President Donald Trump offered a stark, non-economic justification for his trade war with China, arguing that backing down would leave the US “exposed as being a nothing.”
This defense of the high tariffs as a matter of national pride came in an interview where he also admitted the policy is “not sustainable.”
“If we didn’t have tariffs, we would be exposed as being a nothing,” Trump stated. He balanced this by blaming China, claiming “they forced me to do that.”
This tough rhetoric is the backdrop for a newly confirmed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. Trump expressed hope, saying “I think we’re going to be fine,” but also wariness, “We’ll see what happens.”
The talks are urgent, with a 90-day truce expiring on November 10. Trump’s goal is to secure a “fair deal” to end the “unsustainable” conflict.
