Trump Says He Hopes Hong Kong “Works Out In a Very Humane Way”

President Donald Trump said, Wednesday, August 21, that he hopes for a “humane” resolution of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Asked about whether he viewed Hong Kong as leverage in trade deal negotiations with China, he said: “I don’t view it as leverage, no. I hope Hong Kong works out in a very humane way. I don’t view it as leverage or non leverage. I hope it works out in a humane way. And I think that President Xi has the ability to make sure that happens.”
Trump, who has been seeking a major deal to correct trade imbalances with China, has faced criticism from Congress and elsewhere for not taking a stronger public line on Hong Kong, and for his characterization of the protests earlier this month as “riots,” that were a matter for China to deal with. (Reuters)