China, in his words · Before politics · № 6

On China

Called China's military buildup 'a major threat to the Free World'

“China's military buildup is a major threat to the Free World. We must remain resolute and maintain our national defense at all costs.”
Said
, Post on Twitter (@realDonaldTrump)
Subject
military buildup
Threat
Military threat
Topic
Veterans & military
Era
Before politics

What the record showed

The Pentagon's China report released Sept. 1, 2020, during Trump's first term, said China had 'the largest navy in the world, with an overall battle force of approximately 350 ships and submarines'; the 2019 edition had described it as the largest in the region. The Pentagon's 2025 report, issued in his second term, said China's nuclear stockpile 'remained in the low 600s through 2024' and 'remains on track to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030.' In September 2026 Trump hosted Xi Jinping for a state visit to Washington that included a military review in the Rose Garden.

Sources

  1. Tweet by @realDonaldTrump, October 17, 2011 Twitter, Oct 17, 2011
  2. Pentagon Assessment: China Now Has World's Largest Navy Seapower Magazine, Sep 1, 2020
  3. The Pentagon's (Slimmed Down) 2025 China Military Power Report Federation of American Scientists, Jan 9, 2026
  4. Trump, Xi wrap state visit centered on spectacle over substance. Here are the top takeaways CNBC, Sep 25, 2026