Trump-Xi summit live: US president hosts state dinner with tech leaders

US Senate Democrats have harshly evaluated President Donald Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, arguing that the event emphasized ceremony over substantive discussions on pressing issues. During the state dinner at the White House, Trump hosted Xi for a summit brimming with diplomatic honors, but no breakthroughs were evident on matters dividing the two nations.

A statement released by at least 19 Democrats out of the 47 members of their caucus, obtained by Reuters, urged Trump to disburse over $15 billion in security aid, including $1.3 billion in funds and a $14 billion arms sale package, to Taiwan. Democrats also pushed for the preservation of human rights and the release of Americans wrongfully detained.

Some Republicans, aligning with Trump, advocated for releasing the funds earmarked for Taiwan. Additionally, Democrats criticized Trump's relaxation of restrictions on high-end chip sales to China and expressed disappointment that the extension of the US-China tariff truce does little to tackle supply chain issues, such as China's dominance in global rare earth refining.

The Democrats emphasized that the nation can only compete effectively with China through persistent investment in its own strengths, close coordination with allies, and a steadfast defense of democratic values.

While Democrats have historically criticized Trump's policies, their reaction to the summit signaled the potential stance of party members if they secure control of one or both chambers of Congress in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Recent polls suggest that Trump's Republican party is likely to struggle to maintain its narrow advantage in Congress as the president's approval ratings decline.