Kevin Hassett: Trump's 50% tariff on copper imports aims to prepare for US for future 'time of war'

The White House Economic Council Director is defending President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports.

In an interview on ABC's "This Week," Director Kevin Hassett pointed to the importance of the U.S. being self-sufficient when it comes to key resources.

"The bottom line is that if there is a time of war, then we need to have the metals that we need to produce American weapons," Hassett said on the show on Sunday.

"And copper is a key component in many American weapon sets.