The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: The Truth with Lisa Boothe: China’s 2020 U.S. Election Influence EXPOSED with Gordon Chang
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Host: Lisa Booth
Guest: Gordon Chang, Renowned China Expert

Introduction

In this episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, host Lisa Booth welcomes esteemed China expert Gordon Chang to discuss China's expanding global ambitions and its implications for the United States. The conversation delves into China's strategic alliances, influence operations, and the potential threats posed by its actions both domestically and internationally.

China’s Strategic Alliances and Middle East Involvement

Timestamp: [03:08] – [08:51]

Lisa Booth opens the discussion by addressing China's recent 25-year strategic partnership with Iran, highlighting the multifaceted nature of this alliance which includes significant investments and military cooperation.

• Gordon Chang explains, "China has been in disarray in the Middle East, where once it looked like it was going to take over" ([05:12]). He references the 2021 agreement where China committed to investing $400 billion in Iran. However, Chang notes that China has not fulfilled its financial promises, causing friction with Iran.

• He elaborates on China's failed diplomatic efforts, citing the breakdown of the Beijing declaration after a bomb killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh ([05:12]).

• Chang attributes China's diminished influence in the region to President Trump's effective diplomacy, particularly his historic trip to Gulf states, which reversed the damage caused by the previous administration's policies ([07:45]).

• Notable Quote: "China has lost Saudi Arabia, it's lost Syria, it's lost Qatar, and now it's losing Iran" ([07:30]).

Economic Dependence and Oil Concerns

Timestamp: [09:36] – [10:28]

Lisa Booth shifts the focus to the economic ramifications of the Middle Eastern instability on China, particularly regarding oil supply.

• Gordon Chang highlights the critical dependency, stating, "50% of China's oil transits the Strait of Hormuz" and expresses concern over Iran's potential to close this vital passage, which would severely impact China's economy ([09:36]).

• He warns that such an action could "basically take down its economy," urging awareness of this strategic vulnerability ([09:36]).

Chinese Influence Operations in the United States

Timestamp: [11:10] – [30:24]

The conversation intensifies as Chang discusses China's covert operations aimed at influencing U.S. politics and undermining national security.

• Migration and Espionage: Chang points out an unusual surge of Chinese migrants entering the U.S. via the southern border during the Biden administration, noting that some migrants had ties to the Chinese military and were attempting to avoid detection ([11:10]).

  • Quote: "We should assume that one of the first signs that there will be war in East Asia will be actually an attack on the United States from our own soil" ([12:50]).

• Election Interference: Turning to the 2020 U.S. election, Chang asserts that China engaged in extensive disinformation campaigns and even produced counterfeit driver’s licenses to influence the outcome in favor of Joe Biden.

  • Quote: "China was very involved in the presidential election in 2020... One can argue that China elected Joe Biden in 2020" ([25:25]).

• Corruption and Influence on the Biden Family: Chang discusses financial entanglements, particularly the substantial funds funneled to Hunter Biden, suggesting these were quid pro quo for influence over President Joe Biden.

  • Quote: "China poured something like 2.3 million dollars into the hands of Hunter Biden... they were trying to bribe the Biden family" ([27:55]).

• Bipartisan Threats: He underscores that Chinese influence operations are a bipartisan issue, citing cases involving both Democratic and Republican officials being targeted or influenced by Chinese agents ([32:06]).

Agroterrorism and Bioweapons Threats

Timestamp: [32:39] – [35:35]

Chang raises alarms about China's attempts to undermine U.S. agriculture through biological agents.

• Smuggling of Toxic Fungi: He details incidents where Chinese nationals attempted to smuggle genetically modified fungi into the U.S., aiming to devastate crops like wheat, barley, and maize.

  • Quote: "China means to destroy American agriculture and American ranching... This has got to be seen in the context that for at least a half decade, China's been trying to plant invasive species in our countries" ([32:39]).

• Unrestricted Warfare Doctrine: Chang connects these actions to China's broader military strategy of "unrestricted warfare," a doctrine that embraces all means to achieve victory over adversaries.

  • Quote: "China has a doctrine of unrestricted warfare... we are under attack and these are acts of war" ([35:35]).

Tariffs, Economic Decoupling, and Future Strategies

Timestamp: [42:02] – [45:46]

The discussion transitions to economic strategies to counter China's aggressive tactics.

• Tariffs as a Tool: Chang advocates for high tariffs on Chinese goods to penalize China for intellectual property theft and predatory trade practices. He praises Trump's initial tariff implementations but criticizes the lack of enforcement against China's violations, such as the rare earths export ban ([42:26]).

  • Quote: "President Trump needs to actually impose some severe costs on China for violating that agreement" ([42:26]).

• Strategic Decoupling: Emphasizing the need to reduce economic dependency, Chang suggests strategic decoupling from China, particularly concerning critical industries like rare earths.

  • Quote: "We need strategic decoupling. In other words, things like rare earths and other things that we absolutely depend upon" ([44:27]).

• Supply Chain Independence: He believes that further decoupling is inevitable as China increasingly threatens to escalate conflicts, prompting American companies to relocate operations away from China ([44:43]).

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [45:46] – [46:00]

Wrapping up the conversation, Lisa Booth acknowledges the gravity of the discussed threats and commends Gordon Chang for his insightful analysis.

• Final Remarks by Chang: He reiterates the urgency of addressing China's multifaceted threats through comprehensive strategies encompassing diplomacy, economic policies, and national security measures.

  • Quote: "We are on the edge of pretty catastrophic events and President Trump can stop it, but we need to have the American public behind him" ([37:20]).

Lisa Booth expresses gratitude towards Chang for his expertise and emphasizes the need for collective societal effort to counter China's ambitions.

Key Takeaways

• China’s Middle East Strategies: Initial successes in forging alliances have faltered due to unmet commitments and regional instability, partly reversing China's influence.

• Economic Vulnerabilities: The U.S. economy is highly susceptible to disruptions in critical areas like oil supply through strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz.

• Covert Influence Operations: China's deliberate efforts to influence U.S. politics, including election interference and corruption, pose significant threats to national sovereignty and democratic integrity.

• Agroterrorism Risks: The introduction of genetically modified pathogens targeting U.S. agriculture underscores the tangible threats of China’s unrestricted warfare strategy.

• Economic Countermeasures: Implementing stringent tariffs and pursuing strategic decoupling from China are essential to mitigate economic dependencies and safeguard national interests.

• Call to Action: Unified efforts across society and decisive leadership are imperative to effectively counter and neutralize China's expansive and aggressive strategies.

Notable Quotes

• Gordon Chang: "China has lost Saudi Arabia, it's lost Syria, it's lost Qatar, and now it's losing Iran." ([07:30])

• Gordon Chang: "China was very involved in the presidential election in 2020... One can argue that China elected Joe Biden in 2020." ([25:25])

• Gordon Chang: "We should assume that one of the first signs that there will be war in East Asia will be actually an attack on the United States from our own soil." ([12:50])

• Gordon Chang: "China means to destroy American agriculture and American ranching... This has got to be seen in the context that for at least a half decade, China's been trying to plant invasive species in our countries." ([32:39])

• Gordon Chang: "We are on the edge of pretty catastrophic events and President Trump can stop it, but we need to have the American public behind him." ([37:20])

This episode serves as a critical examination of China's geopolitical maneuvers and their profound implications for the United States. Gordon Chang provides a compelling analysis of the multifaceted threats posed by China's strategies, urging immediate and collective action to safeguard national interests and maintain global stability.