This column provides a daily update on key presidential actions as well as comments, whether spoken aloud or on Twitter, by President Trump. Like the stock market, the deadline for Trump Today action is 4 p.m. Eastern Time, even as we acknowledge that substantive news can and does occur after hours.
President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday the U.S. will probably need a “different structure” for a deal with China on trade, as he repeated his claims about a spy inside his campaign and was preparing to speak about immigration in New York.
NEW TWIST FOR CHINA TALKS
A day after saying he was displeased with the progress of U.S.-China trade talks, Trump said on Twitter that a deal was “moving along nicely,” but signaled he will attach new conditions. “In the end we will probably have to use a different structure in that this will be too hard to get done and to verify results after completion.” Trump’s comments from Tuesday continued to weigh on markets Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average , S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index all trading lower.
The administration has suspended its threat to impose tariffs on Chinese goods as talks continue, but Trump has said the U.S. wants to “go quickly” on a deal. Trump reportedly wants a $200 billion cut in the bilateral trade deficit but China has refused specific dollar amounts. Last year, the U.S. ran a $375 billion deficit in goods with China, but enjoyed a services surplus of $38.5 billion.
Our Trade Deal with China is moving along nicely, but in the end we will probably have to use a different structure in that this will be too hard to get done and to verify results after completion.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
Market Snapshot: Stock market falls after Trump raises trade doubts.
TRUMP DECRIES ‘SPYGATE’
In a fresh series of tweets, Trump repeated his criticism of federal investigators using a spy inside his campaign. He said what he dubbed “SPYGATE” “could be one of the biggest political scandals in history!” The tweetstorm marked Trump’s latest comments related to reports the FBI used a confidential source in its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The New York Times reported last week that FBI agents sent an informant to talk with two campaign advisers after they got evidence the pair had suspicious contacts linked to Russia during the campaign.
Trump also ripped James Clapper, director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama, who said Tuesday on ABC’s “The View” that the FBI wasn’t spying but trying to determine if Russians were “trying to gain access.” Trump said, “No, James Clapper, I am not happy. Spying on a campaign would be illegal, and a scandal to boot!”
Look how things have turned around on the Criminal Deep State. They go after Phony Collusion with Russia, a made up Scam, and end up getting caught in a major SPY scandal the likes of which this country may never have seen before! What goes around, comes around!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
“It’s clear that they had eyes and ears all over the Trump Campaign” Judge Andrew Napolitano
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
SPYGATE could be one of the biggest political scandals in history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
“Trump should be happy that the FBI was SPYING on his campaign” No, James Clapper, I am not happy. Spying on a campaign would be illegal, and a scandal to boot!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
WITCH HUNT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
TRUMP SAYS HE’LL SIGN BANK BILL SOON
Trump said he’ll soon sign the bank deregulation bill passed by Congress, as well as legislation giving patients with life-threatening conditions the right to try unproven drugs. Trump also promised “big news” regarding American autoworkers, but didn’t elaborate.
Trump will travel to Long Island, N.Y., to highlight a spate of MS-13 gang-related deaths as part of his push for stricter immigration enforcement.
Big legislation will be signed by me shortly. After many years, RIGHT TO TRY and big changes to DODD FRANK.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018
There will be big news coming soon for our great American Autoworkers. After many decades of losing your jobs to other countries, you have waited long enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2018