U.S. Ambassador to China David Purdue said President Donald Trump asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping during Xi’s three-day U.S. visit last week whether he wanted to buy American weapons. Purdue recounted the exchange in a Fox News Sunday interview.
Purdue made the remark while defending Trump’s relationship with Taiwan. He argued Trump had sold 50% more arms to Taiwan than any other president since 1979 and said Trump’s support for an independent Taiwan should not be questioned.
The interview came amid questions about whether China was assisting Iran in the ongoing conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified earlier this summer that Russia and China were enabling Iran; Trump later denied the claim.
