White House officials stumped when asked to explain Trump’s attempt to ‘order’ companies to stop business with China
August 23, 2019
This Friday, President Trump raised eyebrows with his latest series of tweets regarding China, saying he's 'ordering' America companies to "immediately start looking for an alternative to China, including bringing your companies HOME and making your products in the USA."
Additionally, Trump said he was ordering "all U.S. postal carriers, including FedEx, Amazon, UPS and United States Post Office, “to SEARCH FOR & REFUSE all deliveries of Fentanyl from China (or anywhere else!)." Trump's declaration was in response to China announcing this Friday that it would retaliate against the U.S. with 5% and 10% on $75 billion of U.S. imports.
When asked by reporters if Trump's words constitute an official order or not, White House officials seemingly didn't know how to respond. Speaking on CNBC this morning, Eamon Javers said that White House officials are simply "not offering any explanation" as to what "legal or moral authority" Trump is drawing from to "hereby order" companies and government agencies to boycott China.
Javers added that officials are "not aware or able to provide any context" to Trump's tweet where he said he was going to "respond" to China's tariffs "later this afternoon."
"Officials don't have any information on any kind of planned announcement, or event, or anything here at the White House today," Javers said. "We simply don't know what he means by that, and neither do some of the officials here at the White House."
Featured image via Flickr
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