Ex-Trump advisor Steve Bannon and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, who might seem like ideological opposites, agree on at least one issue: China trade.

Bannon, whom diehard Democrats view as the antichrist, and Friedman, who works at what President Donald Trump calls "the failing New York Times," both feel the president is right to go after Beijing.

While it may seem surprising, the two have agreed on Trump's China policy for some time.

Friedman, while critical of Trump on many issues, wrote about a year ago that the economic fight with China is "worth having," adding the president's "instinct is basically right" to hold the line "before China gets too big." The country is so polarized politically that the mere mention of Bannon and Friedman being on the same page on anything becomes a watershed event.

"I really agree with so much of what Steve said," said Friedman, who was guest-hosting CNBC's "Squawk Box" during the Bannon interview Wednesday morning. "The stakes of this moment, I think, people don't fully appreciate," referring to the economic clash of the world's two biggest superpowers.