Xi Jinping holds phone call with U.S. President Trump

Xi Jinping holds phone call with U.S. President Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, September 19, 2025. The call, which will be the second between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House in January, will focus on two key issues: the fate of the video-sharing app TikTok and ongoing trade talks between the two nations.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to finalize a deal on TikTok, which has been under scrutiny due to national security concerns. He has indicated that the app's U.S. operations would be owned by American investors, a move that could potentially appease Trump's base and boost his 2024 election prospects . The possibility of a consortium involving tech giant Oracle and investment funds Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz has been floated to manage TikTok's U.S. operations .

The phone call also comes at a critical juncture in U.S.-China trade relations. Both nations have significantly increased tariffs against each other in recent months, disrupting global supply chains. While they reached an agreement to reduce tariffs in November 2025, the expiration of this deal looms, potentially reigniting trade tensions [^1, 2].

Xi Jinping has organized a major summit with the leaders of Russia and India, and invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to observe a military parade in Beijing. Trump has criticized Xi's actions, stating that the Chinese leader is "conspiring" against the United States and calling for European countries to sanction China for buying Russian oil [^1, 2].

Despite the ongoing tensions, Trump has maintained a positive outlook on his relationship with Xi, stating that their relationship is "very good" and that they are "very close to deals on all of it" [^1, 2].

The outcome of this phone call will be closely watched by investors and financial professionals, as it could have significant implications for global trade and the future of TikTok's operations in the United States.