Overview

• During an April 17 press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump described Biden's administration as the 'worst in U.S. history,' surpassing Carter's presidency in his view.
• Trump's remarks, referencing Carter's death in December 2024, were widely condemned by political commentators and public figures for being inappropriate and partisan.
• The comments coincided with ongoing U.S.-EU trade negotiations, where Trump imposed tariffs on EU goods, currently paused at 10% for 90 days to facilitate a potential agreement.
• Critics accused Trump of exploiting Carter's death to attack Biden, with responses ranging from disapproval of his rhetoric to broader critiques of his leadership style.
• Trump defended his tariff strategy during the press conference, asserting that it would lead to economic growth and claiming confidence in achieving a favorable trade deal with the EU.