Senate Democrats argue in a new report that the Trump administration’s diplomatic and trade policies are weakening America’s advantage over China as the two countries compete to be the world’s leading economic and military power. Since the outbreak of war with Iran, Democrats’ principal criticism of the administration’s foreign policy has centered on the rapid depletion of scarce military resources as the president risks entangling the United States in an extended conflict without the approval of Congress. Ask The Post AIDive deeperBut Democrats remain troubled about the administration’s approach to China, America’s most powerful adversary, and what the report characterizes as the White House’s inconsistent and often conciliatory policy. The Democrats’ report frames the administration’s actions as an opportunity for the China hawks to reassert Congress’s authority over foreign policy. Otherwise, the report argues, China will fill the vacuum.

Source: Washington Post March 10, 2026 16:01 UTC