Over the last 3+ years, there have been two inconsistent threads to Trump’s thinking about China. They are:
- The real problem with China is the trade deficit. If you can make a deal for managed trade that reduces the deficit, Wall Street will cheer, and you can have a victory lap in front of the electorate. The ultimate objective is re-election; the deal will help with that. Bigger, structural issues can wait until the second term.
- China is an existential military and economic threat, to be fought with every tool consistent with “America First.” The virus is a form of biological warfare launched deliberately by the evil Communists against unsuspecting Americans. This is a brutal, deadly war that cannot be put off. It is a clash of civilizations that we absolutely must win.
These threads are mutually exclusive. Fear of China is clearly one of the cornerstones of the campaign. Which option will he ultimately choose?
To date, both! Consistency is the hobgoblin of minds much smaller than his. He can bash China mercilessly (kung flu! kung flu!) AND boast about the trade deals he made with their wise and powerful leaders which, in reality, only mitigated a part of the damage he did himself with his stupid tariffs. Take that, Biden!
It will be Biden’s task to make the obvious point that this makes no sense whatsoever, and that Trump has done nothing except alienate the allies we need for this battle, such as it is.