Trump calls the Republican Party the “party of common sense” in controversial interview with Bloomberg

Former President Donald Trump told the Republican Party “Common Sense Team” during a controversial interview with Bloomberg News in Chicago on Tuesday.

Trump sat down for an interview with Bloomberg News editor-in-chief John Micklethwait at the Economic Club of Chicago. The two discussed Trump's plans for the economy and a potential second term during a heated interview that lasted about an hour.

Micklethwait talked about jump-starting the economy, but then went into the presidential race states, asking the former president which states he considered most important in deciding the election.

Trump does not reveal that there are no “bigger” election issues than inflation and the economy

“They say Pennsylvania. I think we're doing really well there. I think you look at Michigan too, and I’m doing very well,” Trump said. “We are in Pennsylvania. We are in Michigan. We're doing great in Arizona. In fact, someone said they were going to pull the plug on Arizona – they’re going to pull out because it looks like we’re so far ahead.”

The RealClearPolitics polling average on Tuesday afternoon showed Trump slightly ahead in Pennsylvania, as well as Arizona and Michigan.

Trump also said the Republican Party is “the party of common sense.”

“Forget the conservative, the liberal. We say conservative, but really we think, 'We need borders. We need fair elections. We don't want men playing women's sports. We don't want to. Transgender operations without parental consent,'” Trump explained. “It’s 99.9% common sense. This is actually common sense. I say we are really a common sense group and we want to have great people in our country.”

Trump added: “I have a good heart. I have a heart where I want people to be taken care of. But I don’t want to take people where millions of people – at least 21 million people have come in the last three years.” . And half the year is unexpected, we don’t know anything about them.”

Former Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump answers questions at a meeting of the Detroit Economic Club, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia DeMarie Nichinson)

Micklethwait began Tuesday's interview by claiming that Trump's economic plan would increase debt and inflation, after the former president said he had served in office without inflation.

“Yes, I had four years — no inflation,” Trump said.

Micklethwait also hit Trump with his plans for tariffs on foreign goods, but Trump responded, explaining that foreign countries would “pay 100% tariffs on everything sold in the United States.”

Fox News Power Rankings: Harris Loses Lead, New Constituency Emerges

Earlier this year, Trump outlined a plan to eliminate China's Most Favored Nation Trade Status and impose a universal basic tariff of 10% on imports. Personally, Trump even imposed tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese products. Economists have warned that the tariff hike will also raise the cost of everyday consumer goods as American companies rely on cheaper raw materials from China.

Micklethwait said Trump's plan “would have a severe impact on the broader economy.”

“It will have a huge impact – positive impact. It will be a positive impact,” Trump responded. “25 years of talking negatively about tariffs and then someone explaining that you’re completely wrong.”

Micklethwait responded to Trump, saying he could “plunge America into the biggest trade war ever.”

“No, no tariffs – all you have to do is build your factory in the United States and you will have no tariffs,” Trump said. “That's what I want.”

The former president's response was met with applause from the public.

“The higher the tariff, the more likely the company is to come to the United States and build a factory in the United States so they don’t have to pay the tariff,” Trump explained.

On national security and foreign policy, Trump praised his relationship with adversaries such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying the United States feels honored under its administration.

Trump was asked if he would send American troops to defend Taiwan if China attacked. The Chinese military is currently involved in a naval blockade of the island nation.

“The reason they’re doing it now is because they won’t do it later,” Trump said — a response met with applause from the audience.

Trump was also asked if he had spoken to Putin since leaving office, to which he responded: “I don’t comment on that.”

Click here to get the Fox News app

“But I will say if I did, it would be a smart thing,” Trump said. “If I’m friendly with people, if I can relate to them, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing in terms of the country.”

“President Trump was in his element as he spoke passionately about restoring economic growth, prosperity, and opportunity for all Americans,” his campaign wrote in an email to supporters after the interview, adding that he “delivered a masterclass when outlining your plan. return to American citizens and businesses the success they enjoyed during his first term.”

The campaign added: “Oranges never fit.”

Trump's campaign teased the former president's response and policies, adding, “President Trump did it once with record success — and he will do it again.”