A leading candidate to run the Democratic National Committee gave President Trump credit for reading “the political tea leaves” by canceling the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but refused to credit him for killing the deal.
Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., told CNN Trump capitalized on a political opportunity by killing TPP, and questioned whether he really believes in helping American workers.
“I give him credit for being a reader of the political tea leaves,” Ellison said.
He added that it was really a victory for the people who spoke against the rule.
“I’m glad that their voices got heard even if it was by someone who cynically manipulated the message for their own political advantage,” Ellison said.
Ellison is one of the leading candidates for the next chair of the DNC and has run on a message similar to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, focusing on rebuilding the American middle class and protecting American jobs from going overseas. He was a critic of TPP while the deal went through Congress.
Ellison said he disagreed with the notion that Trump will end up getting the credit for pulling the U.S. out of the deal.
“In a democracy, the people get the credit and the people drove this policy change to the point that we’re not going to have to deal with the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” he said.
