Trump Requests Postponement of China Visit Due to Iran War
Donald Trump disclosed that he had requested China to postpone his upcoming visit to Beijing while the conflict with Iran persists. This announcement came as he appeared alongside Vice-President JD Vance, who is reportedly skeptical about military action against Tehran’s regime, in an effort to present a united stance.
During their first joint appearance in two weeks, Trump expressed doubt that the conflict—which began on 28 February following US and Israeli hostilities—would conclude within the week but remained optimistic about an eventual victory.
When asked about his planned 31 March summit with the Chinese leader, Trump stated at an Oval Office signing event:
“We’re speaking to . I’d love to [go], but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, I feel and so we’ve requested that we delay it a month or so. I’m looking forward to being with them. We have a very good relationship. But … we got a war going on.”
Trump’s Assessment of the Iran Conflict
Trump has repeatedly described the war against the theocratic Iranian regime as an "excursion" that is nearly won, highlighting the significant damage inflicted by US forces on Iran’s military capabilities, political leadership, and infrastructure.
Despite this, criticism has arisen over underestimating Iran’s vigorous response. Trump has called on Western allies and China to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint responsible for 20% of global oil exports, which Iran is currently blocking, resulting in soaring oil prices.
He reiterated his previous criticisms of countries hesitant to deploy naval vessels to the area, specifically mentioning Britain and its prime minister, Keir Starmer.
“I say it would be really helpful if you’d send over a couple of ships, and if you have some minesweepers, which they do, it would be very helpful,” Trump said.
“And the prime minister is a nice man. I think he’s a very nice guy. He says, well, I’d like to ask my team. I said, you’re the prime minister, you can make a decision. So it’s very disappointing.”
Iran’s Military Response and Regional Impact
In addition to closing and mining the Strait of Hormuz—a tactic Iran has threatened for years if attacked—the Iranian military has launched missile strikes on Gulf Arab states including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, all hosting US military bases.
When questioned about whether he was surprised that no one had informed him these countries might be targeted in the event of a military strike on Iran, Trump responded:
“No. Nobody thought they were going to hit,” referring to some of the countries as “Iran’s bankers”.
“They were … I wouldn’t say friendly countries. They were, like, neutral, they were … they lived with them for years here.
“I heard they were sending missiles to UAE. I said, that’s strange. UAE is like the banker for Iran. There was no experts that would say that was going to happen. It’s not a question of, like, gee, should you have known? And if we did know – big deal. We have to do what we have to do.”
Vance Addresses Questions on Military Engagement
JD Vance, present to mark the signing of an initiative he will lead investigating alleged fraud in Minnesota, accused a journalist of attempting to create division between him and Trump after being asked if he had reconsidered his previously stated opposition to US military interventions.
Vance, who served in the US Marine Corps in Iraq, differentiated the current campaign from past conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan by emphasizing the leadership:
“The difference between the current campaign and military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan is that we have a smart president,” said Vance.
“In wars in the past, we’ve had dumb presidents, and I trust President Trump to get the job done, to do a good job for the American people, and to make sure that the mistakes [of] the past aren’t repeated.”
Reports have indicated that Vance harbors significant doubts about the Iran war, having previously expressed opposition to potential military action against the country. Trump acknowledged last week that Vance was “philosophically … less enthusiastic” about the conflict.
On Monday, standing behind Trump, Vance received praise from the former president:
“JD Has been great … [he] understands better than most. If you give Iran a nuclear weapon, at least a very substantial part of the world would be blown up, and it’ll be used almost immediately.”
