GOP senators dismayed by Trump embrace of Xi after China helped Iran target US troops

Republican senators voiced alarm this week over President Trump's elaborate welcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping to a Washington summit, coming after revelations that Iran used Chinese satellite imagery to help target U. S. troops in Jordan. A closed-door national security briefing Thursday detailed deepening military cooperation between Iran and China, sharpening GOP unease about the red-carpet reception, a 21-gun salute and a B-1 bomber flyover that greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews. Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the display "over the top" while agreeing it was appropriate to press Xi with tough questions. Sen. John Cornyn said he was uneasy about the honors given rising tensions over Iran, Taiwan and artificial intelligence, and argued China, Russia, Iran and North Korea have formed an "axis" against the United States. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the briefing left him "shocked and deeply alarmed" and argued Trump should be confronting Xi rather than feting him. Sens. John Curtis and Kevin Cramer both urged Trump to directly raise China's assistance to Iran with Xi during the talks, according to The Hill.

Senators also criticized Trump's invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Group of 20 summit in Miami in December, with Cornyn saying Trump fails to recognize Putin as a "stone-cold killer." White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump was simply reciprocating hospitality Xi showed him during a May visit to Beijing.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Hill’s reporting. Read the full story at The Hill →