Last week, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) posted on the social media platform X a screenshot of her virtual call with US Senator Bill Hagerty, accompanied by a caption that read, “I’ve always appreciated his [Hagerty’s] support for the Taiwan-US partnership.”
There was no mention of the content of their call, but some have speculated that it might have been related to the final phase of tariff negotiations. Taiwan and the US are lacking the finishing touches to reach an agreement, and the government likely hopes it can rely on Hagerty to urge US President Donald Trump to finalize the decision as soon as possible.
Hagerty, a former private equity executive, joined the first Trump administration’s transition team in 2016. First appointed by Trump in 2017 to be the 30th US ambassador to Japan, he was eventually elected as a US senator representing the state of Tennessee in 2021. He has been a consistent and prominent advocate of Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, and is regarded as one of the key figures close to Trump’s inner decisionmaking circle.
Former Trump national security adviser Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster praised Hagerty for combining an entrepreneurial business mindset with practical experience in diplomacy, particularly his deep understanding of US congressional negotiations and coordination. Hagerty retains traits of a moderate Republican and was once considered a strong contender for a Cabinet position in Trump’s second term. Rumors linked him to roles ranging from US secretary of state to secretary of the treasury. However, Hagerty ultimately remained in the US Senate, where he serves as Trump’s eyes and ears.
A frequent guest on conservative media such as Fox News and Newsmax, Hagerty has promoted and defended MAGA policies, boosting his position in the eyes of Trump’s base. Hagerty has given several interviews this month covering topics such as Trump’s pressure on Russia and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) authoritarian alliance with Iran, North Korea and Russia.
As a member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Hagerty’s statements are widely regarded as carrying significant authority.
Last month, Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra met with Hagerty, later thanking him online for his “consistent and strong support to the India-US partnership.” The US-India relationship has hit an unprecedented low due to tensions over India’s purchase of Russian oil. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on India, the highest of anywhere else in the world. Despite this, Hagerty is still viewed by New Delhi as one of the most effective channels for communication with the White House.
On Thursday last week, the US Senate held a confirmation hearing for the new nominee for US ambassador to India, White House Presidential Personnel Office Director Sergio Gor. In his introduction of Gor, Hagarty said that few relationships are as critically important to defense, trade and regional stability as the one between the US and India. News of warming ties between the two countries quickly began to spread following the hearing.
After leveraging the extensive network he cultivated during three and a half years as US ambassador to Japan, Hagerty would certainly not be Hsiao’s only point of contact for high-level virtual consultations. He has played a key role in advancing Taiwan-US trade negotiations in their final phase, working to overcome the delays and constraints linked to US-China tariff negotiations. As US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said, a “big deal” is now on the horizon.
Chen Yung-chang is a freelance writer based in Taipei.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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