Trump: the remark & ​​# 39; chosen & # 39; was a sarcasm

Before leaving for the G7 in France, President Donald Trump on Friday spoke of world leaders, North Korea and the economy, saying his recent statement was "chosen" to fight China on the plane. commercial was just sarcasm.

Sending to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump responded with obvious impatience to a question about his unorthodox remark about his role in a growing trade war with China.

History continues below

"Let me tell you, you know exactly what I meant," said Trump. "It was a sarcasm, it was a joke, we were all smiling, and the question like that is just fake news, you're only one." simulator."

Trump called himself "the elected" on Wednesday while he was discussing trade disputes with China while refusing to claim the trade dispute under his sole responsibility.

"Someone said it was Trump's trade war. It's not my trade war, "Trump told reporters on Wednesday. "It's a trade war that should have been unleashed a long time ago by many other presidents."

Trump also sparked a reaction on social media Friday morning after saying on Twitter that US companies had been "ordered" to find alternatives to manufacturing in China. When asked on Friday night what gave him the power to make such a decree, Trump cited the 1977 International Economic Empowerment Act, which gives the president the power to regulate trade in exceptional international crises.

Shortly after his departure en route to France, Trump repeated that he had the power, tweeting: "For all fictitious reporters who have no idea what the law is in relation to to the presidential powers, China, etc., try to look at the emergency economic powers act of 1977. The file is closed! "

During his Friday night evening, Trump also criticized his chairman, Jay Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, as he repeatedly sued for failing to cut interest rates in ways that more radical.

Earlier Friday, Powell had declared that Trump 's business environment for the US economy was an unprecedented "new challenge" for the Federal Reserve.

On Friday morning, Trump fired back on Twitter asking whether Powell or Chinese President Xi Jinping is the "biggest enemy".

When asked on Friday night that he wanted Powell to resign, Trump replied, "Let me put it this way – if he did, I would not stop him." . "

"I'm not happy with Jay Powell," said Trump. "I do not think he is doing a good job, I do not think he is a great chess player, but I have it so much, you know, that 's it. do I have. "

Trump also praised the "world leaders" that he expects to meet at the G7 summit, in southwestern France, as "friends of mine – for the most part", and said that he was hoping for a productive session.

However, he criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his country's recently announced digital services tax, which, according to the US government, would have negative consequences for US companies such as Facebook and Google.

While Trump said that he was "not a big fan" of many tech companies for their actions during the 2016 presidential election, he added that it was not a big fan of many tech companies for their actions during the 2016 presidential election, he added. were still "big American companies" that should be subject mainly to US taxes.

"I do not want France to impose taxes on our companies, which is very unfair," said Trump. "And if they do, we'll tax their wine or do something else."

Trump has been reluctant to discuss the escalating conflict on the Korean Peninsula – growing tensions around South Korea-Japan defense as well as North Korean missile tests. The president spoke of his "very good" friendships with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. He came back several times to his common refrain: "We'll see what happens".

"He likes to test missiles, but we have never limited short-range missiles, we'll see what happens, and a lot of countries are testing these missiles," Trump said.