Trump Claims Tariffs Are ‘Beautiful,’ Talking to Putin Is ‘Smart’ and Jan. 6 Was ‘Peaceful’

In an interview at the Economic Club of Chicago, Trump made a number of assertions about the economy, the Federal Reserve’s relationship with the president and his plans for a second administration.

Donald Trump speaks at the Economic Club of Chicago with Bloomberg News' John Micklethwait.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait during an event with the Economic Club of Chicago. Evan Vucci/AP

During a wide-ranging interview at the Economic Club of Chicago on Tuesday, Donald Trump suggested he had, in fact, talked to Vladimir Putin since leaving office, made false claims about Jan. 6 and called tariffs “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.”

“Can you say, yes or no, whether you have talked to Vladimir Putin since you stopped being president?” asked Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait during his live sit-down with the former president.

“Well, I don’t comment on that,” Trump said. “But I will tell you that, if I did, it’s a smart thing. If I’m friendly with people, if I have a relationship with people, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”