“the President can’t order companies around like that. ”
Not the point.
Trumpus Magnimus KNOWS that using this word electrifies and amplifies his words about China - and will make them dominate the news.
It also puts companies in the awkward position of either cavorting with known enemies or choosing our side.
And it puts pressure on China by telling the truth about what they are doing.
I'm thinking that President Trump knows that Xi CAN order China to do anything, so he's using that word in parallel even if he doesn't have the authority.
It's a power posturing move. Now the Democrats and the MSM can take China's side against America in the run-up to 2020 if they quibble over Trump's use of the word "order."
-PJ