Donald Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ about foreign car prices after 25% tariff rule: ‘People will buy US-made cars’

US President Donald Trump has said he “couldn’t care less” if automakers raise the prices of cars to counter to his planned tariffs on imported vehicles, hoping that the companies increased the prices so that people can buy American-made products.

In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Donald Trump had asked if he had warned foreign carmaking CEOs to not increase car prices to counter the his plan of imposing 25% tariff on vehicles next week.

“No, I never said that,” Trump told the news channel. “I couldn’t care less if they raise prices because people are going to start buying American cars,” he added.

He said that in fact he wanted foreign automakers to raise car prices, which will only benefit American companies.

“I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are going to buy American-made cars,” he said,

Trump was heard repeating the phrase “I couldn’t care less” two more times in his lengthy answer, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Donald Trump auto tariff: What will be the impact?

Tariffs imposed by Donald Trump will affect a $240 billion trade route in the US, according to the report by Bloomberg. Imported cars and light trucks will be accounting accounting for about half of the roughly 16 million vehicles sold in the Donald Trump-led last year.

By May 3, tariffs will expand to key parts such as engines, transmissions and electrical systems, with the potential to broaden out further. Parts that comply with rules in the free-trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico will be initially exempted from the tariffs, as per Donald Trump's orders.

Auto prices are broadly expected to increase by thousands of dollars, with JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts estimating prices will jump 11% on average.

Donald Trump also said he doesn’t plan to fire anyone over the security leak of planned military strikes in Yemen on the Signal chat app, the report said.

He reiterated that he seeks to annex Greenland. While there is a “good possibility” the US could do so without using military force, he said he won’t take any option off the table.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)