In a scattered speech on Monday, former President Donald Trump admitted he misunderstood key details about tariffs during trade talks with China — a rare moment of public confusion about a central issue of his presidency.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described past negotiations with China but struggled with facts, timelines, and figures. At one point, he misstated the date of a supposed new tariff agreement, saying, “Both sides now agreed to reduce the tariffs imposed. After April 2nd, to 10% for 90 days as negotiators continue.” He was speaking on May 12 — more than a month after the date he referenced.
Trump claimed China was eager to make a deal because they were struggling. “They were closing up factories. They were having a lot of unrest, and they were very happy to be able to do something with us,” he said.
He then made a confusing statement about a past agreement, possibly referring to his first term: “We made a great deal with China, a great trade deal. But it was a much bigger deal originally, and then they canceled it right in the last day.” He added, “Some of your faces I remember were there when that happened.”
Trump appeared to confuse different trade deals and timeframes. “We had a deal where they opened up their country to trade with the United States, and they took that away at the last moment,” he said. In reality, China has had trade ties with the U.S. for decades, with a key agreement dating back to 1979.
Later in the speech, Trump admitted he had misunderstood how much money was involved in a major tariff deal.
“People thought it was 15 because they were doing 15,” he said. “We made it 50 because I misunderstood the 15. I thought they said — I said, you got to get 50 because when I asked — if you remember the story — when I asked, what are we doing with them? My secretary of agriculture at the time, Sonny Perdue, said, uh, sir, it’s about $15 billion and we’re asking for 15. And I thought he said 50.”
He continued, “They came back with the deal at 15 and I said, no way, I want 50 because you said 50. They said, sir, we didn’t say that. Anyway. Bottom line, I said, go back and ask for 50. And they gave us 50.”
Trump said China followed through with the deal — until President Joe Biden took office. “When Biden got in, they no longer honored the deal. There was nobody to call. I would call on an average of once every two weeks,” Trump claimed.
He described encouraging farmers to expand during that period, saying, “I said to him, buy more land and bigger tractors. If you remember, that’s what happened.”
Toward the end of the speech, Trump again brought up the canceled deal. “They canceled it the last day,” he said. “I got a little bit angry.”
Trump insisted the deal was good for both sides, saying it would have opened China to U.S. products and businesses. “It would have been a great thing, I think, for China… They would be able to buy products that they had never been able to buy.”
Despite the confusion, Trump defended the outcome. But his own words made clear he hadn’t always understood what was on the table.
Watch the video below:
