Sondland Calls China ‘Complicit’ In The Fentanyl Crisis, Says President Trump’s EU Tariff Threat ‘Shut Them Down,’ And Predicts Putin Will Gain Land, Unless The U.S. Floods Ukraine With Americans
LOS ANGELES, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As We’re Out of Time climbs the charts, reaching #3 in Apple Podcasts’ Mental Health category and #6 in Health & Fitness, host Richard Taite, a nationally recognized addiction recovery expert and founder and executive chairman of Carrara Treatment and executive chairman of 1 Method, welcomes former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. In a headline-making debut, Sondland delivers sharp, behind-the-scenes insight on global flashpoints—from China’s role in the fentanyl crisis to Trump’s proposed 50% EU tariff to the future of the Russia-Ukraine war.
We’re Out of Time host Richard Taite and former U.S. ambassador to Europe Gordon Sondland
“Having Gordon on the show is a game-changer,” said Richard Taite. “This episode gives Americans a rare window into how global decisions are shaping our addiction crisis here at home and what we need to do about it.”
Known for his raw and unflinching conversations with celebrities, musicians, recovering addicts, and rehabilitation experts, Taite doesn’t shy away from hard truths, especially when it comes to fentanyl. He calls Donald Trump “The Fentanyl President” for making the crisis a top priority, and says China’s role in supplying precursor chemicals must remain in the spotlight.
Headline-making moments from the episode include:
‘China Is Complicit’: Former EU Ambassador Sondland Says Fentanyl Crisis Is Strategic
Former U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland says China isn’t just looking the other way on fentanyl—”they’re complicit.” He adds, “I think they’re assisting in the effort, not just saying go ahead… You get people hooked or killed on that substance… they don’t have to shoot a bullet at an enemy. They let the enemy kill themselves with that drug.” Host Richard Taite, calls it a national security issue, based on years of treating veterans unknowingly exposed to fentanyl. “I call him [Trump] the fentanyl president…he’s moved fentanyl to the top of the list when he talks about China.” Sondland agrees, “At the top of the list whenever he brings up our trade issues with China is fentanyl. He talks about it all the time. They’re the number one producer of the precursors…I think he’s bringing it out to the top of the agenda.”
Ex-Ambassador Sondland Warns: Trump’s July 9 Tariff Deadline Is Real; ‘Essentially Shuts Them Down’
Gordon Sondland, former U.S. Ambassador to the EU, breaks down Trump’s hardline trade strategy with Europe. “Every president for 40 years has asked the Europeans to drop some of these trade barriers…and they’ve just tapped the U.S. along and nothing happens. So, for the first time, Trump said ‘okay fine, while you’re thinking about it, it’s a 50% tariff,’ which essentially shuts them down. And all of a sudden, within hours…the phone rings — ‘okay, okay, okay, we want to talk.'” Sondland says the July 9 deadline is real. “Trump and his team will figure out how to impose them if the Europeans do not relent on some of their protectionist policies. I really believe that.”
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