Trump Claims Trade Tariffs Slashed US Deficit And Forecasts A Surplus by NDTV Profits | February 19, 2026 1:15 pm | Latest Posts, Market, Trending News In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump claimed, “THE UNITED STATES TRADE DEFICIT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 78% BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS BEING CHARGED TO OTHER COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES.”