Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) on Sunday criticized President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE for directing the Commerce Department to assist a Chinese telecommunications company.

“How about helping some American companies first?” Schumer tweeted in response to Trump’s earlier tweet on the matter.

Trump earlier in the day said he’s working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to help find Chinese company ZTE “a way to get back into business, fast.”

“Too many jobs in China lost,” Trump tweeted.

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018

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The Commerce Department last month banned American companies from selling components to ZTE because the Chinese firm violated U.S. sanctions by selling equipment to Iran.

Trump’s willingness to aid ZTE comes after the two nations have spent parts of recent months trading tariff threats.

The president has attacked China for its trade practices since he hit the campaign trail in 2015. In recent months, his administration has announced $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports to the U.S., and has threatened to impose another $100 billion.

China has promised to fight back with its own tariffs on U.S. goods, prompting international fears of a trade war.

Schumer has in the past credited Trump for his approach to China on trade issues. Last month, he told a New York radio host that Trump is “on the right path” in his policies on trade and intellectual property.