Donald Trump digs in on tariffs, mass deportations in TV interview

In his first formal TV interview since the election, Donald Trump doubled down on hard-line campaign pledges while saying he will probably pardon supporters who stormed the US Capitol.

Donald Trump in his NBC interview.

Donald Trump has called for NATO countries to “pay their bills” so America can remain in the trans-Atlantic security pact, warned Ukraine it should expect less US aid and made clear he would help secure a victory for ­Israel in its war with Hamas.

In his first sit-down interview with a TV network since the ­November 5 election, the president-elect ramped up the pressure on ­Europe to contribute more ­fin­ancial and military support to the Ukrainian conflict – asking “Why isn’t Europe in for the same as us?”

“War with Russia is more important for Europe than it is for us,” he told NBC. “NATO’s taken advantage of us.”

Asked whether he would leave the pact, Mr Trump said: “If they are paying their bills … the answer is, absolutely, I’d stay with NATO.”

He also sketched out the objectives for his first 100 days in the White House, which included strengthening the southern border, including mass deportations, extending tax cuts from his first term and working with Democratic governors and mayors to crack down on crime.

His initial executive orders would have a “lot to do with economics. A lot’s going to have to do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border – we’re going to strengthen up the border.

“We’re going to end the electric mandate immediately for the cars.

“It’s ridiculous. We want people to drive electric cars. But you know what? If they want gasoline powered and they want hybrids, they’ve got to have that … We’re going to be ending a lot of the environmental things that hurt our country very badly.”

Mr Trump said pardons for participants in the January 6 riot on the Capitol Building in 2021 would also be issued on his “first day”, with the president-elect ­declaring that he saw “people that didn’t even go into the building, and they were convicted”.

Doubling down on his commitment to use tariffs, Mr Trump said they could stop wars, prevent China from dumping cheap goods into the US market, save jobs and “cost Americans nothing”.

He clarified that he would not accept a salary as president and ­revealed he would use his inauguration address to promote a “message of unity” for Americans.

He said he would treat those who didn’t vote for him “every bit as well as I have treated the greatest MAGA supporters”.

“Success brings unity, and I’ve experienced that,” he said. “We’re going to be talking about success, making our country safe … But basically it’s going to be about bringing our country together.”

Mr Trump also continued to stand by his claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Pressed on why the Democrats did not steal the 2024 election, he replied: “I think it was too big to rig.”  He played down the extent to which his administration would be focused on retribution, with Mr Trump making clear he would not appoint a special prosecutor to ­investigate Joe Biden. He would not direct his nominee for ­attorney-general, Pam Bondi, or his pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, to go after his political opponents.

Instead, they would have autonomy to conduct the job as they saw fit, with Mr Trump ­declaring: “I’m not looking to go back into the past … Retribution will be through success.”

Mr Trump also retained confidence in his pick for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, a Fox News TV host who has been forced to deny allegations of past inappropriate behaviour towards women, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement of two veterans’ advocacy groups.

“He’s a very smart guy,” Mr Trump said.

“I think he’s going to do fine.”

Asked about Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, Mr Trump said he wanted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “have a victory”. He likened those who ­denied the October 7 massacre in Israel by Hamas last year to those who denied the Holocaust.

Mr Trump also maintained the doctrine of strategic ambiguity over Taiwan, saying he would “never say” whether America would defend the island territory if it was invaded by China on his watch.