Biden admin. 'weakness' spurs bullying by rivals: Wilbur Ross

In his new memoir, "Risks and Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life," Former Secretary of Commerce under Trump Wilbur Ross connects childhood experiences to his work in business and politics. He joined Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on Opening Bid and shared his take on the current administration's problem, specifically, that they're projecting weakness rather than strength with bullies like Russia and China. He suggests "following Teddy Roosevelt's ideas: Speak softly but carry a big stick. They talk loudly and carry a little tiny stick."

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Video Transcript

When I started out life, I was very scrawny and undersized for my uh age.

So I was a perfect victim for bullies.

But by and by my father got me a punching bag and some instructions and that had two effects.

I didn't have to use the punching too much, but it gave me a self-confidence.

And when you radiate self-confidence, bullies don't come up to you so much.

And part of my problem with the current administration is they're not projecting strength, they're projecting weakness.

And I think that encourages the bullies, whether you call Russia or China or Iran encourages them to go forward and press more.

Press more.

I think we should be following Teddy Roosevelt's ideas.

Speak softly but carry a big stick.

They talk loudly and carry a little tiny stick.

It's the wrong combination of big and little.