US President Donald Trump has strongly defended his controversial tariff policy, calling it a powerful tool that not only boosted the US economy but also helped “settle seven wars.” Speaking during an event where he announced the relocation of the US Space Command headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama, Trump described tariffs as the ultimate negotiating weapon that gives Washington unmatched leverage in global trade.

“Without the United States, everything in the world would die. It’s true. It’s so powerful. It’s so big. And I made it really big in the first four years,” Trump said while criticizing the Biden administration for what he called a decline in US economic strength. “We’re the hottest. We’re the best financially. The money coming in is so big because of tariffs and other things, but mainly tariffs. Tariff gets us even those other things. Plus, it makes us great negotiators,” he added.

Highlighting the significance of his trade strategy, Trump declared, “I settled seven wars and numerous of those wars were because of trade. And numerous trade deals that I made were because of tariffs. It gives you great negotiating ability.”

Trump also justified the 50% tariffs imposed on Indian imports, arguing that the trade relationship between the two nations had long been one-sided. “We get along with India very well. But for many years, it was a one-sided relationship… India was charging us tremendous tariffs—the highest in the world. We were not doing business with India, but they were doing business with us because we weren’t charging them,” Trump said.

He cited the example of American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson, claiming that India levied a 200% tariff on imported motorcycles, making it extremely difficult for the company to compete in the Indian market.