Purdue explained that Trump has a habit of pointing out that the U.S. sells arms to countries around the world, and at one point directly asked Xi whether he’d be interested in purchasing some. The remark surfaced as Purdue was pushing back against criticism of Trump’s approach to Taiwan, noting that Trump has sold more arms to Taiwan than any president has since 1979, with the increase reaching 50 percent. Purdue maintained that Trump’s commitment to Taiwan shouldn’t be doubted, framing the president as someone who is constantly looking to make deals, even with a country considered America’s top rival.
