China, in his words · 2024 campaign · № 99
Says in debate that China is going to own the United States
“But he's got the largest deficit in the history of our country and he's got the worst situation with China. China is going to own us if you keep allowing them to do what they're doing to us as a country. They are killing us as a country, Joe, and you can't let that happen.”
- Said
- , CNN presidential debate with Joe Biden, Atlanta, Georgia
- Subject
- trade deficit
- Threat
- Economic threat
- Topic
- Trade & tariffs
- Era
- 2024 campaign
What the record showed
Moments earlier he said "we have the largest deficit with China." Census Bureau data show the U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $279.6 billion in 2023, the smallest since 2010 and below the $418.2 billion peak of 2018. It was $297.0 billion in 2024 and $202.7 billion in 2025. In September 2026 he hosted Xi Jinping for a state visit, and the two governments extended their trade truce into January 2027.