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Trump's pivot: From harsh rhetoric to diplomatic overtures
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who once labeled China an economic predator, struck a conciliatory tone during his recent visit to Beijing, marking a stark departure from years of aggressive trade policies and anti-China rhetoric.
From tariffs to trade deals
Trump's 2016 campaign trail was defined by accusations that China was "raping" the U.S. economy. By 2025, his administration had escalated tariffs to 145% on Chinese imports, triggering retaliatory measures, including a 125% tariff on U.S. goods and a ban on rare earth exports. The trade war appeared entrenched-until this week's summit.
In Beijing, Trump was greeted with military honors and flag-waving crowds. He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling their relationship "better than ever before." While no major breakthroughs were announced, Nvidia secured approval to sell semiconductors to 10 Chinese firms, Boeing landed a 200-aircraft order, and Citigroup received clearance to operate a securities business in China.
Taiwan remains a flashpoint
Despite the diplomatic thaw, Taiwan loomed large. A stalled $14 billion U.S. arms sale to the self-ruled island-seen as critical by both Democrats and Republican China hawks-remains unresolved. A bipartisan group of senators urged Trump to finalize the deal ahead of his meeting with Xi, but the president offered no commitments.
"On Taiwan, he [Xi] feels very strongly," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I made no commitment either way." The Chinese readout of the meeting framed Taiwan as the central issue, warning that failure to address it could lead to "clashes and even conflicts." The White House statement omitted any mention of Taiwan.
"I am shocked... he [Xi] started with a threat. It was so brazen and so blatant."
Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist
Hawks stay silent as Trump softens stance
Trump's allies, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, have long accused China of intellectual property theft and flooding the U.S. with fentanyl. Yet after the summit, even the most vocal China hawks on Capitol Hill remained largely quiet, offering no public reaction to Trump's softened tone.
David Firestein, CEO of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, suggested the shift reflects a recognition that past tactics-including tariffs-failed to resolve longstanding disputes over market access and subsidies.
"We still have the same problems today... None of those problems have been solved after eight years of having these tariffs on the books."
David Firestein, George H.W. Bush Foundation
Top-down diplomacy and looming decisions
Analysts note Trump's influence over his administration and base remains strong. "When Trump opines, people follow," said Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. David Sacks of the Council on Foreign Relations added that this administration operates "much more top-down" than its predecessors.
However, Taiwan remains a dilemma. With Xi set to visit the White House in September, Trump faces pressure from Congress to approve the $14 billion arms sale-a move that could jeopardize the upcoming meeting. "The $14 billion package is actually now a big question," Sacks said.
