Tariffs Aim to Boost Military, AI Manufacturing—Not T-Shirts: Trump

The president said he’s not looking to increase production of shirts, socks, and other clothing items.

U.S. Army soldiers load military tanks onto trains en route to Washington from Fort Cavazos, in Killeen, Texas, on May 22, 2025. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

President Donald Trump said on May 25 that his tariff policy plans are designed to bolster U.S. military and technology manufacturing, not apparel.

Last month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a White House news briefing that the administration is focused on “the jobs of the future, not the jobs of the past.”