Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has yet to make a transit or stopover in the continental United States during Donald Trump’s second term, despite prior Hawaii and Guam stops in 2024 for Pacific allies. Recent attempts to include New York or other mainland locations en route to Latin American diplomatic partners were reportedly declined amid US-China trade talks and Beijing’s objections. The September 2026 Trump-Xi summit and follow-on diplomacy have heightened caution, with China pressing Washington on Taiwan policy while arms sales packages face delays. Senior Taiwanese officials, including the foreign minister, continue lower-profile US visits focused on economic and semiconductor cooperation. No confirmed itinerary for a presidential US transit has emerged, leaving timing dependent on bilateral negotiations, Beijing’s reactions, and US domestic political calculations.