Trump is likely moving toward détente with China rather than confrontation, as evidenced by his expressed interest in Beijing visits, his stated reluctance to defend Taiwan militarily ('Taiwan is a Sharpie, China's the Resolute Desk'), and his administration's failure to enforce the TikTok law—signaling capitulation rather than strategic competition.
forecastpending
Speaker
Neil FergusonEvidence Quote
“I think we're seeing President Trump moving in the direction of detente with China...I think that's what he would like to do.”
Source
Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson and Stephen Kotkin: Three Historians Debate The Era of Trump— Hoover InstitutionCreated: 8/11/2026, 7:30:05 AM
My Notes
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