TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) dismissed reports on Thursday (Nov. 7) that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) sought to arrange a congratulatory call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Kuo criticized recent media reports as erroneous and unverified, emphasizing the importance of accurate journalism.
The U.S. election results, announced Wednesday (Nov. 6), declared Republican candidate Donald Trump the winner, marking his return to the White House. Back in December 2016, Trump engaged in a brief phone conversation with Taiwan's then-president, Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), shortly after his initial election victory.
Media reports suggested that Taiwan's Presidential Office had explored congratulatory communication channels with both U.S. candidates before the election. However, foreign affairs experts doubted the likelihood of a direct call.
Kuo stated that President Lai instructed Taiwan's representative office in the U.S. to convey congratulatory letters expressing well-wishes to President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance. Kuo expressed regret over the media's failure to verify facts with the Presidential Office before publishing incorrect information. She urged media outlets to ensure thorough fact-checking before releasing reports.
Beyond extending congratulations, President Lai conveyed his anticipation of further strengthening cooperation with the Trump administration, building on the robust Taiwan-U.S. partnership. Observers now await the potential developments in Taiwan-U.S. relations under Trump's renewed leadership, with particular focus on how diplomatic engagements might evolve in the coming months.
