Cortez Masto, Colleagues to President Trump: DON’T Negotiate AWAY Americans’ National Security

Washington, D.C. –Ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter joined by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Md.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) urging him to protect U.S. and our allies’ national security in trade negotiations.
“Ahead of your meeting with President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, we write to urge you not to negotiate away America and our allies’ national security,”the Senators wrote.“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a fundamental threat to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and global leadership…Across multiple administrations and congresses, there has been bipartisan support for tools that safeguard our national security, including export controls and investment screening mechanisms on critical technologies, as well as partnerships with trusted allies.”
This letter comes as the Trump administration has already made significant concessions to China – highlighted in the letter – includingweakeningU.S. export controls on semiconductor chips,barringTaiwan’s president from making a planned layover in the U.S., and offering little detail on how they will comply with the bipartisan TikTok law to limit CCP influence over the app.
“We are deeply disturbed by your recent statements and actions, which indicate that you are all too willing to sacrifice these vital national security tools for empty promises and illusory ‘wins’,”they said. The Senators continued by urging the Trump administration to:
“You have expressed confidence that you will leave South Korea this week with a “really fair and really great trade deal.” We urge you to understand that any deal that sacrifices America or our allies’ national security is neither,”the Senators concluded.
The full letter can be foundhere.
Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence and protect American national and economic security. Cortez Masto’sFIGHT China Actto safeguard America’s national security by prohibiting and requiring notification of U.S. investment in certain technologies in China, and herPASS Actto ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near U.S. military installations bothpassed the Senatein the FY2026 NDAA. She has also introduced thePacific Partnership Actto strengthen America’s strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations and combat the increasing Chinese aggression in the region.
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