In trademark bravado, President Donald Trump has claimed that dozens of countries are scrambling to avoid his sweeping new tariffs, with foreign leaders “begging” for customized trade deals. Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner on April 8, Trump offered a brash assessment of the global reaction to his latest round of import duties, set to escalate further today.

“I’m telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump said, sparking laughter and applause from Republican lawmakers and donors in attendance. “They are dying to make a deal: ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything sir.’”

The statement, while crude, underscored Trump’s belief that his aggressive trade strategy is forcing countries to the negotiating table. Starting today, the United States will implement a new wave of tariffs, including a headline-grabbing 104% duty on Chinese goods. The administration says this is part of a broader push for “reciprocal trade,” in which nations with significant trade surpluses must agree to better terms for American exports-or face economic penalties.

According to the White House, nearly 70 countries have already opened discussions with the administration to negotiate exemptions or soften the impact of the new levies. Trump emphasized that he is not interested in blanket policies, but rather “tailored deals” crafted to fit each country’s specific trade profile.

“I call them tailored deals, not off the rack,” Trump said earlier on April 8 during an executive order signing at the White House. “We’re not doing these dumb multilateral things anymore where we get the short end of the stick every time. Every........

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