Breaks protocol with phone call to Taiwan’s president, risking China rift

In a major break from decades of U.S. diplomatic protocol, Trump accepted a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The call angered Beijing (which views Taiwan as a breakaway province) and confused State Department officials who were not consulted, foreshadowing a chaotic and transactional foreign policy approach.

"Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call." — Twitter post defending the call