May 15th, 2026

Trump Took 'Critical Step Backwards' on Taiwan: Sen. Coons

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, says President Trump went to China on "a weaker footing" and warns his silence on Taiwan arms sales was "a critical step backwards" for US interests. He says China learned from the Strait of Hormuz closure that a blockade is "an incredibly powerful tool" and sees "no reason" to believe Xi Jinping will help pressure Iran to reopen the strait to other countries' ships. He speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's Balance of Power.