US President Donald Trump strongly reasserted on Sunday that his tariffs policies support domestic production of weapons hardware and advanced technology, not consumer goods like T-shirts and sneakers.
His remarks, made before departing aboard Air Force One from New Jersey, served to reinforce the administration’s long-standing emphasis on rekindling America’s industrial foundation through protectionist trade action.
“We’re not interested in making sneakers and T-shirts. We want to produce military hardware. We want to produce big things. We want to produce, do the AI thing,” Trump stated. “I’m not interested in making T-shirts, to be honest. I’m not interested in making socks. We can do that very nicely in other places. We are interested in doing chips and computers and a lot of other things, and tanks and ships,” he continued.
Industry Resistance to Apparel Tariffs
Not everyone is embracing this strategy, though. The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) expressed dismay at how higher tariffs would adversely affect consumers and producers alike. AAFA President Steve Lamar cautioned, “With 97 percent of the apparel and footwear we wear imported, and with apparel and footwear already the most tariffed industry in the US, we must concentrate on solutions that make sense and can drive change. Additional tariffs will only serve to raise input costs for US producers and higher prices, which will punish low-income consumers.”
This tension reflects the broader conflict between strategic priorities for manufacturing and the short-term economic effects on American families. Whereas Trump prioritizes national security and technological leadership, organizations such as the AAFA value affordability and economic access.
Global Implications and Political Calculations
Trump also upset global trading markets with his provocative tariff threats. He recently revived the threat of a 50 percent tariff on European Union products from June 1 and signaled a 25 percent duty on iPhones imported from abroad. But he delayed the EU tariff date to July 9, leaving room for talks.
Meanwhile, his trade policy remains popular among working-class voters, some of whom have watched manufacturing jobs evaporate for decades. By deliberately prioritizing heavy industry and technology over textiles, Trump aims to remake America’s economic map—even if it comes at a short-term cost.
