Donald Trump rages on China and Iraq oil
Donald Trump on Monday lit into Washington for allowing China to access oil in the Middle East while the U.S. gets “nothing” after the war in Iraq.
While discussing on “Fox & Friends” how deadlock in Washington is a “a real mess for the country,” Trump brought up a Sunday New York Times story reporting that China is the biggest beneficiary of the Iraq oil boom and he called it “a scandal that is unbelievable.”
“I’m not knocking China; I’m knocking our leadership. How can they allow this to happen? We spend $1.5 trillion, we lose thousands of lives, we destroy a country … but China is in there taking out all the oil, and we’re getting nothing,” Trump said.
And as China takes advantage, Trump said, the U.S. continues to pay for security for the region.
“I think it’s very nice of us, we have our Fifth Fleet over there making sure the waters are nice and calm,” Trump said. “I’ve said it a thousand times … we shouldn’t have been there, but if we’re there, take the oil. Take the oil. At least pay back, at a minimum, pay back — take the oil. Well guess what? China is taking the oil, but they didn’t have to fight.”
Read more:
Donald Trump rages on China and Iraq oil - Tal Kopan - POLITICO.com