Politics

Trump Accuses China Of Trying To Interfere In 2018 Elections

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump accused China of attempting to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections because of his trade policy.

“Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election,” Trump said before the UN Security Council Wednesday. “They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade.”

This is not the first time Trump has accused China of attempting to meddle in the election.

“China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me,” he tweeted last week. “What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!”

Trump recently leveled tariffs on China for failure to comply with U.S. demands of greater access for American companies and reducing intellectual property theft. The tariffs will target $200 billion of Chinese goods at 10 percent until the end of the year, after which they will rise to 25 percent.

“If China takes retaliatory action against our farmers or other industries, we will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion of additional imports,” Trump declared when he imposed them.