12:30 Report

Taiwan emerges as major tension in Trump-Xi summit

by Cate Martel - 05/14/26 12:39 PM ET

Link copied

by Cate Martel - 05/14/26 12:39 PM ET

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

- - - Presented by Google Cloud

{beacon}

PRESENTED BY

Happy Thursday. Washington got hit with one of its first big thunderstorms of the season last night. That means summer is coming! The Council of the District of Columbia posted a cool video of the storm rolling in.

Thanks to everyone who guessed how many Truth Social posts Trump has made since retaking office last year. My inbox has been flooded! Drumroll please … the president has posted at least 8,800 times. We owe The Wall Street Journal reporters who added them up.

- Taiwan a big discussion topic at Beijing summit

- Is China quietly exploiting the U.S. over Iran?

- Banquet menu, sights and sounds in Beijing

- Sen. Paul’s son drunkenly hurls antisemitic rant at Rep. Lawler

- Patel reportedly ‘padding’ FBI stats

- Super Bowl-style halftime show at World Cup

🤝 IN BEIJING

How has the summit gone? It depends on who you ask:

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

The White House says President Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has gone well. Trump highlighted the “respect” he has for China and the “fantastic relationship” between the two countries. Trump called Xi a friend and even formally invited him to the White House in September.

But China’s description of the summit hasn’t been quite as rosy. China’s Foreign Ministry says Xi gave Trump a firm warning regarding Taiwan. The Chinese leader warned Trump about tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, stressing it is the “most important issue” determining relations between the two countries.

Notably, the White House’s readout of the meeting did not mention this.

💬 Follow today’s live blog

➤ IS CHINA QUIETLY EXPLOITING THE U.S. OVER THE WAR IN IRAN?:

China may be using the war in Iran to gain a big geopolitical advantage over the United States. That’s what The Washington Post is reporting today, citing a confidential U.S. intelligence analysis.

This is reportedly raising alarm within the Pentagon.

Examples of how China has capitalized on the war:

— China has sold weapons to Persian Gulf allies.

— China has also helped countries with their energy needs.

— China’s messaging on the war has been negative toward the U.S., like labeling it as “illegal.”

— Oh, and the reported depletion of U.S. munitions may help China if there’s a faceoff between Beijing and Washington with Taiwan.

Read the WaPo report: ‘China gains major edge on U.S. amid Iran war, intelligence report finds’

OK, now to the pomp and circumstance.

These visits always have the best sights and sounds. Xi hosted Trump for a state banquet on Thursday. Here are some tidbits:

The menu: The menu included crispy beef ribs, slow-cooked salmon in mustard, stewed seasonal vegetables, lobster in tomato soup, pan-fried pork bun, Peking duck, a trumpet shell-shaped pastry, tiramisu, fruits and ice cream. This is making me hungry!!

What White House staff was served on Air Force One: The in-flight meal included beef stir-fry, spring rolls and a fortune cookie. 📸 Photos of the AF1 meal

🎥 See inside the meeting room in China’s Great Hall of the People

That’s a pretty wild stat: “Chinese restaurants in America today outnumber the five largest fast-food chains in the United States all combined,” Trump noted during the banquet. 🎥 Watch the clip

📸 The Beast (the presidential car) in Tiananmen

🎥 Trump’s squad awaiting his arrival — can you spot Elon Musk taking a panorama?

🥃 ON CAPITOL HILL

The buzz everyone on the Hill is talking about:

Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) son, William Paul, drunkenly confronted Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) at a Capitol Hill bar on Tuesday night and hurled antisemitic insults. NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman happened to be at the Tune Inn and watched it happen.

William Paul: “If Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) loses, it will be because of your people.”

Lawler: “My people?”

Paul: “Yeah, you Jews.”

Lawler: “Do you think I’m Jewish? I’m not.”

Paul: “Oh wow, I’m sorry for calling you a Jew.” Paul then called Jews “anti-American.”

After the argument continued for a bit, Lawler said, “Well, you just seem to hate Jews, so there’s no point arguing anymore.” Lawler asked if Paul gave him the middle finger and Paul said, “I’m sorry, yeah, I did. I’m just really drunk. I’m going to leave.”

He then stumbled out of the bar, knocking over a barstool and tripping over it