President Donald Trump recapped his trip to Asia in a statement at the White House, promoting the success of his America First agenda overseas.
“Everywhere we went, our foreign hosts greeted the American delegation and myself included with incredible warmth and hospitality and most importantly respect,” Trump said.
The president made his remarks at the White House after returning to Washington D.C. on Wednesday. His statement lasted 23 minutes.
“My fellow citizens, America is back and the future has never looked brighter,” he said, hailing positive economic news in the United States and referring to his diplomatic meetings with foreign leaders.
Trump did not announce any major diplomatic accomplishments but claimed that he had reset America’s reputation on the world stage.
“In Asia, our message was clear and well received; America is here to compete and do business and defend our values and our security,” he said.
Trump spoke about the importance of respecting each country’s sovereignty while supporting a “free and open Indo-Pacific in which nations enjoy the independence and respect they deserve.”
On trade, the president did not share any concrete bilateral deals but reminded Americans that world leaders heard his call for trade reciprocity. He said that the current $800 billion trade deficit with other countries was “unacceptable.”
“We are going to start whittling it down and as fast as possible,” Trump said.
Without naming China specifically, Trump vowed to combat trade abuses, including cheating and economic aggression. He promised to support freedom of navigation.
He also referred to past administrations and their failure to protect American workers from unfair trade deals.
“Trade abuses harm the United States and its workers but no more. No more,” he said. “We will take every trade action necessary to achieve the fair and reciprocal treatment that the United States has offered to the rest of the world for decades.”
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