President Trump shared with Breitbart News from Scotland that Chinese President Xi Jinping is keen to arrange an in-person summit—perhaps as soon as this year—with his team working to lock in the dates, potentially in China or the U.S. Trump emphasized that “Xi wants me to go there and he’s going to come [to the United States],” but made clear the ball is in Beijing’s court—underscoring the leverage the U.S. holds thanks to the administration’s strong economic posture.
This revelation comes amid a wave of historic deals Trump has struck while in Scotland, including a landmark trade pact with the EU and brokering a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Those diplomatic victories set the stage for cooling tensions with China. In his Truth Social post, Trump stressed: “I am not SEEKING anything! I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi,” signaling that the U.S. isn’t chasing leadership but waiting for terms that protect national interests.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s “very good” meeting with Chinese officials in Stockholm bolstered prospects of extending the 90-day tariff ceasefire, with the outcome resting squarely on Trump’s approval. And while Xi is reportedly eager to meet, Trump made clear that any summit would only proceed under U.S. terms—reflecting a security-first posture that conservatives champion.
Trump noted tariffs on China had previously reached staggering 145 percent and triggered factory closures and economic pain in Beijing. Now, negotiations center on opening Chinese markets to U.S. goods, ensuring fair competition and reclaiming American industrial strength. The EU deal and tariff reforms are already generating a budget surplus—statements of robust fiscal discipline that hobble the case for tax hikes or endless stimulus.
China’s state media has pushed back hard, accusing the U.S. of “tariff blackmail,” yet Trump’s approach is reshaping global trade norms: demanding reciprocity, protecting domestic jobs, and reversing decades of dependence. If an Xi summit happens, it will be not because Trump sought it, but because Xi needs it—underscoring a powerful reversal in global dynamics that puts America in command of the table.
