On Monday, July 28, U.S. President Donald Trump explained that he is not currently seeking a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, refuting reports to the contrary in the press.
In a note on his official Truth Social platform, Trump put to rest the rumors, stating: "The Fake News is saying that I am SEEKING a 'Summit' with President Xi of China. This is not true, I am not SEEKING anything! I might go to China, but only at the invitation of President Xi, which has been done. Otherwise, no interest! Thank you for your attention to this."
Trump's comment is made as U.S.–China trade tensions are still running high, with the two countries engaged in a long-standing economic stalemate. Washington has slapped massive tariffs on a broad array of Chinese imports, including some that have reached triple-digit rates.
In spite of the tensions, Trump previously indicated readiness to sit down with Xi to cooperate towards a potential end to the trade standoff.
In the meantime, representatives of both governments are to sit down together in Sweden to talk about trade and overall economic ties. The sit-down, which is the third round of meetings for the year, will have U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in attendance.
This conversation comes on the heels of Trump's recent offer of new tariffs, including a 145% import tax on Chinese goods. The meeting in Sweden is likely to lay the groundwork for an eventual Trump–Xi summit later this year.
These diplomatic interactions are part of a broader Washington–Beijing attempt to calm a relationship increasingly characterized by trade tensions, technological competition, and broader geostrategic rivalry.
