NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a scathing attack on his predecessors Joe Biden and Barack Obama , calling them "stupid" and "incompetent" for not taking on China earlier over trade issues.
"I happen to pick the Resolute Desk , but I blame the people sitting behind this desk for being stupid and incompetent and not having courage. This should have been done years ago—before Obama, before Biden ," Trump said, responding to a media query on the ongoing trade war with China.
Trump also accused the World Trade Organisation of favouring China and claimed it was “owned and paid for by China.”
He criticised the decision to classify China as a developing nation, saying, “They said they were a developing nation. We are a developing nation if you think about it.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on sweeping new tariffs for most American trading partners — but excluded China, which he targeted with a steep 125% tariff on all imports. The White House’s decision came less than 24 hours after broad duties triggered volatility across global markets.
While allies were granted a temporary reprieve, Trump delivered a sharp escalation in the US-China trade war. China swiftly retaliated, imposing 84% tariffs on American goods, according to state-run Xinhua.
The administration also issued a blunt message to other countries: “Do not retaliate and you will be rewarded.” The warning appeared aimed at deterring further global backlash as markets reeled from the sudden policy shift.
Beijing, however, held its ground. China’s Commerce Ministry slammed the new US levies as a breach of international norms and vowed to defend national interests. “There is no winner in a trade war... the Chinese government will by no means sit by when the legitimate rights and interests of its people are being hurt and deprived,” a ministry official said.
The retaliatory Chinese tariffs came into effect just after noon on Thursday, hours after a spokesperson warned that the US was undermining the "legitimate interests of all countries."
"I happen to pick the Resolute Desk , but I blame the people sitting behind this desk for being stupid and incompetent and not having courage. This should have been done years ago—before Obama, before Biden ," Trump said, responding to a media query on the ongoing trade war with China.
VIDEO | In response to a media query on trade war with China, US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) says, "I blame the people sitting right at this desk, right behind this desk or another desk for being stupid and not having the courage. This should have been done years ago, this… pic.twitter.com/i2op7VZIOT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 10, 2025
Trump also accused the World Trade Organisation of favouring China and claimed it was “owned and paid for by China.”
He criticised the decision to classify China as a developing nation, saying, “They said they were a developing nation. We are a developing nation if you think about it.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on sweeping new tariffs for most American trading partners — but excluded China, which he targeted with a steep 125% tariff on all imports. The White House’s decision came less than 24 hours after broad duties triggered volatility across global markets.
While allies were granted a temporary reprieve, Trump delivered a sharp escalation in the US-China trade war. China swiftly retaliated, imposing 84% tariffs on American goods, according to state-run Xinhua.
The administration also issued a blunt message to other countries: “Do not retaliate and you will be rewarded.” The warning appeared aimed at deterring further global backlash as markets reeled from the sudden policy shift.
Beijing, however, held its ground. China’s Commerce Ministry slammed the new US levies as a breach of international norms and vowed to defend national interests. “There is no winner in a trade war... the Chinese government will by no means sit by when the legitimate rights and interests of its people are being hurt and deprived,” a ministry official said.
The retaliatory Chinese tariffs came into effect just after noon on Thursday, hours after a spokesperson warned that the US was undermining the "legitimate interests of all countries."
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