President Donald Trump has faced criticism for his unclear and rambling reply after being questioned about an issue he once claimed as his own achievement.
Trump’s initial 100 days back in the White House have been anything but quiet. Since his victory in November, global tensions have remained high, with the 78-year-old president’s actions often viewed as escalating the risk of conflict with Russia rather than easing it.
His imposition of tariffs has sparked backlash across the globe, particularly from China, which has retaliated against Trump’s efforts to “free” the United States from foreign economic influence.
Additionally, Trump’s harsh stance on undocumented immigrants has led to mass deportations, with many individuals sent to some of the world’s most notorious prisons based on suspicions of gang involvement.
Although the Republican leader briefly saw a modest economic uptick after succeeding Joe Biden, the situation has since deteriorated following his latest tariff measures. Meanwhile, everyday costs, such as eggs, remain excessively high.
Recently, Trump attempted to downplay concerns about rising prices and potential shortages of goods like toys, as the ongoing trade dispute with China has caused a sharp decline in commerce between the two nations. He remarked, “This is Biden. Maybe kids will have to settle for two dolls instead of thirty. And maybe those two dolls will cost a bit more than usual.”
However, journalist Andrew Feinberg challenged Trump, noting that while the president was quick to take credit for the economy’s earlier gains, he now blames Biden for its downturn. Feinberg asked, “You took credit for the stock market when it was doing well. Now it’s not doing so well and you blame Biden. But you’re the President; can you explain that?”
Trump responded with a series of disjointed comments, mentioning the difficulties he inherited and abruptly shifting the conversation to topics like mental health institutions and gang violence his administration has addressed since returning to office.
A user on Twitter described Trump’s response as a “word salad”-a term for a jumbled or incoherent mix of unrelated words and phrases.
Many in the UK are familiar with politicians dodging tough questions with confusing answers, but Trump’s response stands out as particularly extreme.
With the long-term effects of his tariffs on the U.S. economy and international relations still unknown, this episode may only be the start of further controversy.