Bangladesh, April 9 -- In trademark bravado, President Donald Trump has claimed that dozens of countries are scrambling to avoid his sweeping new tariffs, with foreign leaders “begging” for customized trade deals. Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner on April 8, Trump offered a brash assessment of the global reaction to his latest round of import duties, set to escalate further today.

“Im telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my ass,” Trump said, sparking laughter and applause from Republican lawmakers and donors in attendance. “They are dying to make a deal: ‘Please, please sir, make a deal. Ill do anything, Ill do anything sir.”

The statemen...