Donald Trump raises eyebrows when he says he wants “great development for China”

Former President Donald Trump’s comment that he wants “great things from China” prompted a flurry of reactions from online users on Sunday.

During an interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria BartiromoIn the show, recorded last week, the former president insisted he would not start a new trade war with China if re-elected in November, as many accused him of doing during his first term. . He also insisted that he wants the East Asian country to do well, despite his frequent anti-China comments elsewhere.

President Trump said, “This is not a trade war. I’ve done a great job with China on everything.” “I want great development for China. I like President Xi.” [Jinping] a lot. He was a very good friend during my tenure. ”

However, he did say that he would once again impose tariffs of more than 60% on Chinese products.

“We have to do that,” the former president said.

These comments by Trump, who is a leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, caused a huge reaction online, with many users highlighting the seeming hypocrisy of the former president’s history and anti-China comments. However, President Joe’s criticism is that Biden is too submissive to a rival superpower.

“America is the end,” the official anti-Trump Republican account wrote on X (formerly Twitter), reversing the former president’s oft-repeated motto of “America first.”

“Even Maria Bartiromo is shocked by Mr. Trump’s praise for President Xi,” the American Bridge 21st Century Account, a liberal super PAC, wrote on XPost.

The account then referenced other comments President Trump made in the interview, in which he said he expected China to interfere in the 2024 presidential election: “Praised Mr. Xi and China. Afterward, President Trump said he thought they would interfere in the presidential election.” Which side is this guy really on? ”

newsweek President Trump’s office was contacted for comment via email.

“Mr. Trump personally earned millions of dollars from the Chinese government while ‘president’ and has since coincidentally hinted that he would not order U.S. military intervention in China to attack Taiwan.” wrote popular Democrat X user JoJoFromJerz, referring to recent reports about Trump’s business. He received millions of dollars in payments from various countries, including China, during his presidency.

“But it’s okay,” she said.

“The ad speaks for itself,” attorney Bradley P. Moss wrote, suggesting that Trump opponents could use anti-Trump rhetoric in campaign ads.

These latest comments about China come on the heels of others speaking in previous interviews with Bartiromo, in which he said he feared invasion from China if he was re-elected president. He declined to say whether the United States would support Taiwan if such a situation were to arise. President Trump instead emphasized his dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s semiconductor business, claiming it was taking business away from the United States. These statements drew criticism and concern.

Republicans regularly attack Biden and Democrats as “weak” on China. The East Asian country is widely seen as a major global competitor to the United States, and concerns about a possible war with China are openly discussed by lawmakers and military analysts.