Trump Denial Stuns As Ambassador Reveals Shocking Xi Claim
A sharp contradiction has emerged from the highest levels of the US government regarding a recent visit from China. US Ambassador David Perdue claimed President Trump asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to buy American weapons. This statement came during a Sunday interview on “Fox News Sunday” as reported by the New York Post.
Perdue told the audience that the President often notes the US sells arms globally. “Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,” President Trump keeps stating, he remarked. At one point, he actually asked President Xi if he would like to buy some. This comment followed a three-day state visit by Xi to the White House last week.
However, the President himself told reporters on Monday that he never made such a request. Trump told the press at the White House, “I’ve never heard of that one.” He suggested the ambassador might have been talking about Taiwan instead. The Washington Examiner reported that Trump added, “But we didn’t discuss that.”
Perdue did mention that the President had already approved a massive deal worth $11 billion. He stated, “President Trump’s already approved $11 billion. There are continuing conversations about other sales.” Each time they meet, he and President Xi discuss this topic. These talks occurred while the administration paused a separate $14 billion weapons sale to Taiwan.
The suspension of Taiwan’s deal occurred during trade talks and strain on US stockpiles. The Washington Times noted that Perdue said Trump asked Xi if he wanted to buy weapons. Yet, US law strictly prohibits arms sales to Beijing. This ban dates back to the 1989 events in Tiananmen Square, according to the Washington Examiner.
The State Department has clarified the official stance on any potential sale to China. “There is no offer or plan to sell arms to China,” they stated. This statement directly conflicts with the idea that a sale to Beijing was ever on the table. The legal barrier makes the ambassador’s claim about a direct offer to Xi highly unusual.
The focus remains on the delayed decision regarding the $14 billion military aid package for Taiwan. Senators Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis wrote a letter demanding an explanation. They asked War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio why the decision was stalled.
The senators cited Trump calling the military package a “very good negotiating chip” regarding China. Chinese state media noted that Xi requested Trump oppose Taiwan independence during the visit. Perdue said, “Our support for that has not changed,” regarding the US stance on Taiwan.
Despite the confusion over the weapons comment, the administration insists on a specific path forward. Perdue noted, “We don’t support independence and we don’t support coercion.” He added, “And we see some improvement in that.” However, it remains a continuous effort to ensure they stay out of that. The question of who is right about the conversation remains unanswered.