While surveying the White House lawn on Wednesday to find the perfect spot for a massive American flagpole, President Donald Trump paused to answer questions from reporters—and what he had to say sent a strong message to both allies and adversaries around the world.
“We’re going to have a fair deal with China. It’s going to be fair,” Trump stated confidently during the brief press gaggle on the North Lawn.
The former president, now leading the charge once again on the world stage, emphasized that trade talks with China are not only active, they’re attracting global attention.
“Everything’s active. Everybody wants to be a part of what we’re doing,” Trump told reporters. “They know that they can’t get away with it any longer, but they’re still going to do fine, and we’re going to have a country that you can be proud of—not a laughing stock all over the world for many years.”
According to the White House, 18 formal trade offers have already landed on the administration’s desk, and officials are scheduled to meet with representatives from 34 different countries this week. That’s not just a trade strategy—it’s a signal to the world: America is back, and this time we’re calling the shots.
Trump’s remarks reflect a major shift from the weak, one-sided trade policies of the Obama-Biden years. Where previous administrations bent over backward to please global competitors, Trump’s approach is simple: America First.
“There’s a lot of action going on,” he said, when asked more broadly about international trade discussions.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration was possibly considering reducing tariffs on Chinese goods. But the White House swiftly shut that idea down.
“Let me be clear, there will be no unilateral reduction in tariffs against China,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in an interview with Fox News. “The president has made it clear: China needs to make a deal with the United States of America, and we are optimistic that it will happen.”
Leavitt made it crystal clear that any trade deal must benefit American workers and strengthen our domestic economy.
“We certainly need to see a reduction in tariffs and nonmonetary tariff barriers from China as well,” she added. “And we also need to continue seeing these companies abroad return their manufacturing to the United States of America so we can shore up these critical supply chains.”
The Trump administration’s focus on reshoring American manufacturing is a cornerstone of its broader economic plan. It’s not just about tough talk on China—it’s about real action to ensure that essential goods, from medicine to microchips, are made in the U.S.A.
While Democrats remain distracted by political sideshows and culture war distractions, Trump and his team are getting down to business—reviving the American economy, restoring global respect, and ensuring that the U.S. is never again dependent on hostile foreign powers.
In a world where America was once taken advantage of, President Trump is making sure that era is over. The message is simple: get on board or get left behind.