(The Center Square) – Democratic U.S Rep. Brendan Boyle accused the Trump administration of ineffectual foreign policy at the Pennsylvania Press Club meeting Monday, claiming that China, and not Iran, should be America’s foremost concern.
While conflict between the U.S. and Iran has continued to escalate, Boyle argued that Trump’s militant approach to the Middle East has not only lacked any careful thought but has benefited Iran.
“Entering or launching a war when you have no strategy to win, and you don’t know what the endgame looks like, is a terrible mistake,” Boyle said. “Today, as we speak, Iran is actually stronger than they were at the beginning of this war.”
Despite Trump’s early promises of lowering costs ‘on Day One’, gas prices have continued to rise, which Boyle believes is a direct result of Trump’s war with Iran and is an “incredibly self-inflicted wound”.
“The American people are now hanging at the pump, and they will continue to pay until this war ends.” he said.
He also claimed that this issue won’t be resolved until the U.S and Iran are back to “normal” and shipping lanes are re-opened.
America’s ‘normal’ relations with China, however, is a situation Boyle does believe needs to be seriously revamped.
“With all the recent focus on Iran, I am quite worried that we, the federal government, have taken the eye off the ultimate ball, which is China,” said Boyle.
While Trump continues to meet with Xi Jinping and hopes to have three more additional meetings before the end of 2026 — it has not undergone consistent or sufficient foreign policy from Boyle’s perspective.
“I see absolutely no coherent strategy when it comes to China from this White House,” Boyle said. “What’s going on? One minute tariffs are low, the next minute they’re through the roof. The next minute he’s dining with Xi Jinping and saying all these nice things.”
Recently, Trump has imposed a unilateral tariff of 10% and 12.5% on 60 of America’s trading partners, including China, to replace the expired global tariff he imposed last year. Although critical of this move, the country has not yet reverted to the “tariff wars” seen in 2025.
For Boyle, China remains America’s economic competitor and Xi Jinping’s self-declared dictatorship and increasingly aggressive behavior toward Taiwan warrants greater government action.
“I think it’s reasonable to continue to be concerned about China,” Boyle said. “They continue to steal our IT property. They continue to be a bad actor on the world stage. And I think that this administration is making a complete mistake.”
Conversations between Trump and Xi Jinping during Trump’s in-person visit to the People’s Republic of China in May did not appear to address whether or not America would support Taiwan’s independence over Chinese ambitions. This ‘strategic ambiguity’ comes in direct contrast to Biden’s repeated public statements, promising U.S. aid in the event of a PRC attack on Taiwan.
“There is no question that China is becoming more and more active and assertive in its neighborhood,” Boyle said. “I don’t think that’s a positive for the United States.”
