Trump Goes To War With China’s Trade Abuses — Democrats Go To War With Their Own History
Democrats’ Shifting Positions on Trade Policy
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a powerful rebuke of Democratic leaders during a recent press briefing, highlighting their apparent inconsistency on trade policies with China. Leavitt’s comments came as President Trump’s administration prepares to implement new tariffs, including a substantial 104% tariff against China scheduled to take effect at midnight.
The press secretary referenced a 1996 speech by Nancy Pelosi, who passionately advocated for reciprocal tariffs against China due to unfair trade practices. This historical context stands in stark contrast to Pelosi’s current characterization of Trump’s tariffs as “reckless” measures that will “cause chaos in our economy, raise prices for consumers, and hurt hardworking American families.”
Trump’s Trade Policy Implementation
President Trump announced the comprehensive tariff package during his “Make America Wealthy Again” event on April 2, 2025. The policy includes 34% tariffs against China and other trading partners, with the additional 104% tariff coming in response to China’s retaliatory measures against initial U.S. trade actions.
During the briefing, Leavitt emphasized that the President is following through on campaign promises to address trade imbalances that have persisted for decades. She pointed out that many Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer, have previously criticized these same trade deficits with statements such as, “These are the kinds of records the American people don’t want us to be breaking.”
TRUMP: “Right now China is paying a 104% tariff. It sounds ridiculous but they charged us for many items 100-125%. Many countries have. They’ve ripped us off left and right. Now it’s our turn to do the rippin’!”pic.twitter.com/3DkJImDtow
— Sara Rose
(@saras76) April 9, 2025
Economic Impact and Political Fallout
The administration maintains that these tariffs will ultimately strengthen American manufacturing and create jobs despite short-term market volatility. Leavitt specifically highlighted previous statements from Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who once strongly criticized trade deficits with China but now opposes the Trump administration’s approach to addressing those same issues.
Economists remain divided on the potential impacts of the tariffs, with some warning of increased consumer costs while others predict long-term benefits for domestic production. The White House’s position remains firm that these measures are necessary corrections to decades of trade policies that have disadvantaged American workers and manufacturers.
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