fair trade deals. but even on the winning issue with his base, the president is changing his tune, all but forgiving them for the current trade balance. >> the current trade balance is unacceptable. i do not blame china or any other country of which there are many, for taking advantage of the united states on trade. if their representatives are able to get away with it, they are just doing their job. >> reporter: that's a far cry from how he blasted china in the past. >> we can't continue to allow china to rape our country, and that's what they're doing. it's the greatest theft in the history of the world. >> reporter: the president vowed to be tougher on trade than his predecessors, but he didn't lay out how. >> we are not going to let the united states be taken advantage of anymore. i am always going to put america first, the same way that i expect all of you in this room