According to multiple sources who spoke to CBS, US President Trump is not expected to hold a phone call with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the US this autumn. France's RFI Chinese-language website reported this on May 30.

According to the article, Xi, during his mid-May meeting with Trump, stated that "the Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-US relations" and added that "if mishandled, it could push the entire China-US relationship into a very dangerous situation."

In mid-May, Trump indicated his intention to consult with Lai before making a decision on the sale of a new defense equipment package to Taiwan, making international headlines twice.

Last week, when asked by reporters if he would speak with Lai before approving the arms sale, Trump replied, "I intend to speak with him." Two weeks prior, on Air Force One, he had stated, "I have to speak with the person who's running Taiwan right now. You know who that is."

Due to the diplomatic sensitivities in managing relations with China, no sitting US president has spoken directly with a Taiwanese leader since 1979. However, when Trump was elected president in December 2016, he did receive a congratulatory phone call from then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

On May 17, Yu Da-lai, Taiwan's representative to the US, said in an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation," "If [Lai] has the time, he would certainly want to tell our side of the story, Taiwan's story. It is a story of resilience, a story of a nation standing up to Chinese aggression."

This week, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US stated that it was awaiting a phone call from the US side. A US White House official recommended referring to the president's remarks.

In December 2025, the Trump administration announced an arms sale worth $11 billion (approx. 1.749 trillion yen) to Taiwan. Subsequently, a proposed $14 billion (approx. 2.226 trillion yen) arms sale has been under consideration since January 2026 but has not yet received US State Department approval and is awaiting Secretary of State Rubio's signature.

Recently, Acting US Navy Secretary Kao stated that arms sales to Taiwan were "temporarily suspended" to ensure the US military could secure ammunition needed for operations in Iran. A source familiar with the arms sales stated that this delay was unrelated to Iran and that the President is expected to make a decision "soon."

In a statement, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US stated, "Taiwan and the United States maintain open and smooth communication. The US government's policy toward Taiwan is consistent and unchanged and supports the maintenance of the status quo and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

According to a White House announcement, Trump invited Xi to visit the US on September 24, but China has not yet accepted the invitation. Recently, Qiu Wenxing, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in the US, stated that while Xi has agreed to visit the US this autumn, "the schedule has not yet been determined" and added that "a favorable environment needs to be created prior to such an important official visit."

According to two sources, Trump is not planning a phone call with the Taiwanese side but wants to keep his options open at all times.