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.
“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,” Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier. “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 can’t 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”.
Earlier, Trump claimed he and Xi have agreed on how they want to end the Iran war, and tha Xi offered his assistance in negotiating a deal.
Xi hailed the two-day summit as “historic”, adding: “Together, we affirmed the new position of a constructive, strategic and stable China-US relationship.”
Trump describes China visit as ‘fantastic success’
Asked how he viewed the visit to China overall, Trump described it as a “fantastic success.”
“Look, we’re two very powerful countries. I call it the G2 because nobody comes close,” he said, closing out his interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier.
“We are more powerful than China. We were heading in the wrong direction. We were going to be a failed nation… I was congratulated by President Xi… he said ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
“I like him, he likes me. That’s a good thing, you know. You have two very powerful nuclear nations, and having good relations at the top is very important.”
President Xi is due to visit the U.S. in September, Trump added.
Mike Bedigan16 May 2026 00:00
Trump does ‘not feel optimistic’ about the release of media tycoon Jimmy Lai
Speaking to Fox News’ Bret Baier, Trump boasted of his ability to get people held by foreign nations released from jail without paying money – which he claimed former President Joe Biden had done.
The said he is “optimistic” that Chinese President Xi Jinping might free Ezra Jin, a pastor who was detained on allegations that he led a secret church network.
However he said the response to inquiry about the release of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai was “not positive.”
“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… and I did not feel optimistic.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:50
Xi Jinping told Trump he had performed ‘a miracle,’ Trump says
Donald Trump claimed that Chinese Xi Jinping said he had performed “a miracle” with regard to turning round the fortunes of the U.S.
“President Xi said something yesterday,” he told Fox News’ Bret Baier.
“He talked about, and he wasn’t referring to the last 15 months, he talked about America as a nation in decline, and I said, ‘You’re right,’ but he wasn’t talking about 1778887804 because he said what you’ve done in 14-15 months is a miracle.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:41
Donald Trump said Americans will face “short-term pain” with regard to gas prices, which have risen consistently in recent months since the start of the Iran war in February.
The president was asked specifically about his answer when asked if he considered the financial situations of everyday Americans when considering his policy abroad.
“I don’t think about American financial situations at all,” Trump said at the time, shortly before his departure for China.
Speaking to Baier, Trump reiterated that he had given a “perfect” answer.
“That’s a perfect sentence. I’d say it again,” Trump said. “It’s going to be short-term pain, but the pain is much less than people thought.”
Trump added that once the Strait of Hormuz was reopened, gas prices would drop “like a rock.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:35
People of Taiwan should feel ‘neutral’ after US-China talks, says Trump
Asked by Baier if the people of Taiwan should feel more or less secure after the talks between the U.S. and China, Trump replied “neutral.”
“Has the policy changed?” Baier pushed.
“No, nothing. Nothing has changed,” Trump replied.
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:30
Trump says China and Taiwan should ‘cool down’
During his interview with Baier, President Trump said that China and Taiwan should both “cool down.”
“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,” Trump told Baier. “I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”
Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway part of mainland China that must eventually be unified. Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, and polls indicate the public largely does not want to be ruled by Xi Jinping.
The U.S. formally recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the government of China, and it does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. But, it is legally obligated — via the Taiwan Relations Act — to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
When asked about U.S. weapons sales to the island, Trump said: “We’re gonna see what happens.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:24
China ‘won’t do anything about Taiwan while I’m here,’ says Trump
Donald Trump said he spoke “the whole night” with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue of Taiwan.
“I think I know more about Taiwan right now than I know about almost any country,” the president told Fox News’ Bret Baier.
“It’s always been the biggest thing for him, Taiwan. Now with me, I don’t think they’ll do anything when I’m here. When I’m not here, I think they might, to be honest with you.”
He continued: “So I’m not sure that they do anything if it remained as is, but they have somebody there now that wants to go independent. It’s a risky thing when you go independent, you know they’re going independent because they want to get into a war and they want to, they figure they have a United States behind them.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:15
Trump boasts of investment in US as he kicks off Fox interview
Kicking off his interview with Bret Baier, Donald Trump boasted about “historic” investment in the U.S., including from China, but was again light on the details.
“Trade has been very strong. We’re getting a lot of soybeans for our farmers. We’re doing a lot of.. there’s a lot of things happening with for the farmers,” he said.
“[President Xi Jinping] committed to 200 Boeings, big ones… and a lot of big, big ones, big beautiful Boeing planes. 200 that’s a lot.”
He added: “We have now more money being invested in the United States than any country at any time in the history of the world, including China, which probably is second from about 10 years ago. We have $18 trillion in 11 months, not the 12th month, that hasn’t come in yet.”
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:08
Soon: Trump interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier
The full interview of Donald Trump and Fox News’ Bret Baier will air shortly.
Follow along here for updates on their discussion.
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 23:01
Watch: Trump refuses to say if he’d defend Taiwan from Chinese aggression
Mike Bedigan15 May 2026 22:50
