In an unique interview airing Sunday on 60 Minutes, President Trump mentioned that Chinese language President Xi Jinping is aware of “the implications” of army motion in Taiwan, however he declined to develop on his plan if China had been to invade the island, telling correspondent Norah O’Donnell: “I am unable to give away my secrets and techniques.”
“One potential flashpoint with China, in all probability the potential flashpoint with China within the coming years, is over the difficulty of Taiwan,” mentioned O’Donnell, referencing the Chinese language army’s push to shut in on Taiwan’s waterways, airspace, and our on-line world. She requested whether or not Mr. Trump would order U.S. forces to defend Taiwan ought to Xi transfer militarily on the island, one thing the American president has insisted China wouldn’t do so long as he’s in workplace.
Mr. Trump mentioned he and Xi did not broach the difficulty throughout their assembly and that Chinese language officers “know the implications” of taking army motion towards Taiwan.
Mr. Trump mentioned the subject “by no means got here up” throughout their assembly final week. “He by no means introduced it up. Individuals had been just a little shocked at that,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “However they perceive what’s gonna occur. He has brazenly mentioned, and his individuals have brazenly mentioned at conferences, ‘We’d by no means do something whereas President Trump is president,’ as a result of they know the implications.”
That is Mr. Trump’s first interview with 60 Minutes in 5 years — and his first since he sued after which settled with CBS father or mother firm Paramount over a 2024 interview with then Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The settlement didn’t embody an apology.
Mr. Trump’s wide-ranging dialog with O’Donnell additionally lined Venezuela, U.S. immigration coverage and the federal government shutdown.
Tune in for the unique interview on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, after NFL soccer, on the CBS Tv Community and Paramount+.
