What Campaign Promises? Trump Backpedals on Yet More Major Pledges
President reversed or pivoted position on several big issues, including labeling China a currency manipulator
President Donald Trump reversed his position on four major campaign pledges and other public remarks within the space of a few hours on Wednesday.
Between an interview and a press conference, Trump flipped or pivoted on several economic and national security policies, including some of his trademark promises, such as his approach to China.
The president told the Wall Street Journal that China was not artificially deflating the value of the American dollar--a big shift after pledging during his campaign to label the country a currency manipulator on day one of his administration. He previously criticized former President Barack Obama for not doing so himself.
"They're not currency manipulators," Trump said of China on Wednesday.
Despite the shift, he tweeted later that day that "One by one we are keeping our promises--on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening!"
He also told the WSJ that he'd consider renominating Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve, despite criticizing her during his campaign and accusing her of being "obviously political."
"I like her. I respect her," Trump said Wednesday. "It's very early."
He also similarly expressed support for the Export-Import Bank, which provides loans and insurance to facilitate the exporting of American goods, an agency which Trump also opposed during the election.
"It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies," Trump told the WSJ. "Instinctively, you would say, 'Isn't that a ridiculous thing,' but actually, it's a very good thing. And it actually makes money, it could make a lot of money."
Lastly, Trump said during a press conference Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was "no longer obsolete," despite describing it as such during his campaign for what he saw as its failure to address terrorism.
"I said it was obsolete. It is no longer obsolete," the president said at the press conference, which was held with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump then referred to the alliance as a "bulwark of international peace and security."
At the press conference, Trump also said that he "didn't know" Russian President Vladimir Putin, contradicting statements he made during his campaign, when he said at a November 2015 debate that he had gotten to know Putin "very well."
On Wednesday, the president said, "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
President Donald Trump reversed his position on four major campaign pledges and other public remarks within the space of a few hours on Wednesday.
Between an interview and a press conference, Trump flipped or pivoted on several economic and national security policies, including some of his trademark promises, such as his approach to China.
The president told the Wall Street Journal that China was not artificially deflating the value of the American dollar--a big shift after pledging during his campaign to label the country a currency manipulator on day one of his administration. He previously criticized former President Barack Obama for not doing so himself.
"They're not currency manipulators," Trump said of China on Wednesday.
Despite the shift, he tweeted later that day that "One by one we are keeping our promises--on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening!"
He also told the WSJ that he'd consider renominating Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve, despite criticizing her during his campaign and accusing her of being "obviously political."
"I like her. I respect her," Trump said Wednesday. "It's very early."
He also similarly expressed support for the Export-Import Bank, which provides loans and insurance to facilitate the exporting of American goods, an agency which Trump also opposed during the election.
"It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies," Trump told the WSJ. "Instinctively, you would say, 'Isn't that a ridiculous thing,' but actually, it's a very good thing. And it actually makes money, it could make a lot of money."
Lastly, Trump said during a press conference Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was "no longer obsolete," despite describing it as such during his campaign for what he saw as its failure to address terrorism.
"I said it was obsolete. It is no longer obsolete," the president said at the press conference, which was held with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump then referred to the alliance as a "bulwark of international peace and security."
At the press conference, Trump also said that he "didn't know" Russian President Vladimir Putin, contradicting statements he made during his campaign, when he said at a November 2015 debate that he had gotten to know Putin "very well."
On Wednesday, the president said, "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."
President Donald Trump reversed his position on four major campaign pledges and other public remarks within the space of a few hours on Wednesday.
Between an interview and a press conference, Trump flipped or pivoted on several economic and national security policies, including some of his trademark promises, such as his approach to China.
The president told the Wall Street Journal that China was not artificially deflating the value of the American dollar--a big shift after pledging during his campaign to label the country a currency manipulator on day one of his administration. He previously criticized former President Barack Obama for not doing so himself.
"They're not currency manipulators," Trump said of China on Wednesday.
Despite the shift, he tweeted later that day that "One by one we are keeping our promises--on the border, on energy, on jobs, on regulations. Big changes are happening!"
He also told the WSJ that he'd consider renominating Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve, despite criticizing her during his campaign and accusing her of being "obviously political."
"I like her. I respect her," Trump said Wednesday. "It's very early."
He also similarly expressed support for the Export-Import Bank, which provides loans and insurance to facilitate the exporting of American goods, an agency which Trump also opposed during the election.
"It turns out that, first of all, lots of small companies are really helped, the vendor companies," Trump told the WSJ. "Instinctively, you would say, 'Isn't that a ridiculous thing,' but actually, it's a very good thing. And it actually makes money, it could make a lot of money."
Lastly, Trump said during a press conference Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was "no longer obsolete," despite describing it as such during his campaign for what he saw as its failure to address terrorism.
"I said it was obsolete. It is no longer obsolete," the president said at the press conference, which was held with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump then referred to the alliance as a "bulwark of international peace and security."
At the press conference, Trump also said that he "didn't know" Russian President Vladimir Putin, contradicting statements he made during his campaign, when he said at a November 2015 debate that he had gotten to know Putin "very well."
On Wednesday, the president said, "I never met Putin, I don't know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius."