Trump sends blunt tariffs warning: ‘You’ll pay for the privilege of servicing the US’

US President Donald Trump has claimed he doesn’t even 'need' to negotiate with anyone over trade deals, telling right-wing TV journalist Glenn Beck that he’s only talking to other countries 'out of respect.' In a bold interview with BlazeTV, Trump laid out his blunt view on tariffs, global commerce and foreign governments. Trump’s comments come as he continues to push a 10% tariff on almost every country, with tougher reciprocal tariffs on pause while he and his team try to hammer out new deals around the world (Picture: Getty Images)

Beck, the BlazeTV founder and former Fox News host, kicked things off by admitting he’s never been a fan of tariffs but added that he trusts Trump’s gut when it comes to making deals. Beck also hinted he could be won over by Trump’s approach, despite years of previously calling him out for not being a true conservative (Picture: Reuters)

'I don’t have to negotiate. I don’t have to negotiate. I’m talking to people out of respect, but I don’t have to,' Trump said. He argued that America holds all the power because of its wealthy consumers and market size. 'We’re this giant store that people want to come in and buy from, we’re the United States. We have the richest consumers, right?' he added (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Trump claimed he’s currently in talks with '70 different countries,' but made it clear that those discussions are on his terms. 'We’re negotiating, we’re showing great respect,' he said, before spelling out his no-nonsense Plan B. 'In the end, we may make deals, but either that or I just set a price and I say "here’s what you’re going to pay for the privilege of servicing the United States of America"' (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

'They have an option,' he added. 'They can maybe talk to me a little bit or they can not shop.' Trump’s no-compromise stance on tariffs has divided opinion since he first rolled them out during the early days of his controversial second presidency. Supporters say they force fairer deals, but critics argue they lead to higher costs for US consumers and spark unnecessary trade wars. Trump, though, says they give him unmatched leverage (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

He also floated the idea of bringing back higher reciprocal tariffs before the current 90 day pause expires. 'In the end, I think what’s going to happen is, we’re going to have great deals,' Trump said. 'And by the way, if we don’t have a deal with a company or a country, we’re going to set the tariff… Over the next two, three weeks. We’ll be setting the number' (Picture: EPA)

Trump even made Beck a personal promise. 'I’m going to make you a fan of it,' he told him. Beck replied: 'I would love to be a fan.' Trump and Back agreed in their disdain for what they see as global freeloading, with Trump portraying the US as the ultimate marketplace that other countries are lucky to have access to (Picture: Rex Features/Shutterstock)

The interview then veered into foreign policy, with the POTUS saying he believes only he could bring peace in Ukraine. 'I don’t believe Vladimir Putin would be doing this for anybody else but me,' he told Beck. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could have ended the war in '24 hours' if he were still in office when it started, pointing to what he calls his 'unique ability' to get through to the Russian leader (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Trump didn’t hold back when it came to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, either. Beck branded Zelensky a 'punk', with Trump replying 'you said it', before recalling his infamously tense meeting with the Ukrainian leader earlier this year. 'He’s asking for more, just more and more and more, and he doesn’t have the cards,' Trump said. He added that Putin 'thus far, he’s been easier to deal with than Zelensky' (Picture: AP)

Despite their past clashes, Beck praised the former president’s sense of humour and shared a story about Trump trolling the East Wing’s décor. 'Between a picture of Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush he decided to put a painting of himself,' Beck said. 'And he’s doing it as a troll' (Picture: Getty Images)