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The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Trump leaves China with no clarity on Iran or Taiwan

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Lawrence O'Donnell, MS NOW

Politics, Washington, Congress, News, Ms Now, President, Versant Media, Policy, Versant, Government, Senate

4.56.4K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump leaves China with no policy breakthroughs. Also, the German Chancellor warns of the “social climate” in the United States. Plus, the Trump world thrives as U.S. prices keep rising. And Trump uses the China trip to lobby for his ballroom. Chrystia Freeland, Robert Reich, and Rep. Maxwell Frost join Ali Velshi.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The last word with Alleyville. She starts right now. Hey, Allie. I don't know if you've intended it, but this, your shows this week for the last few days have been a remarkable lesson for anybody who's a homeowner who's planning to renovate anything on what not to do. I mean, like just the basic lessons about, hey, talk to two contractors. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody should have a. Like, never just, I mean, if you've been the same guy for a long time, that's fine. But the same guy might have been doing your particular pool. But now you're doing the actual reflecting pool of the United States of America may not be the same job for the same guy. Make it an actual reflecting pool. And if it's $1.8 billion, have a process for it. And I don't know what kind of pull you have at your home, but still. All of the above. Thank you for some great shows. You have a great weekend. Thank you, Ellie. Thank you, you too. Donald Trump is back in the United States, and of course his China summit was a great success.

0:55.4

But while Trump walked away with a flattering reception, a nice dinner, and not much else,

1:00.7

China walked away with something far more consequential, an uncertainty that they sought about the United States' position on Taiwan.

1:09.0

Yesterday, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down for an interview with NBC News,

1:13.5

where he stated clearly that the U.S. policy on Taiwan had not changed.

1:19.6

U.S. policy on the issue of Taiwan is unchanged as of today and as of the meeting that we had here

1:25.0

today.

1:25.3

It was raised.

1:26.3

They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position and we move on to the other topics. We know where they

1:31.3

stand and I think they know where we stand. We know where they stand and I think they know where

1:36.6

we stand. End quote. Today, Donald Trump got on Air Force One and introduced something very

1:43.3

different.

1:51.1

The 1982 assurances, the President Reagan said you would not,

1:56.5

so the United States would not consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan.

1:59.3

So it sounds to be like you have consulted.

2:01.3

I think 1980s is a long way.

2:01.8

It was.

2:02.1

It was.

2:04.4

That's a big far distance around. No, I didn't say anything about it.

2:07.3

We discussed to Taiwan, you know, the whole thing with the arms is in great detail, actually.

2:14.3

In great detail.

2:16.2

That was Trump saying I didn't say anything about Taiwan, only to say mere seconds later we discussed Taiwan in great detail.

...

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