‘Wrong’: Trump Spox Slams Top Republican Senator For Criticizing Xi Dinner

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White House Deputy Press Secretary Taylor Rogers on Wednesday called out Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) for being dead “wrong” when he criticized President Donald Trump for hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

A day earlier, Wicker bashed the “lavish welcome” the White House was giving Xi — who is kicking off a three-day visit to the US on Wednesday — while delivering remarks on the Senate floor. Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said if the White House had asked for his advice, he would have said it was a bad look to give Xi a warm reception “based on all of the troubling issues” the US has with him and China’s Communist Party.

“Our commander in chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,” Wicker said.

But Rogers said she didn’t enjoy Wicker’s unsolicited advice.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, but unfortunately that opinion is wrong,” Rogers told Spectrum News reporter Taylor Popielarz. “The president is doing what is best for our national interests here.”

Popielarz followed up by asking her, “So you don’t think the lavish welcome and the state dinner, the red carpet arrival and all of that, goes too far, given Xi Jinping’s record?”

“Listen, the president went to China earlier this year, and he was welcomed very grandly by President Xi. The President will welcome him here, and they’ll have good, productive conversations.”

She added that Trump has a “great relationship” with Xi, which she said has led to “great progress” for both nations.

Xi’s arrival comes amid a recent debate over whether the U.S. government should regulate artificial intelligence, among other major issues. Trump has scoffed at those arguing AI needs to be regulated, saying the doomsday fears about the technology are nothing more than a “HOAX.” He also vowed last week he would not block progress, especially since the U.S. is battling China for AI supremacy.

Watch above.

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