President Donald Trump on Friday offered conflicting messages on U.S. currency policy, declaring he would "never say" he wants a weak dollar while simultaneously extolling the benefits of a softer currency. Speaking to reporters, Trump said that "when you have a strong dollar, you can't sell anything" and argued that "a weak dollar makes you a hell of a lot more money." He also maintained that a lower exchange rate "makes the tariffs worth more," referring to the steep duties his administration has levied on imports. The comments come as the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has fallen roughly 7.9% since Jan. 20 and about 8.5% year-to-date, feeding speculation that the administration is tolerating or even encouraging further depreciation to support U.S. manufacturers and exporters. Trump cited companies such as Caterpillar Inc. as beneficiaries of the weaker greenback and said a softer dollar would bolster tourism and industrial sales, even though he continues to profess a preference for a "strong" currency. Traders and economists say the mixed signals complicate efforts to gauge official policy ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for expanded tariffs on additional trade partners. While the president insisted the United States has "crushed inflation," some market participants warn that sustained dollar weakness—combined with the 145% tariff on Chinese goods introduced in April—could add upward pressure on prices and further unsettle global currency markets.