The US stock market experienced a sharp decline in New York following President Donald Trump’s implementation of new customs tariffs on 185 countries. Comparing the US economy to a patient in need of surgery, Trump stated, “The patient’s condition is critical. They underwent surgery. It will be a booming economy. It will be great.” The decision signed by Trump to apply “mutual tariffs” to the 185 countries with which the US trades, with a basic tariff rate of 10%, made headlines globally. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump mentioned that they could expect a “sharp decline in markets” due to the tariffs imposed on US trade partners. Evaluating the day’s sharp decline in the New York stock market in light of concerns that tariffs could lead the economy into a recession, Trump stated, “I think everything is going very well. Markets will explode, the stock market will explode.” Speaking about the economy, Trump likened the US economy to a patient in need of surgery, saying, “The patient’s condition is critical. They underwent surgery. It will be a booming economy. It will be great.” Trump argued that companies wanting to produce in the US to avoid tariffs would bring “trillions of dollars in investment to the country,” stating, “The rest of the world wants to see if there is a way to make a deal.” Trump noted that countries were reaching out to them after announcing the tariffs, and said, “The beauty of what we are doing is this. We are putting ourselves in the driver’s seat. If we asked these countries to do us a favor, they would say ‘no.’ Now they will do everything for us.” Highlighting the many production facilities already being built in the US, Trump emphasized that there would be numerous construction jobs as a result and that the tariffs would “greatly enrich the US.”