10/4/2019

CHINA/JOE BIDEN/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump denied he would seek to tie a potential investigation into the Biden family to any trade deal with China, however he again pressed Beijing to investigate unfounded claims against his political rival. Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House Friday [10-4-19], Trump reiterated that he believes he has the authority as president to ask a foreign government to open investigations into anyone he suspects of being corrupt…His comments come a day after he openly called for President Xi jinping to look into possible corruption by the Bidens, continuing to spread claims that no evidence has supported. Trump first appeared to link the two prospects speaking to reporters Thursday [10-3-19]. The president asserted then that he and the U.S. would have the upper hand on China when high-stakes trade talks resume in Washington next week, saying he has ‘a lot of options on China’ and ‘if they don’t do what we want, we have tremendous power.’”

Caitlin Oprysko, “Trump denies he will tie China trade deal to investigating Biden,” Politico, October 4, 2019 1:55 pm