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White House: Trump Taiwan call could 'undermine' progress

Posted: 1:20 AM, Dec 06, 2016
Updated: 2016-12-06 04:22:16-05
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<p>They say that money can't buy happiness — but apparently, it can buy some pretty fancy stuff for Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.</p><p>According to a brochure obtained by <a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/11/29/20486/donald-trump-offering-huge-perks-inauguration-donors" target="_blank">The Center for Public Integrity,</a> Trump's inaugural committee is offering some big perks in exchange for big donations.</p><p>For example, anyone who contributes a million dollars or more will receive tickets to a slew of inauguration week events, including a "candlelight dinner" with special appearances by the president and vice president-elect and their wives.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-s-predecessors-paved-way-for-increased-executive-power/">Trump Can Thank His Predecessors For Expanding Executive Power</a></b></p><p>Now if you actually want to eat dinner <i>with</i> Mike Pence, the top package includes an "intimate" dining experience with him and his wife.</p><p>And, of course, you'll get VIP access to the inaugural ball, concert, parade and victory reception, among other exclusive benefits.</p><p>But if you don't have an extra million dollars, fear not. Underwriters who donate between $500,000 and $25,000 can still score tickets to some of the events above, depending on the price they're willing to pay.</p><p>Trump's inaugural committee reportedly wants to raise between $65 million and $75 million to fund the inauguration festivities. But taxpayers will still foot a good portion of the bill for items like security and the actual swearing-in ceremony.</p><p>Still, that fundraising goal is a lot more than President Barack Obama's total in 2013. He scraped together <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/11/26/trump-inauguration-fundraising/" target="_blank">about $43 million</a> when it was all said and done.</p><p>Trump's inaugural committee has confirmed the details of these perks but also said they could change before the event.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/donald-trump-to-leave-his-business-empire-in-total/">Donald Trump Says He Will Be Leaving His Business Empire 'In Total'</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-will-likely-nominate-steven-mnuchin-to-head-treasury/">Trump's Treasury Pick Is A Former Goldman Sachs Executive</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-s-predecessors-paved-way-for-increased-executive-power/">Trump Can Thank His Predecessors For Expanding Executive Power</a></li></ul>
 
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- US officials have talked at least twice with Beijing amid concern that President-elect Donald Trump was endangering ties between the two countries after his conversation with Taiwan's leader last week, the White House said on Monday.
 
Trump's call has the potential to thrust US-China relations into tumult, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
 
"Some of the progress we have made in our relationship with China could be undermined by this issue flaring up," Earnest said.
 
He suggested Trump should begin taking briefings from the US State Department ahead of future conversations with foreign leaders.
 
"That expertise is available to the President-elect," Earnest said, noting that President Barack Obama has benefited from that advice during his tenure.
 
"President-elect Trump would as well," he said.
 
Trump's call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen represented a breach of US diplomatic precedent, since the US recognizes Taiwan as part of China.
 
Officially, Beijing's response to Trump's action has been muted. But in Communist Party newspapers, the reaction was harsh.
 
"No matter what the reasons are behind Trump's outrageous remarks, it appears inevitable that Sino-US ties will witness more troubles in his early time in the White House than any other predecessor," said an op-ed in the Global Times Monday. "We must be fully prepared, both mentally and physically, for this scenario."
 
Obama has worked to improve cooperation with the country on climate change and North Korea, though deep differences remain, including on China's territorial grabs in the South China Sea and on cyber issues.
 
Earnest on Monday said it wasn't clear what Trump's intentions were in speaking with Taiwan's president.
 
"I think it's hard to determine exactly what the aim was," Earnest said, adding later it was "unclear what the potential benefit" of Trump's engagement with Taiwan might be.
 
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