White House Adds China Chair to Trump’s Iran-Pakistan Table

Negotiators reportedly labeled it “Beijing Seat, Do Not Move,” which is also the current foreign policy.

The White House has issued a seating memo requiring any Trump discussion of Iran or Pakistan to include one empty chair labeled “China,” two bottled waters, and a red folder nobody is authorized to open.

The protocol office also created Form B-17, “Acknowledgment That Beijing Is Probably Relevant,” to be initialed before maps are unfolded or anyone says “historic deal” near a microphone.

“We cannot keep discovering Asia during the meeting,” one briefing note warned.

Staff were further instructed to reserve a York Times clipping tray for “regional leverage,” though House aides reportedly filed it under “large countries with ports.”

Context

Modern Diplomacy reported that China’s influence is significant in Trump’s negotiations involving Iran and Pakistan.

Photo: Suzy Hazelwood