Political commentator Bill O'Reilly asserted Tuesday that President Trump is taking a high-stakes gamble by enlisting China to help resolve the conflict with Iran, hoping that a diplomatic breakthrough will revive the economy and lower prices for American consumers.
O'Reilly, who spoke with Trump on Sunday, revealed that the president plans to seek China's assistance in negotiating an end to the war behind closed doors. The longtime commentator explained that Trump's strategy hinges on the belief that a cessation of hostilities will quickly bring down prices, particularly for oil and gas.
“So President Trump is gambling that he can turn it around, all right? And that all the prices will come down quickly if he can negate the Iranian government. So he goes to China. He asked China for help,” O'Reilly said during a Tuesday appearance on NewsNation's “Cuomo.”
“This is not going to be made public, of course. Okay? China will say either yes or no. But it's in China's best interest because if you know anything about the country, what they value above all else is order. They don't want disorder. It's bad for business. They don't want Hormuz, they don't want any of this,” he added.
The comments come as global oil and gas prices have spiked due to Iran's stranglehold on commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for about 20% of the world's supply, particularly for Asian markets.
Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by more than 15 top tech and financial CEOs for three days of trade and investment talks. The presence of these executives has fueled speculation about a broader U.S.-China deal, including potential energy agreements.
“I understand that President Trump is going to offer China an alternative oil buy. So they'll be able to buy from the United States rather than Iran,” O'Reilly said Tuesday. Such a deal could revive a frozen partnership, as tariffs halted most Chinese imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024, according to Reuters. Last week, three vessels departed from U.S. LNG export plants in Louisiana bound for China, with an expected arrival in mid-to-late June.
O'Reilly also noted that many voters remain “unaware” of the threat posed by Iran's nuclear weapons program and thus do not fully support the war. “The problem is there are unintended consequences and that's inflation. That's angry voters because they don't like this,” he told Cuomo. “They don't know about what the danger is. They know about their wallets shrinking. And that's reality.”
However, O'Reilly argued that if Trump's trip yields a victory over Tehran and the economy “explodes in a positive way, that's going to mean a lot in the midterms.”
For more on the dynamics of Trump's Beijing visit, read about Trump's summit with Xi Jinping and the pressure on various fronts. The outcome could also affect market access for U.S. CEOs accompanying the president.
