As Trump Heads to Beijing, Splits on China Widen at Home
The president’s relatively dovish approach to the U.S.’s top rival contrasts with hawkishness in Congress, but may reflect growing pro-China sentiment among younger Americans.
President Donald Trump arrives to the House floor to deliver his State of the Union address, February 24, 2026, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Credit: The White House via Flickr
When Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, China hawks in Washington had high hopes he would resume taking the kind of assertive actions against Beijing that marked the end of his first term.
But as Trump and his team now prepare for a delayed summit with Xi Jinping in China next month, those wishing for more of the same are feeling disappointed. Aside from raising tariffs on China, Trump has introduced few restrictions on Beijing since resuming office last January.
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