Donald Trump urges China to investigate Joe Biden
US president defiant in the face of impeachment proceedings
Donald Trump has publicly called on China to investigate Joe Biden, in defiance of an impeachment investigation launched after he made a similar but private request of the Ukrainian prime minister.
“China should start an investigation into the Bidens,” the US president said. “What happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine.”
Asked if he had already asked China’s leader, Xi Jinping, to mount an investigation into his rival, the president said: “I haven’t, but it’s certainly something we can start thinking about.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Then, in a late night tweet, he wrote that, as president, he has “an absolute right, perhaps even a duty”, to “investigate, or have investigated, CORRUPTION, and that would include asking, or suggesting, other Countries to help us out!”
The news comes after CNN revealed that Trump discussed Biden with Xi in June. During a phone call with the Chinese leader, the US president talked about Biden’s political prospects and those of Elizabeth Warren, who by then had started rising in the polls, according to the broadcaster’s sources.
“Chinese officials listening to Trump might surmise that obtaining a favourable trade deal with the United States may require helping the President win the election,” it said.
The White House does not deny that Biden’s name came up. A spokeswoman said: “We are not going to start discussing the contents of every conversation President Trump has with world leaders, other than to say his conversations are always appropriate.”
In response to Trump’s remarks, a Chinese diplomat said: “This is quite chaotic. We do not want to get in the middle of the US politics.”
Trump accuses Biden and his son Hunter of corruption in their political and business dealings in Ukraine and China. He has never offered evidence.
His latest remarks surprised many. “Impeachment, it seems, has got under Trump’s skin like nothing else,” says The Guardian. “His tone has become more frantic, frenzied and apocalyptic”.
Adam Schiff, the US House intelligence committee's Democratic chairman, said Trump's latest comments mean he has broken his oath of office. “The president of the United States encouraging a foreign nation to interfere again to help his campaign by investigating a rival is a fundamental breach of a president's oath of office,” he said.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How to enjoy the Proms 2024
The Week Recommends This year's concert highlights, how to buy tickets, and where to watch and listen
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Why more men are wearing jewellery
The Week Recommends Pop culture is boosting interest in earrings and necklaces, alongside classic tie pins and lapel pins
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
7 magnificent hotels to visit before the summer crowds descend
The Week Recommends Have beach time in the Dominican Republic or a spa day in Saint-Tropez
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'Can we — the people who have bought so much already — really keep buying more?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'Presidential debates are more performance art than actual ways to inform'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump, DeSantis meet for first time since primary
Speed Read The former president and the Florida governor have seemingly mended their rivalry
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Justices set to punt on Trump immunity case
Speed Read Conservative justices signaled support for Trump's protection from criminal charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona grand jury indicts 18 in Trump fake elector plot
Speed Read The state charged Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies in 2020 election interference case
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published