President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that he had spoken by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid trade uncertainty.
China’s state-run news agency Xinhua was first to report the talks, saying the talks came at Trump’s request.
Trump posted to Truth Social mid-morning Thursday saying he had a ‘very good phone call’ with Xi.
Later, as he greeted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz outside the West Wing, Trump commented ‘it went very well, thank you.’
He mentioned that Xi extended an invitation to the U.S. President and First Lady Melania Trump for a visit to Beijing. In return, Trump offered an invitation for Xi to come to Washington, D.C.
‘As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing,’ Trump said.
The president said they discussed ‘some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal.’
‘The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries,’ the U.S. president said.
During his 2017 state visit to Beijing, President Donald Trump (left) is seen shaking hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (right). On Thursday, Xi invited Trump to visit China again, while Trump extended an invite to Xi to visit Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the call, initially reported by Chinese state media, describing it as a ‘good’ discussion and hinting that a state visit to China could be on the horizon.
‘There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products,’ he added.
In April, China had suspended exporting a wide range of critical minerals and magnets needed by automakers, military contractors and computer chip manufacturers globally.
The move was meant to squeeze Trump on trade.
Trump said the American and Chinese teams will be meeting shortly.
‘We will be represented by Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer,’ Trump said.
Trump acknowledged that the ‘conversation was focused almost entirely on TRADE.’
‘Nothing was discussed concerning Russia/Ukraine, or Iran,’ he said.
China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV’s reporting suggested that Trump and Xi had also discussed student visas.
In the Oval Office with Merz, Trump seemingly confirmed CCTV’s report.
‘Chinese students are coming, no problem, no problem,’ he told reporters.
The president said he would alert the media soon about the timing and location of the U.S.-China meeting.
‘Thank you for your attention to this matter!’ Trump said, signing off.
Trump’s tone in the post was much different then when he vented his frustrations about Xi in the early hours of Wednesday.
‘I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!’ Trump posted to Truth Social at 2:17 a.m.
In mid-May the U.S. and China paused the escalating trade war for 90 days, with the U.S. reducing tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent.
In turn, Beijing reduced tariffs on U.S. imports from 125 percent to 10 percent.
Since then, both sides have acused the other of violating those terms.
Trump has also taken offense to his trade policies being labeled with the acronym TACO: ‘Trump always chickens out.’
The Financial Times’ Robert Armstrong came up with the term to describe how the president has made bold tariff threats – rattling financial markets – only to pull back, implimenting broad pauses as the U.S. tries to ink individual trade deals.
That was the case with China, with the trade war currently on a 90-day pause.
Trump participated in a state visit to Beijing in November 2017, less than a year into his first term.
His relationship with Xi soured during the final year of his first term due to China’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. hasn’t hosted Xi for a state visit since 2015, during Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration.
Trump did, however, host Xi at Mar-a-Lago in April 2017, for their first ever face-to-face meeting.
