Former President Donald Trump fired back at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday, sharply rejecting the Democrat’s criticism of his recent Asia trip. Trump described Schumer’s comments as “almost treasonous” in a fiery post on his Truth Social account while returning to the U.S. from South Korea.
“Worked really hard, 24/7, took in Trillions of Dollars and Chuck Schumer said the trip was a ‘total dud,’ even though he knows it was a spectacular success. Words like that are almost treasonous!!” Trump wrote.
Schumer Blasts Trump Over Asia Trip
During a Senate floor speech on Wednesday, Schumer accused Trump of neglecting domestic issues amid the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown has entered its 29th day as Democrats continue to reject a GOP spending proposal to reopen the government.
“He’s gallivanting in Asia, dancing in Malaysia, while the government remains closed,” Schumer said. He further claimed that Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping would “sell out the American people” and amount to “a photo op.”
“President Trump is about to congratulate himself, patting himself hard on the back for cleaning up a mess he created,” Schumer added, calling the trip “a total dud.”
Key Outcomes From Trump’s Asia Tour
Despite the criticism, Trump touted several major agreements reached during his visit to Asia:
- South Korea: Trump finalized a deal reducing tariffs in exchange for $350 billion in new investments in the United States.
- Japan: He held his first meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, to discuss trade and security cooperation.
- China: Trump met with President Xi Jinping in South Korea for a closed-door meeting focused on trade and fentanyl enforcement.
According to CNN and other outlets, public opinion has placed most of the blame for the government shutdown on Democrats, bolstering Trump’s confidence during his return from Asia.
Trump Announces New Trade Understanding With China
Following his meeting with Xi, Trump announced that the two sides reached a trade framework addressing several key issues. Xi described the discussion as “warm” and emphasized the need for stable relations despite ongoing tensions.
“We have a deal,” Trump told reporters. “Every year we’ll renegotiate, but I think it’ll go on for a long time.”
Trump also confirmed plans to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports by 10 percentage points, citing Xi’s commitment to crack down on fentanyl trafficking as a major breakthrough.
However, a senior administration official later clarified that effective tariff rates would remain between 45% and 47%, tempering expectations of an immediate rollback.
Agreements on Fentanyl, Rare Earths, and Semiconductor Talks
Among the most notable outcomes of the Busan summit:
- Fentanyl Enforcement: Xi pledged stronger action to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., a move Trump praised as potentially life-saving.
- Rare Earth Minerals: China agreed to suspend planned export controls for one year, with both sides set to revisit the deal next year.
- Semiconductors: Trump said Xi expressed interest in discussions with Nvidia to purchase additional computer chips, though not the company’s newest advanced processors.
The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour and forty minutes, concluded with a brief photo opportunity before the leaders departed separately.
Bottom Lineg
Trump’s Asia trip produced a series of trade and enforcement agreements that he has hailed as “historic successes.” Schumer and fellow Democrats, however, remain skeptical, framing the trip as a distraction from the prolonged government shutdown.
As both sides continue to trade barbs, the political fallout from Trump’s overseas diplomacy—and its impact on U.S.-China relations—remains to be seen.
Leave a Reply