Biden criticizes Trump behind the scenes as presidential rivals clash over China tariffs

President Joe Biden has drawn praise on social media for his response to former President Donald Trump, as the two sides clash over a crackdown on Chinese imports to protect U.S. manufacturers.

On Tuesday, the White House announced a series of tariffs on various Chinese products, building on taxes introduced by the Trump administration to make certain imports more expensive for U.S. consumers.

Businesses that import Chinese-made solar panels, batteries, semiconductors, and permanent magnets into the United States must pay a 25% tax when bringing them into the country. Electric cars in China will be subject to a 100% tax.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, ranted about the new policy early in the day ahead of his final court appearance for his hush money trial. Trump insisted he wanted to go further than Biden, saying “China is eating our lunch.”

Asked about his “eat lunch” comment after signing the order imposing new tariffs, Biden said Trump “has been feeding them for a long time.”

It's not clear exactly what Biden was referring to, but Trump has shown some sympathy for the Chinese regime. Last year, President Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping an “excellent person.” He told FOX News: “I searched all over Hollywood to find someone to play the role of President Xi, and I couldn't find anyone. There's no one like him. The looks, the brains, everything.”

Many people on social media seem to appreciate the president's punchy tone. “We need more of this unapologetic President Biden,” one user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote.

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