Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to assure farmers that he has their back, as some begin to feel the effects of the escalating trade war with China.

"China is targeting our farmers, who they know I love & respect, as a way of getting me to continue allowing them to take advantage of the U.S.," Trump wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning.

"They are being vicious in what will be their failed attempt. We were being nice - until now! China made $517 Billion on us last year," he continued.

China is targeting our farmers, who they know I love & respect, as a way of getting me to continue allowing them to take advantage of the U.S. They are being vicious in what will be their failed attempt. We were being nice - until now! China made $517 Billion on us last year. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2018

It's unclear which figure Trump is referencing in his tweet. China exported $523.7 billion to the US last year, Commerce data show, and the US trade gap with China was $335.7 billion last year -- by far the biggest imbalance with any trading partner but a figure smaller than the one cited by the President.

The tweet follows Trump's message at a VFW event in Missouri on Tuesday, in which the President implored farmers -- many of whom reside in key swing states the helped power him to victory in 2016 -- to weather the pain from the trade fight.

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