Washington [US], November 18 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump said he developed a hoarse voice after what he described as a heated exchange with representatives of a foreign nation that allegedly attempted to alter an existing trade agreement.
Trump’s noticeably raspy voice drew attention during a meeting with the White House task force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday (local time), when a reporter asked whether he was feeling well. Trump replied, ‘I feel great. I was shouting at people because they were stupid about something having to do with trade and a country, and I straightened it out, but I blew my stack at these people.’
When asked to name the country involved, Trump declined to provide details. ‘A country wanted to try and renegotiate the terms of their trade deal,’ he said. ‘And I wasn’t happy about it.’ Pressed further, he added, ‘Why would I say that to you?’
In recent months, the United States has engaged in trade discussions with Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Trump also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in October, where both sides reported progress in ongoing trade negotiations.
During those talks, Trump said China agreed to help the United States tackle the fentanyl crisis, and in return, he would reduce tariffs on Chinese imports by 10 per cent, lowering the rate from 57 per cent to 47 per cent.
Trump also stated that he decided against imposing an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese products that was set to take effect on November 1, following China’s move to delay by one year its planned export restrictions on rare-earth magnets.
After meeting Xi, Trump expressed confidence about reaching broader trade terms soon. ‘Zero to 10, with 10 being the best, I’d say the meeting was a 12,’ he said. ‘A lot of decisions were made ... and we’ve come to a conclusion on very many important points.’
(ANI)