Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE on Sunday slammed President Trump's tariffs on China, which he said were unsuccessful and have hurt Americans.

"I'm afraid this president is driving the global economy and our economy into a recession," the former Texas congressman said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

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He added, "This current trade war with China the president has entered our country into is not working, it's hammering the hell out of farmers across the country who do not want bail outs or payouts, [they] just want profits off what they're growing."

"American consumers understand these tariffs are a tax on them."

Trump administration officials say the trade war is only hurting China, despite widespread warnings from economists that it is harming the U.S. and that the nation could be heading into a recession.

"We need to hold China accountable," O'Rourke said, with the aid of allies to form a "united front against China."