...Trump being honest about it just shows what a lunatic he really is, not admirable.
This is the crux of the situation, really. Is it crazy for a man to run on a platform of "Lets call a spade a spade?" If so, what does that say about America? That we are a shitload of Liars by nature who don't know wrong from right?
YES, economically and in other ways too, China is our worst nightmare. It is kicking our ass and taking names, and only the worst kind of fool would think we don't need to be doing something about that huge problem.
Sadly, the problem with the current and past 10 administrations' attitude is that to maintain popularity, they make up excuses like WMD or downplay the priority of a problem massively, which doesn't let them address such problems at all, really. They can't openly plan to do something about it even if they're thinking about it, and worse yet, if they don't communicate it to the public then half or more of america has no idea the problem exists and hence it truly doesn't to the majority of voters.
...This is NOT the way to win the war.... And losing it doesn't sound like a good option!