Trump said it's "extremely hard" to strike a deal with China’s Xi

Donald Trump said on Wednesday it’s “extremely hard” to reach any kind of agreement with China’s President Xi Jinping, just as his administration kept telling the public both leaders could speak within days.

The comment was made via Truth Social, where Trump wrote, “I like President XI of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!”

On Monday, a senior official at the White House had told CNBC the two leaders were “likely to speak this week,” but nothing about that ever materialized. And while Trump has said in recent weeks he wants that call, there’s been no indication that Xi is ready to pick up the phone.

China accuses US of “negative measures” as White House rolls out visa restrictions

Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, said Friday that current negotiations are “a bit stalled” and probably need top-level intervention. His words came days after a trade agreement signed on May 12 in Switzerland collapsed in practice. That deal was meant to pause most tariffs for 90 days and also force China to reverse countermeasures it had applied since April, but both sides are now accusing each other of violations.

Beijing didn’t lift restrictions on rare earths exports, which Washington was expecting under the deal. Instead, Chinese officials have kept tight control over those materials, which are essential for tech manufacturing. 

Meanwhile, the US has moved ahead with new efforts to stop China from getting access to advanced American technology. Last week, the White House announced it would begin revoking visas for Chinese students, something Beijing is calling a clear escalation.

Tensions spilled into a meeting on Tuesday when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sat down with US Ambassador David Perdue for their first official face-to-face. Wang told Perdue that the US was taking actions based on “groundless reasons,” and said the latest moves were infringing on China’s rights and interests. The quote came straight from China’s official summary of the meeting.

But China also tried to show diplomacy. That same readout quoted Perdue saying that Trump holds “great respect” for Xi and that the US was ready to “meet China halfway.” That phrasing, while soft, was used by Beijing to suggest it was open to restarting proper talks. The language was also a signal that Xi needs to feel protected before engaging directly with Trump.

Neo Wang, chief China economist at Evercore ISI, said the meeting between Perdue and Wang was staged by Beijing to build a public case that it was Trump who wanted the phone call. He said the goal was to make sure Xi wouldn’t be humiliated if things went sideways after a potential call. “So that Xi doesn’t get embarrassed by Trump after the call with words or actions,” he said.

Late Tuesday, Perdue posted on X, confirming he had told Wang that America was focused on three priorities: trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration. He also said maintaining communication was still important, even as tensions rise.

The last time Trump and Xi spoke was back in January, just before the second inauguration. Since then, Trump has said more than once that he’d like to talk with Xi again. But analysts say China will only agree if they’re sure the conversation won’t blow up publicly. 

That’s part of why so much effort is being made behind the scenes—quiet guarantees, controlled messaging, and very calculated meetings like the one with Perdue.

For now, no phone call is confirmed. The 90-day tariff pause is in place on paper, but nothing new has happened since the deal collapsed. Rare earth exports are still restricted. Tech access remains a red line. Student visa rollbacks are moving ahead. And the trust needed for a real breakthrough doesn’t exist on either side.

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