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Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day.

By the Tehillim Shliach Levi Piekarski

 Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day.

About three years ago, I took it further. I began traveling to kivrei tzaddikim, reciting the entire Tehillim there—especially at the Ohel and at kevarim worldwide—specifically on behalf of those who ask me to daven for them. I’ve even started offering this as a service because I’ve personally witnessed miracles (both for myself and others) through heartfelt Tehillim. You can ask me about them.

How the Matzeivah Project Began

One day, while reciting the entire Tehillim at a kever on a yahrzeit, a Chevra Kadisha member approached me. He was trying to collect funds from the family to repair the kever. That same day, I helped secure the funds — and since then, I’ve arranged the repair of over 250 kevarim.

Right now, I’m working on a deeply meaningful project: repairing dozens of matzeivos of infants and young children, whose resting places deserve the same kavod as anyone else.

Why I’m Asking for Your Help

I’m dedicating myself to this mission for three reasons:

• A broken or neglected matzeivah causes pain to the neshama. This is chesed shel emes—true kindness with no expectation of reward.
• When I restore a matzeivah, I bring a picture of it into the Ohel when I recite Tehillim. I believe this adds power to the tefillos I say on behalf of others.
• Before COVID, my home was open almost year-round to everyone. While our hachnosas orchim has scaled down to family and friends, I continue the same spirit of giving—now through restoring kevarim.

A Story That Shook Me

On 26 Nisan this year, I was finishing Tehillim at a kever on its yahrzeit and driving toward the Ohel when a man approached me, looking for the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever. I gave him a ride, and on the way, I asked which chassidus he was from. He said Vizhnitz, so I mentioned a nearby kever—Eiga bas Azriel, believed to be connected to Vizhnitz.

Her matzeivah reads:

“Lovely people, I am all alone and left no children. Please light a candle and ask for my neshama. In this zechus, may Hashem bless you to live to see your children and their children in their old age with everything good. Amen.”

After he returned from her kever, he turned to me and said: “I’ve been married for 23 years… and have no children.”

I was speechless. What are the chances? Later, when we arrived at the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever, he told me that day was his yahrzeit. I replied, “No way—I recently raised funds to repair his Ohel!”

Though I usually only daven at the Rebbe’s Ohel (as a Lubavitcher), I knew in my heart the Rebbe would want me to recite Tehillim and light a candle at Eiga bas Azriel’s kever, and I did.

I turned to the man and said:

“In the zechus of 15 years of daily Tehillim, the hachnosas orchim I’ve done, and every kever I’ve repaired, may your wife become pregnant by Shavuos, and may you hold a child within the year.”

I asked for his and his wife’s names and gave them over in the Ohel. Though I usually offer this as a paid service, I told him, “This one is on me.”

Upon entering the Ohel, I cried my heart out, and begged the Rebbe, “Please show this Yid who’s the Boss and please intercede by HASHEM.

Two weeks later, I called him. He told me he’s been reciting Mishnayos every day since we met.

The Next Kever to Fix – Eiga bas Azriel

Recently, while davening at her kever, people approached me to ask for tefillos—for children, for shidduchim. One woman asked, “Does it help to daven here?”

I answered honestly:
“I don’t know what happened years ago, but I do know that so many people have lit candles and said Tehillim here, her neshama must be soaring. Of course she can help.”

While reciting the full Tehillim at her kever, I noticed her matzeivah is leaning to one side, and the base is buried under the earth.

I said to myself, How can I daven at so many kevarim and not fix hers?
So I took it upon myself to raise the funds to restore it properly. Any extra will go toward other kevarim projects, like the matzeivos for the infants.

Join Me in This Zechus

If this speaks to your heart, I invite you to be a partner in this mitzvah. I will recite the entire Tehillim on your behalf at any kever worldwide.

Chesed Shel Emes. Tehillim from the heart. Kavod for neshamos. Zechus for those who give.

 

Levi Piekarski 516.474.5846

Name4tehillim@gmail.com
Or, Click here to WhatsApp me.

Rescuers scoured a devastated central Texas landscape of mangled trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris Saturday in an increasingly bleak mission to locate survivors, including 27 girls who have not been seen since their camp was slammed with a wall of water in a historic flash flood. The flooding in Kerr County killed at least 43 people, including 15 children, and six more people died in nearby counties. Authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered. The destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect. Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will be relentless and work around the clock to rescue and recover victims, adding that new areas were being searched as the water recedes. “We will find every one of them,” he said. More rain fell around Austin, and a massive search continued in the nearby Hill Country. At least three people died and 10 others were missing in Travis County, home to the state capital. Another fatality was confirmed in Kendall County, and two people died in Burnet County, where a firefighter was among the missing after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to a rescue, county Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio said. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said 43 bodies had been recovered so far in the devastated Hill Country: 28 adults and 15 children. Authorities were coming under scrutiny over whether the camps and residents in places long vulnerable to flooding received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made. The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing. “We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” Rice said earlier Saturday. Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night “The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.” The raging storm, fueled by incredible amounts of moisture, woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said. Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information. On Saturday the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people surveyed the damage, including a pickup tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall. Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp just up […]

Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day. By the Tehillim Shliach Levi Piekarski  Over fifteen years ago, I committed to a life-changing mission: reciting the entire Sefer Tehillim every single day. About three years ago, I took it further. I began traveling to kivrei tzaddikim, reciting the entire Tehillim there—especially at the Ohel and at kevarim worldwide—specifically on behalf of those who ask me to daven for them. I’ve even started offering this as a service because I’ve personally witnessed miracles (both for myself and others) through heartfelt Tehillim. You can ask me about them. How the Matzeivah Project Began One day, while reciting the entire Tehillim at a kever on a yahrzeit, a Chevra Kadisha member approached me. He was trying to collect funds from the family to repair the kever. That same day, I helped secure the funds — and since then, I’ve arranged the repair of over 250 kevarim. Right now, I’m working on a deeply meaningful project: repairing dozens of matzeivos of infants and young children, whose resting places deserve the same kavod as anyone else. Why I’m Asking for Your Help I’m dedicating myself to this mission for three reasons: A broken or neglected matzeivah causes pain to the neshama. This is chesed shel emes—true kindness with no expectation of reward. When I restore a matzeivah, I bring a picture of it into the Ohel when I recite Tehillim. I believe this adds power to the tefillos I say on behalf of others. Before COVID, my home was open almost year-round to everyone. While our hachnosas orchim has scaled down to family and friends, I continue the same spirit of giving—now through restoring kevarim. A Story That Shook Me On 26 Nisan this year, I was finishing Tehillim at a kever on its yahrzeit and driving toward the Ohel when a man approached me, looking for the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever. I gave him a ride, and on the way, I asked which chassidus he was from. He said Vizhnitz, so I mentioned a nearby kever—Eiga bas Azriel, believed to be connected to Vizhnitz. Her matzeivah reads: “Lovely people, I am all alone and left no children. Please light a candle and ask for my neshama. In this zechus, may Hashem bless you to live to see your children and their children in their old age with everything good. Amen.” After he returned from her kever, he turned to me and said: “I’ve been married for 23 years… and have no children.” I was speechless. What are the chances? Later, when we arrived at the Monistritcher Rebbe’s kever, he told me that day was his yahrzeit. I replied, “No way—I recently raised funds to repair his Ohel!” Though I usually only daven at the Rebbe’s Ohel (as a Lubavitcher), I knew in my heart the Rebbe would want me to recite Tehillim and light a candle at Eiga bas Azriel’s kever, and I did. I turned to the man and said: “In the zechus of 15 years of daily Tehillim, the hachnosas orchim I’ve done, and every kever I’ve repaired, may your wife become pregnant by Shavuos, and may you hold a child within the year.” I asked for his and his wife’s names and gave them over in the Ohel. Though I usually offer this as a paid service, I told him, “This one is on me.” Upon entering the Ohel, I cried my heart out, and begged the Rebbe, “Please show this Yid who’s the Boss and please intercede by HASHEM. Two weeks later, I called him. He told me he’s been reciting Mishnayos every day since we met. The Next Kever to […]

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of  R’ Avi Piamenta Z”L, one of the most beloved and influential Jewish musicians of the past generation. He was Niftar on Friday, 8 Tammuz 5785, at the age of 69. R’ Avi, who was a master fluiet player, brought simcha to countless Yidden around the world with his soulful music and energy. He was the brother of the legendary R’ Yossi Piamenta Z”L, one of the greatest guitarists in Jewish music history, who was Niftar in 2015. Together, the Piamenta brothers performed at tens of thousands of chasunos and events over several decades, leaving an indelible impact on the world of Jewish music and the hearts of Klal Yisrael. Avi Piamenta was in New York for the Yartzheit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Gimmel Tammuz last week, and warmly greeted friends and acquaintances. His last performance was this past Sunday at a children’s rally at 770. His passing on Erev Shabbos comes as a shock to all who knew and admired him. He is survived by his wife, Yudit (nee Levy), and children, Yehuda Piamenta – Crown Heights, Genya Suwed – Mexico City, Mexico, Rivka Eichler – New Haven, CT, Mushka Piamenta – Monsey, NY, Chana Atar – Nicaragua, Mendy Piamenta – New Haven, CT, Dovy Piamenta – New Haven, CT, and Yossi Piamenta – Crown Heights, and grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Mrs. Chaya Meer – Morristown, NJ, and Mrs. Chana Lorber – Kfar Chabad, Israel. He was predeceased by his brother, musician Yosi Piamenta Z”L. Baruch Dayan Ha’emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Roughly one hour ago, the IDF says it intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen.

Fighter jets intercepted an aircraft near Trump’s Bedminster, NJ golf club today.

The death toll from central Texas floods climbs to 46, including 15 children, as authorities intensify their search for over 20 missing girls from a camp, with Gov. Greg Abbott vowing a relentless rescue effort and the Trump administration approving a federal disaster declaration to aid relief, despite earlier denials.

President Trump on Iran’s nuclear program: “I would say it’s set back permanently. If there were to do it again, they might as well start in a different location because that location is totally demolished. They could start, but I would think they would have to start at a different location, but if they did start it would be a problem. We wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

Iranian supreme leader Khamenei made his first public appearance in weeks today while attending a gathering.

Two American GHF aid workers sustained moderate injuries in a grenade attack near Khan Yunis and are receiving treatment in Israel. Hamas and other terrorist organizations persist in attacking aid workers and killing Gazans utilizing U.S.-supported GHF sites.

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A shul in Melbourne, Australia, was set on fire on Friday night while 20 people were inside. B’Chasdei Hashem, only the door was burned, and no one was injured in the incident. Those inside the shul evacuated through the back of the building. The incident began when a man entered the grounds of the East Melbourne shul at around 8:00 p.m. on Friday night, poured a flammable liquid on the entrance door, and set it on fire. It is one of the oldest shuls in the city, founded in 1870. Only minutes after the arson attempt, pro-Hamas rioters stormed the Miznon restaurant in Melbourne, throwing chairs and shattering a window while shouting “Death to the IDF.” The group of rioters arrived at the restaurant after a demonstration attended by about 100 pro-Hamas rioters on a nearby street. Kan News reported that it is believed that the restaurant was targeted not only because it is an Israeli restaurant, but also because of the connection of its owner, Shahar Segal, who serves as a spokesman for the “Humanitarian Fund for Gaza” (GHF), an aid fund for Gaza with Israeli-American support. Sasha Roytman, CEO of the Movement to Combat Anti-Semitism, said, “This is another escalation within the unprecedented wave of anti-Semitic events taking place in Australia. Since October 7, there has been a rise of hundreds of percent in the number of anti-Semitic and hate events in the country. The arson occurred when there were about 20 worshipers inside the synagogue; this is an attempted murder in every sense of the word that miraculously ended without casualties, and it should be treated as a terrorist event.” “We will soon hold an emergency conference in Australia to convene local leaders and mayors and give them tools to combat antisemitism at the national and local level. We call on the Australian government, local authorities, and leaders from all sectors to take these serious events seriously. The government in Australia must take immediate action to protect the Jewish community, which has lost its sense of personal security and fears that the situation will escalate further.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded sharply to the events: “I view with great severity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne, which included an attempted arson of a synagogue in the city and a violent attack on an Israeli restaurant by pro-Palestinian rioters.” “The despicable anti-Semitic attacks, while shouting ‘Death to the IDF’ and attempting to harm a place of worship, are serious hate crimes that must be uprooted. ‘The State of Israel will continue to stand by the Jewish community in Australia, and we demand that the Australian government act in every way to bring the rioters to justice and prevent such attacks in the future.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

An Israeli delegation will be sent to Doha on Sunday after Hamas submitted a positive response to the recent ceasefire/hostage deal proposal, an Israeli official said on Motzei Shabbos. The official said that Israel has received Hamas’s response from the mediators and is reviewing its details. Although the terror group responded positively to the proposal, they requested minor changes. Israel’s security cabinet met at 10 p.m. to discuss the talks and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US on Sunday. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

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Two Dutch intelligence agencies said on Friday that Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin. The Netherlands’ military intelligence and the security service, together with the German intelligence service, found that the use of prohibited chemical weapons by the Russian military had become “standardized and commonplace” in Ukraine. According to the findings, the Russian military uses chloropicrin and riot control agent CS against sheltering Ukrainian soldiers, who are then forced out into the open and shot. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for more sanctions against Moscow, and continued military support for Kyiv. Brekelmans, who stayed on in a caretaker role after the Dutch government collapsed last month, said that he doesn’t want to see the use of chemical weapons become normalized. Lowering the threshold for use “is not only dangerous for Ukraine, but also for the rest of Europe and the world,” he said in a statement. Russia has signed up to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the use of chloropicrin and CS as weapons. The convention’s watchdog, The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, has found several incidents in Ukraine involving CS, but the group hasn’t conducted a full investigation, which must be requested by the member states. The executive committee for the OPCW is holding a regular meeting next week, where it’s expected to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. Russian authorities didn’t immediately comment on the findings, but they have denied using chemical weapons in the past, instead alleging that Ukraine has used the banned substances. According to Ukraine, Russia has carried out 9,000 chemical weapons attacks in the country since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. In 2024, the U.S. State Department said that it had recorded the use of chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops. (AP)

Hamas officially responded on Friday night to the latest offer aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating a hostage release agreement.

In a public statement, the terrorist faction said, “Hamas has completed its internal consultations and with the Palestinian factions regarding the latest proposal from the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza.”

The group went on to say, “The organization has delivered its response to the mediating brothers, and it is characterized by positivity. The organization is ready, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework.”

An Israeli source confirmed that the response from Hamas had been received via intermediaries, and that Israeli officials were now reviewing the content of the reply.

Qatar’s Al-Arabi channel was the first to report, based on its own sources, that Hamas’s message to the mediators expressed openness to the latest proposal involving a cessation of fighting and the exchange of hostages.

A top Hamas representative told Reuters that the response to the initiative had been formally submitted and emphasized that it “is positive and could help reach an agreement.”

Earlier in the day, an individual affiliated with Palestinian terror factions had told Al Arabiya that Hamas was anticipated to convey its position Friday night. The source also noted that there was widespread backing among the various terrorist factions for a 60-day pause in fighting, during which discussions would continue regarding a permanent ceasefire and a total pullout of Israeli troops from Gaza.

In a report aired by Kan 11 News, it was noted that Hamas would likely present its reaction as generally favorable but intends to push for changes on three crucial elements.

The first issue is related to reinstating a previous system for humanitarian aid, one that would permit Hamas to oversee some of the supplies entering Gaza.

The second demand is that should negotiations stall or collapse during the 60-day timeframe, the pause in fighting must automatically continue, rather than violence breaking out again.

Finally, Hamas is insisting on changes to the proposed extent of the IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza, seeking a more comprehensive retreat.

On Thursday, Reuters cited an Israeli source indicating that Israeli leadership is actively preparing to move forward with a formal ceasefire deal in the coming days.

Details of the proposed arrangement between Hamas and Israel emerged earlier this week.

The New York Times, quoting both an Israeli defense contact and an individual linked to Hamas, revealed that the framework includes the release of ten hostages believed to still be alive, along with the transfer of the remains of 18 others held by Hamas. Both sources, who were briefed on the matter, spoke anonymously given the delicate nature of the talks.

One key difference between this outline and an earlier American plan put forward in May is the phased release schedule. Instead of completing the hostage releases within the first week of the truce, this plan envisions five separate handover stages spanning the full 60 days.

In addition, the deal reportedly includes a clause prohibiting Hamas from holding public, televised transfer events, a practice widely criticized during the January truce period.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump officially enacted his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” during a festive Independence Day celebration on the White House lawn Friday, punctuated by a powerful military flyover featuring B-2 bombers and fighter jets, marking the recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“After that spectacular display of American power, let me just say God bless the United States military and God bless the USA,” Trump said from the Truman Balcony.

“As we enter our 249th year, America’s winning, winning, winning like never before… The Golden Age of America is upon us.”

At one point during the event, Trump asked the flight crews from Missouri who were involved in the Iran operation to identify themselves. “They don’t want to be in disguise,” he said, referencing their role in halting hostilities from Tehran through military pressure in support of Israel, just moments before signing the comprehensive legislation.

“In a few moments, we’re going to make official the greatest victory yet when I sign the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’,” the 79-year-old president said to an audience that included lawmakers and families of service members.

“It’s really promises made, promises kept — and we’ve kept them. Here’s a triumph of democracy on the birthday of democracy, and I have to say that the people are happy.”

Before finalizing the bill, Trump criticized Joe Biden and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), using the opportunity to contrast their leadership with his own. The legislation itself includes wide-ranging tax relief, such as exemptions on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits, along with new deductions on car loan interest for American-made vehicles and an increase in allowable SALT deductions.

Trump accused Biden of leading “four horrible years of embarrassment,” citing failures on immigration policy and the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan in 2021.

Mocking Jeffries, who delivered an extended speech opposing the bill the previous day, Trump remarked, “had a towel. He’s wiping his face. That’s not too elegant,” and derided Democratic pushback on the legislation. “Democrats opposed to the bill developed a standard line — and we can’t let them get away with it — ‘Oh, it’s dangerous. Oh, everybody’s going to die.’”

“It’s all a con job… just like the con job of ‘Russia, Russia, Russia’ and all of the other things they did — the 51 intelligence agents said the laptop from hell came from Russia,” he said.

The president encouraged GOP lawmakers to speak plainly about the bill’s merits, asserting that “just say what it is, because it’s the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country.” He defended reductions in Medicaid and SNAP, criticized by opponents, by claiming Americans “won’t even notice” because “it’s just waste, fraud and abuse.”

“We have the greatest country in the world and we’re back — we’re back like nobody thought possible this quickly,” the president said.

“I can say very proudly, and I don’t have to quote the polls, that our country is more proud right now than it’s been in many, many years,” Trump added. “We have pride. We have dignity. We have something that has happened miraculously, so fast.”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Friends,

Just moments ago, on Independence Day, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which includes the first national scholarship tax credit!

Working together, this new opportunity can generate hundreds of millions of dollars for yeshiva tuition and will have a dramatic impact on families across the country.
Today’s victory was the culmination of decades of advocacy by Agudah and its coalition partners to address one of our community’s number one priorities: the ability of parents to afford tuition at the school of their choice.

I am personally indebted to my amazing colleagues at Agudah and to the support of so many of you! Whether you joined the hundreds of thousands of people who sent emails to Congress, joined us on our missions to Washington, or supported our efforts around the country we thank you! We had great coalition partners in state and national school choice groups, nonpublic school advocates, and other faith leaders who trusted us and ensured that we had input in the bill drafting and at every stage of the process. Most importantly, we are grateful to our champions in Congress who worked for the last six months to ensure that school choice was included in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

We will send additional information tomorrow night about the scholarship tax credit and other items in the bill.

Have a Good Shabbos!

AD Motzen
National Director of Government Affairs
Agudath Israel of America

President Trump revealed that starting Friday, his administration will begin issuing notices to multiple nations that haven’t yet secured provisional trade agreements with the United States. These new tariffs are expected to reach up to “60 or 70%,” he stated.

“We’re going to start sending letters out to various countries starting [Friday]. We’ll probably have 10 or 12 go out,” Trump told reporters after midnight upon returning from a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

“I think by the 9th [of July] they’ll be fully covered, and they will range in value from maybe 60 or 70% tariffs to 10 and 20% tariffs.”

These elevated figures suggest that Trump is willing to go beyond the initial framework he rolled out on April 2, when he announced his “Liberation Day” trade initiative. That plan introduced a base 10% tariff—more than three times higher than previous levels—and imposed harsher rates on countries running large trade surpluses with the U.S.

In that announcement, some of the steepest proposed reciprocal tariffs included 49% on Cambodia, 48% on Laos, and 47% on Madagascar—each selected due to their trade imbalances and reliance on U.S. markets for textile and footwear exports.

“We’ve done the final form, and it’s basically going to explain what the countries are going to be paying in tariffs,” Trump told reporters early Friday.

“It’s a lot of money for the country, but we’re giving them a bargain. … I don’t want to stretch it too much, we want to keep it pretty reasonable.”

Trump mentioned he plans to dispatch roughly a dozen letters per day until the self-imposed deadline of Wednesday, giving countries limited time to finalize deals or face tariffs.

“As we get to the smaller countries, we’re pretty much going to keep the tariffs the same,” he said.

“They’ll start to pay on Aug. 1. The money will start to come into the United States on Aug. 1 in pretty much all cases.”

The administration hasn’t yet confirmed which countries will be subject to the highest rates of 60–70%, but the aggressive trade stance coincides with a string of favorable economic news. Job creation once again exceeded projections in June, inflation held steady at 2.4% in May, and stock markets surged to all-time highs in recent days.

Detractors, however, have cautioned that these sweeping tariffs could raise prices for American consumers, particularly on imported products.

Thus far, Trump has reached tentative trade arrangements with China, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. He’s also negotiated a “roadmap” with India and secured significant trade gestures from both Israel and Taiwan. However, several major trading partners—such as Japan and the European Union—have not yet finalized deals and remain exposed to the looming tariffs.

Trump has voiced skepticism regarding negotiations with Japan, which currently faces a proposed 24% duty. The European Union, meanwhile, may be hit with a 50% tariff, a hike from the initially proposed 20%, in retaliation for the EU’s pending digital tax targeting U.S. tech giants.

Even the agreements that have been outlined thus far only partially reduce the newly announced tariffs.

Under the provisional UK deal, the new 10% baseline tariff will remain on most goods, though certain British exports—like steel, aluminum, and most cars—will be exempted from the more severe 25% rate. In exchange, the UK has reportedly agreed to greater market access for U.S. agricultural products, including meat and ethanol.

The agreement with China resulted in a rollback of retaliatory tariffs while discussions continue on a more far-reaching pact. Trump also said the Chinese government has pledged to increase its imports of American goods.

As for Vietnam, the country will be spared from a proposed 46% tariff, but will still face a 20% rate on its own exports and a 40% rate on goods that originate from third-party countries like China before being routed through Vietnam.

Goods from Mexico and Canada are largely governed under the USMCA framework and are therefore exempt from most of the new levies. However, Trump did apply a 25% tariff in March to specific products not covered by the agreement, a move he said was intended to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and illegal border crossings.

Trump’s note that smaller countries will face similarly structured rates follows a period in which his administration concentrated on securing deals with the top 15 trading partners, even as smaller economies—especially in Asia—continue to export large volumes of inexpensive consumer goods due to their low labor costs.

On May 26, Trump emphasized that his broader tariff agenda was about strengthening the competitiveness of American industries—not about bringing back basic manufacturing jobs like those in the apparel sector.

“We’re not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts. We want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to make, do the AI thing,” Trump said.

“I’m not looking to make T-shirts, to be honest. I’m not looking to make socks. We can do that very well in other locations. We are looking to do chips and computers and lots of other things and tanks and ships,” he said.

{Matzav.com}