"There have been alarm bells ringing on the phase one deal," said Michael Pillsbury, one of the president's closest outside advisors on China.”

Michael Pillsbury, who was on the transition team: “Matt has also fashioned alliances and worked

“It’s not time yet for the super-hawks to take over from the president’s trade-focused approach, even though he says he’s ‘unhappy’ with China,” Pillsbury said.

Michael Pillsbury, a China expert at the conservative Hudson Institute who informally advises Trump, said the decision was in line with an administration strategy Trump authorized months ago to more aggressively challenge China’s influence on the world stage.

But Michael Pillsbury, a China expert at the conservative Hudson Institute who informally advises the White House on economic issues, said Trump had chosen not to “rise to the bait.”

Pillsbury recounted that the president told him in a late-afternoon phone call that Trump anticipates those talks continuing past the November 2020 election. Pillsbury serves as an occasional outside adviser to the president.