In an exclusive interview that has sparked widespread debate and speculation, former President Donald Trump made a stunning admission during a sit-down with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo. The conversation, which aired on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” on January 28, took a dramatic turn when Trump implied that the United States engages in controversial tactics against China—a statement that left the veteran journalist momentarily speechless.
While the public expected the conversation to revolve around trade deals and foreign policy rhetoric, few anticipated the level of bluntness Trump would bring to the table. At a time when tensions between the U.S. and China are once again escalating, Trump’s comments offered a rare, if controversial, window into what he claims are the realities of global power dynamics.
A Heated Exchange: Trusting China in a Global Economy
During the interview, Bartiromo questioned Trump about whether the United States could genuinely trust Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Communist-led government. She cited repeated concerns voiced by intelligence agencies and economic watchdogs: accusations of hacking into U.S. telecom systems, alleged intellectual property theft, and the continued export of fentanyl into the U.S.
“How do you negotiate with obviously a bad actor and trust them on economics?” she asked.
Trump’s response was short, sharp, and unexpected: “You don’t think we do that to them? We do. We do a lot of things.”
The remark clearly took Bartiromo aback, prompting a pause before she asked, “Is that really how business is conducted on a global level?”
Trump replied with a dose of realpolitik: “That’s the way the world works. It’s a nasty world.”
His candid comments instantly sparked conversations across social media and among political analysts, who debated whether the former president had made a casual but revealing admission of the U.S.’s own covert operations.
Context: A Trade War Truce
This high-stakes interview came on the heels of a new trade agreement between the U.S. and China, which had just been finalized a day before. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had, according to the administration, sealed the deal with the goal of stabilizing a volatile trade relationship.
The origins of the trade war trace back years, with the U.S. initially imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese imports in retaliation for China’s 125% levy on American goods. After months of economic tension, the two superpowers agreed to lower the tariffs to more manageable levels—10% on American goods entering China and 30% on Chinese goods entering the U.S., for a temporary 90-day period.
Now, with a new agreement reportedly finalized and confirmed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as “signed and sealed,” the deal seeks to address both countries’ urgent economic and strategic needs.
Rare Earth Diplomacy
A key focus of the agreement is the trade of rare earth minerals, particularly samarium, which is critical for military applications including missiles and fighter jets. China holds a near-monopoly on the global supply of this element, and had previously halted exports in April, citing new licensing requirements by the Ministry of Commerce.
This blockade raised alarms in Washington, where policymakers viewed the move as an aggressive maneuver in the broader geopolitical chess match between the two nations. The deal now reportedly allows the U.S. renewed access to these vital materials, a significant gain for national defense and industrial manufacturing.
In exchange, China is expected to see an easing of restrictions placed on American chipmakers who sell technology to Chinese companies. These restrictions, originally implemented during President Biden’s administration and further reinforced by the incoming Trump team, were intended to slow China’s rapid development of AI technologies, particularly for military use.
What Operation Midnight Hammer Reveals
One of the more cryptic moments in the interview came when Trump referenced “Operation Midnight Hammer” without offering much elaboration. Although not confirmed through official channels, the mention has fueled speculation about covert strategies and intelligence activities involving China.
Trump’s critics accuse him of being reckless in revealing too much, while his supporters claim he is simply telling the uncomfortable truth about how international relations really function.
Political analyst Darren Hartwell weighed in: “This isn’t the first time Trump has broken with diplomatic protocol to deliver a bombshell. What makes this moment different is the gravity of what he’s implying—that the U.S. plays just as dirty as its adversaries.”
A Reversal of Rhetoric
For months leading up to the interview, the Trump administration had framed its China policy as corrective and principled—a hardline response to years of economic exploitation and strategic deception. But Trump’s own words suggested a more morally ambiguous landscape.
His response seemed to acknowledge what many foreign policy experts already suspected: that the world’s superpowers often engage in similar tactics, despite presenting themselves as ideological opposites.
“It’s not about morals. It’s about leverage,” one senior trade official anonymously stated. “What Trump said out loud is something people in this space have long accepted behind closed doors.”
International Reactions and Fallout
China’s foreign ministry has yet to respond officially to Trump’s remarks, but insiders suggest that any admission of covert U.S. operations will be scrutinized by Beijing. It could also complicate the fragile diplomatic framework newly rebuilt by the trade deal.
Domestically, reactions are divided. Supporters argue that Trump’s honesty is refreshing and reflective of his outsider brand of politics. Detractors warn that such statements undermine international trust and potentially compromise intelligence operations.
Some lawmakers are even calling for closed-door briefings on what Trump may have been referring to. Rep. Elisa Grant (D-CA) called the comments “reckless,” saying, “We need clarity. Either the former president is bluffing, or he’s admitting to something that could have serious international consequences.”
The Bigger Picture
Trump’s comments may have been unscripted, but they open a larger conversation about transparency, statecraft, and the ethics of global competition. In an era defined by espionage, economic rivalry, and emerging technology, the line between right and wrong often blurs.
With elections looming and international relations increasingly complex, Trump’s remarks could serve as a preview of the foreign policy approach he would bring in a second term. Whether seen as a bold truth-teller or a destabilizing force, one thing is certain: Trump remains a political figure capable of turning an interview into a national flashpoint.
As the world continues to navigate an era of strategic rivalry and shifting alliances, such candid insights into behind-the-scenes power plays are rare. But they may become increasingly common as global politics grows more confrontational and less predictable.
