Trump Inquired About Selling U.S. Arms to China, Envoy Reveals

During his presidency, Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping about Beijing's potential interest in purchasing American weaponry, according to U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue. The ambassador disclosed this during an interview, noting that Trump had posed the question at some point, underscoring the administration's global arms sales practices.

This revelation emerges as the Trump administration is reportedly withholding a substantial $14 billion arms package intended for Taiwan. Ambassador Perdue did not specify the exact timing of Trump's inquiry to Xi, leaving ambiguity as to whether it occurred during a summit or a prior meeting. The reported offer is particularly striking given the administration's concurrent concerns regarding China's support for Iran and its classification of China as a principal military adversary.