China, in his words · Between terms · № 87

On China

Says China will move on Taiwan next and faults Pelosi's trip there

“And China, with Taiwan is next. Just watch what's happening. You see it happening before you. How stupid it was that she went.”
Said
, Rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Subject
Taiwan
Threat
Military threat
Topic
Veterans & military
Era
Between terms

What the record showed

Earlier in the speech he said of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan that she "gave them an excuse." He used the line "China with Taiwan is next" at rallies through 2024, including in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024. In his second term he held three face-to-face summits with Xi Jinping between October 2025 and September 2026. NBC News reported in September 2026 that Xi had ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, which remained self-ruling, and that Trump had described a pending $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan as a potential "negotiating chip" with Xi.

Sources

  1. Remarks at a Rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin The American Presidency Project, Aug 5, 2022
  2. Remarks at a Campaign Rally in Rome, Georgia The American Presidency Project, Mar 9, 2024
  3. Trump-Xi summit: Leaders meet at White House amid tensions over Taiwan, trade and AI NBC News, Sep 23, 2026
  4. US, China list goods recommended for tariff cuts following Trump-Xi summit Al Jazeera, Sep 28, 2026