Trump claims BRICS "broke up" after 150% tariff threat, says bloc is "dead"

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the BRICS bloc has "broken up", following his recent threat to impose 150% tariffs on member nations attempting to create an alternative to the US dollar. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Trump said he had not heard from BRICS leaders since issuing the warning and declared that the bloc was now "dead."

"BRICS states were trying to destroy our dollar. They wanted to create a new currency. So when I came in, the first thing I said was any BRICS state that even mentions the destruction of the dollar will be charged a 150% tariff. And we don't want your goods, and the BRICS states just broke up," Trump stated.

The BRICS alliance, initially formed in 2009, consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE. Over the years, the bloc has explored alternative financial systems to reduce reliance on the US dollar. The idea of a common BRICS currency has been widely discussed, especially as part of efforts to counter Western financial dominance.

Trump also suggested that his tough stance had intimidated BRICS leaders, claiming that they no longer wish to discuss the matter publicly.

"BRICS was put there for a bad purpose, and most of those people don't want it. They don't even want to talk about it now. They are afraid to talk about it because I told them if they want to play games with the dollar, then they're going to be hit with a 100 per cent tariff," he added.

Trump's statement follows his earlier warning that the US would impose 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they attempted to introduce a rival currency. His administration has consistently viewed the bloc's economic ambitions as a threat to American financial supremacy.

Despite Trump's assertion that BRICS has collapsed, there has been no official response from any member nations regarding his comments. The BRICS grouping held its last summit in 2024, during which discussions on de-dollarization and economic collaboration were reportedly high on the agenda.

Experts believe that while the creation of a BRICS currency remains a long-term goal, the bloc continues to expand its influence in global trade. In August 2023, BRICS added five new members, demonstrating its efforts to strengthen economic cooperation.

Trump’s statements come amid heightened US-China tensions, as China plays a leading role in BRICS. Analysts suggest that Trump’s aggressive trade policies are part of broader efforts to curb China’s growing economic influence.

The US has historically used economic sanctions and trade restrictions as tools to maintain control over the global financial system. However, BRICS members have continued to explore alternative payment methods, including bilateral trade in local currencies and the use of China’s yuan in international transactions.