Susan Rice, a former Obama national security adviser, was left aghast Sunday after President Trump announced he was interceding in a trade dispute between his own Commerce Department and a Chinese telecommunications firm.
“Even with all the crazy, this move by the President stands out as super-whack,” Rice wrote on Twitter.
Even with all the crazy, this move by the President stands out as super-whack. https://t.co/uVLTXNSKyQ
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) May 13, 2018
Trump tweeted Sunday morning that he was working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to overturn a seven-year ban prohibiting U.S. businesses from selling parts and software to ZTE Corporation.
“Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!” Trump wrote.
President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018
The Commerce Department barred supply sales of U.S. products to ZTE in April after the company pleaded guilty in 2017 to violating sanctions on Iran.
Rice, who was also a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations for the Obama administration, retweeted a quote from another Obama official who oversaw the U.S. case against ZTE.
“I am speechless. I’m highly confident that a [U.S.] president has never intervened in a law-enforcement matter like this before,” former assistant secretary of commerce Kevin Wolf said, according to the Financial Times.
“I am speechless,” said Kevin Wolf, who oversaw the launch of the ZTE case as assistant secretary of commerce in the Obama administration. “I’m highly confident that a [US] president has never intervened in a law-enforcement matter like this before.” https://t.co/Kkbnaom2m0
— Shawn Donnan (@sdonnan) May 13, 2018
Trump’s announcement comes as the U.S. seeks Chinese cooperation in its efforts to put pressure on North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in preparation for a historic summit aiming to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.
