Trump says Americans 'had no clue' China was taking advantage of US and he 'would've done same'

Thomas Peter/Reuters

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

• President Donald Trump continued to defend Chinese President Xi Jinping's economic policies on Twitter.
• Trump suggested Americans, who were taken advantage of by China's economic policies, "had no clue."

President Donald Trump continued to defend Chinese President Xi Jinping's economic policies that supposedly allowed it to "take advantage of the US," while blaming his predecessors, a day after his speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"I don't blame China, I blame the incompetence of past Admins for allowing China to take advantage of the U.S. on trade leading up to a point where the U.S. is losing $100's of billions," Trump said in a tweet Thursday. "How can you blame China for taking advantage of people that had no clue? I would've done same!"

As part of his 13-day tour of Asia, Trump stopped and met with several leaders in their respective countries, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

"My meetings with President Xi Jinping were very productive on both trade and the subject of North Korea," Trump continued. "He is a highly respected and powerful representative of his people. It was great being with him and Madame Peng Liyuan!"

Speaking before Chinese leaders on Wednesday, Trump said that he and Xi had "great chemistry" and said that the two could handle world issues, including North Korea's provocations.

Trump's comments stood in contrast to his previous remarks regarding China. Trump lambasted the country during his presidential campaign for its alleged trade imbalance with the US

"We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said at a campaign rally in 2016.