President Donald Trump has stirred controversy with a sweeping new tariff plan, announced on what he called “Liberation Day.” The policy introduces a universal 10% tariff on all imports, with steeper rates for 60 countries labeled “worst offenders.”

In a Rose Garden speech, Trump declared April 2, 2025, as the day “America’s destiny was reclaimed,” criticizing decades of foreign economic exploitation. He claims the tariffs will revive American industry and push consumers toward domestic products.

However, former President Barack Obama sharply criticized the move during a speech at Hamilton College. He called the policy harmful to America’s economy and expressed broader concerns about the government’s threats against universities and law firms opposing the administration.

“Imagine if I had done any of this?” Obama remarked, suggesting hypocrisy in political responses.

Some affected nations have already announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. The White House says the tariffs will stay until trade imbalances are “resolved or mitigated.”