Brief

Trump reportedly asked China to buy U.S. weapons, ambassador says

During a state visit by Chinese President Xi, the U.S. ambassador claimed the former president offered to sell American weapons to China, a move that the White House denies.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:34:21 GMT

In a Fox News interview on Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said that former President Donald Trump had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether he would like to buy American weapons. Perdue, speaking about the state visit that took place last week, added that Trump “continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world’” and that he had asked Xi “would he like to buy some at one point.” He did not disclose how Xi responded.

Perdue’s remarks came after a series of diplomatic exchanges between the two leaders, including a state dinner and a three‑day summit that extended a trade truce and discussed artificial intelligence, Iran and Taiwan. The White House, however, issued a statement saying that the United States has no plans to sell arms to China and that U.S. law prohibits such sales.

China has previously stated that President Xi has told Trump he opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not comment on the ambassador’s claims. The U.S. State Department reiterated that no offer or plan exists to sell arms to China.

Experts note that the U.S. has long viewed China as a strategic competitor, with concerns over military clashes in the Asia‑Pacific region. The claim that Trump offered to sell weapons to China is unprecedented and has drawn scrutiny from U.S. policymakers and legislators across parties.

Key facts

U.S. Ambassador David Perdue said Trump asked Xi if he would like to buy American weapons (smh.com.au)
Trump’s offer was made during Xi’s state visit to Washington (smh.com.au)
The White House stated the U.S. has no plans to sell arms to China (smh.com.au)
U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China (smh.com.au)
China has said Xi opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan (smh.com.au)

Background

The claim follows a series of high‑profile U.S.–China meetings, including a state dinner hosted by Trump and a summit that extended a trade truce until January 2027. The visits highlighted ongoing tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, Iran and Taiwan, while also showcasing personal rapport between the leaders.

Timeline

2026-09-20 — Trump hosts state dinner with Xi
2026-09-23 — Xi’s Washington visit features Trump’s planeside welcome
2026-09-25 — Trump‑Xi summit extends trade truce

Why it matters

The allegation raises questions about U.S. arms export policy and its implications for regional security, particularly regarding Taiwan and U.S. allies in the Asia‑Pacific.

What happens next

The White House has denied any such offer and reiterated that U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China. No further statements have been issued by either side.