here between neoconservatives in the republican party who feel confrontation with china is needed that we've been too soft on them for a long time and it's sort of amazing to see that ideological string, which is a real developed thing, gain a foothold this early. >> well, sure. and it gained a foot hold in michael flynn. you know, the attitude is, yeah, we're going to break some eggs and they should be broken. and again, i haven't sensed from democratic foreign policy experts any conviction that this is harmful in and of itself. >> right. and does china then go about flexing its muscles militarily around taiwan and is there a provocation and do we respond to the provocation. if it's signaling a new day, may not be that big of a deal. >> john harwood, thank you. al gore's surprise visit to trump tower.