Donald Trump is facing open revolt from Republicans, including a staunch Senate ally, as he rolls out the red carpet to Chinese tyrant Xi Jinping.
The president will meet Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, the communist dictator’s first US state visit in 11 years which includes a lavish banquet on Thursday.
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, one of Trump’s allies in the upper chamber, issued a blistering critique on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
‘Had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome,’ the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman said.
‘During every minute of dialog, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,’ Wicker continued.
Republican lawmakers are wary of China‘s staggering military buildup, its support for Iran, detention of Uyghurs in labor camps, as well as the increasingly high-stakes AI race, which has been likened to modern Manhattan Project.
Taiwan is central to the AI race. The democratic island, which is constantly menaced by China’s military, is home to TSMC, the chipmaking giant responsible for 90 percent of the world’s cutting-edge chips used in AI systems, smartphones, supercomputers and military technology.
Republicans led by Mitch McConnell were also this week urging Trump to back a $14 billion military package for Taiwan. Xi is reportedly planning to lobby Trump against the deal on his visit. They also pushed for another $1.3 billion in funds already approved for the island’s defense be spent before it expires at the end of this month.