Trump’s China trips ends with more questions than answers: From the Politics Desk

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In today’s edition, Kristen Welker wraps up President Donald Trump’s trip to China. Additionally, we look forward to next Tuesday’s key Republican Senate primary in Georgia.

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—Adam Wollner

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Trump’s China trips end with more questions than answers

Analysis by Kristen Welker

President Donald Trump hoped he would be able to tout key victories after his trip to China. And while the optics were strong, he returned to the United States without any major progress on the thorniest issues, like trade with Iran.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he had a “tremendous visit” and highlighted China’s expected purchase of 200 Boeing planes as “the largest order ever.” The president said China had also agreed to invest with companies represented on the visit and purchase “billions of dollars of soybeans.” But few details of these agreements have been revealed.

Perhaps the most extraordinary moment of the trip came when Chinese President Xi Jinping used some of his sharpest terms yet on Taiwan, warning Trump of “clashes and even conflicts” if the issue was mishandled by the United States, according to Chinese officials.

Notably, the United States has not responded publicly, raising the question of whether Xi is the one leaving this summit emboldened. As one Republican strategist told me, it’s not clear that the trip led to any change in China’s behavior.

According to Trump and the Secretary of State Marco RubioChina has said it does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons and wants the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. After all, much of China’s oil passes through the strait. But again, it was unclear whether China was actually committed to helping reopen the strait.

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Key takeaways from Trump’s China trip

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The big question facing Trump once he returns: with negotiations with Iran at a standstill, will he resume military action against the country? It’s certainly an option he’s left on the table, and in talking with his key allies, he’s still seriously considering the possibility.

Pressure is growing for Trump to end the conflict, especially with gas prices soaring and a majority of the public disapproving of the war. A recent CNN poll found that 77 percent of Americans believe the president’s policies have increased the cost of living, and 75 percent believe the war in Iran has had a negative effect on their own financial situation.

We’ll cover the latest news on the US-China summit and the Iran war on “Meet the Press” this Sunday with Sens. Lindsey GrahamSRC, and Chris Van HollenD-Md. Former FBI Director James Comey will also join me for an exclusive interview.

Georgia Senate race tests Gov. Brian Kemp’s influence over Republican Party

By Bridget Bowman and Brennan Leach

As his tenure in the governor’s office draws to a close, Brian Kemp asked Georgia voters “one more thing.”

“Send Derek Dooley in the U.S. Senate,” the two-term Republican implored viewers in a new television ad from his PAC that hit the airwaves this week, yet another sign that Kemp is putting all of his chips behind his preferred candidate ahead of Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary.

The question for Kemp is whether Dooley, a former college football coach and political novice, is a risky bet — or whether he’s emphasizing his influence in one of the nation’s most closely divided swing states, and perhaps beyond.

“If Dooley can achieve this, it shows that Kemp is ready to leave his own mark not only on the Republican Party of Georgia, but also on the national Republican Party,” said Jay Morgana former executive director of the Georgia GOP.

Morgan said he has “never seen a governor put so much of his personal capital on the line” in his 30 years working in Georgia politics. But in doing so, Kemp opens himself up to criticism and second-guessing as the Republican Party attempts to break a Senate losing streak in a state it dominated for years.

“This one, the governor completely owns it,” Morgan said.

Dooley sparred with GOP officials. Mike Collins And Buddy Carter in the primary to face the Democratic senator. Jon Ossoffand neither Republican is expected to win a majority in Tuesday’s primaries. That would push the race to a runoff on June 16 between the top two receiving votes.

Collins and Carter present themselves as loyal allies of the president. Donald Trump. Although Dooley also emphasized that he supports Trump, he presented himself as a political outsider, saying that Carter and Collins have backgrounds that could be used against them in November. Collins is also the subject of an ongoing ethics investigation into whether he misused congressional funds, allegations Collins called “false.”

“I’m confident it’s going to take a political outsider to beat Jon Ossoff in this race,” Kemp said at a recent campaign event with Dooley in Habersham.

Kemp has supported Dooley since he decided not to run for Senate himself. The two-term governor is the biggest power to back in the primary, with Trump remaining on the sidelines so far.

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That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. Today’s newsletter was written by Adam Wollner.

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