Wicker urges Trump to challenge Xi during state visit
Sen. Roger Wicker said he would have advised Donald Trump not to invite Xi Jinping to Washington for a lavish welcome, citing disputes involving Xi and the Chinese Communist Party. He urged Trump to raise China’s military buildup and support for Iran, and Yonhap reported that he also called for an answer about reported satellite reconnaissance information provided to Iran.
Key points
- Wicker opposed the invitation and the lavish welcome, pointing to concerns about Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
Evidence · 3 source statements
based on all of the troubling issues we have with President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
- He urged Trump to question Xi about China’s military buildup and support for Iran; Yonhap also reported that Wicker called for an answer about reported satellite reconnaissance information provided to Iran.
Evidence · 4 source statements
the purposes of China's massive military buildup, or about China's clear support for Iran.
- Wicker portrayed Xi as an oppressive dictator seeking to dominate neighboring countries and said China’s military arsenal was aimed at the United States.
Evidence · 3 source statements
his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbours and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America.
Who's involved
Roger Wicker
He publicly criticized the invitation and urged Trump to raise security concerns with Xi.
Wicker opposed inviting Xi for a lavish welcome and urged Trump to press him on China’s military buildup and support for Iran. He also called for an answer about reported satellite reconnaissance information provided to Iran.
What they said · 7 source statements
based on all of the troubling issues we have with President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
the purposes of China's massive military buildup, or about China's clear support for Iran.
What was reported
- Wicker said he would have advised Trump not to invite Xi to Washington for such a lavish welcome.
One source: Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 1 source statement
- Wicker urged Trump to ask Xi about China’s military buildup and support for Iran.
Reported independently by 3: AP, CBC News, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 3 source statements
the purposes of China's massive military buildup, or about China's clear support for Iran.
- Yonhap reported that Wicker urged Trump to obtain an answer about reported satellite reconnaissance information provided to Iran.
One source: Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 1 source statement
- Wicker described Xi as a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who sought to dominate neighboring countries, and said China’s military arsenal was aimed at the United States.
Reported independently by 4: AP, Associated Press, CBC News, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 4 source statements
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.
his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbours and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America.
Still unclear
- Whether Trump raised these issues with Xi.
- How Trump and Xi responded to Wicker’s criticism.
Not heard from
- Donald Trump — He was the target of Wicker’s criticism and the person urged to raise the issues, but his response is not included.
- Xi Jinping and the Chinese government — Wicker’s criticism concerned Xi and China’s policies, but their response is not included.