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Proposed direct contact between the U.S. and Taiwanese president overturns decades of diplomatic practice governing ties between the two countries.
President Donald Trump talks to reporters before boarding Air Force One on May 20, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he’s preparing to speak with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as part of his decision process on whether to approve a $14 billion arms sale to the self-governing island.
Trump’s comments may strain the relationship between the White House and Beijing, which the president worked in earnest to strengthen on a visit to China last week.
