Donald Trump took the time to joke with his Vice President, JD Vance, on Wednesday night, as he delivered a historic speech on tariffs. Minutes into his speech on the reciprocal tariffs his administration has decided to enforce, the US President thanked members of his cabinet for attending the event, held in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Addressing his Vice President directly, he joked: “We are pleased to be joined in this momentous occasion by Vice President JD Vance – JD, thank you.” Looking around, he continued: “Where are you JD? Ah, that wasn’t too hard to find. He likes to take a low-key attitude, he’s sitting right in front!”

Seemingly speaking to US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Mr Trump added: “He’s gaining a lot of confidence, isn’t he Mike?”

The US President then continued, acknowledging other members of his cabinet: “And nearly my entire cabinet is here, as well as Speaker Mike Johnson, he has done an amazing job.”

In his speech, Mr Trump called today “one of the most important days in American history”, branding it a “declaration of economic independence”.

The US President unveiled a raft of sweeping tariffs, ranging from 10% to 50%, affecting nations around the world.

The UK was slapped with a 10% rate, while the EU was charged a 20% rate. The hardest-hit nation is Lesotho, with a 50% rate.

Mr Trump called his tariff policy “kind reciprocal,” saying he could’ve been much harsher on US trading partners. The president said the tariff rates he’s imposing, steep as they are, don’t match the levies that some countries impose on US exporters.