President-elect Donald Trump's announcement to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China is a hot topic as their application and impact are subject to discussion. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said the proposals show "real leadership" from Trump and expected bipartisan support in Congress for the measures in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria.
Rep. Diaz-Balart said Canada, Mexico, and China "are all flipping out all of a sudden... because there is actually real leadership now coming from the United States because of President Trump. They are flipping out because they have had the green light to do whatever they wanted, to abuse the United States, abuse the relationship."
Additionally, he suggested the tariffs were a response to the combined fentanyl and border crises, as China manufactures the substance to be smuggled into the country via the southern and northern borders.
"Thousands upon thousands of Americans have died because of fentanyl coming across the southern, mostly the southern, and the northern border, and [President Joe] Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris have done nothing. Actually, they have been complicit in the death of those Americans. So good for President Trump. That is what leadership looks like. That is why the American people elected him. I just cannot wait for him to swear in as the next president," Rep. Diaz-Balart continued.
Host Maria Bartiromo asked the Florida Congressman how Congress would be involved in the tariff process, which he said would be done by executive order.
"But I think you are going to see a lot of support, and I think bipartisan support coming from Congress to actually show leadership, to show that we are not going to be abused and used by all of these countries around the world. President Trump has gotten criticism in the past because he says that the leadership of the United States has been really stupid at times. Well, you know something? He is right. It has been stupid. It has allowed sometimes adversaries, sometimes even allies, to use and abuse the United States," Diaz-Balart said, reiterating that despite the thin majorities Republicans hold in the House and Senate, "we will be able to bring things to the floor."
