Senator Josh Hawley took aim at both the Biden administration and the liberal media during a no-holds-barred appearance Thursday on Fox News, where he defended President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policy and exposed what he called the “complete failure” of the Democrats to confront China.
Speaking with host Laura Ingraham on The Ingraham Angle, Hawley pointed to China’s recent cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure and blasted President Biden for allowing foreign adversaries to take advantage of America’s vulnerabilities. He made it clear that the difference between Trump and Biden couldn’t be more stark.
“The liberals are going crazy, and they’re going nuts because they know he’s right,” Hawley said, referring to Trump’s decision to jack up tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%. “They don’t have any answer for it. They know this is what needs to happen.”
He slammed the Biden White House for turning a blind eye to years of economic manipulation, cyber intrusion, and intellectual property theft by the Chinese Communist Party. Instead of confronting China, Hawley said, Biden’s team allowed Beijing to walk all over American interests.
“It’s outrageous,” he said. “It’s also something we’ve known for a long time. The truth is, the Biden administration knew very well that China was behind these cyberattacks.”
One of those attacks, known as the Salt Typhoon campaign, reportedly allowed Chinese operatives to access U.S. communication infrastructure and digital networks. According to Hawley, the Biden administration’s inaction was both dangerous and embarrassing.
“They’re still there, by the way, Laura,” he added. “What did the Biden administration do about it? Nothing.”
In contrast, Hawley praised Trump as the only leader with the courage to confront the Chinese threat head-on.
“Donald Trump is getting serious. He’s actually protecting this country, protecting our jobs, bringing back industry. That’s what we need him to do,” Hawley declared.
Earlier this week, Trump announced a massive 125% tariff on Chinese imports while issuing a 90-day pause on tariffs for over 75 countries that chose not to retaliate against the U.S. The move came just days after what Trump dubbed “Liberation Day,” when he invoked emergency trade authority to slap tariffs on nearly 60 countries accused of unfair trade practices.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the announcement “one of the most extraordinary moments” of Trump’s presidency, adding that Trump was “reasserting American dominance in global trade.”
China fired back quickly, announcing a retaliatory 34% tariff on all U.S. imports. But Trump shrugged it off, taking to Truth Social to say China had “played it wrong” and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to putting America first.
Hawley didn’t miss the opportunity to contrast Trump’s strength with the Biden administration’s apathy. “For years, China has been eating our lunch, stealing our jobs, taking our industries, taking our technology, cheating on trade,” he said. “Joe Biden didn’t do a thing. He couldn’t be woken up to do anything about it.”
He also warned that China’s aggression was not limited to economic matters, pointing out their cyber warfare tactics as a direct threat to national security.
“The Salt Typhoon attack is not some minor intrusion,” Hawley said. “It’s China getting into our digital infrastructure, into our communications grid. And what has this administration done? Absolutely nothing.”
Hawley concluded by emphasizing that Trump’s leadership is exactly what the country needs to restore American industry and security.
“Liberals are melting down because for the first time in a long time, someone is actually standing up to China—and that someone is Donald Trump,” he said. “He’s not just talking tough. He’s acting tough. And the American people are behind him.”
With global tensions rising and economic power plays escalating, Trump’s unapologetic approach to defending American workers and industry is once again drawing a sharp contrast between America First and America Last.