Trump disputes ambassador's claim he offered to sell weapons to China's Xi Jinping

President Trump contradicted his own ambassador to China, David Perdue, who stated on Fox News Sunday that Trump asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping if he wanted to buy American weapons during Xi's state visit. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he had 'never heard of that one' and suggested Perdue was confusing China with Taiwan, before musing that 'maybe it's a good idea' because U.S. equipment is superior. The State Department distanced itself from Perdue's remarks, stating U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no such offer or plan. The episode highlighted the administration's uncoordinated approach to China policy and Trump's transactional view of arms sales, which he has previously called a 'negotiating chip' regarding Taiwan.

“I've never heard of that one, I'm going to have to ask him. They'd probably like to buy it because we do make better equipment than them, so maybe it's a good idea. But we didn't discuss it.” — Oval Office remarks to reporters, September 28, 2026 Quote verified against source