Why Did Trump Start a Trade War with China? Revised Populism of Political Newcomers and US Foreign Policy toward China*

In 2018, Donald Trump initiated a trade war with China, which was influenced by his populist approach and status as a political newcomer. This paper analyzes how Trump, a populist political newcomer, communicated with the public to gain support and persuade or pressure established establishment politics to overcome domestic constraints and achieve a foreign policy shift toward China. Trump bypassed conventional media, leveraging public dissatisfaction and communicating directly through social media. His rhetoric painted China as a threat to American jobs and economic stability, reviving nationalism such as “America First” and shifting public opinion toward a hardline stance. Trump justified aggressive policies against China, emphasizing economic security as national security. Despite domestic opposition, Trump used executive orders to bypass legislative hurdles and implemented significant policy shifts, setting a precedent for future administrations and illustrating how populist leaders can justify radical foreign policy changes by leveraging domestic dissatisfaction and nationalism.