Schumer: Trump's handling of North Korea 'all wrong'

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerKavanaugh thoroughly understands the role of impartiality in America's judicial system Left fed up with Schumer’s Supreme Court playbook Election Countdown: Fallout from Massachusetts stunner | In Delaware, Carper looks to avoid next progressive upset | Dem 2020 primary already in full swing | How a Dem ex-governor hopes to take red-state Tennessee | GOP challengers hit Dems over tax votes MORE (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized on Friday President Trump's handling of North Korea, arguing that he's relying too much on China to solve the problem.

 

A day earlier, in an interview with Reuters, Trump said there is potential for "a major, major conflict" if North Korea refuses to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

 

"I don't think those were the right words, but even more so I think he's handling it all wrong," Schumer told CNN. "The only way to really stop North Korea from doing what it's doing, short of war, is to get China to fully cooperate."

 

He added that if he wants China to help pressure North Korea to back away from its nuclear program, he could use trade as leverage. 

 

"Trade is their mother's milk," Schumer said. "So when the president is sort of nice to them and says he's backing off without doing anything, they're not going to help him on North Korea. They're not going to help us on trade."

 

Trump said during the campaign that he would label China as a currency manipulator but backed away from that pledge, a move that earned him the ire of Democrats, including Schumer. 

 

Pressed on why China would help with North Korea if Trump slapped with them the label, he argued China would know "they couldn't push America around anymore."  

 

"The great negotiator, I think, is not negotiating very well on this," he said. 

 

Senators got a closed-door briefing on North Korea this week with top administration officials, including a brief appearance by Trump. Some senators said after the briefing that they expected China would be more cooperative on North Korea.

 

Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzWhy Priests for Life support Judge Kavanaugh's nomination Ex-Cruz strategist: Beto O'Rourke forcing GOP to divert resources to Texas from other states The Hill's 12:30 Report — Bolton launches attack on International Criminal Court | DeSantis resigns House seat | Senate GOP rallies to help Cruz MORE (R-Texas) said he was “cautiously optimistic that we are seeing early signs that China is helping and cooperating and reining in North Korea. ... Time will tell.”