Over the weekend, the United States and China took a step back from their economic brinkmanship and reached a 90-day trade deal that rolled back much of the tariffs both sides were planning to levy on each other. But instead of portraying it as a victory for America as the Trump administration negotiated better trade deals, ABC’s Good Morning America treated it as though the pain of tariffs was the point, suggested Trump was just routed by China in a “dramatic retreat.”
“And this is a breakthrough in talks between the world’s two largest economies, but it’s also a dramatic retreat from President Trump’s 145 percent tariffs that he imposed on Chinese imports,” proclaimed ABC senior political correspondent Rachel Scott. “After all of the tough talk and hard lines, both sides agreeing to dramatically roll back their tariffs, at least for now.”
After noting it was “a marathon weekend of negotiations,” Scott continued to portray it as Trump backing down from something he was willing to harm Americans with:
The U.S. agreed to roll back its steep 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports to 30 percent. And China agreeing to lower its tax on American goods from 125 percent to 10 percent. For weeks, the President has been defiant about keeping his tariffs in place, even as markets tumbled and retailers warned their shelves could go empty.
“China took a hardline too; insisted no matter how long the trade war lasts, ‘we’ll never yield,’” was all Scott had to share about China’s position.
She even seemed to mock the deal being lower than Trump’s hinted suggestion of a lower rate, suggesting Trump gave up too much of his position:
But just as both sides touched down in Geneva, Switzerland for those high-stakes talks, the President with a change in tone, suggesting he would be willing to drop his tariffs even lower to 80 percent. The deal the U.S. reached much lower than that.
The segment ended with Scott scoffing at also Trump announcing an executive order to lower prescription drug costs:
The president says he will be signing that executive order in just a few hours before he heads off on this foreign trip. It is aimed at lowering the price of prescription drugs. The goal here to force pharmaceutical companies to charge the U.S. the lowest price that they charge other companies. If implemented, this would likely have the largest impact on drugs covered by Medicare and that are administered in a doctor’s office. But the White House not releasing any other details this morning and implementing this could be very complicated.
ABC’s anti-American spin on the trade deal stood in stark contrast to the reporting of CBS Mornings and NBC’s Today.
CBS co-host Gayle King called it “a major step forward in ending” the trade war, and correspondent Kelly O’Grady was happy the deal was “a vastly better outcome than, I think, anyone was expecting.” Over on NBC, correspondent Gabe Gutierrez commended the deal as “a major thaw in trade relations that resets the relationship between the world’s two biggest economies…”
The transcript is below. Click “expand” to read:
ABC’s Good Morning AmericaMay 12, 20257:04:09 a.m. Eastern
MICHAEL STRAHAN: We’re going to turn to the latest on the president’s trade war and news breaking overnight that China and the U.S. have reached a short term agreement. Our senior political correspondent Rachel Scott is tracking the latest on this trade deal. Good morning, Rachel.
RACHEL SCOTT: Michael, good morning to you. And this is a breakthrough in talks between the world’s two largest economies, but it’s also a dramatic retreat from President Trump’s 145 percent tariffs that he imposed on Chinese imports. After all of the tough talk and hard lines, both sides agreeing to dramatically roll back their tariffs, at least for now.
[Cuts to video]
This morning the Trump administration emerging from a marathon weekend of negotiations, announcing the U.S. has reached a trade deal with China to significantly lower most tariffs for 90 days.
TREASURY SEC. SCOTT BESSENT: We have reached an agreement on a 90-day pause and substantially moved down the tariff levels.
SCOTT: The U.S. agreed to roll back its steep 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports to 30 percent. And China agreeing to lower its tax on American goods from 125 percent to 10 percent. For weeks, the President has been defiant about keeping his tariffs in place, even as markets tumbled and retailers warned their shelves could go empty.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I know what the hell I’m doing. I know what I’m doing. And you know what I’m doing, too.
SCOTT: China took a hardline too; insisted no matter how long the trade war lasts, “we’ll never yield.” But just as both sides touched down in Geneva, Switzerland for those high-stakes talks, the President with a change in tone, suggesting he would be willing to drop his tariffs even lower to 80 percent. The deal the U.S. reached much lower than that.
BESSENT: We concluded that we have shared interests. [Transition] The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling.
SCOTT: On Wall Street, stock futures surging as the U.S. and China returned back to the negotiating table in hopes of reaching a long term deal.
[Cuts back to live]
So, investors are rejoicing this morning, but the full economic impact of this on-and-off-again trade war still remains very unclear at this point. That question will be answered likely in 90 days, as two sides continue their negotiations. Michael.
STRAHAN: Yeah, still a lot of that is still unclear, Rachel. But Rachel, the President posting on social media that he will sign an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs?
SCOTT: Yes, Michael. The president says he will be signing that executive order in just a few hours before he heads off on this foreign trip. It is aimed at lowering the price of prescription drugs. The goal here to force pharmaceutical companies to charge the U.S. the lowest price that they charge other companies. If implemented, this would likely have the largest impact on drugs covered by Medicare and that are administered in a doctor’s office. But the White House not releasing any other details this morning and implementing this could be very complicated. Michael.
STRAHAN: All right, Rachel Scott. Thank you so much.
