During a private fundraiser in 2024, then-candidate Donald Trump told donors that he warned Chinese President Xi Jinping he would bomb Beijing if China invaded Taiwan. The remarks were captured in audio recordings obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf for their book “2024,” released this week. Trump recounted the exchange by saying, “I said the same thing to them, I said, ‘You know, if you go into Taiwan, I’m gonna bomb the s*** out of Beijing.’ He thought I was crazy.” Trump added that Xi “didn’t believe me either, he said 10 percent. And 10 percent is all you need.”
The comments were made during closed-door donor events in New York and Florida and have resurfaced amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait. China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, while the United States maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity. Trump’s statement deviates from that posture, suggesting a direct military response in the event of an invasion. The audio also includes similar remarks directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Trump claiming he threatened to bomb Moscow if Russia moved on Ukraine.
The recordings have drawn attention in Beijing and Taipei, though Chinese officials have not issued a formal response. Analysts note that Trump’s rhetoric, while not official policy, may influence perceptions of U.S. deterrence. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has reiterated the island’s commitment to resisting annexation, and U.S. military cooperation with Taiwan has expanded in recent months. The Pentagon confirmed joint naval exercises in the Philippine Sea last week, involving carrier strike groups and surveillance aircraft.
The leaked audio adds to a growing archive of Trump’s off-script foreign policy remarks. His approach to deterrence has often relied on personal threats and unpredictability. Supporters argue that such tactics prevented escalation during his first term. Critics warn that informal threats, especially those involving nuclear powers, risk miscalculation. The Biden administration has not commented on the recordings, and current U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.
Sources
https://thehill.com/policy/international/5391837-donald-trump-donors-russia-ukraine-war/
https://en.tempo.co/read/2026357/trump-threatened-to-bomb-moscow-beijing-in-leaked-audio
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/6152533
https://govima.com/news/if-you-attack-taiwan-i-will-bomb-beijing-trump-warns-xi-jinping/
