Trump says he would intercede with Huawei's Meng Wanzhou case if it's good for trade, security, according to report

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December 12, 2018 2:36 AM

President Donald Trump would willingly intercede in the case of Meng Wanzhou, if such a step could secure a favorable trade deal with China, Reuters reports.

US President Donald Trump talks to reporters prior to boarding Marine One as he departs the White House in Washington, DC on December 8, 2018. - US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his chief of staff John Kelly would be leaving the administration at the end of the year -- the latest in a series of moves by the Republican leader to change his inner circle of aides.

Reuters reports

President Donald Trump would intercede in the case of Huawei executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, if such a step could secure a favorable trade deal with China, Reuters reports.

Trump said in an interview with Reuters, “Whatever’s good for this country, I would do.”

When asked if he would intervene with the Department of Justice in her case, the president indicated that he would if it led to a favorable outcome for national security interests and the signing of a trade deal with China.

"If I think it’s good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made – which is a very important thing – what’s good for national security – I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary," Trump said.

The US is still seeking the extradition of Meng, released today on bail, who has been accused by US prosecutors of fraud regarding deals in Iran in violation of US sanctions. She was arrested in Canada on December 1.

Reuters reports that the president acknowledged that the White House has been in contact with the Department of Justice regarding Meng.

Trump also said the White House has also spoken with Chinese officials on the matter, but did not elaborate who they are or who they were talking to within his administration.

"They have not called me yet. They are talking to my people. But they have not called me yet," he said when asked by Reuters if he has spoken to President Xi Jinping his Chinese counterpart regarding the case.

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