Trump, Xi hold high stakes meeting in South Korea
President Trump met Thursday in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a high stakes sit-down expected to focus on trade between the world’s two largest economies.
“We’re going to have a very successful meeting, I have no doubt,” Trump said as he greeted Xi. “He’s a very tough negotiator.”
Trump went on to praise Xi as a “great leader of a great country.”
“And I think we’re going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time,” Trump added.
Shortly before the two met, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had instructed the Defense Department to immediately begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons on an equal basis to China and Russia.
The president did not answer questions from reporters about soybean purchases, Taiwan, or his shift on nuclear testing.
As White House officials sat across from Xi and Chinese officials, Trump did not answer a question about why he opted to resume the nuclear program less than an hour before the sit-down.
Trump has frequently spoken warmly about Xi and downplayed tensions between Washington and Beijing. But the two countries have slapped tariffs on the others imports, China has stopped buying soybeans from American farmers, and some foreign policy hawks have raised concerns about Xi’s relationship with other autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Thursday’s meeting was expected to focus heavily on trade negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday negotiators for the two countries had established a framework of an agreement for the two leaders to sign off on and avoid higher tariffs.
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