Following his high-profile three-day summit in Beijing, President Donald Trump made clear he does not want to get into a war with China over Taiwan.
Trump on Taiwan: 'Cool Down'
In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, Trump said: 'I'm not looking to have somebody to go independent and, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.'
When asked about U.S. weapons sales to the island, Trump said: 'We're gonna see what happens.' In December, the administration authorized an $11 billion weapons package for Taipei, but it cannot be finalized until Trump passes it to Congress.
Taiwan has proven a perennial sore-spot in U.S.-China relations. Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway part of mainland China that must be unified. Taiwan, however, is a self-governing democracy. The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, but it is legally obligated to help the island defend itself.
During his summit in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Trump of 'clash or even conflict' if the Taiwan issue is mishandled, saying that it can push China-US relations into 'a very dangerous place'.
Trump Optimistic About Pastor's Release
In the same interview, Trump said he is 'optimistic' that Xi might free Ezra Jin, a pastor detained on allegations of leading a secret church network. 'He went through a whole thing, and I said, well, I would appreciate if you would release him,' Trump told Baier. 'He's gotten old, and he's probably not feeling too well. It would be nice.'
However, Trump noted he does not feel optimistic about the release of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
White House Denies Trump Drank Alcohol
The White House on Friday pushed back on claims that Trump consumed alcohol during his trip to China. Speculation followed a state banquet where Trump was seen raising and sipping from a wine glass. Trump, whose older brother struggled with alcoholism, is known to be a teetotaler. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on X: 'The insinuation here is false by suggesting that he would somehow compromise himself for a toast. President Trump doesn't drink alcohol.'
Markets Respond to Summit
Financial markets performed gloomily after the Beijing summit failed to provide substantial progress. Though some trade deals were made, questions regarding the war in Iran loomed large. The S&P 500 was more than 1 percent down, and domestic crude oil prices rose nearly 3 percent to $104 per barrel.
Xi Accepts Trump's Invitation to Visit US
Xi Jinping has accepted Trump's invitation to visit the United States, according to Chinese state media. During a state banquet, Trump invited Xi to visit the White House on 24 September.
Putin to Visit Xi Days After Trump's Departure
Russian President Vladimir Putin is to meet with Xi Jinping next week in Beijing, the Kremlin announced. Putin will likely be eager to hear about the Trump-Xi meeting and reaffirm Russia-China unity.
Trump Calls Reporter 'Treasonous'
Trump called a reporter 'treasonous' for not accepting that the US has achieved a 'total victory' in its war against Iran. The exchange occurred on Air Force One.
Trump and Xi May Meet Four Times in 2026
Trump told reporters he and Xi could meet three more times this year, including the G-20 meeting in Miami and an APEC conference in Shenzhen. Trump also invited Xi to visit the US in September.
Trump Open About Cyber Attacks
Asked about Chinese cyber attacks, Trump said he and Xi discussed mutual spying: 'You know, what they do, we do too. We spy like hell on them too. I told him, we do a lot of stuff to you that you don't know about.'
