Trump: Tariffs May Raise US Prices     12/09 06:15

   Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. 
foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he 
suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who 
pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned.

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised 
tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American 
consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal 
officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned.

   The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" 
that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and 
health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere.

   Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point 
cautioning "things do change."

   A look at some of the issues covered:

   Trump hems on whether trade penalties could raise prices

   Trump has threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn't believe 
economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American 
companies would lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. He stopped short of a 
pledge that U.S. households won't be paying more as they shop.

   "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow," Trump said, 
seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies 
typically work as goods reach the retail market.

   That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 
2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation.

   In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying they are "going 
to make us rich."

   He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 
25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries 
satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as 
fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened additional tariffs on 
China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production.

   "All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field," 
Trump said.

   Trump suggests retribution for his opponents while claiming no interest in 
vengeance

   He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice 
system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New 
York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national 
security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

   "Honestly, they should go to jail," Trump said of members of Congress who 
investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in 
power.

   The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice 
system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the 
case on Trump's role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to 
pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he 
would take that action on his first day in office.

   As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: "I 
have the absolute right. I'm the chief law enforcement officer, you do know 
that. I'm the president. But I'm not interested in that."

   At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee 
who had investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., 
and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.

   "Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that 
committee," Trump said.

   Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue 
cases, he said, "No," and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly 
undertake investigations into his political enemies.

   But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, 
his pick as attorney general. "I want her to do what she wants to do," he said.

   Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken 
seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing 
blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing 
administration.

   Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be 
investigated, saying, "I'm not looking to go back into the past."

   Swift action on immigration is coming

   Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and 
deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass 
deportation program.

   "I think you have to do it," he said.

   He suggested he would try to use executive action to end "birthright" 
citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens -- 
although such protections are spelled out in the Constitution.

   Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the 
country illegally as children and have been shielded from deportation in recent 
years, Trump said, "I want to work something out," indicating he might seek a 
solution with Congress.

   But Trump also said he does not "want to be breaking up families" of mixed 
legal status, "so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them 
together and you have to send them all back."

   Trump commits to NATO, with conditions, and waffles on Putin and Ukraine

   Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, 
Trump said he "absolutely" would remain in the alliance "if they pay their 
bills."

   Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies' 
commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated "fairly" on trade and defense.

   He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir 
Putin.

   Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense 
against Putin's invasion. "Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure," Trump said of 
reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump has called for 
an immediate ceasefire.

   Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the 
Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged: "I haven't 
spoken to him recently." Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want 
to "impede the negotiation."

   Trump says Powell is safe at the Fed, but not Wray at the FBI

   The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking 
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends 
in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in 
Fed policy, including interest rates.

   Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, 
whose term is to end in 2027.

   Asked about Wray, Trump said: "Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty 
obvious" that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as his pick for FBI chief, then 
"he's going to be taking somebody's place, right? Somebody is the man that 
you're talking about."

   Trump is absolute about Social Security, not so much on abortion and health 
insurance

   Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and 
Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. "We're not touching Social 
Security, other than we make it more efficient," he said. He added that "we're 
not raising ages or any of that stuff."

   He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the 
Affordable Care Act.

   On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would 
"probably" not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account 
for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher 
Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would 
commit to that position, Trump replied, "Well, I commit. I mean, are -- things 
do -- things change. I think they change."

   Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala 
Harris, Trump again said he had "concepts" of a plan to substitute for the 2010 
Affordable Care Act, which he called "lousy health care."

   He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance 
protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not 
explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he 
could deliver on his desire for "better health care for less money."