President Donald Trump said reaching a trade deal with China would be "very hard" if the Chinese government responded to the protests in Hong Kong with violence, saying "if it's another Tiananmen Square, I think it's a very hard thing to do" during an impromptu press conference Sunday on the tarmac at Morristown Airport in New Jersey.



"I think it'd be very hard to deal if they do violence [the Chinese government against protesters in Hong Kong]. I mean if it's another Tiananmen Square, I think it's a very hard thing to do," he said on the runway tarmac before boarding Air Force One. "I really do believe that if this weren't part of the deal [not responding to protesters with violence], possibly something would have happened already a long time ago."





Hundreds of thousands have taken part in protests against an extradition bill with China since the end of March and despite the bill being suspended indefinitely, protesters continue to fill the streets, while the Chinese military has been increasing its presence near the city.



"I'm the president, but that's a little bit beyond me because I think there'd be, you know, I think there would be tremendous political sentiment not to do something," the president said.