Calls tariffs "the greatest" as USDA announces $12 billion bailout for tariff-hit farmers

On July 24, 2018, the same day the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $12 billion aid package to offset trade-war losses for American farmers, Trump tweeted, "Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal or it gets hit with Tariffs... Remember we are the 'piggy bank' that's being robbed." The bailout, funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation, was designed to compensate farmers -- soybean growers most heavily -- for retaliatory tariffs China imposed in response to Trump's own trade measures. Farm-state lawmakers including Republican Senator Ben Sasse said the trade war was "cutting the legs out from under farmers" while the administration's response amounted to spending "$12 billion on gold crutches." Trump's tweet framed tariffs as an unambiguous benefit paid by foreign countries without acknowledging that the aid package approved the same day existed specifically to offset costs the tariffs had imposed on American farmers.

“Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal or it gets hit with Tariffs. It's as simple as that - and everybody's talking! Remember we are the "piggy bank" that's being robbed. All will be Great!” Quote verified against source