Trump raises 2020 stakes by elevating North Korea, China on agenda
BY JORDAN FABIAN - 07/01/19 06:00 AM EDT
President Trump used his four-day trip to Asia to jumpstart his sputtering diplomatic efforts with China and North Korea, moves he is touting as significant victories but that also carry big risks heading into the campaign season.
The president returned to Washington on Sunday evening after trumpeting the historic nature of his visit—which included the first foray into North Korea by a sitting U.S. president—as proof that his unorthodox style of foreign policy leadership is working.
But by resuming his efforts to strike trade and nuclear deals with China and North Korea, respectively, Trump is also raising expectations that he can produce results, meaning the fall could be much steeper if talks break down once again during the 2020 campaign season.
“Now, we’re going to see whether it works or doesn't work but this is the way the president does diplomacy,” former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Sunday on ABC News’s “This Week.” “This is Donald Trump...the essence of who he is—is he believes he gets into a room, he can convince anyone of anything. And we’re going to find out if he’s right.”
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/451103-trump-raises-2020-stakes-by-elevating-north-korea-china-on-agenda
