President Trump has nothing but compliments for China's President Xi Jinping — at least today.
In a Monday press conference following the end of the G7 summit, Trump discussed his ongoing trade war with China, touching on the increased tariffs both countries levied on each other on Friday. After this many taxes, China "want[s] to make a deal" and doesn't "have a choice," Trump said, because Xi "can't lose three million jobs in a short period of time."
Yet as The Washington Post's Aaron Blake notes, while three million jobs would be a huge hit for America's 160-million-person workforce, it's more of a blink for China's 750 million workers. Still, Trump remained convinced that a "brilliant leader" like Xi wouldn't let the continued conflict "break down the Chinese system of trade." Trump then pivoted to slam China for the apparent $500 billion trade deficit it has held over the U.S. for "many many years," which, as CNN's Daniel Dale points out, is not even close to a correct number.
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Trump went on to pepper Xi with more compliments, calling him a "tough guy" who he respects. And when he was asked why he calls Xi a friend one day and an enemy the next, he quickly said "that's the way I negotiate. It's done very well for me over the years."
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