking slavery vs. one's right to control their own property.

Inserted Video

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Feb 18, 2026 9:38pm

Quoting thesaint9

Disliked

{quote} Instead of raising taxes on the ultra-rich and the corporations to somewhat reduce the debt, this is what politicians do: steal from the rest of 90% of the population via consumption, which in the long run will make people with less disposable income, and claim that other countries paid for the tariffs. If any politicians even mention raising taxes on the ultra wealthy, the ultra wealthy and the media will spin it as communism or socialism, and the working class will soak up this narrative like SpongeBob SquarePants.

Ignored

I agree that the tariffs are paid by us (the American consumer). However, since the vast, and I mean VAST majority of consumption is done by, well, the wealthy among us, shouldn't the world (and those in this country) be praising the president for this strategy? Trust me, I am not praising him, but I can tell you that I won't be getting one of his so called "tariff checks" as I won't meet the income threshold....yet my spending darn well funded those checks. So, let's at least have some respect for the fact that these tariff (taxes) are taking from the higher income earners and redistributing to those in lower income brackets.

....this is why the stock market can't crash. If it does, the wealthy will be up in arms over the tariff crap stealing $$. If the market returns > increased costs due to tariffs, there's less to complain about.

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Feb 18, 2026 6:22pm

Hopefully it goes directly to paying the debt

2

Feb 19, 2026 5:19am

Quoting Danger-Mouse

Disliked

{quote} Actually that's one thing anybody that travels to USA immediately notices. Their chocolate is really inferior.

Ignored

I didn't know that. I should have said craft beer which is apparently very good. Causes friendliness, dancing and sex, so an obvious national emergency.

1

Feb 18, 2026 11:03pm

Quoting oxbuck

Disliked

You anti-Trumpers just don't get it. Learn the truth and quit spitting out your globalist propaganda. You still don't understand the beauty of the American Revolution which birthed a nation based on the inalienable rights of man given, not by earthly governments, but the Divine himself. Perhaps you should seek to uphold these Divine rights in your countries' as well. The real war has always been about God-given freedom vs. man-made control, Banking slavery vs. one's right to control their own property. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YUb8BBYvM&t=61s...

Ignored

You must own a lot of tin-foil hats.

2

Feb 19, 2026 4:32am

Quoting oxbuck

Disliked

You anti-Trumpers just don't get it. Learn the truth and quit spitting out your globalist propaganda. You still don't understand the beauty of the American Revolution which birthed a nation based on the inalienable rights of man given, not by earthly governments, but the Divine himself. Perhaps you should seek to uphold these Divine rights in your countries' as well. The real war has always been about God-given freedom vs. man-made control, Banking slavery vs. one's right to control their own property. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YUb8BBYvM&t=61s...

Ignored

Enemy dressed as "friendly".

Feb 19, 2026 1:22am

Quoting marketchaos

Disliked

{quote} What do Americans not understand??? Tariffs are a tax on imports so the buyer of goods pays the tariff not the exporter. Maybe this is why 77million people voted for this buffoon. Trump did say that Republican voters are stupid and easily fooled!

Ignored

Richest nation on earth. built by people named DT. Not grifters like.....

Feb 19, 2026 3:35am

Quoting ffghost

Disliked

{quote} I agree that the tariffs are paid by us (the American consumer). However, since the vast, and I mean VAST majority of consumption is done by, well, the wealthy among us, shouldn't the world (and those in this country) be praising the president for this strategy? Trust me, I am not praising him, but I can tell you that I won't be getting one of his so called "tariff checks" as I won't meet the income threshold....yet my spending darn well funded those checks. So, let's at least have some respect for the fact that these tariff (taxes)...

Ignored

Rich people have their ways mate:

"An American buyer can register their yacht in one of several countries that have agreements with the U.S. The most common are the Cayman Islands, the Marshall Islands, Malta and Jamaica, brokers said. By registering the yacht abroad, the owner can enter the U.S. as a visiting vessel and therefore avoid the tariff."
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/31/euro...s-tariffs.html

"The latest update on tariffs is that the U.S. has implemented a 15% tariff on boats imported from the European Union, up from the previous 1–2% rate and 30% on South African boats etc. For buyers considering a new yacht, this could mean paying tens of thousands more… unless you know the legal workaround. Many savvy owners are using a foreign-flag strategy and obtaining a U.S. Cruising License to legally cruise in U.S. waters without paying import duty. It’s 100% legal, commonly used, and incredibly effective."
https://catamaranguru.com/how-to-leg...ffs-on-yachts/

Feb 19, 2026 4:50am

AKA 'Trojan Horse'. Its nothing new, not a concept or idea. You can go back as far as you want in recorded history of mankind and there are examples far to numerous to begin to list. Here's just one example that sticks out in my Lifetime and this should do the same for all but it won't.
""I'm from the government and I'm here to help" is a famous quote by President Ronald Reagan, who often called these the nine most terrifying words in the English language. First spoken during an August 12, 1986, news conference, Reagan used the phrase to criticize big government, arguing that federal intervention often complicates or harms situations it intends to fix."

Feb 19, 2026 4:58am

Quoting Forgediron

Disliked

{quote} If tariffs are so bad, why does virtually every country on the planet apply them?

Ignored

They are pissed because Trump is not the kind of Leader who will 'bend over' and continue being chastised or abused. The whole world got used to 'getting some' and now they ain't.

Feb 18, 2026 7:32pm

Quoting marketchaos

Disliked

{quote} What do Americans not understand??? Tariffs are a tax on imports so the buyer of goods pays the tariff not the exporter. Maybe this is why 77million people voted for this buffoon. Trump did say that Republican voters are stupid and easily fooled!

Ignored

I know but the best that can be done with the situation is paying off the debt. Or else we will need a recession to cool down the boom cycle, which will def. not happen willingly unless it's crisis induced. Thinking about it it will probably do NOTHING given tax cuts & subdued growth (non-AI). What i think will happen is "stimulus checks" which will end up in elite tax haven funds, which is ultimate robbery.

Feb 19, 2026 5:02am

Quoting Schultz

Disliked

{quote} Because the chocolate made in the USA is too delicious and everyone is eating too much causing dental issues and diabetes, so it is a national emergency. The countries of Atlantis, Avalon and El Dorado do so because ancient prophecy foretold tariffs on foreign textiles. Australia imposes tariffs because its economy needs a hug.

Ignored

Actually that's one thing anybody that travels to USA immediately notices. Their chocolate is really inferior.

Feb 19, 2026 5:33am

Quoting Twocans

Disliked

{quote} They are pissed because Trump is not the kind of Leader who will 'bend over' and continue being chastised or abused. The whole world got used to 'getting some' and now they ain't.

Ignored

Yes he is...just ask Vladimir

Feb 19, 2026 2:33am

What is he smoking?

1

Feb 19, 2026 12:14am — Edited

Quoting ffghost

Disliked

{quote} I agree that the tariffs are paid by us (the American consumer). However, since the vast, and I mean VAST majority of consumption is done by, well, the wealthy among us, shouldn't the world (and those in this country) be praising the president for this strategy? Trust me, I am not praising him, but I can tell you that I won't be getting one of his so called "tariff checks" as I won't meet the income threshold....yet my spending darn well funded those checks. So, let's at least have some respect for the fact that these tariff (taxes)...

Ignored

This is sort of true should a fairly basic knowledge of maths be understood- that in the aggregate, those who spend most on imports pay more in tariffs than those who don't spend much on imports.

{I may be wrong, but intuition tells me that it may be the middle class as a whole - below the top 10% or so of income - who pay most in tariffs in total. I don't have data, so that is just a thought bubble.}

What isn't so clear from this aggregate view is that tariffs, like all consumption taxes, are regressive in nature.

Any rebate is cool, but just another economic distortion. A band-aid to fix a wound that ought not have happened in the first place.

Has anyone received these promised rebate checks (that, by the way, were funded by those who are meant to receive them - taking with one hand and giving with the other, sort of thing)? I haven't heard anything for a while.

Feb 19, 2026 12:32am — Edited

Some facts from Fred.

Prior to Nov/Dec 2024 (pre Trump II), the US trade deficit was generally chugging along at between 60 and 80 billion a month, for years.

In Nov 2025, it was a bit short of 60 billion. There is probably newer data but it isn't on Freds database.

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Feb 19, 2026 12:36pm

Quoting ffghost

Disliked

{quote} I agree that the tariffs are paid by us (the American consumer). However, since the vast, and I mean VAST majority of consumption is done by, well, the wealthy among us, shouldn't the world (and those in this country) be praising the president for this strategy? Trust me, I am not praising him, but I can tell you that I won't be getting one of his so called "tariff checks" as I won't meet the income threshold....yet my spending darn well funded those checks. So, let's at least have some respect for the fact that these tariff (taxes)...

Ignored

Even if what you say is true regarding tariff cheques, tariff revenues in 2025 were approximately $200 billion, and Trump's proposed rebate is $ 2,000, which would cost over $600 billion. Math is not mathing. Even if he reached the goal and gave back the money to people, how do you propose this would reduce debt?

Secondly, sure, the top 20 wealthiest account for about 50% of spending in the US, but their income/net worth is ever-increasing and 10-fold compared to the rest. They practically pay themselves with their spending, and that is not necessarily true for the bottom. Top 1% wage growth since 1979 is above 200%, whereas the bottom 90% has been 30%-50%. Mix tariff-related inflation, and things get worse for the middle and the bottom.

I am not entirely against tariffs; it is sometimes necessary in targeted industries to level the playing field. But a blanket tariff that artificially increases prices just to pay off debt is not a fair policy for most consumers. The idea of bringing back manufacturing also makes no sense because the whole intent to manufacture cheaply, so consumers pay less and increase their disposable income, is based on minimizing unit labor cost in manufacturing, which the US workforce will never accept. Only makes sense in advanced industries that use automation. So bringing back jobs also makes no sense.

If one wants to reduce debt, start by reducing defense spending. Almost a trillion dollars every year, and most of it is unaccounted for. The Pentagon has repeatedly failed its federal financial audits and has never passed a clean audit since it began being audited. At least half of the trillion goes to contractors. And it seems neither of politcal parties cares to fix it. I am mentioning debt because this was your OP with the concern of debt.

Trader#D0D3

Feb 18, 2026 11:47pm

Only 2%, not 78%

I think this guy really believes his own distorted press.

2

Feb 19, 2026 5:24am

Yeah, it is not good

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Feb 19, 2026 3:33am — Edited

Quoting Forgediron

Disliked

{quote} If tariffs are so bad, why does virtually every country on the planet apply them?

Ignored

Because the chocolate made in the USA is too delicious and everyone is eating too much causing dental issues and diabetes, so it is a national emergency.

The countries of Atlantis, Avalon and El Dorado do so because ancient prophecy foretold tariffs on foreign textiles.

Australia imposes tariffs because its economy needs a hug.

1

Feb 19, 2026 5:38am

Quoting Danger-Mouse

Disliked

Yeah, it is not good {image}

Ignored

eek. Any country's poison regulations would be sufficient to deny importing that..whatever that is.

Trader#436F

Feb 19, 2026 3:16am

All the crybabies in here live in a county that use tariffs. The US economy is booming. Keep crying.

1

Feb 19, 2026 4:46am

Quoting Twocans

Disliked

{quote} Exactly right. All the Countries around the world, most of which are much, much more mature age wise still can't understand why the 'F' the American economy and ingenuity dominates the World in innovation and progress towards a more advanced civilization of the world just like this exchange of of ideas and beliefs around the world (with spell check) that didn't exist when I was already 40 years old. Think about that. Do you want freedom and choice or 'equality' where everyone is controlled by a few Headmasters? Watch the fuck'n video and...

Ignored

Okey, so weaker dollar right?

Feb 19, 2026 1:39am

ya of course ..
DT statistics = he compares biggest and lowest numbers this year :-D
-136 vs -29

Trader#A0A6

Feb 19, 2026 2:07am

Well done, Donny, now back to Epstein files.

1

Trader#F2C0

Feb 19, 2026 3:34am

Quoting marketchaos

Disliked

{quote} What do Americans not understand??? Tariffs are a tax on imports so the buyer of goods pays the tariff not the exporter. Maybe this is why 77million people voted for this buffoon. Trump did say that Republican voters are stupid and easily fooled!

Ignored

you are so, so stupid...and those who liked your comment are too. the exporters are reducing their prices so the biggest part of those taxes are in fact borne by them. so, so stupid, amazingly stupid

Trader#BF3B

Feb 19, 2026 4:52am

Quoting Forgediron

Disliked

{quote} If tariffs are so bad, why does virtually every country on the planet apply them?

Ignored

Exactly the question on my mind. They are relatively good if applied correctly.
However i think the problem is about how tariffs came to be applied in the US.

Most voters thought about immediate and direct benefit following Trump's election, rather than long term and indirect benefit through addressing the US' macro economical problems.

And Trump couldn't have come in front of the people to say "Starting tomorrow you will pay import taxes". This would look bad for him and for the Republicans altogether.
So the other option was to create an external "villain", to create a little trade war as justification for the taxes.
But in the end it appears this backfired and it still looks bad for him and for the Republicans.

I always compared it to what the EU did about 13 years ago during the Euro crisis, when they told the citizens of the EU (rather than looking for an external factor to blame) - "The economy is bad and we need to fix it. You have plenty of things produced locally, so buy it from here. But if you want non-EU products that's fine, however starting date X, YOU will pay an extra import tax."

Trader#5C49

Feb 19, 2026 6:11am

Quoting Trader#1322

Disliked

Can anyone be more stupid than that orange monkey? No one in the world pays you any duties, you stole it all from the American people, they paid for it all. Every American pays $1000 more than they would if you didn't steal from them, but Americans are the stupidest nation in the world, so they deserve to live in poverty.

Ignored

no the germans

Trader#2BE1

Feb 19, 2026 1:43am

Surely you can't think it is fruitful to run an unending trade deficit or continually increase government debt. That has to be funded. That's expensive.

Trader#9D34

Feb 19, 2026 7:00am

GDF @GDFofficial Latest video on YT (Pro-Israel Billionaires) is rather interesting.

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