Trump reiterates that he spoke with China's Xi, offers no details - Reuters

Trump reiterates that he spoke with China's Xi, offers no details - Reuters

President Donald Trump reiterated his claims of having spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about trade deals, but refused to provide specific details during a recent interview with Time magazine. The interview, published on April 26, 2025, saw Trump make bold assertions about his administration's trade accomplishments and ongoing negotiations.

Trump stated that he has "made 200 deals" on tariffs, a claim that exceeds the number of countries in the world. He refused to elaborate on the countries involved or the terms of these deals, but hinted at further announcements within the next three to four weeks [1].

When pressed about a phone call with Xi, Trump acknowledged that Xi had called him but declined to provide specific details. He said, "He’s called, and I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf." Chinese officials, however, have disputed the White House's characterization of ongoing trade talks, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun calling the administration's claims "fake news" [1].

The White House has recently softened its stance on China, indicating that trade negotiations are moving in the right direction. However, the lack of concrete details from Trump has raised questions about the actual progress of these negotiations.

In addition to trade talks, Trump discussed the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was deported under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump admitted that he was not happy about the deportation initially but later found out that Abrego Garcia was an MS-13 member. He stated that he has not asked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to return Abrego Garcia despite the U.S. Supreme Court's order to facilitate his return [1].

Trump also commented on the Russia-Ukraine war, blaming Kyiv for initiating the conflict and expressing optimism about ongoing peace negotiations. He projected that a deal would hand Putin some 20% of Ukrainian territory, with Crimea remaining under Russian control [1].

Overall, Trump's interview highlights the ongoing trade negotiations with China and the complexities surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The lack of specific details on trade talks with China and the deportation case of Abrego Garcia has left many questions unanswered.

References:
[1] https://wtop.com/politics/2025/04/trump-claims-200-tariff-deals-phone-call-with-chinese-president-xi-in-wide-ranging-interview/
[2] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3391348/trump-xi-jinping-phone-call-trade-negotiations-china-tariffs/