White House insiders say this is the most dangerous phase of Trump's presidency so far - and they don't know what he'll do next
- White House aides are calling this the most dangerous and uncertain period of President Donald Trump's presidency thus far.
- Staffers are reportedly concerned about a possible trade war with China and uncertain about how Trump will handle a potential meeting with the leader of North Korea.
White House aides are calling this the most dangerous and uncertain period of President Donald Trump's presidency thus far as a trade war brews with China and relations with North Korea reach a possible turning point, Axios' Mike Allen reported on Thursday.
Trump denied that the US is engaged in a trade war with China on Thursday after the Asian nation announced new tariffs on more than 100 US products, including soybeans, automobiles, and chemicals. The move by the Chinese came just a day after the US levied new tariffs on Chinese goods.
And aides are uncertain about how the president will handle a potential meeting with North Korea, which could be a watershed moment in diplomacy.
Sources close to the president are reportedly voicing "an unusual level of concern, even alarm, and admit to being confused about what the president will do next - and why," Allen wrote. He added that the tenor marks a change from a few months ago, when aides were more "bemused and supportive."
Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, a global political risk research and consulting firm, told Allen that concern about Trump's handling of key foreign policy issues is being voiced around the world.
And The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Trump's venting has reached a high point, with his missives coming in "torrents" and "littered with inaccuracies."