WASHINGTON - Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he loves tariffs and believes presidents should have some kind of say in setting interest rates.

But the Republican presidential nominee was less forthcoming on a host of other topics when pressed during a contentious interview before the Economic Club of Chicago.

Among the questions where Trump skirted a direct answer: the fate of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell; whether he would seek the break-up of Google if he is elected; his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and whether he would accept the outcome of the ongoing election battle with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump, who is used to more friendly interviewers in this kind of setting, frequently fought with moderator John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, who constantly had to fact-check the former president.

"You've been wrong about everything" and "jump in a lot of different subjects," Trump said at one point, to which Micklethwait replied: "You're trying to turn this into a debate."

Some more key moments from a contentious event just three weeks before Election Day:

'Honest elections'

Trump frequently argued with Micklethwait, particularly over whether he would accept the outcome of the election if he loses to Harris.

"We want to have honest elections," said Trump, who has long indicated he would regard a loss as Democratic "cheating" and would likely protest the balloting, just as he did after the 2020 election.

Trump also claimed he had a "peaceful transfer of power" after that election; Micklethwait, citing the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, said: "Come on, President Trump."

Whither Jerome Powell?

Trump has criticized Powell, suggesting - falsely - that he has manipulated interest rates to benefit the incumbent Democratic administration.

In Chicago, Trump - who appointed Powell in 2017 - did not say whether he would seek his ouster or otherwise try to sideline the chairman if he is re-elected.

He also did not sound complimentary, mocking the Fed chairmanship as "the greatest job in government."

"You show up to the office once a month, and you say, 'let's see' ... flip a coin," Trump said. "And everybody talks about you like you're a god."

Presidents, interest rates and Putin

Trump was a little more forthcoming about the idea that presidents should have a say in interest rates. He likes the idea, although Powell and other high finance officials say politics should not play a role in rate setting.

Presidents should not have the right to "order" specific interest rates, Trump said, before adding: "I think I have the right to put in comments as to whether or not interest rates should go up or down."

Trump did not specifically address claims in journalist Bob Woodward's latest book that he has spoken with Putin on the phone as many as seven times since leaving office.

"If I did, it's a smart thing," Trump said.

Economic impact

Trump simply refused to engage in criticisms of his campaign's economic plans, including studies showing that his proposed tax cuts will drive up government debt and re-spike inflation, and that his calls for higher tariffs could trigger trade wars even with U.S. allies.

Instead, Trump used just about every critical question to hammer home his talking points attacking Harris and President Joe Biden over inflation, the economy, and immigration.

While attacking so-called migrant crime, Trump pointed at a woman in the audience and said: "they will look at you and they will kill you."

The interview at the Economic Club of Chicago also featured a typical assortment of non sequiturs, run-on sentences, and off-topic wanderings that have marked Trump's discourse over his years in politics.

Trump told Micklethwait that he engages in the "weave," stranding together different thoughts that work "as long as you end up in the right location at the end."