Religious freedom advocates express concern over Trump-Xi summit agenda

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the White House on September 24, 2026, to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and Iran. Following the summit, religious freedom advocates expressed disappointment that the official readout did not include any mention of China’s human rights record or the ongoing persecution of religious groups within the country.

Critics of the administration's approach argue that prioritizing trade and technology over human rights has failed to produce political liberalization in China. Some commentators suggest that the U.S. government should adopt a strategy similar to that of the Reagan administration, which emphasized human rights as a central component of diplomatic engagement with authoritarian regimes. These advocates contend that true peace requires a focus on the fundamental rights of individuals rather than solely on economic or military competition.