Story perspectives

Trump Asked Xi About Buying U.S. Weapons, State Department Says

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 10:09 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Trump negotiating chip

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s Washington visit whether China wanted to buy weapons.
The State Department said law prohibits arms sales to China and confirmed no offer existed, echoing Trump’s claim he had not discussed sale.
In December, United States approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest since 1979.
Trump said the paused $14 billion Taiwan weapons package was a negotiating chip with China.

Left

National security warning

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s Washington state visit whether China wanted to buy American weapons.
Analysts warned the proposal flouted decades-long U.S. strategy toward China and risked national-security harms.
U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue reported Trump’s question on Fox News Sunday.
Experts cautioned any Chinese acquisition could be rerouted to Russia, Iran or North Korea.

Blindspot

Analysts warned that any U.S. weapons sold to China could be redirected to Russia, Iran or North Korea, which Beijing already supports.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

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Trump negotiating chip

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s Washington visit whether China wanted to buy weapons.
The State Department said law prohibits arms sales to China and confirmed no offer existed, echoing Trump’s claim he had not discussed sale.
In December, United States approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest since 1979.
Trump said the paused $14 billion Taiwan weapons package was a negotiating chip with China.

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