Trump: ‘If you don’t have steel, you don’t have a country’

President Trump took to Twitter Friday to defend new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, saying “if you don’t have steel, you don’t have a country.”

“We must protect our country and our workers. Our steel industry is in bad shape,” Trump tweeted. “IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY!”

We must protect our country and our workers. Our steel industry is in bad shape. IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018

Earlier Friday Trump also defended the tariffs, tweeting that “trade wars are good, and easy to win.”

“When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win,” he said. “Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!” 

When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100 billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore-we win big. It’s easy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2018

Trump said Thursday he would announce new tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum from all countries that send metals to the U.S.

{mosads}The move was immediately criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the Dow Jones industrial average lost 420 points on the day after Trump’s announcement.

Companies also responded to Trump’s announcement, with Toyota and MillerCoors saying the decision would mean they have to raise the prices of their products.