In the Oval Office, Donald Trump said the United States is doing "very well" with China and expects "many different deals" during Xi Jinping's upcoming visit. This will be the Chinese leader's first visit to the White House in more than ten years.
Trump's remarks came a week before the arrival of Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. The president emphasized his personal relations with his Chinese counterpart, mentioned tariffs that had previously reached 145%, and noted that China pays "a lot of tariffs." At the same time, he added that "others maybe don't do as well," but with China everything is going successfully.
For Trump, such a tone is nothing new. Over his years in office, he has repeatedly combined harsh tariff pressure with personal diplomacy, seeking to strike deals directly with leaders. It was he who imposed record duties in 2019–2020 and then moved to phase one of a trade agreement. His current statements repeat the same pattern: a public display of strength and, at the same time, readiness for negotiations.
Xi's visit takes place against the backdrop of the tariff truce reached at the summit in Busan, which expires in November. Washington does not intend to give up control over exports of chips and rare earth metals, but is ready to discuss reducing duties on a limited list of non-strategic goods. The agenda also includes artificial intelligence, fentanyl precursors, and the cases of Americans detained in China.
Trump clearly plays the role of host who controls the agenda. He reminds everyone of the tariffs, emphasizes personal ties, and at the same time makes it clear that he is ready for new agreements. This approach allows him simultaneously to pressure Beijing and to show American voters that it is he who achieves results where others fail.
The situation resembles a chess game in which one player constantly changes the pieces on the board while conducting a long correspondence with his opponent. Trump does not abandon pressure, but uses a personal channel to preserve room for maneuver.
In the end, the meeting in Washington will show how far the leaders' personal relations can soften the structural contradictions between the two powers — or, on the contrary, merely postpone another round of confrontation.
