President Donald Trump boasted on Wednesday that his hardline tariff strategy is bringing global powers to their knees, eager to strike trade deals with the United States.

Speaking on April 9, Trump painted a vivid picture of desperation: “These countries are calling us up, kissing my ass. They are dying to make a deal. Please, please, Sir, make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir.” The colorful remarks underscore his belief that recent U.S. tariffs are forcing nations to the negotiating table.

Trump’s second-term tariff blitz, rolled out this week against countries including India, has rattled global markets, sparking fears of recession. His administration sees the pressure paying off, with the president touting a flood of calls from foreign leaders. “They’re begging,” he claimed, framing it as proof of America’s regained leverage. Some nations have countered with zero-tariff offers, a move Trump’s advisers brushed off as “peanuts”—too little, too late.

The comments spotlight ongoing trade talks, notably with India, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed plans for a bilateral agreement by fall 2025. Other countries, wary of escalating trade wars, appear split—some resist, others relent. Trump’s team insists the strategy is working, pointing to concessions as evidence of his deal-making prowess. Critics, however, warn of collateral damage to U.S. consumers and allies alike.

For now, Trump revels in the chaos, casting himself as the master negotiator bending the world to his will—one tariff at a time.