Follow along with the latest updates on the Trump administration Friday, as President Trump departed China after a whirlwind high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping.
The president — and his delegation of administration officials, tech CEOs and press — boarded Air Force One at Beijing Capital International Airport around 2:30 a.m. EST Friday.
Air Force One is slated to land at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska around 10 a.m. EST to refuel before continuing on to Washington, DC.
Trump and Xi had their final meeting at Zhongnanhai, the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership compound next to Beijing’s Forbidden City. The leaders took a friendship photo and had tea and a lavish bilateral lunch before Trump headed to the airport.
Meanwhile, the Chinese strongman seemingly embraced Trump’s stance on Iran during their historic summit, agreeing the fanatical regime should open up the Strait of Hormuz and never have access to a nuclear weapon — while pledging not to send arms to the Islamic Republic.
Follow The Post’s live updates on national politics for the latest news:
President Trump revealed Friday that he’s holding off on approving a $14 billion weapons sale to Taiwan because he views it as a “negotiating chip” with China.
“I haven't approved it yet. We're going to see what happens. I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
“I'm holding that in abeyance, and it depends on China,” he added of the potential sale. “It depends – it's a very good negotiating chip for us, frankly. It's a lot of weapons.”
President Trump revealed Friday that he is not optimistic Chinese leader Xi Jinping will release pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai.
“I brought up Jimmy Lai, and I would say the response to that was not positive,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
“I said, ‘Well, we would appreciate if you would release him. He's gotten old, and he's probably not feeling too well. It would be nice,'" the president added, "and I did not feel optimistic."
President Trump downplayed the effect redistricting will have on the midterm elections and said the outcome of the Iran war will be a bigger factor.
“It helps. I mean, I don't know [if it will be the] difference,” Trump said of how new congressional districts in several states will impact Republicans in November.
“I think a bigger difference would be if I win quickly [in Iran], as opposed to after [the elections], but again, I'm not going to let the election determine what's going to happen with respect to Iran, because they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
President Trump said Friday that he's had difficulty dealing with the fractured Iranian regime but said he has “no doubt” an agreement to end the hostilities will soon be reached.
“I think it’s going to end fast,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier, adding that there is "no doubt" Tehran's current leadership will capitulate despite being “afraid to make a deal.”
“They don't know how to make a deal. They've never been put in this position before.”
JOINT BASE ANDREWS -- Air Force One, carrying President Trump and other top administration officials, has just landed at Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, completing his return trip from China.
President Trump was adamant Friday that Iran can’t dig out the enriched uranium buried by last summer’s US airstrikes on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities -- but said he still wants to get the nuclear material out of the country.
“It's not good enough, public relations-wise,” the president told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
"It's probably good enough for a different reason … if they wanted to get it, they couldn’t,” he said of the Iranian regime.
“That's not good enough for me. I want to get it.”
President Trump claimed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping told him he was “surprised” by US advancements in artificial intelligence.
“We are leading China by a lot in the AI race,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
“If we're smart, we're going to win it. If we're not smart, we're not. But we're leading by a lot,” he added.
“We talked about that [Thursday] night. President Xi was very surprised at how well we've done with AI, because they thought, you know, when it started, they took this gigantic lead, and we now, we are substantially ahead of them in AI.”
President Trump suggested China may attempt a takeover of Taiwan sometime after he leaves office in January 2029.
“I don't think they'll do anything when I'm here. When I'm not here, I think they might, to be honest with you,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
“It’s always been the biggest thing for him, Taiwan,” Trump said of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s desire to annex the self-governing island.
President Trump said building on ties between the US and China is the most important outcome of his summit with Xi Jinping.
“I think the most important thing is relationship. It's all about relationship,” Trump told Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier.
“I have a very good relationship with President Xi and with China, and it sounds like something that doesn't mean anything, but it's everything in deal-making.”
The governments of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their cease-fire by an additional 45 days after two days of discussions at the State Department in Washington, the Trump administration has said.
"The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote on X.
On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June… pic.twitter.com/Dcs9NJDdN5
"In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries. We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border."
The April 16 cease-fire had been extended an additional three weeks on April 24 following meetings at the White House brokered by President Trump.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) announced Friday he will not seek another term in Congress after the Volunteer State's legislature redrew his Memphis-area district.
Cohen, the lone Democrat in Tennessee's 11-member House and Senate delegation, has represented the state's 9th Congressional District since 2007.
The new map, signed into law by Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee May 7, breaks up the deep-blue 9th District, making it part of three Republican-leaning districts.
Rep. Steve Cohen said he will not seek another term in Congress after the Volunteer State’s legislature redrew his Memphis-area district.
"I don’t want to quit. I’m not a quitter," Cohen told reporters in Washington. "But these districts were drawn to beat me."
The lawmaker is challenging the state’s new map in court and caveated that he would re-enter the race if that lawsuit succeeded in restoring his old congressional district.
Tennessee is scheduled to hold its House and Senate primaries Aug. 6.
President Trump announced on Truth Social Friday that he is formally endorsing Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) to unseat incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy in the Pelican State's Saturday primary.
"Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better! Julia is running for the United States Senate in Louisiana, a place I love and WON BIG, six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Rep. Julia Letlow greeting supporters at a campaign stop at Hammond Northshore Regional Airport in Hammond, Louisiana, on May 6, 2026. AP
"I know Julia well, have seen her tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and she is a TOTAL WINNER! A Proud Mother of two children, Julia is a wonderful person, has ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana, and would continue doing so in the United States Senate."
Trump made no mention of Cassidy, one of seven Republicans to vote to convict Trump after his impeachment for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Letlow and Cassidy are competing against Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming and Mark Spencer in the Republican primary. If no contender gets 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff June 27.
