Democrats accuse Trump of hollowing out US competitiveness during Xi visit
Democrats criticized President Donald Trump's China policy on Thursday, accusing him of "systematically hollowed out the foundations of American competitiveness" as he hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and 18 fellow Democrats condemned Trump for welcoming Xi amid rising U.S. costs and Chinese actions they say contributed to American casualties in West Asia. They argued Trump prioritized "pageantry over purpose," failing to address unfair trade practices, technology theft, or support for U.S. adversaries. Republican lawmakers also broke with Trump, with Senator Roger Wicker calling Xi a "brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator." Democrats urged sustained investment in U.S. strengths and allied coordination, flagging unresolved issues including AI safety, critical minerals, Ukraine, Taiwan, and detained Americans.