Trump at G-20: Democratic Party ‘Has Become the Socialist Party’

OSAKA, Japan— President Donald Trump commented June 28 on Democratic presidential candidates, calling them socialists during his bilateral meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka.

Before the start of the bilateral meeting, Trump said he had watched portions of Democratic primary debates on TV.

“I wasn’t impressed,” Trump said. “It’s become the socialist party.”

“I heard a rumor that the Democrats are going to change their name from the Democratic Party to the Socialist Party,” he added.

The Democratic Party held a presidential primary debate on June 26 and 27 in Miami, Florida. It was the first of 12 Democratic primary debates scheduled for the 2020 presidential election.

Trump earlier called the debate “boring” via Twitter while he was heading to the G-20 summit in Japan.

Leaders from 19 countries and the European Union have gathered June 28-29 in Osaka for this year’s G-20 summit.

Trump also commented on his planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the margins of the summit on June 29.

“I think it’ll be productive. And who knows… at a minimum, it’ll be productive,” Trump said.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow. It’ll be a very exciting day I’m sure,” he added. “It’s going to come out hopefully well for both countries.”

In response to a question, Trump said he had made no promises to China about new tariffs in the coming months.

The world’s eyes will be on the Trump-Xi bilateral meeting, which will take place at 11:30 a.m. local time on June 29 (10:30 p.m. EDT on June 28).

At the bilateral meeting, Trump and Bolsonaro agreed to deepen the trade and investment relations between Brazil and the United States, according to the White House.

“The leaders recommitted to supporting the Venezuelan people, as Venezuelans reclaim their democracy and their freedom,” the White House statement said, adding that they also talked about the risks associated with China’s growing influence in the western hemisphere.