Trump Describes Xi Jinping as 'Very Tough' and 'Extremely Difficult to Negotiate With'

President Donald Trump offered candid remarks on his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, characterizing the Chinese leader as “very tough” and “extremely hard to make a deal with.” Despite expressing admiration for Xi, Trump acknowledged the significant challenges of negotiating with China’s top official. These comments were shared online ahead of an anticipated phone conversation between the two leaders expected to focus on the ongoing trade dispute and recent tariff escalations.

Trump emphasized, “I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” This statement highlights the complex nature of U.S.-China relations, especially as both countries navigate a prolonged trade conflict that has seen tariffs rise dramatically on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods.

The White House has confirmed that plans are underway for Trump to discuss these matters directly with Xi, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett saying, “President Trump, we expect, is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with President Xi. That’s our expectation.” The outcome of the call is highly anticipated by global markets and policymakers as both governments search for common ground amid mutual tariff increases.

Tensions have been especially high since the U.S. imposed new tariffs, some reaching up to 145%, following China’s decision to implement retaliatory measures. The back-and-forth has led to mounting economic pressure in both countries and uncertainty for multinational businesses reliant on stable trade flows.

Earlier this year, officials announced that the United States and China had struck a preliminary trade agreement. However, Trump expressed frustration recently, stating that China had “totally violated its agreement”. He wrote, “I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation… The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

In addition to ongoing talks with Beijing, the administration is simultaneously engaging other global partners, urging them to submit their best trade offers. This diplomatic push reflects the broader strategy of seeking advantageous terms for American interests across multiple fronts, even as legal challenges have mounted—including a recent federal court ruling that blocked several tariff-related executive orders.

With global economic stability hanging in the balance, the success or failure of the upcoming Trump-Xi call could set the tone for where negotiations go next, not only between the U.S. and China but across the interconnected world trade system.