The White House has stopped the president of Taiwan from visiting New York on a tour of the Americas, according to reports.
The move comes as President Trump negotiates trade with Taiwan's rival, China, which considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te had planned to stop in New York and Dallas next month on his way to Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize, which are among a handful of nations around the world that recognize Taiwan's sovereignty.
The Trump administration had "asked Taipei to rearrange the transit — not go through New York," one person with knowledge of the issue told the AP.
Lai had reached out to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, about appearing at an event in New York, but scrapped his travel plans after the White House pushed back, the Financial Times reported.
But the Trump administration denies that any plans were changed. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the issue is "hypothetical" because Taiwan had never announced any travel plans.
And Taiwan says Lai is unable to travel currently because of a recent typhoon, among other issues.
“Considering the recent typhoon disaster recovery efforts in southern Taiwan, the U.S.-Taiwan reciprocal tariff measures and regional developments, the president currently has no plans for overseas visits in the near future,” Taiwan spokesperson Karen Kuo said.
The White House's reported move to block Taiwan is another example of Trump's transactional, "America First" foreign policy. It is an approach that has rattled internationalists, who see any weakening in support of Taiwan as a victory for China.
A source familiar with trade talks told the Hill that Taiwan is "bracing for Trump possibly cutting them out of a trade relationship as part of making a deal with China" and Taiwan is "actively contemplating the prospect of a new go-it-alone era, where Taipei can no longer count on support from the White House.”
Taiwan is a significant trade partner of the U.S., but it is not difficult to see why Trump prioritizes balancing trade with China, the world's second-largest economy. America has a bigger trade deficit with China than any other nation.
Trump has set a Friday deadline for most countries to finish negotiating trade deals or else face punitive tariffs, but the administration is dealing separately with China.
Tariff rates between the U.S. and China hit triple digits earlier this year before a 90-day truce went into effect. White House trade negotiators discussed extending the truce, which phases out on August 12, with Chinese counterparts in Sweden this week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that Trump has the last word.
"Nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump," Bessent said.
"Just to tamp down that rhetoric, the meetings were very constructive. We just haven't given the sign off," he said.
Trump has dismissed "fake" rumors that he is seeking a summit with President Xi of China, but Trump says he will not rule out a visit to China at Xi's request.
