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Trump claimed that China would "own" the United States if Biden becomes president and that Americans "would have to learn to speak Chinese." The president riffed on what he called his tough approach to China and the deterioration of his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the coronavirus pandemic during a morning interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, who is also a contributing opinion columnist for The Washington Post. Hewitt noted that Trump's national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien had recently said that China would prefer Biden to win in November. Trump agreed that Beijing would rather deal...

The Trump administration waded even deeper into the Libya conflict this week, backing UN calls for a cease-fire amid the many factions, and signaling again that the country's oil fields are off limits to those seeking to profit on the war. The US initiative is well timed, with signs of an escalation of fighting between the Libyan Government of National Accord, which is recognized by the UN and backed by Turkey, and the insurgent forces of former general Khalifa Hifter, who has the support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and France. Libya's also become the world's most dangerous...

The United States is deeply troubled by the escalating conflict in Libya.  We strongly oppose foreign military involvement, including the use of mercenaries and private military contractors, by all sides.  The ongoing efforts of foreign powers to exploit the conflict – for example, by establishing an enduring military presence or exerting control over resources that belong to the Libyan people – pose grave threats to regional stability and global commerce.  Furthermore, these efforts undermine the collective security interests of the United States and our allies and partners in the Mediterranean region.  Escalation will only deepen and prolong the conflict.Over...

President Trump announced in a tweet on Wednesday that he will name Robert O’Brien to succeed John Bolton as his national security adviser. “I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O’Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, as our new National Security Advisor​,” the president said. “I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!​”​ ​The announcement comes a day after Trump released the five finalists on his list and called O’Brien “fantastic.”

Scott Walker has snagged a key Romney ally, attorney and foreign-policy hand Robert C. O’Brien, for his not-yet-announced presidential campaign. A spokeswoman for Walker’s 527 group, Our American Revival, confirmed that O’Brien will serve as a foreign-policy adviser. O’Brien, sources say, decided to endorse Walker after being courted by several other Republican presidential contenders, including Texas senator Ted Cruz, former Texas governor Rick Perry, Florida senator Marco Rubio, and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham. He is a personal friend of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, a fellow Mormon who served as a key foreign-policy adviser on the governor’s 2012 presidential...