President Donald Trump’s five-day Asia tour is entering its most consequential phase, with two major power centers in his sights: China and North Korea. And after a series of carefully staged agreements and diplomatic overtures in Japan and South Korea, Trump is making it clear — he’s not here to shake hands and pose for photos. He’s here to make deals.
At a state dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday, Trump was caught on a hot mic revealing just how long — and serious — tomorrow’s high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be: “three to four hours.” That’s not a handshake summit. That’s a negotiation marathon.
“We’re going to have something that’s going to be very, very satisfactory to China and to us,” Trump told attendees, adding that he believed it would be a “very good meeting.” What that means in practical terms remains to be seen, but the timing and tone are deliberate: Trump is signaling that his relationship with Xi — tense though it may be — is still functional, and potentially fruitful.
This meeting, set for Thursday morning, follows a wave of regional maneuvering. In Japan, Trump locked in new deals on rare-earth minerals and natural gas, reinforcing U.S. supply chains and regional alliances. In South Korea, he’s eyeing a $350 billion investment into the U.S. economy as part of a broader trade package — a win he’s hoping to secure from a left-leaning government that has historically been cautious in its U.S. alignment.
Trump’s candid moment at the dinner also included a familiar topic: Kim Jong Un. He expressed confidence that tensions with North Korea would “work out very well,” and even hinted — again — at a possible meeting. “I liked him, he liked me,” Trump said, reiterating the personal rapport that defined his previous summits with Kim. While no formal meeting has been scheduled, the possibility hangs in the air — as does the legacy-defining potential of another U.S.-North Korea breakthrough.
But there’s more than legacy at stake. With the 2026 midterms looming and control of Congress hanging in the balance, Trump knows that foreign policy wins translate into domestic credibility. This trip is being carefully choreographed to highlight American strength, secure new economic commitments, and — perhaps most importantly — undercut China’s growing influence in the region.
According to Henry Haggard, a former senior U.S. diplomat in Seoul, Trump’s goals are clear: seal the trade deal, lock in investments, and pressure President Lee to “commit to a stronger stance against China” while increasing South Korea’s defense spending. It’s a big ask for a president leading a government wary of provoking Beijing. But Trump isn’t known for subtlety — he’s known for dealmaking under pressure.
And the pressure is rising. Trump’s meeting with Xi comes as global markets nervously track U.S.–China tensions on everything from trade and tech to Taiwan and semiconductors. The fact that Trump and Xi are meeting for hours, not minutes, shows both sides understand the stakes — and the opportunities.
Trump’s message is unmistakable: the U.S. is back in Asia, assertive, unapologetic, and ready to deal.
