Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is expected to accompany President Donald Trump to China aboard Air Force One, Semafor reported on November 15, 2026, citing people familiar with the matter. Republicans accuse him of delaying AI-chip export restrictions aimed at China. Source
Semafor cautioned that the travel plans could still change. It reported that Trump was scheduled to arrive in China on Wednesday, November 18, to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Source
According to Semafor, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials had pressed him to put Nvidia customer Megaspeed on a blacklist of companies posing national-security concerns. Republicans have accused Lutnick of defying Trump and warned that his job could be on the line. Source
Treasury “has been pushing for this for months,” but Commerce “has the pen,” Bessent told CNBC, according to Semafor. That is not a subtle interdepartmental nudge. Source
The White House has said it “maintains complete confidence in the secretary,” according to Semafor. The outlet also reported that Lutnick was expected to join Trump rather than attend its Silicon Valley & The World conference. Source
A possible seat on Air Force One isn’t an answer to the policy fight. Source
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