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In-town report #6 — POTUS on tariffs move

From
John Bennett
Sent
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 3:11PM

Trump hailed the racing champions for their “courage” and said the event was a “celebration” of championship racing owner Roger Penske’s career and life.

Trump was told the NASCAR machine could go up to 190 mph, and quipped that want for him.

“These are great champions, and this is a great sport,” POTUS told the teams.

“We went around the track in The Beast” before February’s Daytona 500, saying he could hear the crowd “going crazy” from inside the armored limousine.

“I wouldn’t ride in that thing if you paid me,” POTUS said of the IndyCar machine.

On tariffs:

Trump said “I thought that people were jumping a little out line,” and getting “yippy.”

“Somebody had to do it. It had to stop.”

He said today’s announcement could be “temporary.”

“China wants to make a deal & they just don’t know quite how to go about it.”

He said “many more than 75” other countries want to make a deal.”

On the EU: “Yeah, a deal could be made with every one of them.”

“They will be fair deals, for everybody.”

More TK.

From the White House:

Attendees:

Roger Penske, Chairman, Penske Corporation

Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner

Joey Logano, 2024 NASCAR Champion

Ryan Blaney, 2023 NASCAR Champion

Josef Newgarden, 2023 and 2024 INDY 500 Champion

Felipe Nasr, 2025 IMSA Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Champion

Laurens Vanthoor, 2025 IMSA Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Champion

**

John T. Bennett

White House Correspondent & Editor-at-Large

Roll Call & CQ | FiscalNote publications

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@bennettjohnt