Trump touts China trade wins after Xi summit, calls trip 'a great success'
.@POTUS arrives back at the White House: "All I can say is that was a great success... We made great deals. We did great trade deals... A lot of things have happened and you'll be hearing about them — but that was a tremendous success. I think it really was a historic moment." pic.twitter.com/dH5h5UtJFI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump returned to the White House after his two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling the Beijing visit a major success and pointing to what he described as major trade breakthroughs between the two countries.
The president highlighted aircraft agreements, agricultural commitments, and improved diplomatic ties while portraying the meetings as a step toward stabilizing relations between Washington and Beijing despite ongoing disputes over tariffs, Taiwan, and Iran.
Trump touts trade deals after Xi summit
Speaking to reporters after arriving back in Washington, Trump praised the outcome of the talks and signaled that additional announcements could follow.
"All I can say is, that was a great success. It was fantastic," Trump said when asked about the summit.
"We made great deals, we did great trade deals, we had great relationships. And a lot of things have happened, and you’ll be hearing about them," he added. "But that was a tremendous success."
Trump claimed China agreed to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft immediately, with discussions involving another 750 planes moving forward. He also said the administration secured commitments intended to support American agriculture and expand exports to China.
The summit marked the latest effort by both leaders to maintain communication despite continued friction over trade policy and geopolitical tensions.
Xi gives Trump rare Zhongnanhai tour during Beijing visit
Trump concluded his official schedule in Beijing with a tour of Zhongnanhai, the highly restricted compound where China's top leadership lives and works.
Xi personally escorted Trump through the historic complex in a symbolic moment during a visit heavily focused on diplomacy and optics. Reuters reported that foreign leaders are rarely granted access to the compound, making the tour one of the most notable visual moments of the summit.
Despite the ceremonial setting, both sides released few details about concrete policy agreements reached during the meetings.
Trump later described the visit as "incredible," while Xi referred to the growing partnership as a "new bilateral relationship." Xi also reportedly offered to send seeds of Chinese roses to the United States, prompting Trump to reply, "I love that, it's great.
Trump says Xi discussed Iran and Strait of Hormuz
Hours before the Zhongnanhai meeting, Fox News aired a pre-recorded interview in which Trump described Xi as "warm" and "very smart."
During the interview with Sean Hannity, Trump said Xi assured him China would not provide military weapons to Iran.
"But at the same time, he said they buy a lot of their oil there, and they'd like to keep doing that," Trump said. "He'd like to see Hormuz Strait open."
The Strait of Hormuz remained a major topic during the summit as tensions in the Middle East continued to shape global trade and energy concerns. Reports following the meetings indicated that both Washington and Beijing agreed the waterway must remain open.
Chinese officials did not publicly address Trump's specific remarks about Iran, though Beijing later said it was continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging negotiations.
