President Donald Trump's call for tariffs worked to get Mexico and Canada to implement border plans, but such talk was never heard from the Biden administration because it was "very weak," House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith said Wednesday on Newsmax.
"Donald Trump is not weak," the Missouri Republican said on "Wake Up America." "We saw that from the day that he had the attempted assassination on his life. He jumped up and he showed the power of strength with his fist in the air. That's exactly how he's leading as the president of the United States and he'll continue to lead with that."
Smith added that Trump's call for tariffs is more than a threat, but a "reality."
"President Trump has believed, tried and true, that tariffs are the way to help make our country prosperous and wealthy," said Smith. "I think you'll see the timeline move forward that tariffs will be in place and will be utilized in numerous ways, and if countries try to go after [the United States] in a trade war, you'll see the president even do more."
Trump announced over the weekend impending tariffs on Mexico and Canada, but he paused the measures after both countries pledged to boost their border enforcement policies.
The reaction, Smith said, is "the prime example of what America First policies are."
"The prior administration over the last four years was out to lunch when it came to trade policies, and President Trump is not sitting on the backstage. He's on the front stage, with what we've seen with Colombia, what we've seen with Mexico and Canada just in the first 16 days of his presidency," the congressman said.
Smith also spoke out about the left's attacks on Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk's push to control government spending.
"It is bizarro land," he said of the reaction. "The reason why they're not in power in the House, the Senate, or the White House, is because the American people believe their woke policies and ideologies are bad for America."
Smith added that "the Democrat Party has constantly put the American people second, third, fourth, and fifth to other countries. Donald Trump is not going to allow that."
Meanwhile, Smith said the main priority is to deliver on the promises Trump made on the economy.
Americans, he added, are also facing the highest tax increase in the nation's history.
"If Congress does not act by the end of this year, every individual rate goes up," said Smith. "The child tax credit gets slashed in half, the small business deduction drops 20 points. Our small business rate, if Congress does not act, would be at 43.4% for 26 million small businesses when it currently is at 23% to 25%."
Ways and Means, he added, is "ready to pass a tax bill."
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