President Trump denies Washington Post tariff report

President-elect Donald Trump has denied a Washington Post report that his aides are considering scaling back his tariff plans.

“The Washington Post report cites so-called anonymous sources that do not exist and falsely claims my tariffs will be scaled back,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday.

The Washington Post reported that Trump aides are discussing imposing tariffs on some goods from all countries, but targeting goods that present national or economic security concerns, citing three unnamed people familiar with the matter.

Trump’s tariff focus could include defense industry supply chains (through tariffs on steel, iron, aluminum and copper) and critical medical supplies such as syringes, needles, vials and pharmaceutical materials. Trump could also target energy materials including batteries, rare earth minerals and solar panels, the Post reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.