Faith, Diplomacy and China: Morris Weighs in on Trump’s Trip

Theologian and commentator Jonathan Morris has advised President Donald Trump not to allow pressure from religious advocacy groups to dominate discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a high-stakes trip to China.

Speaking about calls for Trump to confront Beijing over the treatment of Christians and Uyghurs, Morris said the president should remain focused on maintaining stability between the United States and China.

“Don’t be pressured by these religious groups,” Morris said, while adding that he supports human rights, religious freedom and protections for religious minorities. He argued that attempting to address every disagreement at once could undermine broader diplomatic goals.

According to Morris, the most important objective is ensuring that relations between Washington and Beijing do not move “in the direction of World War III,” particularly given China’s influence on the global stage and its dealings with Russia.

He said that while leaders may ideally want to address every point of conflict, negotiations require prioritising what is “essential and most important.”

The discussion also touched on imprisoned Hong Kong media figure Jimmy Lai and broader concerns involving Christians in China. Morris said diplomacy often requires “incrementalism,” describing it as pursuing long-term goals through gradual phases rather than trying to secure every concession immediately.

“There’s nothing unethical about that,” he said, arguing that negotiations work more effectively when progress is achieved step by step.

The conversation later shifted to comments by Pope Leo XIV regarding the relationship between faith and science. Morris said the pope’s references to “true” and “honest” science reflected concerns that both religion and science can be manipulated for selfish purposes.

He cited examples ranging from extremist ideologies to pseudoscience, saying both faith and scientific reasoning should work together in pursuit of objective truth.

Morris said faith and reason complement one another, echoing teachings associated with Pope John Paul II, who described them as “two wings of the bird.”

Addressing scientific ethics, Morris said scientific discovery is positive when it respects human dignity and seeks truth, but warned against using people as “guinea pigs” or attempting to “play God.”

On climate science, he argued that ideology should not drive the pursuit of truth, saying some actions carried out in the name of climate science are politically motivated rather than objective.

The interview also referenced recent discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pope Leo XIV. Morris described Rubio as knowledgeable and capable of engaging the pope in a direct and constructive dialogue.

He said the meeting demonstrated the pope’s emphasis on dialogue in action, opening channels for conversation instead of relying on assumptions about opposing viewpoints.

The exchange concluded with a light-hearted discussion about Henry VIII, whom the host described as “a monster” despite his historical impact.