President Donald Trump is blasting media reports claiming he’s chasing a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — even as he admits Xi has already invited him to China.
“The Fake News is reporting that I am SEEKING a ‘Summit’ with President Xi of China. This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest!”
The denial came as top U.S. and Chinese economic officials huddled in Stockholm for tense, closed-door trade talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are trying to lock in a 90-day extension to the fragile tariff truce — a pause that, if it lapses, could send tariffs soaring to 145% on Chinese goods and spark a fresh trade war.
Behind the scenes, negotiators are quietly laying the groundwork for what could become a fall Trump–Xi meeting. Sources say both sides are pushing on sensitive flashpoints — from fentanyl precursors and rare earth minerals to high-tech export controls and China’s oil purchases from Russia and Iran.
The stakes are enormous:
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U.S. demands: Looser Chinese controls on rare earth exports, better access to U.S. companies, reduced overcapacity in steel and EVs.
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China’s demands: Relief from U.S. tech restrictions, more access to U.S. markets, scaled-back sanctions over Taiwan.
Trade insiders say a face-to-face between Trump and Xi may be the only way to break the deadlock. Trump isn’t ruling it out — but insists it would happen only on his terms.
“I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I haven’t thought about,” he told reporters when asked about accepting Xi’s invitation.
The Stockholm talks resume Tuesday, with both sides signaling they want to avoid a full-blown trade war — but also warning that without a breakthrough, the peace could shatter by mid-August.