'Terribly weakened': What the top Senate Armed Services Democrat said about Trump before Beijing
WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Sunday, May 10, that President Donald Trump is heading into his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a weakened position, citing the ongoing conflict with Iran and broader economic pressures at home.
Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing later this week for talks expected to focus on trade, regional security and Taiwan. The summit marks the first in-person meeting between Trump and Xi since October.
Jack Reed says the Iran conflict weakened Trump's position
Speaking on Fox News, Reed said Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict has created strategic and economic challenges ahead of the China talks.
“President Trump is going into this meeting terribly weakened,” Reed said. “He has involved ourselves in a conflict with Iran. There’s a stalemate now. The Iranians are holding 20 percent of the world’s oil at risk,” he added, referring to ongoing disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reed said the conflict has had ripple effects on US military readiness, noting that personnel and equipment have been shifted from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East during the ongoing hostilities.
He argued that the redeployment could affect US strategic posture in Asia at a time when China has increased military activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Reed also pointed to economic concerns at home, saying rising fuel and food costs are weighing on American households as Trump prepares for talks with Xi.
“We’re seeing at home significant gas prices, significant increases in grocery prices and in all sorts of prices for the American home,” Reed said. “And the American people are significantly concerned about this conflict with Iran.”
He added, “So that’s not a strong position to be in when you’re talking to an economic and a geopolitical rival.”
The summit comes as the US continues to pursue a broader agreement with Iran, while also maintaining sanctions on Chinese entities accused of purchasing Iranian oil.
Newt Gingrich says summit could produce 'remarkable breakthrough'
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich offered a more optimistic assessment of Trump’s upcoming meeting with Xi, suggesting the talks could reshape US-China relations.
Speaking on WABC’s 'Cats Roundtable', Gingrich called Trump’s Beijing visit “the biggest thing in the near future.”
He said, “China is a country in transition, and President Trump will be visiting it at a moment when it could lead to a truly remarkable breakthrough,” adding, “that’s what we should hope for. This could be a very big deal, or not. If it’s not, then Trump will just keep marching on."
Gingrich said the summit could force Xi to reassess whether China should continue competing with the United States or pursue cooperation.
He also pointed to recent developments involving China’s military leadership, arguing they may reflect broader strategic shifts in Beijing.
Trump has said he expects productive talks with Xi, with further meetings possible in Washington later this year as both sides seek to manage growing geopolitical and economic tensions.
