10 times we've examined Trump admin's alleged quotes about tariffs

Confused what the administration has really said about tariffs? We separated fact from fabrication. Published Aug. 24, 2026 Since returning to office in January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs as both a political bargaining chip with other countries and as a punitive measure against foreign leaders. Amid resulting trade wars with historic U.S. allies, including Canada, and ever-changing policies, multiple quotes about tariffs attributed to Trump or members of his administration have circulated online. These claims have left some readers trying to separate the truth from fabrications. Below are 10 claims we've fact-checked about what members of the second Trump administration have said about tariffs. Sources Rascouët-Paz, Anna. "Tracking Trump's Tariffs." Snopes, Snopes.com, 27 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com/tracker/tracking-trumps-tariffs/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.---. "Trump Has Paused Tariffs Plan for Most Countries. Here's Context." Snopes, Snopes.com, 9 Apr. 2025, https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/04/09/trump-pauses-tariffs/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.Singh, Kanishka. "US Refunds $100 Billion in Tariffs Struck Down by Supreme Court, Filing Shows." Reuters, 5 Aug. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-refunds-100-billion-tariffs-struck-down-by-supreme-court-filing-shows-2026-08-05/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.Wiseman, Paul, and Rob Gillies. "US and Canada Fall Deeper Into a Trade War With New Tariffs." AP News, 22 Aug. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trade-tariffs-trump-857ef76b20a766e370d70176135b678e. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026. By Emery Winter Emery Winter is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and previously worked for TEGNA'S VERIFY national fact-checking team. They enjoy sports and video games. Article Tags