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Trump pointed to U.S. trade deficits with other countries in his defense of the tariffs, singling out China, which was hit with a 34% tariff last week.

Tariffs on the Heard and McDonald Islands, which are largely populated by penguins and uninhabited by people, prompted jeering on social media last week.

The California senator added that the current state of the U.S. economy and the Democratic Party's "failure" to address it cost them the White House last year.

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent dismissed panic surrounding the stock market, commenting on its 10.5% drop Friday and a six-week slump in the S&P 500.

Rollins argued the president "evoked" change to improve the United States's standing in the market, and stated dozens of countries have now "come to the table."

Malliotakis compared Trump's tariffs and their impact on the economy to undergoing some "turbulence" before making it to "smooth skies."

The encouragement was needed due to a six-week slump in the S&P 500. By stock market close Friday, the day before the 10% baseline tariff began, it dropped 10.5%.

Trump's sweeping list of new reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries takes effect April 9 with CBP tasked with implementing the duties on imports.

Musk addressed the recent Trump tariffs in an event hosted by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.

Protectionism is alive and well -- especially in the United States, where tariffs have become the cause célèbre of economic policy debates.