Sen. Chuck Schumer begrudgingly admitted that he agreed with President Trump Sunday.
“China is not helpful to the United States, they’re happy to see us in trouble. And the way to get at them is by what is the mother load for China — their trade with us,” the Senate Minority leader said.
“They take advantage of American workers of American wealth, of American companies regularly, I call them rapacious.”
Democrats exploded when Trump first levied expensive tariffs on Chinese imports. Now, Schumer realizes that the plan is genius. Putting pressure on China could lead to a fresh way to get at North Korea.
Schumer and Trump have constantly wrangled since Trump took office. Schumer’s statement in favor of the way Trump’s treating China might be the most positive thing that he’s ever said about the president.
“If we keep squeezing China, I believe China could ultimately squeeze North Korea and we could get a good deal,” Schumer said.
“But if we stop being tough with China on trade they’ll stop pushing North Korea and we’ll get nowhere… It’s economics that’s the key to getting to China and Trump is on the right path.”
Schumer’s words are striking because the rest of the party is still insisting that Trump’s trade war with China is irresponsible. A lot of liberal experts claim that the tariffs will hurt American consumers more than anyone else.
“You end up shooting yourself in the foot, shooting your allies in the foot, and maybe you wound China’s big toe,” complained Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Even some Republicans took issue with Trump’s plan.
“Hopefully the president is just blowing off steam again but, if he’s even half-serious, this is nuts,” said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).
“He’s threatening to light American agriculture on fire.”
(Source: The Hill, New York Post)