Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Trump Rolls Out Red Carpet for Xi Amid U.S.-China Rivalry
Donald Trump once said China was hurting American factories and workers.
Now he speaks warmly about Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump is preparing to welcome Xi with a state dinner at the White House on Thursday.
Trump says the two leaders get along and can make deals.
His earlier effort to pressure China with high tariffs and technology restrictions did not change China’s behavior as planned.
China used its control over important rare-earth materials to gain leverage in trade talks.
Critics say Trump’s disputes with U.S. allies have made it harder for countries to work together against China.
China is still growing its factories, electric-car exports, military and artificial-intelligence abilities.
Some experts worry that friendly personal relations may produce few specific results when stronger competition with China is needed.
Donald Trump has shifted from condemning China’s economic impact to praising President Xi Jinping ahead of Thursday’s state dinner.
Trump’s earlier tariffs and export restrictions failed to change China’s behavior, while Beijing used its rare-earth leverage to secure a trade armistice.
Critic Michael Kovrig says Trump’s conflicts with traditional allies have weakened collective pressure on China and supported Beijing’s global narrative.
China’s manufacturing, electric-vehicle exports, military capabilities and artificial-intelligence development have continued expanding despite U.S. measures.
Experts say the relationship itself may be the main outcome of Xi’s visit because concrete trade or policy agreements remain unclear.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and experts and critics assessing Trump’s China policy.
- What
- Trump is hosting Xi for a state dinner while pursuing a friendlier public relationship with China after earlier tariff-based pressure.
- When
- The state dinner is scheduled for Thursday; Trump also traveled to Beijing in May and the leaders could meet twice more at international summits this year.
- Where
- The White House in Washington and within the broader U.S.-China relationship.
- Why
- Trump’s tariffs and export restrictions did not change China’s behavior as intended, while Trump favors personal diplomacy and economic deals with Xi.
Trump Administration’s Approach
Critics’ Concerns
Personal diplomacy
Trump Administration’s Approach
Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasize that Trump and Xi have a good relationship, can communicate directly and make deals together.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics say prioritizing personal rapport and the appearance of friendship may come at the expense of clear policy goals.
Pressure versus engagement
Trump Administration’s Approach
The administration continues some tariffs, pursues rare-earth partnerships and supports rapid U.S. artificial-intelligence development as a way to compete with China.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics argue that the earlier tariff and export-control strategy failed, while China’s manufacturing and technology sectors continued expanding.
Alliances and competition
Trump Administration’s Approach
Trump presents the United States as comfortably ahead of China and focuses on direct engagement between the two leaders.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics say Trump’s conflicts with allies have weakened coordinated pressure on China and helped Beijing portray itself as the more stable and responsible power.
- Scheduled event
- Trump is expected to host Xi Jinping for a state dinner on Thursday.
- Policy shift
- Trump has moved from calling China a threat to the U.S. economy to describing Xi as a great gentleman and saying they get along well.
- Trade pressure
- The article says Trump’s high tariffs and export restrictions were unsuccessful in changing China’s behavior.
- Rare-earth leverage
- China used its relative monopoly on rare earths used in electronics to help force a trade armistice.
- China’s trade surplus
- China recorded a $1.2 trillion global trade surplus last year, according to the article.
- Unclear outcome
- Experts say the relationship itself could be the visit’s main deliverable rather than measurable trade or policy agreements.
